USA-Australia Review
I don’t know why but after a decent start Team USA fell into the exact same pattern as their exhibition with Australia. The Americans were really in a struggle for the entire first half, so much so that I was starting to yell at my TV…at 5:30 AM.
Team USA did what they always do when they struggle, which is stand around on offense and go one-on-one. That no movement attack led to way too many missed 3-pointers both open and contested. Causing further difficulties was that the American defense got way too loose for a stretch from the middle of the 1st to the middle of the 2nd quarter.
More or less we were playing right into the Aussie’s hands, as we were 3-13 from three and 10-20 from the free throw line in the first half. Australia wasn’t turning the ball over, they were getting good open looks and their zone had us frustrated. To make matters worse Patty Mills was running wild on Chris Paul once again. The truth of it is that it could have been much closer at halftime if the Boomers hadn’t missed so many wide-open bunnies.
Almost unbelievably it was Team USA’s rebounding that kept them ahead in the first half (57-28 total & 19-8 offensive for the game). Then Deron Williams hit an absolute momentum three at the first half buzzer and the route was on. The Americans opened up the 3rd quarter with back-to-back threes that exploded into a 14-0 run (with Kobe Bryant scoring 9 of the 14) and a 69-43 lead. Next thing you knew Andrew Bogut’s left ankle got “hurt” again and the rest of his club packed it in for the night.
Kobe (25 points on 10-16 shooting (4-7 from 3) & 5 rebounds) did something I’d normally hate in this circumstance, which was take over on offense, but honestly his squad needed it. Yes he took some forced shots, but he also made most of them and that really demoralized Australia.
(Sidebar: I think Tayshaun Prince has worked his way into Coach K’s rotation as the 9th man.)
Overall Team USA showed some real perseverance and patience for once, didn’t panic and straight wore the Aussies down. The 3-point shooting for the Americans was a very respectable 12-29 (41.4%) but their free throw shooting was awful again (18-31, 58.1%).
(News flash Boomers! We know you’re tough and don’t back down, but talking trash and getting in people’s faces when you’re losing by 30 is flat out bush league. Go home and shut up already. Oh yeah, and there were exactly two fracases as I predicted.)
Elsewhere around the tournament…
> Spain took care of Croatia 72-59 behind 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks from Pau Gasol.
> Lithuania eventually wore down a very game Chinese group by being very physical with Yao Ming while constantly double and triple-teaming him...even when he didn't have the ball.
> In the best game of the day Argentina hung on to beat Greece 80-78 when Vassilis Spanoulis missed a pull up 3-pointer from straight on right before the final buzzer.
Team USA did what they always do when they struggle, which is stand around on offense and go one-on-one. That no movement attack led to way too many missed 3-pointers both open and contested. Causing further difficulties was that the American defense got way too loose for a stretch from the middle of the 1st to the middle of the 2nd quarter.
More or less we were playing right into the Aussie’s hands, as we were 3-13 from three and 10-20 from the free throw line in the first half. Australia wasn’t turning the ball over, they were getting good open looks and their zone had us frustrated. To make matters worse Patty Mills was running wild on Chris Paul once again. The truth of it is that it could have been much closer at halftime if the Boomers hadn’t missed so many wide-open bunnies.
Almost unbelievably it was Team USA’s rebounding that kept them ahead in the first half (57-28 total & 19-8 offensive for the game). Then Deron Williams hit an absolute momentum three at the first half buzzer and the route was on. The Americans opened up the 3rd quarter with back-to-back threes that exploded into a 14-0 run (with Kobe Bryant scoring 9 of the 14) and a 69-43 lead. Next thing you knew Andrew Bogut’s left ankle got “hurt” again and the rest of his club packed it in for the night.
Kobe (25 points on 10-16 shooting (4-7 from 3) & 5 rebounds) did something I’d normally hate in this circumstance, which was take over on offense, but honestly his squad needed it. Yes he took some forced shots, but he also made most of them and that really demoralized Australia.
(Sidebar: I think Tayshaun Prince has worked his way into Coach K’s rotation as the 9th man.)
Overall Team USA showed some real perseverance and patience for once, didn’t panic and straight wore the Aussies down. The 3-point shooting for the Americans was a very respectable 12-29 (41.4%) but their free throw shooting was awful again (18-31, 58.1%).
(News flash Boomers! We know you’re tough and don’t back down, but talking trash and getting in people’s faces when you’re losing by 30 is flat out bush league. Go home and shut up already. Oh yeah, and there were exactly two fracases as I predicted.)
Elsewhere around the tournament…
> Spain took care of Croatia 72-59 behind 20 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks from Pau Gasol.
> Lithuania eventually wore down a very game Chinese group by being very physical with Yao Ming while constantly double and triple-teaming him...even when he didn't have the ball.
> In the best game of the day Argentina hung on to beat Greece 80-78 when Vassilis Spanoulis missed a pull up 3-pointer from straight on right before the final buzzer.
posted by D$ at 11:10 AM
1 Comments:
Well said.
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