Monday, August 25, 2008
Gold
As expected the USA won the Gold. What was not expected is one of the best international games ever played. I'll save the play by play and will simply say I watched the final quarter with a smile that never left my face. Congrats to the entire USA basketball operation. It was a pleasure to see the utter joy on everyones face. The only smile that could have been wider was that of Paul Allen.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
USA..USA..USA...
The medal round is about to begin and I am supremely omptimistic that the USA will win the gold. I have watched every game and have enjoyed every minute. They are intense, focused on defense and fun to watch primarily because they themselves are having fun. Team USA is simply relentless as shown when they took the life out of Spain.
Lebron is the leader, or should I say "King", of this sqaud, vocally and on the floor, doing it all. Cleaning the glass, moving the ball, scoring, defense. Kobe looks so much more comfortable not HAVING to be a leader which is just not in his DNA. He is free to play basketball and that is what he does best. Dwyane Wade is D-Wade again and wow is he fun to watch. Ball hawking, getting to basket and flushing it. Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard have been a nice 1-2 punch in the middle far more athletic than any other big men in this tournament. Chris Paul and Deron Williams are the two best point guards the States and perhaps the World have to offer and play very well together. Carmelo Anthony the role player with timely 3-balls and even some good work on the glass. Tayshawn Prince was able to get in the mix and may have earned some playing time in the medal round. This team is on a mission, full of talent and depth, never a weakness on the floor...
Or is there? Possible pitfalls? Going into these games there were three concerns that most experts addressed. Perimeter shooting, interior size, and defending the pick & roll. It seems to me that defending the pick & roll was a greater concern than how tall the USA big men are. By going "small" with Bosh and Howard team USA is more athletic and more apt to disrupt the pick & roll. Problem solved. The so called lack of size in the middle has not been an issue given the team rebounding concept. Bron, Melo and the rest all getting to the glass. Having mutliple weapons on the floor who can lead and finish the break makes this possible. This leaves us with perimeter shooting.
Yes, shooting, could haunt Team USA at some point over the next three games. Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against Jason Kidd. It's just with CP3 and Deron on this squad he doesn't need to get minutes. His minutes in my opinion could be better served having Prince or even Redd getting more run and have them game ready for the medal round.
Even with the questionable shooting I don't foresee the USA faltering. In fact I expect an easy ride with 20+ point differentials in all three games. This team is on a mission and it's defense is suffocating resulting in too many easy buckets for the opposition to keep up.
USA..USA..USA...
Lebron is the leader, or should I say "King", of this sqaud, vocally and on the floor, doing it all. Cleaning the glass, moving the ball, scoring, defense. Kobe looks so much more comfortable not HAVING to be a leader which is just not in his DNA. He is free to play basketball and that is what he does best. Dwyane Wade is D-Wade again and wow is he fun to watch. Ball hawking, getting to basket and flushing it. Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard have been a nice 1-2 punch in the middle far more athletic than any other big men in this tournament. Chris Paul and Deron Williams are the two best point guards the States and perhaps the World have to offer and play very well together. Carmelo Anthony the role player with timely 3-balls and even some good work on the glass. Tayshawn Prince was able to get in the mix and may have earned some playing time in the medal round. This team is on a mission, full of talent and depth, never a weakness on the floor...
Or is there? Possible pitfalls? Going into these games there were three concerns that most experts addressed. Perimeter shooting, interior size, and defending the pick & roll. It seems to me that defending the pick & roll was a greater concern than how tall the USA big men are. By going "small" with Bosh and Howard team USA is more athletic and more apt to disrupt the pick & roll. Problem solved. The so called lack of size in the middle has not been an issue given the team rebounding concept. Bron, Melo and the rest all getting to the glass. Having mutliple weapons on the floor who can lead and finish the break makes this possible. This leaves us with perimeter shooting.
Yes, shooting, could haunt Team USA at some point over the next three games. Let me preface this by saying I have nothing against Jason Kidd. It's just with CP3 and Deron on this squad he doesn't need to get minutes. His minutes in my opinion could be better served having Prince or even Redd getting more run and have them game ready for the medal round.
Even with the questionable shooting I don't foresee the USA faltering. In fact I expect an easy ride with 20+ point differentials in all three games. This team is on a mission and it's defense is suffocating resulting in too many easy buckets for the opposition to keep up.
USA..USA..USA...
Friday, August 8, 2008
International Takeover
The International influence is center stage this summer. From Josh Childress fleeing to Europe, several European players returning to their homeland and China hosting the most anticipated international tournament in recent memory.
The Tournament in China got me thinking. The Olympic showcase for China may be followed up by two of their own hoisting an NBA Championship within the next 4 years! Yes, I said it first. The acquisition of Ron Artest in Houston has certainly made them a contender in the West, that is if T-Mac and Yao can remain healthy for just ONE season. When King James arrives in Brooklyn in two years Yi Jianlian may ride the Kings coattail to a championship. The Olympics, Yao and Yi with rings, as if basketball wasn't already soaring in the far east.
Of course there is the X factor to this prediction and that is the other international element in the forefront this summer. The exodus to Europe. If one of these Euro teams actually pays the Kings ransom of 50M a year can Lebron say no to that kind of money? Can anyone blame Lebron for accepting 50M a year? Of course not and this plays into Brons ego of being an international superstar. This of course should be on the mind of David Stern and the NBA owners. Having the best player in the league leave for Europe is not good but there is a more important element that must be addressed. Europe can't afford to pull all the stars out of the USA, yet. They can however pay the 1st year players far more. This is the issue Stern and the owners must have the foresight to remedy before the Durants and the Beasleys of the future head to Europe before they even step foot on the NBA hardwood.
The Tournament in China got me thinking. The Olympic showcase for China may be followed up by two of their own hoisting an NBA Championship within the next 4 years! Yes, I said it first. The acquisition of Ron Artest in Houston has certainly made them a contender in the West, that is if T-Mac and Yao can remain healthy for just ONE season. When King James arrives in Brooklyn in two years Yi Jianlian may ride the Kings coattail to a championship. The Olympics, Yao and Yi with rings, as if basketball wasn't already soaring in the far east.
Of course there is the X factor to this prediction and that is the other international element in the forefront this summer. The exodus to Europe. If one of these Euro teams actually pays the Kings ransom of 50M a year can Lebron say no to that kind of money? Can anyone blame Lebron for accepting 50M a year? Of course not and this plays into Brons ego of being an international superstar. This of course should be on the mind of David Stern and the NBA owners. Having the best player in the league leave for Europe is not good but there is a more important element that must be addressed. Europe can't afford to pull all the stars out of the USA, yet. They can however pay the 1st year players far more. This is the issue Stern and the owners must have the foresight to remedy before the Durants and the Beasleys of the future head to Europe before they even step foot on the NBA hardwood.
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