The Basketball Thread

[Mr Tree]

isn't it about time we had a thread devoted to Britain's fastest-growing sport and the world's second-biggest spectator sport?

ok, i may have made up both of those stats, but there's no denying that basketball is creeping onto the British sporting radar, and this is an early warning for you: the basketball at the London Olympics will be fantastic, possibly even the highlight of the games

anyway, this thread was inspired by a simple question:

The World Basketball Championships are currently taking place, and the semi-final line-up has now been decided.

Without Googling, and without GPG user maddogging spoiling the game nono: ), who can name the four semi-finalists?

Put it this way: Between them, their land-mass is significantly larger than Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Uruguay

 

[Carri Bee Un]

surely the USA is already bigger than all those countries on it's own? I presume they are in the final 4.

I would guess that their yappy neighbours up north are in it as well.

 

[Carri Bee Un]

Australians like all sport as well so I guess them

 

[Carri Bee Un]

And final guess is Sweden

 

[Mr Tree]

surely the USA is already bigger than all those countries on it's own? I presume they are in the final 4.

I would guess that their yappy neighbours up north are in it as well.

lol too easy huh :crazy1:

thank you contestant number 1. you scored 1/4.

roll up, roll up. chance to win absolutely nothing right here. step up...

 

[maddogging]

watched the USA game last night, comfortable in the end.

Even I was surprised at the other teams in the final four.

 

[Newbury Bee 09]

Think Spain is one of them

 

[Mr Tree]

yes Mr Maddogging, the defending world and european champions knocked out already :blush (don't give it away Tree!! )

 

[Mr Tree]

Think Spain is one of them

missed your post squire, my apologies. Espana are the aforementioned defending world and european champions, but the arrogant ****s got stunned in the quarter-final by................

 

[SmiffyBee]

The World Basketball Championships are currently taking place, and the semi-final line-up has now been decided.who can name the four semi-finalists?

Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Uruguay

 

[Mr Tree]

thank you contestant number 2! you scored zero, and successfully misunderstood the clue entirely. it turns out that the land mass of Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Uruguay is EXACTLY THE SAME as the land mass of Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Uruguay

Put it this way: Between them, their land-mass is significantly larger than Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Uruguay

 

[Mr Tree]

indeed, only two of those were even in the tournament... mind you, that's the same as with CBU's guess (no Holland, Uruguay, Canada or Sweden. Britain qualified for last summer's Euros and Sweden didn't, so it's time to re-evaluate your perceptions of basketballing prowess, Mr CBU :yes: )

ok, time for a clue:
one of the semi-finalists (I believe it's their first time ever) is the only country in the world (i think) where basketball is actually the national sport. and it's not USA.

 

[SmiffyBee]

indeed, only two of those were even in the tournament... mind you, that's the same as with CBU's guess (no Holland, Uruguay, Canada or Sweden. Britain qualified for last summer's Euros and Sweden didn't, so it's time to re-evaluate your perceptions of basketballing prowess, Mr CBU :yes: )

ok, time for a clue:
one of the semi-finalists (I believe it's their first time ever) is the only country in the world (i think) where basketball is actually the national sport. and it's not USA.

China,
Mongolia,
Tibet and
Scotland

 

[Mr Tree]

contestant number 2, please step away from the microphone, security have been called

actually, China wouldn't be too shabby a guess if 7'6" behemoth Yao Ming had two working feet :sad:

Scotland is a shocker though given numerous references to Team GB

 

[SmiffyBee]

contestant number 2, please step away from the microphone, security have been called

actually, China wouldn't be too shabby a guess if 7'6" behemoth Yao Ming had two working feet :sad:

Scotland is a shocker though given numerous references to Team GB

Uganda,
Kenya,
Chad and
Democratic Republic of Congo

 

[Mr Tree]

doesn't everyone know that Angola are the African basketball powerhouse? :scratch: (BBC article on "what next for Angolan basketball?" here after their last-16 crushing by the yanks, 121-66 )

 

[Banana]

indeed, only two of those were even in the tournament... mind you, that's the same as with CBU's guess (no Holland, Uruguay, Canada or Sweden. Britain qualified for last summer's Euros and Sweden didn't, so it's time to re-evaluate your perceptions of basketballing prowess, Mr CBU :yes: )

ok, time for a clue:
one of the semi-finalists (I believe it's their first time ever) is the only country in the world (i think) where basketball is actually the national sport. and it's not USA.

Serbia

 

[Mr Tree]

can someone else please guess Serbia so that i don't have to congratulate Banana?

two to go AND my clue remains ("one of the semi-finalists (I believe it's their first time ever) is the only country in the world (i think) where basketball is actually the national sport. and it's not USA.")

 

[Mr Tree]

Espana are the aforementioned defending world and european champions, but the arrogant ****s got stunned in the quarter-final by................

Serbia?

 

[Dazza]

USA
Argentina
Serbia
Greece
That's my guess, bit of a b-ball fan (celtics my team) but not followed the tournament that much so just a wild guess

 

[Mr Tree]

Serbia?

:yes: :bound: :nutty: well done Mr T

 

[Banana]

can someone else please guess Serbia so that i don't have to congratulate Banana?

two to go AND my clue remains ("one of the semi-finalists (I believe it's their first time ever) is the only country in the world (i think) where basketball is actually the national sport. and it's not USA.")

Must be Lithuania obviously!

 

[Mr Tree]

USA
Argentina
Serbia
Greece
That's my guess, bit of a b-ball fan (celtics my team) but not followed the tournament that much so just a wild guess

good man :yes:

Greece-Spain was a last-16 "clash of the titans" in which Spain prevailed. btw Greece-Serbia had a nice little ruck pre-tournament which ended in their friendly ("exhibition game") being abandoned and five players being suspended for the first two games of the tournament :box:

Argies were knocked out in the q-fs

 

[Dazza]

Yeah heard about that "friendly" would've been good to watch

 

[Mr Tree]

Must be Lithuania obviously!

innit :homer:

beat the Argies yesterday and will aim to upset the Yanks in the semi

so Serbia vs .......
and USA vs Lithuania

 

[Mr Tree]

Yeah heard about that "friendly" would've been good to watch

it's on youtube, Krstic is such a girl (tho i'd run away from that Greek guy), who throws a chair?

 

[Banana]

Which country is the tournament taking place in? Home country always does well in tournies dunnit.

 

[Mr Tree]

was Google harmed in the making of that statement

yes, the home country are the other team :yes:

 

[SmiffyBee]

Sri Lanka ?

 

[maddogging]

I know, I know !!!

 

[Mr Tree]

Sri Lanka ?

contestant number 2, you've now named every country BUT the right one!! you're having a mare :no:

 

[Dazza]

If it's the hosts then that's easy....... Turkey! What do I win?

 

[Mr Tree]

well Dazza, you got 3 of the 4 semi-finalists with 5 guesses. Banana was 2 for 2. however, i got them all right, first time, so i win a new car.

thanks for playing

 

[Mr Tree]

USA, Lithuania, Serbia, Turkey

odd little mix

the Turks have looked really good to be fair to them - if they can ride the national euphoria past (perenially annoyingly good despite not having particularly great players) Serbia, then their size will really test the Americans

the Yanks came into the tournament with weaknesses in their big men, although they have a lot of good small- and medium-sized players. Turkey have been using a line-up of four 6'10" guys at times

(i know nothing about Lithuania, except that I hope to go there for the Euro Champs next yer, for which Team GB have qualified :banana: )

 

[Dazza]

Damn - I was so close to the new car will have to play again sometime.

 

[Carri Bee Un]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_TMUJIWwyI

 

[Dazza]

Thanks for that, was gonna track it down later, saved me the bother now :thumbup:

 

[Mr Tree]

Thanks for that, was gonna track it down later, saved me the bother now :thumbup:

lol reckon you'll be disappointed (bad CBU )

try this instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82D7i_YRiME

 

[Dazza]

Thank you very much mr tree

 

[SmiffyBee]

Peru ?

 

[Dazza]

Keep going smiffy, law of averages says you'll get it in the end!

 

[Markybee]

innit :homer:

beat the Argies yesterday and will aim to upset the Yanks in the semi

so Serbia vs .......
and USA vs Lithuania

Argies beat the Russians who got to 10 points behind USA....Lithuania might cause a shock if they start fast today

 

[Mr Tree]

it's a bit hard to judge like that - in all truth, USA had Russia comfortably at arm's length for most of the game. but certainly, Lithuania are no mugs and will give the Americans a good game. they'll be bang up for it. i do like this American squad tho, most of the egos were left at home and this is a good group of team-players.

so yes, both semi-finals today i believe, on ESPN UK

 

[Mr Tree]

USA-Turkey final, 6:30 kick-off

 

[Mr Tree]

USA cruising to victory - scored 8 straight from 17-17 and never looked back. impressive work from an American team who were missing all their players from the 2008 Olympics, and who arrived at the tournament with half their squad 22 or younger. America's first World Basketball Championships victory since 1994

 

[maddogging]

How good will Kevin Durant become. A real
top bloke who didn't go in search for dollars this summer (although I doubt he is on minimum wage !!!!!)

 

[Garybaldbee]

Ok, so I've got a cold and I'm feeling a bit tetchy but can somebody please explain the point of basketball other than as good indoor exercise when its double PE and its raining? Team A gets possession and scores, Team B gets possession and scores, Team A gets possession and....well, you know the rest.

I've tried to watch it, I really have but it almost makes Formula 1 look exciting (almost).

 

[Carri Bee Un]

Ok, so I've got a cold and I'm feeling a bit tetchy but can somebody please explain the point of basketball other than as good indoor exercise when its double PE and its raining? Team A gets possession and scores, Team B gets possession and scores, Team A gets possession and....well, you know the rest.

I've tried to watch it, I really have but it almost makes Formula 1 look exciting (almost).

The only time i've enjoyed basketball is when I thought it was a country guessing game at the beginning of this thread. They should concentrate on that aspect of it.

 

[Carri Bee Un]

Belgium

 

[Mr Tree]

ahh CBU, i'm glad i've been able to make the great game enjoyable for you at last :love2:

GB, a very fair point indeed. i actually rarely watch full games myself, and games like the final yesterday won't help in that regard - it was effectively over by the end of the first quarter, and i had it on as background noise while i did the ironing thereafter! (just in case Turkey made a comeback)

the sport needs a certain level of intensity to make it more interesting - so these big international tournaments can be good, as well as the NBA playoffs. otherwise, during the season (i'll be back here when the NBA restarts in November ), i just watch the 3-/4-minute round-ups on the NBA website rather than a whole game.

also, it's not like they score every time most games feature around 50% shooting (or less), so there is a real skill to making that shot, as well as creating a better shot (for yourself or for a teammate), and collecting the loose balls after a missed shot