World Championships

 

 

Greece Defeats USA 101-95

SAITAMA (FIBA World Championship) - Greece kept alive their dreams of capturing the world  title with a 101-95 semi-final triumph over the United States.

Vasilis Spanoulis scored 22 points and Mihalis Kakiouzis made four free throws in the final 35  seconds as the European champions fought back from a 12-point first-half deficit.

The Greeks made 62.5% (35 of 56) of their shots from the field and 70% (23 of 33) from the foul line.

Team USA, who like the Greeks entered the semi-final with seven wins in seven games, shot  50% (33 of 66) from the field but made just nine of 28 three-pointers while converting a woeful   59% (20 of 34) from the free throw line.

 

 

Spain Defeats Argentina

75-74

SAITAMA (FIBA World Championship) – Spain survived in a thriller against Argentina to reach the final of the FIBA World Championship for the first time in their history.

Looking to join Greece, who beat Team USA earlier in the day, Spain's Jose Manuel Calderon made just one of two free throws with 19 seconds left to give his side a 75-74 lead but that left Argentina, the Olympic champions, with plenty of time to score.

Rather than taking a timeout, Argentina's Manu Ginobili dribbled the ball up the floor and knifed his way into the lane.

With time running down, Ginobili passed to Andres Nocioni in the right corner and the forward had an open look but only drew iron.

As the teams fought for the rebound, time expired to secure victory for Spain.

The win came at a cost for Spain as superstar power forward Pau Gasol injured his left foot and missed the closing minutes of the contest.

As Spain’s players celebrated, Gasol, who finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots, was helped off the bench by his younger brother Marc and both cried.

The big power forward was put into a wheelchair and taken to the changing room still in tears before being driven to hospital for X-Rays.

 

Spain Blows out Greece 70-47

SAITAMA (FIBA World Championship) – Spain played their hearts out for injured hero Pau Gasol and captured their first world title with a 70-47 mauling of Greece on Sunday.

Gasol, their superstar power forward who led the team in scoring and rebounding as they went undefeated in the build-up to the FIBA World Championship and the tournament itself, suffered a partial fracture of his fifth metatarsal in his left foot late in Friday’s semi-final win over Argentina and was ruled out of the contest against the Greeks.

The Spanish got inspirational efforts from Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Carlos Navarro, captain Carlos Jimenez, Felipe Reyes and Marc Gasol, Pau's 21-year-old brother, and rolled to victory.

Pau Gasol, because he had been so dominant in the tournament before the injury, was honoured as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after the Spanish team was presented with its gold medals.
 

 

 
Game: GREECE vs USA (Group 75)
Date: 1 September 2006
Time: 16h30
City: Saitama


 
  Country Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total Top players
Flag of Greece Greece 14 31 32 24 101 Spanoulis (22pts), Kakiouzis (6rbs), Papaloukas (12ast)
Flag of USA USA 20 21 24 30 95 Anthony (27pts), Howard (7rbs), James (5ast)
Game review


 

GREECE
    FG 2pts 3pts FT Rbds            
  Name Min M/A % M/A % M/A % M/A % O D Tot As PF To St BS Pts
4 T. Papaloukas 33 4/7 57.1 4/6 66.7 0/1 0 0/0 0 0 5 5 12 3 2 0 0 8
5 S. Schortsianitis 17 6/7 85.7 6/7 85.7 0/0 0 2/6 33.3 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 14
6 N. Zisis 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 V. Spanoulis 30 6/10 60 3/5 60 3/5 60 7/9 77.8 0 3 3 1 4 1 0 0 22
8 P. Vassilopoulos 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 A. Fotsis 13 2/3 66.7 1/1 100 1/2 50 4/5 80 0 3 3 0 2 3 0 0 9
10 N. Hatzivrettas 12 1/3 33.3 1/2 50 0/1 0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
11 D. Dikoudis 12 4/5 80 4/5 80 0/0 0 0/0 0 2 2 4 0 1 1 0 0 8
12 K. Tsartsaris 8 1/1 100 0/0 0 1/1 100 0/0 0 0 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 3
13 D. Diamantidis 39 4/6 66.7 2/3 66.7 2/3 66.7 2/4 50 1 2 3 5 3 0 2 1 12
14 L. Papadopoulos 9 3/5 60 3/5 60 0/0 0 2/2 100 0 1 1 0 3 3 0 0 8
15 M. Kakiouzis 27 4/9 44.4 3/4 75 1/5 20 6/7 85.7 1 5 6 1 2 1 1 0 15
TOTALS: 200 35/56 62.5 27/38 71.1 8/18 44.4 23/33 69.7 4 23 27 19 25 11 4 1 101
View team accumulated statistics
USA
    FG 2pts 3pts FT Rbds            
  Name Min M/A % M/A % M/A % M/A % O D Tot As PF To St BS Pts
4 J. Johnson 26 1/3 33.3 0/0 0 1/3 33.3 0/0 0 1 0 1 3 3 0 0 0 3
5 K. Hinrich 21 4/8 50 0/1 0 4/7 57.1 0/0 0 1 1 2 1 5 2 0 0 12
6 L. James 30 8/14 57.1 8/10 80 0/4 0 1/4 25 2 3 5 5 3 4 1 2 17
7 A. Jamison 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 S. Battier 12 0/1 0 0/0 0 0/1 0 1/2 50 2 2 4 1 3 0 0 2 1
9 D. Wade 25 6/11 54.5 5/8 62.5 1/3 33.3 6/9 66.7 2 0 2 3 3 2 1 0 19
10 C. Paul 24 0/5 0 0/3 0 0/2 0 3/4 75 0 6 6 2 3 1 0 0 3
11 C. Bosh 5 1/1 100 1/1 100 0/0 0 1/2 50 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3
12 D. Howard 13 4/6 66.7 4/6 66.7 0/0 0 2/3 66.7 5 2 7 0 1 0 0 0 10
13 B. Miller 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 E. Brand 12 0/2 0 0/2 0 0/0 0 0/0 0 1 1 2 0 2 1 0 2 0
15 C. Anthony 32 9/15 60 6/7 85.7 3/8 37.5 6/10 60 0 3 3 2 2 0 2 0 27
TOTALS: 200 33/66 50 24/38 63.2 9/28 32.1 20/34 58.8 14 18 32 17 26 10 4 7 95
View team accumulated statistics
LEGEND
Min Minutes played Tot Total rebounds BS Block Shots
M/A Made/Attempts As Assists Pts Points
% Shooting percentage PF Personal fouls * Starters
O Offensive rebounds To Turnovers    
D Defensive rebounds St Steals    
 
 
 

 

 
 
Player name (IOC) GP MPG PPG PTS FGM-FGA FG% 3PM-3PA 3P% FTM-FTA FT%
1. Ming YAO (CHN) 6 32.3 25.3 152 8.8-13.5 65.2 0-0.3 0 7.7-9.3 82.8
2. Dirk NOWITZKI (GER) 9 33.6 23.2 209 6-12.2 49.2 1.3-4.7 27.7 7.2-8.8 81.8
3. Carlos ARROYO (PUR) 5 33 21.2 106 4.6-10.8 42.6 1.8-4.4 40.9 6.6-7.2 91.7
4. Elias AYUSO (PUR) 5 30.8 21.2 106 2.2-5 44 4.4-7 62.9 3.6-4.6 78.3
5. Carmelo ANTHONY (USA) 9 24 19.9 179 4.7-8.6 54.7 2.4-5.6 42.9 3.2-5.1 62.7
6. Pau GASOL (ESP) 9 23.6 18.9 170 7.2-11.1 64.9 0-0.3 0 4.4-6.7 65.7
7. Fadi EL KHATIB (LIB) 5 31.6 18.8 94 6-12 50 0.4-3.4 11.8 5.6-6.6 84.8
8. Igor RAKOCEVIC (SCG) 6 30 18.3 110 4.3-7.3 58.9 2-4.3 46.5 3.7-4.5 82.2
9. Dwyane WADE (USA) 9 20.3 17.1 154 5.8-9 64.4 0.6-2 30 3.9-5.6 69.6
10. 'Tiago' SPLITTER (BRA) 5 30.4 16.4 82 6.4-9.8 65.3 0-0.2 0 3.6-5 72
11. Darko MILICIC (SCG) 6 31.7 16.2 97 6.7-13.7 48.9 0.5-1.8 27.8 1.3-2 65
12. Joaquim GOMES (ANG) 6 29.2 15.2 91 5.7-9.5 60 0.5-2.5 20 2.3-4 57.5
13. Emanuel GINOBILI (ARG) 9 22.1 15.1 136 2.8-6 46.7 1.8-4.3 41.9 4.2-5.1 82.4
14. Eduardo MINGAS (ANG) 6 34.5 14.3 86 5.2-10.2 51 1-2.3 43.5 1-2 50
15. Luis SCOLA (ARG) 9 25 14.3 129 5.8-10.4 55.8 0-0.3 0 2.8-4 70
16. Maleye NDOYE (SEN) 5 31 14.2 71 3.6-8.8 40.9 1.8-5 36 1.6-2.2 72.7
17. Ime UDOKA (NGR) 6 31.7 14.2 85 3.7-9.3 39.8 1.3-3.3 39.4 2.8-4.2 66.7
18. Lebron JAMES (USA) 9 24.2 14.1

Greek Game

The two sequence of events during the Greek game That propelled Greece to victory were, in the middle of the 3rd quarter the Greek team came down and ran pick n' Roll 8 to 12 straight times. And we could Not Stop them. Running the same pick n' Roll over and over again. I really have a lot of respect for coach K, But as I watched the Greek team run Pick N' Roll over and over again I thought why isn't coach K calling a time out? Why isn't coach K changing defenses? Finally he does call time out, but the Horse is out of the Barn by than, we were down 12 going into the 4th quarter.
Besides missing shots D-Wade makes 4 Big Mistakes. At the end of the 3rd quarter The USA is down by 10 with the Ball. Wade has the Ball just over the Mid-court line, The USA wants to Hold the Ball for the Final shot of the Quarter Greece comes out and pressures Wade. Wade puts his Head Down and Drives to the Basket shooting the Ball to early. The Greek team Rebounds Fast breaks for a lay up just before the Buzzer-USA Down 12. At the begging of the 4th Wade misses a Dunk, Throws the Ball away, a Goal tends a shot where the whistle had already blown for a Foul, 3 point play.

We are still bigger and more athletic, but the  foreign teams shoot the ball well and play as a team . We no longer have superior big men. Are Big Men ( Brand, Bosh, Howard ) were strong, but not dominate.  We need to get better shooters on the team. Why did we cut Gilbert Arenas ? Lebron, D-Wade might not be right for this Team. In the Greek game Lebron & Wade were combine 1-7 from 3 land & 7-13 from the foul line. Team USA was 9-28 from 3 land, the Greeks were 8-18 from 3 land. Team USA also missed 14 foul shots 20-34. The Greek team was 23-33 from the line. We need to change defenses not always go man to man.

 

Gasol named MVP

FIBA - Gasol named MVP, headlines All-Tournament Team
SAITAMA (FIBA World Championship) - Despite not playing in Spain's historic victory over Greece in the final of the FIBA World Championship, Pau Gasol was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Gasol missed the final after suffering a broken bone in his left foot during Spain's semi-final win over Argentina on Friday.

The power forward/center, who was cheering Spain from the sidelines in the final, averaged better than 21 points and nine rebounds as his team went undefeated in Japan.

"I'm very happy about the honor," Gasol said. "I tried to play as well as I could to help my team get this far. It was unfortunate that I couldn't play in the final because of my injury.

"But the job my team-mates did in this game was so amazing. And I'm so proud of them."

One journalist from each of the 16 eight-finalist nations selected the five-man squad.

Joining Gasol were his team-mate power forward Jorge Garbajosa, who had 20 points in the final, Team USA's small forward Carmelo Anthony, Argentina guard Manu Ginobili and Greece playmaker Theo Papaloukas.

By Simon Wilkinson, FIBA

Related Articles

 

 

The Problem with USA Basketball, is not with the Players, the Coaches

The Problem is David Stern

By that I mean Stern has altered the Rules of our game to make money & profit

Sterns NBA has opened up the 3 second lane so U can drive the ball to the bucket

So much easier

If you play Good Team Defense like you should you will be Hit with a Technical Foul

1 shot and the Ball

The Reason Stern has done this is to Market the players who can drive the ball to the basket with great speed, Allen Iverson, Kobe, Lebron , D-wade etc.

Stern has changed the Rules of the game to market the merchandise of these type of players

Stern is of course targeting the inner city Black kids to buy the Shoes Jersey etc.

Adding to this Stern instructs his officials  to help out in the Marketing of these players

That is a big Reason are current star players do not develop better

If you asked Lebron James is it harder in HS or in the NBA to drive the ball to the Bucket I bet Lebron would say it was tougher in HS

In HS Lebron had 5 guys trying to Stop him and 3 of them were in the Lane already

You know what I'm saying

Now Lebron beats the man right in front of him

 He virtually has a clear path to the Bucket

This causes the other players just to stand around & watch

Or spot up for there long jumper

It makes for BAD Basketball

At the World Championships that's what happened

We Isolate one player to shake & bake

While the other teams are moving the ball

Cutting back door for easy Baskets

Working much more as a Team

 
2006 FIBA World Championship
FINAL RANKING
 
#    COUNTRY
1. Flag of Spain  Spain
2. Flag of Greece  Greece
3. Flag of USA  USA
4. Flag of Argentina  Argentina
5. Flag of France  France
6. Flag of Turkey  Turkey
7. Flag of Lithuania  Lithuania
8. Flag of Germany  Germany
9. Flag of Angola  Angola
  Flag of Australia  Australia
  Flag of China  China
  Flag of Italy  Italy
  Flag of New Zealand  New Zealand
  Flag of Nigeria  Nigeria
  Flag of Serbia & Montenegro  Serbia & Montenegro
  Flag of Slovenia  Slovenia
17.  Flag of Brazil  Brazil
  Flag of Japan  Japan
  Flag of Lebanon  Lebanon
  Flag of Puerto Rico  Puerto Rico
 21. Flag of Panama  Panama
  Flag of Qatar  Qatar
  Flag of Senegal  Senegal
  Flag of Venezuela  Venezuela

 

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