The 2012 Olympics are just days away and many basketball fans are looking forward to 
an exciting tournament. And as the tournament nears, teams have been playing tune-up games including Team U.S.A. and Team Argentina.
Yesterday, Team U.S.A. and Argentina tangled in exhibition play and although the U.S. won a narrow game (86-80), it included a few testy moments between Luis Scola, Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Andres Nocioni.
And perhaps this chippiness is what led Nocioni to take a verbal shot at the U.S. when he says the Americans are beatable.
Andres Nocioni says he's not so sure Team USA will win gold.
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) July 22, 2012
OK ease up there Nocioni. Might not want to wake a sleeping giant especially seeing how both teams are in Group A which means more games against a stacked Team U.S.A.
The last thing Nocioni needs to do is give the Americans some lockerroom material heading into the tournament but at the same time, can you blame him for making the comment?
Argentina took the U.S. to the final moments of the game and considering Argentina isn't loaded with big men, Argentina proved a team with both experience, speed, chemistry can give the Americans trouble. Now add size like Spain and Brazil have on their roster, and the Americans could have issues in their march towards Olympic gold. Moreover, Argentina isn't a young team yet the younger U.S. struggled and eeked out a win which can only add to any chinks in the American's armor heading into London.
Sure, some may say it was just exhibition play but if the U.S. does play like they did against Argentina, perhaps Nocioni is right.
In addition, Argentina has been the only team to ever beat Team U.S.A., so if teams in the tournament want a blueprint on how to handle the might American squad, they need not look much further.
[follow]
Original Story:
http://www.bloguin.com/olympicbasketb...
|
July 24, 2012
