Speed44
Years ago

Spain v Lithuania

Did anyone watch or see this game? What the hell happened? Was there any sort of "game-playing" going on, or did Spain just wake up finally?

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Isaac
Years ago

I was wondering the same. I can understand a team in Pool B trying to avoid finishing fourth (face USA in first crossover) or second (on USA's side of the bracket in the semi-finals) but why wouldn't they want first spot?

Lithuania's final game is against Croatia who will have a particular interest in escaping fourth spot. Is the deciding factor head-to-head or overall plus/minus? If the latter, then it looks like Lithuania could still fall to fourth? They're -27 while Croatia are -16.

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LV
Years ago

Watched the first few minutes. Spain looked focused, locked in and ready to go. They were playing with intensity. Spain hit a couple of early threes and looked confident. Lithuania looked like they just wanted a day off.

So I fast forwarded a few minutes. Every time I fast forwarded a few more minutes, Spain's lead had grown, so I didn’t bother watching anymore. I can only assume the pattern of the first few minutes continued, and that Spain were playing confident basketball while Lithuania didn’t bring the necessary mindset.

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Naph
Years ago

If you read the link that ME put up in the "Boomers crossover opponent impossible to predict" thread.

http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/298605/thriller-in-group-b

It looks very likely that Lithuania will now finish either first or third. Which conveniently means that they will now avoid the USA until the final should they advance.

A few things had to break their way for that to eventuate, but I think its fairly likely that there was some gamesmanship going on here.

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Speed44
Years ago

Thanks for the link, Naph. If it was gamesmanship, then they really took it to extremes. 50 points!

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Ricky
Years ago

Just to make sure..

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Curtley
Years ago

This is problematic. Something needs to be done to avoid tanking at the Olympics full stop. Even though Australia has been guilty of it. Not sure what though.

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paul
Years ago

That's what the Euros do, like it or not. Will be interesting to see if FIBA investigates after the tournament or whether they only act when Goran Dragic complains!

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Mick
Years ago

Just because they do it, didn't mean we had to. I hope we never do it again, it was beyond pathetic.

You would hope FIBA would look into this game, and not just as lip service like they did when they "looked into" our dive.

Either make taking a dive legal, fine teams who do it, or make the crossovers blind. At the moment it's just a grey area, what's the point in having any rules against it?

Nigeria also beat Croatia...is something fishy there?

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Anonymous
Years ago

Croatia includes a long stretch of coastline along the Adriatic Sea, and as a result seafood features prominently in its national cuisine.

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Baller#3
Years ago

The only reason it happens in the olympics and worlds is because the US are seen as an unbeatable path that needs to be avoided at all costs. Although I still don't see why Lithuania would take in first spot...

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Andy
Years ago

If Lithuania beat Croatia, Croatia and Brazil finish equal 4th, right? Who will take 4th position? I guess we would rather play Croatia to avoid the crazy home crowd support for Brazil.

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Andy
Years ago

Opps,^ of course not, I keep thinking we finished top. We obviously play the 3rd team.
USA v Brazil would be a pretty exciting knockout game though.

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XY
Years ago

Brazil will finish 5th regardless of the results of the last game as they lost their game against Croatia.

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Hoops

Spain v Lithuania

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