Ricky Rubio Gets Played
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I’m probably enjoying it a little too much, but watching Ricky Rubio and Spain struggle in the FIBA Worlds has been more entertaining than it probably should be. I suppose I view them as a sports rival now, thanks to the 2008 Gold Medal game. With that in mind, it’s safe to say I enjoyed Lithuania beating Spain, giving them their second loss in group play, and threatening their chances of advancing to the knock-out rounds.
Perhaps the defining play of the game was when Mantas Kalnietis, on an inbounds play, caught Rubio not paying attention, bounced the ball off his back and proceeded to hit a layup while a perplexed Rubio looked on, hanging his head.
That, sir, is not the kind of attention to detail on defense you need if you want your team to advance — especially in a tight, competitive game.
The question I have concerning Spain is, was their close loss to the Team USA’s “B team” during the exhibition portion of the FIBA World’s the high point for that squad? A close loss is still a loss, and no team should put that much stock into taking a group of NBA players to the wire, unless it’s Angola, circa 1992. The days of moral victories against the United States should be a thing of the past, specifically, when teams like Spain are involved.
H/t to Ball in Europe for the video find.
“The days of moral victories against the United States should be a thing of the past, specifically, when teams like Spain are involved.”
Moral vistories? There have been so many “actual” victories…. The US has not won this tournament since 1994 – this is a tournament that has 24 teams not 12 like the Olympics and there are 6-8 teams that can reach the semis (especially the way things are turning out)… it’s a 2 week tournament where one game in the knockout stage makes or breaks you…. anything can happen! The group stage is not a measure of any team’s final standing or success in such a tournament…. wait and see… and expect more “surprises”…. we almost had an “upset” in US-Brazil…. You also need to understand the difference of exhibition/preparation games versus the actual tournament….
Finally, many players from Europe do not go to the NBA for reasons other than “being afraid” or “not good enough”… They are stars in their country and starters on their teams. They compete for their national title and the Euroleague, why would they go to Memphis or Minnesota or the LA Clippers? Teams like San Antonio have prospered with foreign players, but they have been very smart about it – giving them lots of minutes and starting roles. Players might also come to the nba and leave, exactly because they are frustrated playing for a team that cannot even make the playoffs… they paid their dues and were young guns on their teams in Europe, why re-live that? Rubio is playing for Barcelona – has a Euroleague title and was a finalist in the ACB last season – what did Minnesota do last season? Where would you play?
I’ll still not entirely pleased with the way the US is playing though.
I can’t imagine Coach K is either.
milaz:
Whatever happened to playing with and against the best in world on a night-in, night-out basis? You don’t get that in Euroleagues. You know it. I know it.
Chris:
They have ZERO halfcourt offense. It’s all drive, dish, or give it to Durant and GTFO of the way.