Kobe Bryant. Life champion. </p> If I had a quarter for everytime Carmelo got blocked this game, I could make it rain.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'> Kobe Bryant. Life champion. </p> If I had a quarter for everytime Carmelo got blocked this game, I could make it rain. </p></div> </p> fasho! it was hilarious to see lebron pass up a wide open dunk to feed the ball to melo, only to have his layup attempt swatted away.
http://www.sportstwo.com/Story/View/BKF/PUERTORICO/6575</p> </p><h2>Puerto Rico G Barea suspended for two games by FIBA</h2> Thursday, August 23, 2007 12:18 AM LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- Puerto Rico guard Jose Juan Barea was suspended for two games for insulting a referee during Wednesday's 100-89 loss to Mexico in a preliminary-round contest at the FIBA Americas Championship. </p> A reserve for the Dallas Mavericks, Barea violated the tournament's strict rule book by disrespecting an official. According to international rules, players can be suspended for up to four games or released from a team's roster - depending on the nature of the incident. </p> But Barea, who averaged just 2.4 points in a limited role with the Mavericks last season, most likely will return to his team after two contests. </p>
http://www.sportstwo.com/Story/View/BKF/BRAZIL/6574</p> </p><h2>Barbosa, Brazil speed past Canada, 75-67</h2> Wednesday, August 22, 2007 11:48 PM </p><div class="pre">LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- </div> Just when it appeared Brazil had squandered its double-digit lead, Leandro Barbosa came to the rescue. Barbosa scored 30 points, including a pair of running jumpers with under two minutes to play, to lift Brazil to a 75-67 victory against Canada in the FIBA Americas Championship opener for both nations on Wednesday night. </p> The top two finishers in this 10-team event advance to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. </p> Brazil used a 17-0 first-half run to build a convincing lead, but Canada chipped away and tied the game 56-56 on a follow shot from Philadelphia 76ers forward Samuel Dalembert with 7:12 to play. </p> The Canadians never had an answer for Barbosa, however, as the speedster from the Phoenix Suns dictated the game's pace down the stretch. </p> "We had good energy, especially in the beginning," Barbosa said. "We made too many turnovers which helped put them back in the game." </p> Tiago Splitter was the only other Brazilian in double figures with 12 points, meaning Barbosa had to rise to the occasion. He was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line and provided a calming influence when Dalembert - who had six straight points to open the fourth quarter led the Canadians' rally.</p> "I felt good tonight, my shot was falling," said Barbosa, who added five assists. "We can't slip up like we did in the third quarter. We need to play like we did in the fourth quarter when we picked up our defense and finished strong." </p> The rough spots in the middle didn't sit well with Brazilian coach Alusio Ferreira. </p> "It's hard to say we are a contender after that game, " Ferreira said through an interpreter. "The path is really hard, and there is a lot of work to be done here." </p> Juan Mendez netted 18 points, Carl English added 12 and Dalembert had 10 for Canada, which made just five of its first 17 shots and trailed 25-12 after the first quarter. </p> It was a bad start for the nation with one Olympic appearance, a second-place finish at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. </p> History aside, the Canadians feel they are a few bounces away from making things interesting. With four pool games remaining, they feel anything can happen, especially after erasing a seemingly insurmountable deficit in this one. </p> "We got back into the game by expending more energy after coming out a little flat," Canada coach Leo Rautins said. "We got inside on (them) and created some foul trouble." </p>
http://www.sportstwo.com/Story/View/BKF/BRAZIL/6582</p> </p><h2>Barbosa knows Brazil must turn it up a notch</h2> Thursday, August 23, 2007 08:28 AM By Matias Greco Special to PA SportsTicker </p> LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Ticker) - Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa won't be fooled into thinking his team can just cruise into the latter stages of the FIBA Americas Championship after their victory against Canada on opening day. </p> Last year's failure in Japan at the FIBA World Championship is too strong in the memory for that. </p> In the Far East, Brazil managed a single victory - against tiny Qatar - while losing to Greece, Turkey, Lithuania and Australia. They crashed out of the event as the biggest disappointment in the tournament and Barbosa, in particular, struggled. </p> He averaged just over 13 points per game and in the game they needed to win desperately to get on track - against Turkey - Barbosa scored 26 points but missed eight of his 16 free throws attempts, eventually losing the game, 73-71. </p> Brazil began their chase on Wednesday for one of two direct berths in Beijing with a 75-67 win over Canada in Group B on Wednesday. </p> "To win the opening game is always very important because it increases the team's confidence, but we know we have to improve a lot," said Barbosa, who scored 30 points. "We failed to keep the same rhythm throughout the game." </p> One player Brazil will need improvement from is Denver Nuggets big man Nene, who fouled out after scoring just seven points in 19 minutes. </p> Tiago Splitter, the 6-11 Tau Ceramica power forward-center who was San Antonio's first-round pick in this summer's draft, did impress with 12 points and nine rebounds. </p> "The team's strong point was the will to win and huge motivation towards a positive result," Barbosa said. </p> Brazil will have a rest day on Thursday - a fact that Barbosa appreciates. </p> "We'll use this day to analyze our mistakes in order to beat Venezuela on Friday," Barbosa said. "We have a long road ahead but I'm sure we'll clinch our goal (of qualifying for the Olympic Games)." </p> Coach Lula Ferreira's main concern, because of last year's debacle, is that wins are more important than style at this stage. </p> "The opener was good because of the triumph," Ferreira said. "We had good and bad moments during the game. Canada proved they are candidates to get one of the Olympic berths. The positive point in my team was that we have never lost focus on the victory. Now, we have to maintain our balance for the rest of the championship." </p>
http://www.sportstwo.com/Story/View/BKF/VIRGISLAND/6545</p> </p><h2>U.S. Virgin Islands G Bell not to play in FIBA Americas</h2> Wednesday, August 22, 2007 03:53 PM By Matias Greco Special to PA SportsTicker </p> LAS VEGAS (Ticker) -- U.S. Virgin Islands guard Raja Bell will not play the FIBA Americas Championship, which began Wednesday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center. </p> Bell of the Phoenix Suns still is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on July 27. </p> "He (Bell) had to have his knee cleaned in a simple procedure and doctors told him to rest for four to six weeks," national team spokesman Usie Richards told EFE news agency. </p> The Virgin Islands was expecting to count on its most important star in the tournament that hands out two berths to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. </p> The team will make its debut on Thursday against the United States and will have to do without Bell, who is one of the best defensive players in NBA. </p>
I watched this on ESPN Classic last night. It seemed as though Venezuela was overwhelmed from the beggining. Kobe looks great and as the Real Deal said he was playing lock down defense. All in all, I think the USA team has a much better chance of winning it all this year than it did last year. It would be extremely dissapointing if they don't qualify for the Olympics so this is really a must win tournament.</p> Anyone know if there's anyway of getting the box scores? </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'> I watched this on ESPN Classic last night. It seemed as though Venezuela was overwhelmed from the beggining. Kobe looks great and as the Real Deal said he was playing lock down defense. All in all, I think the USA team has a much better chance of winning it all this year than it did last year. It would be extremely dissapointing if they don't qualify for the Olympics so this is really a must win tournament.</p> Anyone know if there's anyway of getting the box scores? </p></div> </p> Boxscore</p>
Despite how impressive we looked last night, there were countless times where we COULD NOT FINISH. How many 3 foot layups/bunnies did Carmelo, LeBron, Kobe, Dwight, and Amare miss last night?</p> </p> Any word on how Mike Miller is doing?</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TucsonClip)</div><div class='quotemain'> Despite how impressive we looked last night, there were countless times where we COULD NOT FINISH. How many 3 foot layups/bunnies did Carmelo, LeBron, Kobe, Dwight, and Amare miss last night?</p> </p> Any word on how Mike Miller is doing?</p></div> </p> carmelo got the shit blocked out of him a few times. what a dummy.</p> </p> and dwight only missed 1 shot, and amare didn't miss at all.</p>
FYI</p> We now have FIBA coverage. See the Basketball menu. We have standings, scores, box scores, recaps, and news.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TucsonClip)</div><div class='quotemain'> Despite how impressive we looked last night, there were countless times where we COULD NOT FINISH. How many 3 foot layups/bunnies did Carmelo, LeBron, Kobe, Dwight, and Amare miss last night?</p> </p> Any word on how Mike Miller is doing?</p></div> </p> carmelo got the shit blocked out of him a few times. what a dummy.</p> </p> and dwight only missed 1 shot, and amare didn't miss at all. </p></div> You're right about Amare and Dwight, maybe it just seemed liked they missed them because they had to clean up the boards.</p>
Any fellow Canadians watch the game tonight against Venuzuela? He couldnt get a lead larger then 5 points and then as soon as Dalembert entered the game with 6 minutes left in the 4th quarter it was a wrap! He blocked two important layups near the end and muscled Canada to the victory....I am so proud I think his stat line was 18pts 10 rbs and 6 blks.
