Pretty huge result.

If they've been thrashed by PR, there's no guarantee of them beating Greece (all players 6'5"+) or Lithuania.

Australia fared no better against Greece. 2 assists for the entire game!

"Men : GINOBILI and Argentina stun world champs 15 Aug. 2004


ATHENS, August 15 - A replay of the last World Championship final lived up to its billing on Sunday, 15 August, when Emanuel GINOBILI (ARG) hit a midair shot on the final buzzer to give Argentina an 83-82 victory over Serbia and Montenegro in preliminary Group A.



After Dejan TOMASEVIC put Serbia and Montenegro ahead at the foul line with 3.8 seconds left, Argentina raced the length of the floor before GINOBILI fired his shot off the glass and through the hoop as the buzzer sounded.



GINOBILI led the Argentines with 27 points, while Andres NOCIONI added 12 and Luis SCOLA 11.



Vladimir RADMANOVIC led world champion Serbia and Montenegro with 21 points, Igor RAKOCEVIC scored 19, Dejan BODIROGA 16 and Milos VUJANIC 15.



GINOBILI scored 17 of his points in the first quarter, among them four 3-point strikes, whilst RADMANOVIC and VUJANIC hit three 3-pointers to finish the first half at 49-39 to Argentina.



Serbia and Montenegro attacked strongly in the third quarter, when RADMANOVIC and RAKOCEVIC sparked a 9-0 run that put the score at 51-48 to Argentina and by the end of the quarter, the difference was down to a basket, 61-59.



The lead went to Serbia and Montenegro early in the fourth quarter and went back and forth until consecutive drives by RAKOCEVIC and a cool 3-pointer by BODIROGA put Serbia and Montenegro in front, 78-75, with 2:35 to play.



Argentina seemed defeated until GINOBILI reemerged with a driving lay up and was fouled with 16.4 seconds left to tie the score at 81-81.

TOMASEVIC hit one of his two free throws to put Serbia and Montenegro up by a point, but 3.8 seconds gave GINOBILI enough time to exact revenge for Argentina's overtime loss in the last World Championship final."

just proving he is one of the most clutch players in the world.

Get used to it guys....this ain't no dream team. I've said it all along, the USA will not win a medal in mens basketball. No shaq, no medal!

Saw an article on ESPN yesterday detailing all the players who turned down the chance to represent their country, and their list of excuses (weddings, resting, etc).

I liked Shaq's excuse best: already got a gold -- time to give someone else a chance.

That ain't what Thorpe said after the false start...

Highlights of the game were on after Roy and H.G last night. The Jazz point guard killed the US guards and Casiano put on an unbelievable shooting display.
A couple of observations about the US.

1. They have no shooters (Drewy Gaze was calling Jefferson a shooter during the call. Don't think so)
2. Teams know to beat this US team to play zone
3. There was a lot of whinging from the US when a foul was called on them.
4. The Puerto Ricans were much more relaxed than the US.

Would have been good to put a couple of bucks on the US NOT to win the gold...

Do the aussies have a chance to beat them Thursday?? Possibly, but I think the Boomers have their own problems to sort out first.

Unfortunately I think the Aussies are just about the only team that don'y have a chance against the Americans. They play similar styles, Americans are just better.

Aussies arn't used to playing much zone either, as was seen against Greece.

USA looked completely rattled...like spoilt kids not getting what they wanted.

Arroyo for Puerto Rico killed them! How good was that steal and lay up.

I did hear Gaze call Jefferson a shooter, that was a bit embarrasing. He pronounced Arroyo differently every time he called him too!

I was surprise wathing Carlos Arroyo put on a great showed. Arroyo crushed U.S. the whole game. United State did not had a key on how to Puerto Rico Olympic Team. Puerto Rico basketball had just begun