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good post and repped. I agreed with nearly every statement.
[quote]The game would've been a lot closer had the Chinese hit their open threes/perimeter shots. [/quote]
I think that this was very telling. The only reason China missed was because they are just a poorly conditioned team. The amount of wide open looks they got was staggering. A deep, strong team like Spain will absolutely make USA pay for this.
Anyone know where I can watch the highlights online? If so, please post it, thanks! :cheers:
[QUOTE=starface]well its not over for those of us on the west coast, in fact it doesnt even start for another half an hour
but thanks for the spoiler :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]lol, us west coasters are just going to have to avoid ISH till after the game...
i actually watched thru the third quarter than had to jet, so i checked the score online to see how it ended up...
[URL="http://dimemag.com/2008/08/team-usa-vs-china-breakdown/"]Dime Mag's thoughts[/URL]
[URL="http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Behind-the-box-score-where-fine-first-impressio;_ylt=Ao1Ml6vxdrkWVYkISq9VmbiVTZd4?urn=nba,99716"]Yahoo's Ball Don't Lie's thoughts[/URL]
[QUOTE]Coach K's team also had its rebounding edge disappear for a bit in the third quarter, and you really get the feeling this outfit could take an early lead for once if Coach K would just face facts and run the ball through Chris Paul (driving) or Deron Williams (the screenin' and the rollin') as a starter instead of sticking with Jason Kidd, but this is quibbling with a 31-point loss.[/QUOTE]
My thoughts are that we need to do better with the perimeter shooting. Although I don't think some of the guys that shot pretty bad against China will continue to do so. And Team USA will need to do better at the free throw line. At least try to stay in the 80% range.
[QUOTE=mrhoopfan]Kidd makes alot of hockey assists, passes that lead to the scoring pass[/QUOTE]
Honestly I think [I]anyone[/I] on Team USA can do that (Kobe, LeBron, Deron, CP3). And they also know how to shoot the ball.
Team USA could've won 40+ pts if they hadn't treated the last quarter completely as the show-time. This team is horrible in shooting 3 pointers so I suggest that they give up the plans for 3-point shooting except when Michael Redd is on the court. They shouldn't shoot more than 10 three pointers ever in FIBA games.
If China didn't hit 80% from 3 in the first half US would've won by 50+.
The only team I see giving us any trouble at this point is Spain. Argentina, Greece, and Germany all looked bad, in my opinion.
oh and Howard played horrible.
He needs to get some touch around the rim, and stop getting swatted by 6'6" SG's.
His game is essentially dunks and rebounds at this point.
[QUOTE=Resurrection]The game would've been much closer if the FIBA refs called the numerous traveling calls on James and Wade. I guess even in international ball they're giving an extra step to the Americans. Pathetic.[/QUOTE]
I agree. Obvious travelling was not called on a half a dozen occasions. This might decide a close game. I hope for better refereeing in serious games against Spain, Greece or Argentina.
[quote=darkofan]I agree. Obvious travelling was not called on a half a dozen occasions. This might decide a close game. I hope for better refereeing in serious games against Spain, Greece or Argentina.[/quote]
There were strange calls from the refs, but there was no traveling to call.
[QUOTE=Godfather]There were strange calls from the refs, but there was no traveling to call.[/QUOTE]
Just cause you're used to players taking two steps before putting down the ball doesn't mean it isn't against the rules...
Dwight has been horrible since the exhibition games started. I don't know what has happened to him between last season and now, but I hope he snaps out of it. He doesn't even look like he cares out there.
From what Ive seen the only team that can beat the US is Spain, they easily beat Greece this week and actually have a bench.
[QUOTE]I don't know if I'd call it street ball considering coach K. is the coach and his Dukies play a similar style of spread offense[/QUOTE]
Very good observation. Team USA is not playing like an All-Star style. They're playing like a college team. It's actually very entertaining to watch.
It does irritate me that American basketball supremacy is perceived to rest on the outcome of international competition. Please. In a best of seven series, nobody in the world takes us past six games. But, anything can happen in a single elimination format. In 2006, Team USA, and the Class of 2003 in particular, took major criticism for losing at the worlds to Greece. But, has anybody gone back and watched that game? Greece was hitting contested threes from twenty-three feet.
Also, if I've heard correctly, in 2010, FIBA is going to the NBA's rectangular lane? Then look for Americans to become permanently dominant once more. Nobody can hang with our post guys if they can set up that close to the basket. Opposing bigs will be flat out punished.
[QUOTE=bdreason]If China didn't hit 80% from 3 in the first half US would've won by 50+.
The only team I see giving us any trouble at this point is Spain. Argentina, Greece, and Germany all looked bad, in my opinion.[/QUOTE]
Germany didn't play bad. They had a nice win vs. Angola, Dirk and Kaman scored at will.