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FROM INDY (DAY 3) - VALIANT TALL BLACKS LOOK AHEAD
by Piet Van Hasselt
in Indianapolis, Indiana : USA
1. VALIANT TALL BLACKS LOOK AHEAD
A spirited Tall Black team pushed Argentina to the limit
in the early stages, but fell short at the final hurdle,
losing their final game of the first round, 112-85.
The final 27-point margin was the largest of the game and
did not represent the enormous effort displayed by the
New Zealanders. The match was a physical encounter with
Sean Marks suffering a poke in the eye and a number
bodies hitting the floor.
Foul trouble hampered the minutes of three Argentineans,
but this did little to stem the tide at the offensive
end, with seven players reaching double-figures. Emanuel
Ginobili was almost impossible to stop in the fourth
quarter adding nine points to his game-high total of 24
in just 19 total minutes!
The Tall Blacks jumped out to an early seven-point lead
29-22, thanks to hot shooting from the man originating
from Reefton, Phill Jones, and Captain Pero Cameron.
However the Argentineans picked it up at the offensive
and defensive ends, outscoring NZ 26-13 in the second
quarter to bring an eight point advantage into half-time,
52-44.
The Kiwis played tougher defence in the third putting on
a 13-2 run to tie the game at 63-all. Ed Book dominated
play under the boards and Penney found his shooting
range. NZ kept in touch trading baskets with the South
American side to be only down by two, 72-74 at the end of
the third.
Unfortunately for NZ, Ginobili returned at the start of
the fourth quarter and showcased why many consider him to
be the best current player who has yet to play in the NBA
(he recently signed with the San Antonio Spurs). The
shots weren’t dropping for the Tall Blacks and
Argentina was able to utilise their uptempo offence with
11 fast break points in the quarter.
The loss means the Tall Blacks advance to the second
round with a record of one win and one loss. They must
now play Germany, USA and China in a new group of six
teams vying for a top-4 spot that will give them a
Quarter Final berth. The reason why the Tall Blacks
already have one win and a loss for the second round is
that Argentina and Russia have also progressed into the
second round in the same group as NZ. Competition format
dictates that these earlier games count rather than
having them play again (due to time considerations).
A win against Germany, USA or China should give the Tall
Blacks the number four spot in the Quarters. Their
opponent at this stage is a crossover match with the
other new pool of six teams – which is looking
likely to be Spain, Yugoslavia or Brazil (see below for
more details).
TALL BLACK SUPPORTERS: Again the South
Americans outnumbered us by a huge amount, but we kept up
the new chants and never gave up on our team. New signs
were debuted: “Who says Kiwis can’t fly!”
and hopefully made it to your TVONE screens. We’ve
heard that we are getting excellent TV coverage! A crowd
of 22,619 gathered at the RCA Dome for the game following
the Tall Blacks (China vs USA) – easily the best
crowd of the champs, quadrupling the number from the
night before!
Burger King Tall Blacks 85 (Cameron 21,
Jones 13, Penney 13, Dickel 12, Book 11, Marks 10, Henare
3, Boucher 2).
Argentina 112 (Ginobili 24, Noccioni 17,
Palladino 13, Oberto 12, Sconochini 12, Wolkowysky 12,
Sanchez 10, Montecchia 5, Scola 4, Fernandez 3).
Rebounds: NZ 23 (Marks 8, Book 4). Argentina 26
(Montecchia 5).
Assists: NZ 16 (Dickel 5). Argentina 27 (Montecchia 7).
2. COACH BALDWIN UNHAPPY BUT NOT DISTRESSED
Coach Tab Baldwin reiterated yesterday’s comment
that he believes Argentina is a legitimate medal
contender. “We got a taste of something today, and
it didn’t taste very good.” “We
didn’t get the job done offensively, and you can
credit Argentina’s defence for that,” said
Baldwin.
3. ARGENTINE CREDITS NZ
Coach Ruben Magnano congratulated NZ for their effort:
“They are a very good team and a very good rival. It
was a fun game. The difference in the score doesn’t
represent the effort of the game.”
4. FORMER RAM WINS QUARTER BREAK COMPETITION
NZ continued their impressive form in the now
“legendary” series of quarter break shooting
competitions with former Rams player of recent years
Donal Hockey, who now lives in London, not missing a shot
in a perfect exhibition of the
lay-up/free-throw/three-point competition. Later on in
the night NZ suffered the first loss of the tournament to
bring the record to 3 wins-1 loss in supporters
competitions.
5. OTHER GAMES
GROUP A
Yugoslavia beat Canada 87-71
Spain 88 beat Angola 88-55
GROUP B
Brazil beat Puerto Rico 90-86
Turkey beat Lebanon 107-80
GROUP C
USA beat China 84-65 – Game of the Day – China
provides USA with second scare of the tournament leading
28-16 after 10 minutes. However big men Yao Ming and
Menke Bateer suffer foul trouble and USA runs away with
the easy win.
Germany beat Algeria 102-70
GROUP D
Russia beat Venezuela 84-69
Argentina beat NZ 112-85
6. FINAL GROUP STANDINGS
The top three teams of each group have been decided and
they will now each play three more matches in the second
round. The games against the teams that you faced in the
first round count towards the total second round points
– ie. NZ’s games against Argentina and Russia
count. The Tournament gives 2 points for a win, 1 point
for a loss.
GROUP A – Spain go through ahead of stacked
Yugoslavs thanks to Pau Gasol. Angola is lucky they
weren’t in another pool and the unavailability of
four NBA players for Canada costs them.
Spain (3 wins-0 losses) – 6 points
Yugoslavia (2-1) – 5 points
Angola (1-2) – 4 points
Canada (0-3) – 3 points
GROUP B – Brazil keeps winning close ball games.
Turkey rewards the thousands of loyal fans today with a
must-win over Lebanon and will be hungry in the second
round.
Brazil (3 wins-0 losses) – 6 points
Puerto Rico (2-1) – 5 points
Turkey (1-2) – 4 points
Lebanon (0-3) – 3 points
GROUP C – USA has been pushed in last two games and
invulnerability tag is wearing down. The one-man
“Nowitzki” German show is always dangerous.
China’s two big men look dominant.
USA (3 wins-0 losses) – 6 points
Germany (2-1) – 5 points
China (1-2) – 4 points
Algeria (0-3) – 3 points
GROUP D – Argentina looking very good - playing with
speed and intelligence. NZ are the surprise package and
Russians are lucky to make it through.
Argentina (3 wins-0 losses) – 6 points
New Zealand (2-1) – 5 points
Russia (1-2) – 4 points
Venezuela (0-3) – 3 points
7. DRAW FOR UPCOMING GAMES
Two groups are created (E & F) of six teams, of which
the top four advance to the Quarter Finals.
GROUP E: Spain, Brazil, Yugoslavia, Puerto Rico, Angola,
Turkey
GROUP F: USA, Argentina, New Zealand, Germany, China,
Russia
NZ SCHEDULE: (NZ TIMES)
Tue 3 Sept: NZ vs Germany (10:30am)
Wed 4 Sept: NZ vs USA (1:00pm)
Thu 5 Sept: NZ vs China (9:30pm)
LOOK OUT FOR THE NEXT RAMS NEWS: Live from Indy
(Day 4)
There is a rest day before the start of Round 2.
REPORTS FROM TALL BLACKS vs GERMANY
OTHER KEY MATCH-UPS ON DAY 4
Please
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