USA vs Spain WCB 2002, Indianapolis. 5th - 6th place (II)

Match played on Indianapolis at the FIBA World cup of basket on 2002.

It faced The U.S.A. and Spain, two of the best teams on that tournament that always thought they would face each other in the final... but the USA lost to the Stojakovic's Yugoslavia and Spain lost to the Nowitzki's Germany, so they had no chance but to play fot a 5th - 6th position.

It was already a dissapointment for both national teams not to qualify for the semi finals, so they played very willingly to take the best they could from the broken dreams for them at that WC.

U.S.A. team was formed by: Reggie Miller (best last NBA campaign 3pt shooter), Andre Miller (best assistant), Ben Wallace (best defender), Elton Brand, Antonio Davis, Michael Finley, Raef LaFrentz (best blocker), Baron Davis, Shawn Marion, Jermaine O'neal, Paul Pierce and the rising star Jay Williams.
Head Coach: George Karl

Spain had in their files: Pau Gasol (NBA rookie of the year), J.C. Navarro, Alfonso Reyes (injured, didn't play), Felipe Reyes, Jorge Garbajosa (MVP on Italy finals with Bennetton), J.A. Paraíso, Carlos Jiménez, Nacho Rodríguez, Lucio Angulo (ACB best stealer), Carles Marco, Oriol Junyent (ACB best rebounder) and a very young J.M. Calderón.
Head Coach: Javier Imbroda

Both teams played with passion, but in the end, the USA team, (that got freaking nervous in that world cup everytime the rival team was close to them in the final minutes), gave too many fouls to Spain, that was the best team at free throws of the tournament.

Spain ended having better percentage in almost every shoot range and finally, they won the match by 75-81.

Althought they just reached a 5th place they were really happy as it was the first time ever they had beaten a NBA team (the third time in general, after Argentina and Yugoslavia, that beaten the USA at that same tournament).

Enjoy the resume!

Music:
Jamiroquai - Just dance

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• USA
• Spain
• world
• cup
• basket
• 2002
• indianapolis
• Reggie
• Miller
• Ben
• Wallace
• Jay
• Williams
• Pau
• Gasol
• Lucio
• Angulo
• Navarro

[exciter1207]

quien es el tio de las gafas?

[xWillBeEndx]

Lucio Angulo; uno de los mejores aleros de la ACB por entonces. Había sido líder en robos de la liga ese año.

[fadeawade03]

INdiana was a terrible choice....90% of the arena was empty

[Crocketman1990]

dude watch 2008 were bringing the pros to play

[kouras7suns13]

lafrenz in the US team??

[wencesbahena]

the worst usa team ever

[timawela]

@fadeawade03 you cannot win a world cup with that frontcourt. 3 no-scoring guys. it's a pity that USAB doesn't keep those guys managing it at all. GO SPAIN!!!!!

[gabepizza]

last time Spain beat USA

[jamesonfred6]

Nice song choice. :)

[zlacanplavekose]

You're wright man , if you had just few of them , you can won all tournaments ... You see , same thing with us , last few years , best players are not playing for national team , Stojakovic , Radmanovic , Pavlovic , Milicic , Rakocevic , Jaric (Maybe not him), but i am glad that we , through qualifications won silver on EuroB. But i'm saying men , Usa is favorite in WC 2010 in Turkey .... but it's all possible ... Greetings from Serbia

[elgranherreros]

ese lucio puto dios, que estuvo en clase de catalan y geografia aqui en alicante y yo era el unico que me acercaba a él jajaja...never forget youuuuu

[g4dS]

LaFrentz? hahahahahahaha

[Erikhaos]

Yeah... from 2002 -2006

No Superstars and balanced team with good preparation, no gold.

We could have won them all... in 2002 we had Kobe Bryant, Shaq, Kenyon Martin, Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby, Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce was OK on this team... In a few words... we had enough talent and time to make a good roster but for some fucking reason USA Basketball don't care too much about the World's. But USA won't lose again in a few years.

[alfondiaz]

je je a trnquilete colega a ver si te vas a confundir!!