Team USA Basketball

Discussion in 'Other Sports' started by Alpha-Centuri, Jul 23, 2008.

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  1. Hoffa

    Hoffa Freak you you freakin' freak

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    When I was a kid, NBA players never went to Olympics because there was some rule about you had to be an amatuer to go. Pro players were ineligible.
    Jim Thorpe was stipped of his gold medals after he was declared to have been a professional at the time of the games.
     
  2. BigRed3

    BigRed3 Straight Cash, Homey

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    It finally seems like they're getting it right. The 2004 games were an absolute disgrace. The other countries have somewhat caught up, but we're still better no doubt. The problem was that we couldn't just throw together a team a month before the games and expect them to win gold like they used to. But there should be no way this team loses. With Paul, Kobe, Carmelo, Lebron, and Dwight Howard (i'm assuming that will be the starting five)... how in the hell can that team lose?
     
  3. Hoffa

    Hoffa Freak you you freakin' freak

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    Other countries play basketball, a team sport with offense and defense.
    The NBA is not basketball, it's a show put on by 10 individuals...
     
  4. Alpha-Centuri

    Alpha-Centuri Starter

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    Its been pretty clear this USA team can play basketball, not just the NBA brand.

    Kobe, Wade, Howard lead the charge against Lithuania
    Associated Press

    Updated: August 1, 2008, 1:43 PM ET

    MACAU -- Kobe Bryant harassed longtime nemesis Sarunas Jasikevicius into a miserable night and helped the U.S. Olympic basketball team roll to a 120-84 exhibition victory over Lithuania on Friday night.

    Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, Dwight Howard had 17 and LeBron James 15 for the Americans, who raced to a big early lead, then pulled away again after Lithuania got within single digits early in the second half. Bryant finished with 13 points, nine during the big U.S. first quarter.

    The Americans, who shot 64 percent, swept two games here and leave Saturday for Shanghai, where they will play European champion Russia and Australia.

    Michael Redd finished with 16 points and Carmelo Anthony added 11 in a rematch of the bronze-medal game from four years ago.

    Jasikevicius was just 2-of-8 for nine points, with three turnovers. Rimantas Kaukenas led Lithuania with 17 points.

    The United States needed a quarter to warm up in its first two games, but was sharp right from the start this time. Howard had three consecutive baskets, James dunked twice, and the Americans were already up by double digits barely 2½ minutes into the game. Minutes later, Bryant had two jumpers and a 3-pointer in a quick flurry that made it 24-5.

    Howard had 10 points and Bryant nine in the first 10 minutes, with the Americans opening a 31-15 lead.

    Lithuania kept the deficit in the teens from there, then opened the second half with a flurry of 3-pointers to make it a game. Jasikevicius had a rare open look and hit the final one to cut the U.S. lead to 61-52 with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter, but the Americans immediately blew it open again.

    Anthony, Howard and James combined for the next 12 U.S. points, everything coming from inside, to make it 73-55, and Lithuania was never close again. Wade took over at the end of the period and early in the fourth, bringing the fans to their feet with a double-pump dunk on an alley-oop pass from Chris Paul.

    Wade was 7-of-9 and Paul had seven assists. Every U.S. player scored.

    The teams split two meetings in the 2004 Olympics, with the United States winning the second one to claim the bronze medal. Jasikevicius scored 28 points, hitting seven 3-pointers, in Lithuania's 94-90 victory in pool play.

    Click Here for more
     
  5. Alpha-Centuri

    Alpha-Centuri Starter

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    If you get a chance to watch one of the games, you should... Their transition game is sick. They play Russia next, then Australia , who are coming off a win vs China (who face us in the opener)
     
  6. The Playmaker

    The Playmaker pineapple pizza party

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    I think were going to win the gold. We have to work on our half court offense though.
     
  7. maximus

    maximus Starter

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    I watched the Turky game and was impressed by the chemisty offensively. Defensively they were impressive.
    Or maybe Turkey is just that bad...
     
  8. TheSureThing

    TheSureThing Straight Cash Homie

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    Remember. It was just Turkey :hmm:
     
  9. mrredskin

    mrredskin Camp Fodder

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    The smartest thing they did this year was to hold tryouts and bring in a big-time collegiate coach in Coach K. This team actually WANTS to be a part of the games and to bring back gold to the country that should truly behold it. Now, only if Lebron can keep his mouth shut about Tibet.
     
  10. The Playmaker

    The Playmaker pineapple pizza party

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    I'm interested to see their starting line up. One time Lebron was playing at C.

    Kidd
    Kobe
    Melo
    Lebron
    Howard
     
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