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Aug 23, 2006, 4:15 pm
On Argentina, I agree they may be in the final. You are forgetting Spain and Greece as main challengers to be there
On Serbia, it is easy - Starting from the dissolution of Yugoslavia, dividing a great side in some good ones. But also Serbia had a great generation of players, whose bests days have gone. Think Bodiroga, for example. The fall in the level had been happening for longer than it seems, though Serbia had help in the FIBA offices, being Serbian Boris Stankovic the boss of FIBA. When Bodiroga and friends weren't good enough to win the game on their own, the men with the whistle would give a foul on the opposition's attack, allow a hard defense, give fauls against the deffense of the other side, so they couldn't get tight ont heir great players. Argentina are still cursing the way they were robbed in the last World Championships
Those great players aren't there anymore, they have some good ones. The fact that Serbia have lost the last 7 or 8 games against Spain and by a amrgin means they aren't in their prime. Spain, as Italy, Argentina, Greece or Lithuania (and Serbia should be there) can beat any of those but also lose. Great teams, tight series of games. The best European teams beat each other all the time, and Serbia don't seem able to beat any of them anymore.
Along the lack of stars (or megastars, basketball galacticos) there's the style of play. Playing to win the game with 65 points gives margin to the rivals. They would only need 5 three points, 10 free throws and 20 shots in to make 65 points. It's an error. See how Spain, Argetina or Lithuania play to score 90 points... Not so many teams are able to score that much
On Serbia, it is easy - Starting from the dissolution of Yugoslavia, dividing a great side in some good ones. But also Serbia had a great generation of players, whose bests days have gone. Think Bodiroga, for example. The fall in the level had been happening for longer than it seems, though Serbia had help in the FIBA offices, being Serbian Boris Stankovic the boss of FIBA. When Bodiroga and friends weren't good enough to win the game on their own, the men with the whistle would give a foul on the opposition's attack, allow a hard defense, give fauls against the deffense of the other side, so they couldn't get tight ont heir great players. Argentina are still cursing the way they were robbed in the last World Championships
Those great players aren't there anymore, they have some good ones. The fact that Serbia have lost the last 7 or 8 games against Spain and by a amrgin means they aren't in their prime. Spain, as Italy, Argentina, Greece or Lithuania (and Serbia should be there) can beat any of those but also lose. Great teams, tight series of games. The best European teams beat each other all the time, and Serbia don't seem able to beat any of them anymore.
Along the lack of stars (or megastars, basketball galacticos) there's the style of play. Playing to win the game with 65 points gives margin to the rivals. They would only need 5 three points, 10 free throws and 20 shots in to make 65 points. It's an error. See how Spain, Argetina or Lithuania play to score 90 points... Not so many teams are able to score that much