Italy 95 U.S.A. 78

[Foxhound]

Italy waxed the U.S. today at a pre-Olympic basketball tournament being held in Germany:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5592755/?GT1=4529

Who do you like for the gold and the silver in Olympic basketball this year? Lithuania, Serbia & Montenegro, Spain, Greece, Australia, Argentina and Brazil are the other contenders of note.

Any guesses as to which team I'll be backing?

 

[Flower]

.

Any guesses as to which team I'll be backing? [/B]

Sorry, I don't have a clue!

 

[Foxhound]

Here's one:

 

[Foxhound]

And here's another:

 

[Flower]

They are CUTE! Cool uniforms too!

Are all Lithuanians into the Grateful Dead?

 

[Foxhound]

Are all Lithuanians into the Grateful Dead?

Only the basketball fans - so that's all Lithuanians alright!

The Lithuanian team is the reigning European champion having waltzed through last summer's tournament with a 6-0 record. Lithuania has also now won the bronze medal three Olympics in a row and lost to the U.S. team by only two points in the semi-final in 2000.

Expectations for the Lithuanian team are therefore very high this year. This worries me! You know what happens when expectations are high.

 

[Flower]

You know what happens when expectations are high.

Then you are lucky, as no one expects much of you .... eek!

 

[Foxhound]

BBKing!

... looks like I have some fox hunting to do

You'll find it's not as easy to go hunting from your rocking chair as it is to play Lucille.

 

[onthebottom]

I'll go with the US, I think we're something like 12 for 14 for the Gold.

OTB

 

[Foxhound]

U.S.A. 80 Germany 77

Allen Iverson drained a last second three pointer from just inside half-court to "power" the American team to a three point victory over Germany today.

Onthebottom!

Do you mean that the betting odds on the U.S. to win the gold at basketball are 12 to 14?

 

[mrpolarbear]

Olympics they still have those?

 

[Big Papa Smurf]

Lithuania is a darkhorse when it comes to international basketball. Its probably due to the fact that there aren't many Lithuanians in the NBA (ie: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Darius Songala). However, they have some amazing young players that will be making an impact in the international scene for the next decade. The national team is a well coached team, and should medal in the Olympics.

I thought Lithuanian basketball died when Sabonis, Kurtanitis, and Marciulonis were getting up there in age, but they shocked me when they won the Euro tournament last year.

I think that they will win the silver or bronze depending where they will meet the US in the knockout stage.

 

[Foxhound]

However, they have some amazing young players that will be making an impact in the international scene for the next decade.

The whole country is a miniature basketball factory. The Lithuanian Under 20 team won the silver at last summer's world championships. Australia won the gold while the U.S. finished in sixth place.