[J-rueMykelParticipant]

In honor of the Season ending, let’s look forward to the next "meaningful" basketball games to be played, 2016 Rio Olympics.  Let’s travel back in time and take notice of the time Carlos Arroyo led Puerto Rico to a win over 19 point win over a USA squad featuring HOFers Duncan, Iverson, DWade, and even a young Bron. This had to be the low point for USA Basketball and with a lot of our top guys sitting out this time around I wonder what the chances of another monumental collapse is.  Also I’m really looking forward to watching (hopefully) Canada and France battle it out for a spot in the olympics at the Qualification Tournament in the Phillipines, could be the Thrilla in Manilla part duex.  It’s kind of a shame these two teams got paired in the same sub-sectional. Greece and Croatia and Italy in the same sub sectional will be fun as well! Lot of NBAers gonna be putting in work just to get to RIO in 2 short weeks.  HOORAY BASKETBALL

 http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/games/2004-08-15-USA-PUR

[Hype Machine]

I still remember that game…

I recall Arroyo playing like  a turbocharged Chris Paul….and thinking that the Team USA picked a bunch of guys that just weren’t suited to represent the nation under international rules. That…plus they didn’t play their best player!

In a way, those losses to saved international basketball after the ‘wow factor’ of the dream team wore off. It’s in a bit of a funk now, but it gave teams hope that the Team USA was beatable. In reality they just needed to try harder, but we didn’t know that then. 

I’m also hypped for the Olympic Qualifying tournament. I’m thinking of heading to the Philippines to check out the tournament at the Mall of Asia, and maybe get an Andray Blatche signature. 

Sadly, the Australian team for Rio is a shell of its ceiling. Bogut, Exum, Simmons….All out! That pretty much kills their medal chances in my opinion. I’m kinda bummed about it. And Lauren Jackson is out of the Women’s tournament…and I liked her battles with Team USA over the years (they absolutely hated her lol). 

In other international related news: The FIBA U17 World Championships start in a few days. Should be some guys rise through the ranks with impressive tournaments. Can’t say much for other countries, but I don’t think Australia is in a position to make it 3 Silver Medals in a row (no one-and-done locks this time around unfortuantely). 

The Canada team pulled their pants down in a recent warm-up game, so perhaps they’re looking strong for a medal. 

[Hype Machine]

I still remember that game…

I recall Arroyo playing like  a turbocharged Chris Paul….and thinking that the Team USA picked a bunch of guys that just weren’t suited to represent the nation under international rules. That…plus they didn’t play their best player!

In a way, those losses to saved international basketball after the ‘wow factor’ of the dream team wore off. It’s in a bit of a funk now, but it gave teams hope that the Team USA was beatable. In reality they just needed to try harder, but we didn’t know that then. 

I’m also hypped for the Olympic Qualifying tournament. I’m thinking of heading to the Philippines to check out the tournament at the Mall of Asia, and maybe get an Andray Blatche signature. 

Sadly, the Australian team for Rio is a shell of its ceiling. Bogut, Exum, Simmons….All out! That pretty much kills their medal chances in my opinion. I’m kinda bummed about it. And Lauren Jackson is out of the Women’s tournament…and I liked her battles with Team USA over the years (they absolutely hated her lol). 

In other international related news: The FIBA U17 World Championships start in a few days. Should be some guys rise through the ranks with impressive tournaments. Can’t say much for other countries, but I don’t think Australia is in a position to make it 3 Silver Medals in a row (no one-and-done locks this time around unfortuantely). 

The Canada team pulled their pants down in a recent warm-up game, so perhaps they’re looking strong for a medal. 

[Author]

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