BASKET: ITALY-USA 95-78

[Smoke]

In Germany, Italy defeated USA 95-78.

COLOGNE, Germany -- The U.S. men's Olympic team did more than merely lose. It was embarrassed and exposed like never before in international competition.

Losing an exhibition game for the first time when using NBA players, the Americans were completely outclassed by lightly regarded Italy, never even making it close in the fourth quarter of a 95-78 upset Tuesday.

"This is a wakeup call for us," Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson said. "I think we need something like this to understand it's not going to be easy."

SportsNation: Still Believe?
 
On July 27, SportsNation was firmly behind the U.S. team with 78.2 percent believing the team would win the gold medal in Athens.
After the 17-point loss to Italy, that number is down to 52 percent. The percentage of those who feel the U.S. team will not medal has gone up from 6 percent to 24 percent.

The Americans were sloppy with the ball and couldn't handle Italy's zone defenses and 3-point shooting. Italy not only made 15 from behind the arc but showed superior ball movement and poise in handing the Americans their most lopsided defeat since pros began competing in 1992.

"They're going to be in for a lot of lessons for the next few weeks," U.S. coach Larry Brown said. "It's a young team, and it's a different game internationally."

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony led the Americans with 17 points, and two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan added 15.

Italy, whose roster is filled entirely by players from that country's league, was led by Giacomo Galanda's 28 points and Gianluca Basile's 25.

While the Italians were fifth at the Sydney Olympics, the United States is unbeaten at the Summer Games and in Olympic qualifying since NBA players were allowed in 1992, taking four straight gold medals. It will seek a fifth in a row at the Aug. 13-29 Athens Olympics.

But the United States is sending its youngest team to the Olympics -- the average age is 23˝ -- since the door opened for NBA players.

At the 2002 World Championships, an American team with NBA players was beaten for the first time, 87-80 by Argentina. The United States went on to lose twice more in that tournament and finished sixth.

In an effort to avoid a similar display, the current U.S. squad is touring Europe before heading to Greece. On Wednesday, it will face a Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany, which beat Italy 85-77 Sunday.

On Tuesday, Iverson's jump shot trimmed Italy's lead to 56-52 with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. But the Americans never got closer. On Italy's next two trips down the floor, Basile made 3-pointers that stretched the underdogs' lead to 62-52.

Iverson winced when Massimo Bulleri made a 3-pointer despite falling down and having the past NBA scoring champion's hand in his face late in the third quarter.

The Americans had all sorts of problems on defense and offense, getting called for three shot-clock violations and several traveling calls in front of 14,831 spectators.

The Italians were 15-of-35 from behind the line, while Americans went just 4-for-13, justifying Brown's fears that his team might be short on pure shooters.

YOU AINT SHIT. Out.

[Javier]

when will the real USA basketball team show up?  I understand why Kidd , malone, and kobe were not able to go but the others?  What a shame

[Smoke]

Ok, maybe that's not the best team in the NBA

Carmelo Anthony  Denver Nuggets 20 A
Carlos Boozer  Utah Jazz  22 A/C
Tim Duncan  San Antonio Spurs 28 A/C
Allen Iverson  Philadelphia 76ers 29 G
LeBron James  Cleveland Cavaliers 19 G
Richard Jefferson  New Jersey Nets 24 A
Stephon Marbury  New York Knicks 27 G
Shawn Marion  Phoenix Suns 26 A
Lamar Odom  Los Angeles Lakers 24 A
Emeka Okafor  Charlotte Bobcats 21 A/C
Amare Stoudemire  Phoenix Suns 22 A
Dwyane Wade  Miami Heat 22 G

But how many players do you know from this roster?

Gianluca Basile Fortitudo Bo 29 G
Massimo Bulleri Treviso 26 G
Roberto Chiacig Siena 29 C
Giacomo Galanda Siena 29 A
Luca Garri Roma 22 A-C
Denis Marconato Treviso 29 C
Michele Mian Udine 31 G
Gianmarco Pozzecco Fortitudo Bo 31 G
Nikola Radulovic Valladolid 31 A
Alex Righetti Roma 26 A
Rodolfo Rombaldoni Jesi 27 G
Matteo Soragna Treviso 28 G

Please! Dont make lame excuses, +17 points win, with the second team playing the last quarter.

And yes, Italy is playing in the Olimpics. Like Argentina, like Lithuania, etc..

[mauzip]

prolly propaganda.

[Smoke]

prolly propaganda.

Wonderful!

[Smoke]

Oh, and that lame excuse about the age. Italy has (will have, in the Olimpics) an average age of 25.5! USA 23.6.

[Montana00]

america has the best basketball players.

[white Boy]

props to italy, haha at usa

[Javier]

Im not making excuses.  the College All American team should win a game vs Italy.  Too much damn indivual play is fucking up basketball.  The A, B, C team of the NBA should easily win every game.  No excuses from me.

[Maestro Minded]

lol at USA.. cant even win at their own game

[mauzip]

lol at USA.. cant even win at their own game

HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA






















When was the last time England won a title in soccer?

Stupid fuck.

[eS El Duque]

lol at USA.. cant even win at their own game

ITS CANADA'S GAME!!!!!!! 

[mikeOG]

italy has been together how long now as a team? it usually takes a while for a team to develop chemistry ( making key plays during crucial moments, rotating on D etc..) looking at this roster i dont see any consistent shooters but alot of scorers who need to get into a rythem for them to be successfull, hasnt happened yet but its the only 2nd exhibition gamel. with all these athletes on this team they have to become a better lockdown defensive team and get easy buckets that way since they're lacking any deadly shooters...

just look at the lakers they were suppose to win it all last year but never developed the chemistry they had during the 3 peat years. only time will tell if this team will turn it around..

[Maestro Minded]

lol at USA.. cant even win at their own game

HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHA
.
.
.
When was the last time England won a title in soccer?

Stupid fuck.

is england supposed to be the best football nation and practically dominate all other teams? ..... NO
is usa supposed to be the best basketball nation and practically dominate all other teams? ..... uhm.... YES


ignorant homosexual.

[M Dogg™]

it's all good. other countries are finally catching on to basketball, and when Jordan was popular, the game reached all over the globe, and now in other countries they play b-ball. It's a an upset when we win in baseball now against a Latin American country, and soon it'll be an upset if we can beat a European, or maybe even African teams in basketball unless we get our pros. It happens, it's all good. This shows that the game is popular all over the world, unlike American football which no one outside of the U.S. knows, nor cares how to play.

Also, just because the first pro basketball game was played in Canada, Toronto in fact, does not make it a Canadian game. It was invented in the United States at YMCAs, and later Canadians took to basketball to have a sport that can be played in areas on nights when hockey was not played. The sport then took off in ghettos, first being played by Jews who dominated the game, and later by blacks who took over the ghettos. It basically became the poor mans game.