Puerto Rico, the Quest for Athens 2004 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Chiwas · 08-19-2003, 11:59 AM

Tomorrow, August 20th.

Mexico vs Argentina
Dominicana vs Venezuela
Puerto Rico vs Uruguay
Brazil vs US

Let's get it on!

Mavs_Rule2003 · 08-20-2003, 02:43 AM

Chiwas, are any of the games coming on any TV channel?

Maringa · 08-20-2003, 10:13 AM

I understand that none of the games will be televised....Shame, really....Of all the sports channels available, you would think that they would show at least the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals...Go Brasil!!!!!

Mavs_Rule2003 · 08-20-2003, 10:40 AM

Yaa! SHame!! but hey cant say go brasil here(unless its soccer!! Hell yaa!)!

GO USA!!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Maringa · 08-20-2003, 10:51 AM

I don't think you will see a stategy of any of the teams trying to beat the USA...The strategy will be to not meet the USA unless it is in the semifinals. You will see Brazil and Argentina trying to position themselves so that they at leas get a shot at the semifinals. If either of those teams play against the USA in the quarterfinals, they are sunk....Remember the top three teams go to the Olympics, and that is the whole purpose of this tournament.

Maringa · 08-20-2003, 10:53 AM

My disappointment in not seeing any of the games on TV is because there are a lot of young players playing for the Brazilian and Argentinian national teams which may have futures in the NBA. I've been wanting to get a glimpse of Varejao, Barbosa, and Tiago Splitter...Also wanted to confirm abilities of Argentinians Kammerinchs, Noccioni, and several others...

Chiwas · 08-20-2003, 11:50 AM

I don't know about the TV. Maybe the Mexican TV will show the games but not live.

I saw Argentina playing from 1 meter to the court. I'll tell something: Argentina can defeat again the US. They play great as a team, and have very good players.

As Maringa says, the important thing is to get one of the three tickets to Athens. But the US could not finish in first.

I haven't watched Brazil, but is likely that they or Puerto Rico get the third place.

Maringa · 08-20-2003, 01:58 PM

Mexico is up 32-29 with six minutes till half....

To see live statistics...click on link below and select espanhol (for some reason live statistics aren't on the english page). Once you enter the spanish page...click on the top link in the page in yellow lettering...estastiticas en vivo (spelling)....Tournament Link

Maringa · 08-20-2003, 03:33 PM

Congratulations Chiwas, your boys defeated Argentina...a pretty good upset!

Chiwas · 08-20-2003, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by: Maringa
Congratulations Chiwas, your boys defeated Argentina...a pretty good upset!

WWWWWWWHHHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!??????????????

Can't believe it. It had to be an arrangement. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Chiwas · 08-20-2003, 05:19 PM

91-89!!!!

Najera was the best scorer in the game with 20 points....WOO HOO!!!!!!!!

WayOutWest · 08-21-2003, 02:32 PM

The US game was on TV. The boys from Brazil hung tough but when the US team turned on the defense the boys from Brazil looked like boys playing amoung men. They were letting ALOT of fouls go uncalled. The US team started whinning at the end of the third. JO, AI and Kidd really fired up the US team and TD played his usually steady quiet all star type of game. I expected more from T-Mac.

Chiwas · 08-22-2003, 08:32 PM

Group A

Teams W L Points
Mexico 2 0 4
Argentina 2 1 5
Canada 1 1 3
Puerto Rico 1 1 3
Uruguay 0 3 3

Group B

Teams W L Points
USA 2 0 4
R. Dominicana 2 1 5
Brazil 1 1 3
Virgen Islands 0 2 2
Venezuela 0 1 1

Hitman · 08-22-2003, 10:27 PM

It really goes to show you how far basketball has fallen in the minds of the American public when this tournament is not on television. It is sad, especially for a guy who would much rather see Argentina play Brazil than anything being shown on the 200 channels zapped into my living room.

Chiwas · 08-23-2003, 10:37 AM

It is not attractive to watch beatings in all the US games.

Maybe the only team who could win the US a game is Argentina. And now I'm doubting about it.

Chiwas · 08-23-2003, 10:44 AM

Today, Saturday:

Hour Games Group
15.30 Canada-Uruguay A
18.00 Virgen Islands-USA B
20.30 Mexico-Puerto Rico A
23.00 Venezuela-Brazil B

Mandyahl · 08-23-2003, 09:57 PM

link

Duncan opts not to play against native country
Associated Press

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Tim Duncan decided not to play against his homeland, and the American Olympic qualifying team did not need him Saturday in a 113-55 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Duncan was in uniform but did not play in the U.S. team's final game of the first round at the Tournament of the Americas. Elton Brand replaced him in the starting lineup, and the U.S. team broke the game open with a 20-0 run in the second quarter.

Duncan had been struggling with the idea of playing against his homeland and decided before tipoff to sit out. He lived in the U.S. Virgin Islands until he was 18 and left to attend Wake Forest.

"It was a personal decision, of course," Duncan said in a statement released by the team. "I did speak with the coaches and some of my Virgin Islands friends, and I came to the decision that it was the best gesture to make and the right thing to do, and that it felt right in this situation."

Under international eligibility rules, a player cannot represent a second country after he has competed for a different nation above junior level. In Duncan's case, he became ineligible to represent the Virgin Islands after he played for the United States at the 1994 Goodwill Games.

"Timmy based his decision on the circumstances at hand," U.S. assistant coach Gregg Popovich said. "He feels real good that it was the right thing to do."

Duncan also played on U.S. teams at the 1995 World University Games, the 1996 22-and-under World Championship qualifying team and the 1999 Tournament of the Americas. He was unable to compete in the 2000 Olympics because of an injury.

Duncan has been the third-leading scorer for the U.S. team, averaging 12.0 points and a team-leading 7.3 rebounds.

"I can understand his situation when I see how hard a lot of these international players play, with the pride for their country. That's where T.D.'s from, so I respect that. Now if it was a closer game or we'd have lost, then I might not respect that," Brand said.

The Americans bounced back after a sub-par performance against Venezuela, dominating the game in the second quarter after the U.S. Virgin Islands trailed just 26-19 following the first period.

Jason Kidd delivered another off-the-backboard alley-oop pass, feeding Vince Carter for a dunk that gave the U.S. team a 57-26 lead with 1:36 left before halftime.

Allen Iverson tried to duplicate the pass on the Americans' next trip downcourt, but Richard Jefferson was unable to convert the shot. Iverson grabbed the rebound and scored to get the lead above 30.

Tracy McGrady sat out the second half with a sore back, and he was not missed either.

A free throw by Nick Collison with 1:24 left got the lead up to 58, and the Americans finished with their highest point total of their four first-round games.

Iverson led seven American in double figures with 17 points, Jason Kidd had 10 assists and Mike Bibby had nine points, six assists and five steals. The Americans shot 73 percent (33-for-45) from 2-point range.

The U.S. Virgin Islands lost its first two games of the Olympic qualifying tournament to Brazil and the Dominican Republic, but was hoping to have a chance to advance to the second round with a victory Sunday against Venezuela, which was 0-2 going into its game Saturday night against Brazil.

The team has been hurt by the loss of Raja Bell, who decided to skip the tournament and not risk injury because he does not have an NBA contract for the upcoming season. Bell spent last season with the Dallas Mavericks and previously played for Philadelphia.

The United States had not played the Virgin Islands since the 1979 Pan American Games.

"That was a lot of respect he gave us," USVI guard Kevin Sheppard said of Duncan. "We still love him and want him to come home and play for us."

Chiwas · 08-23-2003, 11:57 PM

It seems the USA didn't need Duncan. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

# Team W/L

1. Argentina 2/1
2. Canada 2/1
3. Mexico 2/1
4. Puerto Rico 2/1
5. Uruguay 0/4

1. USA 4/0
2. Brazil 2/1
3. Dominicana 2/1
4. Islas Virgenes 0/3
5. Venezuela 0/3

8/22 URU vs MEX 68-80
CAN vs ARG 90-94
DOM vs VIR 69-65
USA vs VEN 98-69
8/23 URU vs CAN 84-90
USA vs VIR 113-55 [What a defeat]
PUR vs MEX 92-70
VEN vs BRA 89-96

Mexico lost against Puerto Rico.

But Argentina, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico passed already to the second round. Uruguay is out.

Also, the US, Brazil, and the Dominicans, in the group #2. Virgin Islands or Venezuela could be out tomorrow.

Chiwas · 08-24-2003, 08:16 PM

Venezuela kicked the Virgin Islands out of the tournament 87-84.

Chiwas · 08-26-2003, 06:52 PM

The US defeated Argentina 94-86.

Too close.

signoftimes · 08-27-2003, 10:22 AM

.United States (5-0) .Brazil (2-3)
.Argentina (3-2) .Mexico (2-3)
.Canada (3-2) .Dominican Rep. (1-4)
.Puerto Rico (3-2) .Venezuela (1-4)

Canada only has the Dominican Republic and Venezuela to play(the 2 worse teams). They beat Brazil yesterday. They should win the rest of their games.

Also Puerto Rico still has the U.S. to play, so, they'll most likely get a loss.

It looks like the U.S., Argentina and Canada will qualify for the Olympics.

Chiwas · 08-27-2003, 11:05 AM

Yes, if Mexico defeats Brazil tomorrow, Canada is in, I think.

Although it is is going to be 2 more games (sort of playoffs) to know the 3 places.

I think the US (1st) will play against Brazil (4th) and Argentina (2nd) against Canada (3rd).

The US will defeat Brazil and maybe Argentina will defeat Canada.

Then the last game could be Canada-Brazil for the third place.

It's a good tourney.

Mandyahl · 08-27-2003, 06:16 PM

venezuela beat argentina today, 97-93. canada beat the dominican republic, 78-75. i don't know what that does to the standings, but argentina was supposed to beat venezuela, right?

Chiwas · 08-27-2003, 07:15 PM

Venezuela defeated Argentina
Mexico defeated Argentina
Venezuela defeated Mexico

and Venezuela was almost eliminated of the first round.

This is crazy.

I told you, this tourney is very good, very interesting.

The US could play against Argentina in the playoffs and be eliminated.

(Well, it had another game for he third place)

Chiwas · 08-27-2003, 09:44 PM

Puerto Rico defeated Brazil, and now it's 3th and Argentina 4th!

What a tourney!

Chiwas · 08-27-2003, 11:28 PM

The positions after 7 games played (one left):

Points W/L Games

1. USA 12 6/0 7
2. Canada 10 4/2 7
3. Puerto Rico 10 4/2 7
4. Argentina 9 3/3 7
5. Brazil 8 2/4 7
6. Mexico 8 2/4 7
7. Venezuela 8 2/4 7
8. Dominicana 7 1/5 7

This is very close.

The games for tomorrow:

Canada vs. Venezuela
Mexico vs. Brazil
Argentina vs Dom. Rep.
US vs. Puerto Rico