- Field Day |
- Buildings Alive |
- Visions |
- CLGBT |
- Green Community |
- Fun & Free S#!T |
- Crossword |
- CL Space |
Sunday, August 10, 2008
U.S.A. Basketball is worth your time. Believe it.
Posted by Eric Snider on Sun, Aug 10, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Do yourself a favor and watch the U.S.A. Basketball team in the Olympics. I just saw them rout China, and was impressed.
Yes, there was the assortment of spectacular dunks and amazing no-look passes, but the U.S. players didn’t come off as showboaters. It’s just how they play – frenetic and fast-paced. The Redeem Team, as they’ve been dubbed (because of recent failures by U.S.A. Basketball in international competition), shows good character and consummate teamwork.
They’re entertaining because they play fastbreak basketball, keying their offense off smothering defense (steals leading to highlight dunks). (Anyone under the preposterous notion that NBA players don’t play D should watch these guys.) It’s really refreshing to witness hoops being played by magicians in a wide-open style.
The Chinese, geeked up in front of their home crowd, started out hot; the score was actually tied 29-29. But the Chinese faded under the withering, swarming American style. One of key assets of the U.S. team, of course, is the quality of its individual players. LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard.
But an even bigger asset looks to be their depth. Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosch, Deron Williams off the bench? Hell, Carlos Boozer and Tayshaun Prince are mop-up players. And this whole crew is interchangeable. Unlike the recent all-star squads that made up U.S.A Basketball, these guys play together, have practiced together for three years, and have bonded together (and they've jettisoned hoops dickheads like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury).
That means the U.S. can come at teams in waves, the idea being that they’ll ultimately wear their opponents down. That’s what happened to the Chinese.
I understand people being cynical about guys making 8, 12, 20 million a year who play in the Olympics, but remember that the U.S. guys are playing against other pros. And thus far they have represented their country admirably, and shown ample character as both individuals and as a team (they showed up en masse to support the U.S.A. women's basketball team and have been running around Beijing seeing different events).
The United States squad will likely be challenged along the way, but I expect this team to earn the redemption it seeks. I suggest giving them a look. You don’t have to be a basketball fan to be entertained.
Comments (201)
Showing 1-50 of 201
Did you notice during early in the first half of the game, with the score relatively close, the shot of Dr. Henry Kissinger sitting behind the Bushes? He looked either incredibly bored or sound asleep. After all, it was probably three or four hours past his bedtime.
like
dislike
I don't understand the cheap-shot comment about Iverson. In the 2004 Olympics, he showed the most desire and urgency of all players, paid great respect to his opponents even in defeat, and afterward lobbied harder than anyone to play for the 2008 team while expressing the tremendous honor of playing for one's country. Though he was not selected, he wanted to do so more than anyone. Criticize Iverson's game all you want, but you come across as a jackass with that snide comment.
a href="http://www.cartierwatches.us/Franck-Muller/">replica Franck Muller Franck Muller replica
A.Lange & Sohne watches Alain Silberstein watch for sale Audemars Piguet watch for sale Bell & Ross (watches) replica Breguet watches Breitling watch for sale Burberry watch for sale Bvlgari watches
Breitling watch for sale Cartier watch for sale chopard watches croum watches DeWitt watch for sale ebel watches Ferrari watches Franck Muller (watches) replica Glashutte watches Graham watch for sale Hermes watches Hublot watch for sale IWC watch for sale Jaquet droz watches replica Lady Watch (watches) Longines watches Louis Vuitton watches
IWC watch for sale Jaquet droz watch for sale Lady Watch for sale Longines watch for sale Louis Vuitton watch for sale Maurice Lacroix watch for sale Montblanc watch for sale movado watch for sale omega watch for sale oris watch for sale Panerai watch for sale
Graham watches Hermes watches Hublot watches IWC watches Jaquet droz watches Lady Watch watches Longines watches
Author Archives
-
Concert review: Richard Thompson at Tampa Theatre 1
The British musician offered up an evening full of jaw-dropping guitartistry at his Feb. 3 show.
-
Liam Neeson battles nature in The Grey
Guess who wins.
- More »
Top Commenters
