Spain vs Great Britain
I watched the British basketball team take on Spain at the Eurobasket tournament last night, and was sending friend-of-WYWG Tom flippant comments via email. I got a bit carried away, and it turned into a running commentary, which I thought I may as well post here, for posterity.
Apart from the fact that I had called Jarrett Hart “Jared” throughout, it is basically unedited. It’s not exactly a liveblog, though, as I’m posting it a day late. It is more of a tape-delay-blog. You also might like to have a look at Basketball 24/7’s news item for a more knowledgable take on the game…
We have a point guard named Nate. Nate. He sounds very British. He also has 2 fouls in the first minute. Spain 12 - 0 GB
Flinder has a pretty teardrop runner.
Pops in early foul trouble.
(Tournament favourites) Spain troubled us early with their full court press, but in the last 4 minutes of the quarter we got a bit of a rhythm going.
Robert Archibald is one tall Scot.
Joel Freeland is not bad.
Pops is bouncy.
Almost everyone on the GB team has two fouls.
End of 1st Quarter: Spain 25 - 15 GB
Odd that John Amaechi is the colour commentator when he’s stated many times that he doesn’t have any real interest in basketball.
Flinder is dope. I shall suggest that my sister names her upcoming baby boy after him. Flinder Goutte.
With 6 mins to play in the half Mike Lenzly streaks to the cup and the Spanish lead is cut to 7.
Lenzly hits a three pointer early in the shotclock and the lead is down to six. Spain reply immediately and it’s back up to eight. And now PowpowPAU! has two free throws + the possession.
Pau hits the first, misses the second, and then after Pops falls over in the paint gets it back at the other end for the hard dunk.
Pops falls over again, but this time the foul is called and he misses both free throws.
PRETTY move from former Spanish dunk champion Victor Claver and the lead is up to 13. Victor Goutte also a good potential nephew name. Not sure if he’ll be able to pull off Pops Goutte.
GB are using every second of the shot clock on most possessions. We have to fight for every basket. Spanish are getting lots of easy buckets. Spain 42 - 31 GB.
According to the commentators, (the Brit) Achara has good mobility, length.
“Chris Finch talking about fronting the post. That means that instead of playing behind they’ll step out in front.” Thanks for that insight, Meech.
Stats!
- Spain shooting 60% from the three(!),
- GB have a better shooting percentage for two pointers, though: 55%,
- Spain have seven (7) offensive rebounds,
- Gasol has 13 points. Pau Gasol, that is. Marc is also playing but is thus far a less prolific scorer. (Bit of a donkey.),
- Freeland and Lenzly are joint leading scorers for GB with 8 apiece.
Score at the end of the half: Spain 44 - 35 GB
The commentary and picture have cut out for half-time. I can hear Spanish voices, and the British supporters chanting “Who are ya? Who are ya?” Classy.
The half starts with Britain down nine. The commentator that isn’t Meech says that if Spain lose today they will be knocked out of the tournament, having lost their first game. That’s also true for GB, but I guess that was pretty much a given.
GB Captain Andrew Sullivan grabs an offensive rebound, puts it back AND gets the foul. I was not aware he was playing before that point. I don’t notice whether or not he hits the freebie in my excitement at discovering he exists.
Pau hits one and misses one to go precisely 50% from the line. 5/10. I could literally do better myself. I guess he has me beat for wingspan though.
GB are REALLY struggling with their inbounds passes. I have stopped referring to them as “we”.
Timeout. GB couch Chris Finch is ANGRY. The commentator apologises for the “industrial language”.
Achara blocks a dunk attempt by Marc Gasol (it’s the length, you see) and the commentator gets really excited. Marc keeps the ball, though, and Achara gets called for a foul on the second attempt. Spain up by eleven. Achara’s first name is Kieron. Boring.
Pau hits 2 free throws in a row! He’s 7/12 now.
Everybody on the GB front-line has lots of fouls. I’m concerned Flinder might have to guard Pau in the fourth quarter. Spain 55 - 39 GB.
Ricky Rubio has not impressed me so far. I am pleased he decided to sign with Barcelona instead of the Timberwolves.
Pau gets called for travelling. “Rules are rules, and they’re being called officiously tonight.” Someone British immediately gets called for travelling at the other end.
Joel Freeland scores a breakaway dunk. Raar. Spain 55 - 44 GB.
Dirty cheating Spaniard Jose Reyes gets a tech for a ridiculous flop off a GB inbounds. Nate hits a freebie—we’re only shown the second. GB immediately lose the ball at the following inbounds and Spain score an easy two.
Pau hits another two free throws. He is also still 7’ tall. I guess he is better than me after all. Spain 60 - 47 GB.
Pops gets carried away and now he’s got 4 fouls. Time for a bench break, Pops. Freeland and Archibald both also have 4 fouls.
Joel Freeland nabs a steal, Nate NAILS a running three and the Spanish lead is down to eight.
At this point, GB have actually scored more points than Spain in both the second and third quarters. Pity about that first quarter, eh?
Rudy Fernandez closes out the third with a three pointer.
Spain now have 62% from three. GB are FORTY percent from the free throw line. Both teams have ten (10) turnovers.
Spain 66 - 56 GB We’re still in it! (Just about.)
GB start the fourth by successfully inbounding the ball. Progress!
Nate’s surname is pronounced such that whenever the commentators mention him I think that they’re talking about “Ryan King”.
Jarrett Hart has good hustle. We’re up to 12 turnovers each 1:30 into the fourth.
Rudy gets a tech. Feisty Spanish! Ryan King misses the second, but apparently hit the first. (We—apparently the commentary are watching the same feed I am—didn’t see it.)
Ryan King scores an off-balance mid range jumper, AND ONE, and the commentator goes bananas.
Achara has 4 fouls too now.
Claver called for an offensive foul.
Jarrett Hart hits a three pointer and GB are within ONE. 7 minutes left to play. Spain have yet to score a point in the fourth. Spain 66 - 65 GB.
Lenzly nabs a steal and I am legitimately excited.
Lenzly hits a three pointer and GB lead for the first time in the game! Spain 66 - 68 GB with 6 mins to go.
Achara hits a long two. Spain 68 - 70 GB, and I’m on the edge of my seat.
Then he fouls out. Bummer. Good game, Kieron.
Timeout. Chris Finch has a potty mouth.
GB up one with five mins to play. Hart hits another 3 and we’re up FOUR. I’m calling GB ‘us’ again.
Sloppy pass from Lenzly: easy fast break dunk for Spain. Spain 71 - 73 GB.
GB Shotclock violation! Weaksauce.
“Oooh and what’s going on there? Little bit of afters.” No techs called for the mild mardiness. Meech approves of the swallowed whistles.
Pau Gasol hits a three and Spain are back up by one with 2:51 to play.
Flinder can’t make the inlet pass, has to make a rushed, blocked shot, and GB have turned it over three possessions in a row. Timeout.
Holy balls we’re within one with two and a half minutes left.
!!!!!
Pau hits a free throw, though, and we’re down two. Archibald gets caught underneath the basket and Spain get the ball back: 2:08 left.
Navarro hits a three. Spain up five. 1:24 left. I am dejected.
Hart called for travelling. They would never have called that in the NBA.
P-P-Pau hits a two with under a minute left and I decide it’s over. 80-73.
Spain have scored 11 unanswered points. 18.7 secs left. 81-73.
Hart hits a three. GB only two scores behind with 13.7s left. 81-76.
Rubio hits 2 from the line. 83-76
Ryan King misses a (well worked) three. And Juan Carlos Navarro has two free throws with 3.6 on the clock. The former NBA player, not the Panamanian politician. Hits the first. Misses the second.
“Nate” Ryan King hits a three a looong time before the final buzzer (according to the commentator—I didn’t hear it) but the ref waves it off. Gyp.
I can’t believe we lost! But I also can’t believe we got so close. That was ridiculously exciting. Admittedly Spain played like turd, though. They’re gonna have to pull their socks up a lot if they want to actually win the predicted gold medal for once. Or even get out of the first round, in fact. Fantastic hustle from the GB team, and I think Meech might be right when he says we’ll be looked at differently from now on. Especially when Deng and Gordon get back. I’ll be interested to hear what The Painted Area makes of this. Great stuff.
I was wrong about GB being knocked out. If we beat Serbia tomorrow (unlikely), we go through!
Conclusion: I need to massively improve my touch-typing if I decide to become a sports reporter.
Final Score: Spain 84 - 76 GB (but it felt closer.)
