USA 123 Virgin Islands 59
> For some reason Team USA always seems to start games off tight, and it doesn’t really matter who they are playing.
> The defensive intensity has been absolutely stifling through the first two games. The US has managed to completely derail the opposition’s half court offense thus far.
> Michael Redd is such a key component for this club that it boggles the mind as to why it took USA basketball so long to realize that they needed a designated shooter.
> When the games get more competitive further along in this tournament Deron Williams’ minutes need to go to Kobe Bryant.
> If you thought NBA refs were bad, you need to watch some international ball. FIBA referees are terrible. There are 5+ whistles a game that look like easy calls to make…but they end up going in the total opposite direction. It’s not the lack of a “star system” either, or that the refs are out to get the US, because the lesser squads suffer just as many questionable calls. I don’t know want the solution is, but through two games it’s painfully obvious that FIBA referees are clueless.
> I’m going on record early with this statement:
Amare Stoudemire should not be on the Olympic team.
It’s really that simple.
I’d replace Amare with Elton Brand and Mike Miller with Kyle Korver. I think I’d be pretty happy with this current group with those two additions in Beijing. Switching out D Wil for Dwyane Wade and Tyson Chandler for Chris Bosh would be overkill in my mind.
> I’ll be driving to the Oregon Coast on Saturday during the USA-Canada game (noon Pacific on ESPN2), so there won’t be a report on that tilt. I expect the “hosers” to give us a little more of a test, but not enough to worry about.
> The biggest challenge for the national team in group play will be Sunday versus Brazil (6 PM Pacific on ESPN2). I’m going to do my best to find a bar in Bandon with ESPN2 if my beach house doesn’t have it.
The top priority for coach Mike Krzyzewski is figuring out how to contain Leandro Barbosa. Looking at the team USA roster I’d give first crack at the “Brazilian Blur” to Kobe, then follow Bryant up with Deron Williams. Those are the only two players with even a slight chance to stay in front of Barbosa. Everyone else is far too slow, including backcourt defensive stalwarts Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups.
The next order of business is making sure that Stoudemire, Chandler and Dwight Howard are ready to muscle Nene Hilario and Tiago Splitter. This is going to be a battle royal down low and will certainly give us the answer to the question of whether or not this US team has enough size and depth up front to hang when put to the test.
Brazil is more than just Leandro, Nene and Tiago though, as they also have little man Alex Garcia (Spurs & Hornets) and forward Marcus Vinicius (Hornets) that have played in the NBA. I’m not even mentioning their European based guys that play big minutes like Valter da Silva and Marcelo Machado.
This contest borders on must see TV.
> The defensive intensity has been absolutely stifling through the first two games. The US has managed to completely derail the opposition’s half court offense thus far.
> Michael Redd is such a key component for this club that it boggles the mind as to why it took USA basketball so long to realize that they needed a designated shooter.
> When the games get more competitive further along in this tournament Deron Williams’ minutes need to go to Kobe Bryant.
> If you thought NBA refs were bad, you need to watch some international ball. FIBA referees are terrible. There are 5+ whistles a game that look like easy calls to make…but they end up going in the total opposite direction. It’s not the lack of a “star system” either, or that the refs are out to get the US, because the lesser squads suffer just as many questionable calls. I don’t know want the solution is, but through two games it’s painfully obvious that FIBA referees are clueless.
> I’m going on record early with this statement:
Amare Stoudemire should not be on the Olympic team.
It’s really that simple.
I’d replace Amare with Elton Brand and Mike Miller with Kyle Korver. I think I’d be pretty happy with this current group with those two additions in Beijing. Switching out D Wil for Dwyane Wade and Tyson Chandler for Chris Bosh would be overkill in my mind.
> I’ll be driving to the Oregon Coast on Saturday during the USA-Canada game (noon Pacific on ESPN2), so there won’t be a report on that tilt. I expect the “hosers” to give us a little more of a test, but not enough to worry about.
> The biggest challenge for the national team in group play will be Sunday versus Brazil (6 PM Pacific on ESPN2). I’m going to do my best to find a bar in Bandon with ESPN2 if my beach house doesn’t have it.
The top priority for coach Mike Krzyzewski is figuring out how to contain Leandro Barbosa. Looking at the team USA roster I’d give first crack at the “Brazilian Blur” to Kobe, then follow Bryant up with Deron Williams. Those are the only two players with even a slight chance to stay in front of Barbosa. Everyone else is far too slow, including backcourt defensive stalwarts Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups.
The next order of business is making sure that Stoudemire, Chandler and Dwight Howard are ready to muscle Nene Hilario and Tiago Splitter. This is going to be a battle royal down low and will certainly give us the answer to the question of whether or not this US team has enough size and depth up front to hang when put to the test.
Brazil is more than just Leandro, Nene and Tiago though, as they also have little man Alex Garcia (Spurs & Hornets) and forward Marcus Vinicius (Hornets) that have played in the NBA. I’m not even mentioning their European based guys that play big minutes like Valter da Silva and Marcelo Machado.
This contest borders on must see TV.
posted by D$ at 10:49 AM
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