With a little different management philosophy, the Pistons could be the team with three players starring for three different teams in the FIBA Championship Games, instead of the Orlando Magic.

U.S. beats Slovenia 114-95 clinching a spot in the round of 16 at the world championships.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

I wonder if this go round with team USA is a litmus test for coach K.
If it turns out positive will he become interested in leaving the college coaching ranks.

Oh God I hope not. Because Coach AMEX just irritates the hell out of me for some reason. Maybe because I think his quiet humble demeaner masks his true nature as an authoritarian power junkie. Yeah, that's it. I don't want to have to watch him in the NBA too. It's bad enough all the hype over him in March Madness. Does he wear a bad toupee or is that really his hair with too much BrylCream in it?

I think he has already been offered NBA coaching jobs. Wasn't he offered the Lakers coaching job after they fired Phil? I think he turned it down because "his heart was at Duke." We know all about the integrity of the heart in this sport, don't we?

If it's inevitable, maybe he should get the Knicks the first time out!

Tough win against Italy (94-85).


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Milicic had 18 points, 6 blocked shots, 11 rebounds and was 8/16 from the field against Venezuela in a blow-out.

Also, Carmelo Anthony is playing like the best player on the US.

I was watching the live stats and Melo scored like 19 points in the 3rd. I never used to like him that much, but as he matures I find myself liking him more. Not as flashy as the other 2 big names from that draft.

If we (australia) happen to make it to the next round we will be playing you guys. But our team has a lot of new and untested guys.

That's one helluva line!

Interesting day so far...

Dirk has 47(!) against Angola, but only scraped home by 5.

Battle between Darko and Delfino. Both had good games by the looks of it.
Darko - 10/18, 24p, 12r
Delfino - 14p (4/5 3pt)

Aussies thrash Qatar and keep their chances alive. (yay!)

China beat Slovenia with a 3 at the buzzer.

Now I just need Lithuania to down Brazil and we'll be heading towards a match-up with the US.

I saw the US vs. Italy, and anyone confident about US basketball supremacy should see how well the elite Int'l programs match up against the Americans.

At halftime, it was all Italy.

There is going to come a day when the US will be expected to finish 4th or lower, even with a dream team. The world is catching up.