Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Team USA wrapped up its pre-Olympic exhibition schedule with an 87-76 win over Australia this morning, er, night. Here's what they're saying out in the ether about the game ...

The City:
"One thing the Aussies did not show was any fear of the US. The Boomers are known to be a bit chippy and were not afraid to knock people around or jaw with the Americans after someone hit the floor. The final numbers of the game tell a rather disturbing story. The US hit only 20 percent of their 3-pointers and let Australia shoot over 48 percent. Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, two of the leaders of the team, combined to hit seven of their 24 shots. What's worse is that the US showed impatience on both ends of the floor. They did not follow the Australians off the ball and as a result of an intricate Australian offense gave up many open shots."

A Stern Warning: "The opening of the match was not unlike the 2004 Olympic encounter between these teams, where a very tight first three quarters culminated with a fourth quarter run-away by Team USA. Team USA played full-court defense today right from the get-go, with Jason Kidd closely manning CJ Bruton. With the athletes at their disposal, this is clearly the best move. However Australia did not get too flustered by this and Bruton's experience allowed him to navigate the press well. Eventually coach Brian Goorjian made the decision to bring in 19 year old Patrick Mills for a change of pace at the point and he did not disappoint. Mills' speed certainly took away from one of Team USA's strengths and he did surprise them en route to the basket on more than one occasion."

HoopsVibe: "Why was the score so close? After all, 'the Aussies' were missing Andrew Bogut. [Two reasons:] [1.] They forgot about the middle. Too often, Team USA played without a center or simply went away from Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard even though the duo shot a combined 7-for-7 from the floor. [2.] The Australians lack Team USA’s individual talent, but they have excellent national development programs with the country’s Institute of Sports known as AIS. Elite teenage athletes are sent to AIS to hone their craft and train. Their senior national team would’ve balled together for years and, as a result, had on-court chemistry to burn."

Ross Siler, Salt Lake Tribune: "So far, the U.S. has put up points only when its players are turning steals into dunks and hitting from the outside. Not only weren't the Americans coming up with steals Tuesday, they stood and watched as Australia hit one cutter after another for layups. I think it's also fair to ask if trying to split minutes between three point guards is hurting the U.S. Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Deron Williams combined for five points, eight assists and six turnovers in 49 minutes Tuesday. After five games, I'm still waiting to see anything out of Kidd. We're constantly reminded that he's the only U.S. player to have won a gold medal before. But Kidd had no points, three assists and two turnovers in 15 minutes against Australia."

Dime: "Is something wrong with Kobe? While 'Melo, LeBron, and D-Wade all seem to really grasp how to play on this All-Star team in the international system, Kobe looks clueless at times. It's not just that he's trying to go one-one-one too much, it's that he doesn’t even seem to be looking for anyone else. Once Mamba stepped off the floor, the Americans went on a 7-0 run."

The Starting Five: "The first Dream Team never saw anyone who belonged on the court with them. Basketball wasn't an international sport in 1992. It wasn't the big commodity across the world that it is now. International players weren't flooding the NBA ranks. Michael Jordan wasn’t the biggest thing on the planet yet. Moreover, the European basketball league–did it even exist? This Dream Team is going to face serious competition. They will see their teammates in these Olympics. We're talking about all-stars like Yao Ming and an MVP like Dirk Nowitzki. These aren't your Mom and Dad's international basketball players. These are serious contenders. And yet, for whatever reason, I feel as if this Dream Team is going to do away with team ... with relative ease. No disrespect to the Argentina's and Spain's of the world, but with Mike Krzyzewski at the helm, and the best players in the world finally on the squad, this team can't lose. They just can't."

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  1. ibrahim s
    1. Posted by ibrahim s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:00 pm EDT

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    this by far was the worst game but you wonder if the us really cared to play this game. But kobe is tryin to do to much one on one and jason kidd time is up chris paul should be starting
  2. jazzbooksfood
    2. Posted by jazzbooksfood Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    This team can EASILY lose, if they don't pull their heads out of their butts & play some freekin' team defense.
    It's time to put away the faux patriotic ra-ra nonsense, before we get embarassed on the international stage again.
  3. kamal b
    3. Posted by kamal b Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    I notice that everybody and their mama has something an bad article about TEAM USA and all their exaggerations when they barely win or lose but nothing to say when they are stomping oppenents. U ppl are not americans. Traitors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  4. mar s
    4. Posted by mar s Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    It's just a warm up for them..when the real game begins i bet they will route most of their opponents
  5. Jaceman
    5. Posted by Jaceman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:40 pm EDT

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    Shut up Kamal.
    Anyways, it's a good wakeup call for the Americans. While they should be beating all these teams, it shows that they still have to be competitive because the international teams are just as good. Overall talent wise these guys should be better, but under pressure I would hate to see them revert to an iso-frenzy of NBA style play, which quite frankly doesn't work and gets them burned in international play. They don't have a real offense so to speak but with their talent they shouldn't need it. However, they can't get complacent and have to start moving off the ball more. And as said so many times before, they have to stop ball hawking. Either their perimeter man defense is really sloppy at times, they gotta tighten that up, and then get better help if there's penetration. Drive and kick, that's international ball in 3 words (2 if you don't count the and).
  6. b4ABCsrick
    6. Posted by b4ABCsrick Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    kobe.. too much 1 on 1!??? naw, most of the shots he missed were bunnies... he actually helped the u.s extend their lead with his defense and had an ok game despite seeming a bit off.... i think the chinese crowd was pumping him up so that might have got to him.... kobe is an entertainer, so when your name is being chanted you want to entertain, hes was just trying to give the people of shanghai something to cheer about
  7. b4ABCsrick
    7. Posted by b4ABCsrick Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    back to team u.s.a play.... what do you expect.... this is not the nba... you complain about ball movement... too much one on one... bad halfcourt offense and fail to realize one thing...... That is common in international play... have you not noticed you rarely see team U.S.A's opponent draw up any type of plays. (i know that mills kid just ran to the basket coast to coast like 4 times... making me wonder if cp3 could defend him). its the way the international game is called. you can easily shove someone off their offensive sets, hack away at the ball to disrupt the half court, and the refs more times than not hold their whistles, which i like, it allows for fair aggressive play, rather than hearing thousands of whistles, questionable calls, games seeming one sided..
  8. b4ABCsrick
    8. Posted by b4ABCsrick Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    International ball is more talent based, i dont gaf what the next guy says, the team with the most talent will win, based on the run n gun style... put any of those teams in the nba under nba rules and they would get crushed.. U.S.A will be alright, we just have to play the game...
    and when you seriously think about it, do you think this team can lose.... even on there worst performance this past year, they still pull out a double digit victory, makes you wonder huh...
    the main focus and Kobe said it perfectly is defense... Melo needs to put in a more concerted defnsive effort.... and even though d wade gets a couple of those fast break highlight steals... He gambles way too much.. most of the time the other team will score off of a broken play, or a man gambling on the ball...
    Kobe does play one on one, but thats his nature, they did not fair to well when he was not playing 1 on 1... team was just out of synch and he tried to give em a boost... I never complain about a guy going one on one, if he has a strong defensive effort... either way a "w" is a "w"
  9. rahoyt
    9. Posted by rahoyt Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:21 pm EDT

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    They should have put tyson chandler on the team...because he's a defense first center...I love Carmelo but he is redundant with Lebron on team...mabye even unnecessary if he can't grasp back door cuts by opponents and hit the three...Mike Miller could hit the three and can't be any worse than Carmelo defensively...Shane Battier should really have been taken - excellent defense, Duke player with Coach K ties, excellent 3 shooter...so, I guess, what I'm saying is this team should have some of the best role players, not just the best players...it seems like they always fall into this trap of taking the best players even though it doesn't result in the best team...
  10. Richard
    10. Posted by Richard Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    Agree with #11 comment, bring all starting line up allstar to the team will praised their fan, but will that help win gold, not necessary, because you had so much allstar, they will had more issue with chemisty, kobe aleady public comment kidd is old, which i sure piss kidd. Role and 6th man can help in long stretch game. Punch of allstar, will not be happy if they playtime is little, but while true sixth man won't care as long the team won.
  11. juked
    11. Posted by juked Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:16 pm EDT

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    Chris Paul got beat off the dribble by Mills every time down the court...Paul even gave Mills an elbow for just pissing him off. If Kidd can't be the starter, then D-Will should get the first nod.
    Paul is way too over rated and this is why: around 5 of his league leading 11 assists per game last NBA season came from David West's midrange jumper. the other assists came from peja and mo pete's 3s...and oh by the way, chandler gets to dunk every now and then..CP has the talent around him...
    ever wonder why the NO bench don't get decent minutes? because they can't shoot(except for pargo)..and because they can't shoot CP won't get the assists...that's why they get benched.
  12. Olym_08
    12. Posted by Olym_08 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    juked = right on the money
    CP3 is a lousy perimeter defender & is undersized at 5-11. He'll get toasted by the
    big Greek guards again as in '06.
    Kidd or Williams. CP3 & Melo are the 2 worst defenders. More minutes to Prince too.
  13. mj_the_3rd_coming
    13. Posted by mj_the_3rd_coming Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    it's funny how players like CP3 rip it up in the NBA, get an $80m contract extension with everyone raving about how good he is, only to get carved up against some real competition in the rest of the world...
  14. Ying Lam Y
    14. Posted by Ying Lam Y Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:56 pm EDT

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    I am really worried about the US team after watching the game between them and the Aussie. I won't be surprised to see them lose again in the Olympics if they can't shoot the 3's well and lose on the rebounds aspect. I can't understand why the US team not choose some shooters like Eddie House, JJ Reddick, Ray Allen.....yeah....there are always reasons. But I hope they win in the Olympics.
  15. from raf
    15. Posted by from raf Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    no matter how talented individualy they are, if they dont have the mentality, as good as the dream team 1, they are not going win the gold
  16. b4ABCsrick
    16. Posted by b4ABCsrick Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:37 pm EDT

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    The only thing is we never sent our best players to the olympics years before.... espeacially in 2004... that team was just a very bad mix of diff personalities...
    I tell you this though... you can blame the world for getting angry and catching up to us based on the 2000 sydney olympic team.... That U.S team showed complete disrespect toward there opponent during those olympics, unlike the 92 dream team.... the 2000 eam looked to embarass there opponent, and make a mockery of the world.. the world soon got revenge though..... Now we have to build up
  17. Kobe O'Brian
    17. Posted by Kobe O'Brian Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

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    Yup this team and the other dream teams that came before them (post MJ) and will come after them will face some serious competition. Gone are the days when players from other nations would be prouder to have his photo taken alongside the likes of MJ, Magic, etc. than to have a medal 'round his neck. These guys are the icons of their times whom players around the world look up to (remember 'just like Mike'?). But lo and behold! Kobe and Co. are just as usual a player as that of the main guy on the opposite side of the court. But team USA will win the gold alright. Otherwise why bother sending the best of the NBA crap (oh did i say 'crap'?), i mean crop. lol
  18. jmak2020
    18. Posted by jmak2020 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    i hope they lose because the olympics are a joke and this team of millionaires are a joke. the only sport americans care for is football. my question is how is team usa going to rig the officiating, because they have proved they can't play when officials call the game the way it was intended. i will truly laugh if they don't even make the podeam.
  19. Troyster
    19. Posted by Troyster Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 pm EDT

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    I like the comment made by Kobe Bryant on the story below:
    On the eve of training camp in late July, the U.S. Olympic basketball team gathered in the Carmichael Room of the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Once Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski delivered messages about beginning the final leg of this journey to Beijing, Team USA’s managing director and coach turned the meeting over to the players.
    Across the room, everyone had a chance to speak. Jason Kidd. LeBron James. Kobe Bryant had the final word. As Colangelo remembered it, the best player on the planet told his teammates, “We all complain on our teams, that I want to play with this player or that one. Well, here we’ve got them all. This is how it’s supposed to be. We don’t have any excuses.”
    “Amen,” Krzyzewski said, and so ended the meeting that started the final preparations for an Olympic team that tries to undo years of international tournament failures and embarrassments.
  20. Sir Spamalot
    20. Posted by Sir Spamalot Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    Shoot like that against Spain or Argentina, they'll loose...plain and simple
  21. Sir Spamalot
    21. Posted by Sir Spamalot Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    Why so surprised? There are a lot of reasons why the US Team could struggle. Shooting poorly will happen to every team. It's what you do when you can't run and the shots aren't falling. Entering the Olympic tournament with only one center and no low post players is borderline arrogant. Let's hope Dwight doesn't get into foul trouble.
    Just because these international players aren't playing in the NBA doesn't mean that they can't play. They're fundamentally sound, their big men can all shoot the ball and they're all brought up with a team first mentality...and now their athleticism is catching up as well.
  22. Sir Spamalot
    22. Posted by Sir Spamalot Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    The NBA rules are made for the individual player, not team ball. NBA players generally rely more on athleticism and strength over fundamentals...furthermore they are 'protected' from real fatigue, both mentally and physically, because they're not used to playing more than 3 minutes at the time due to the ridiculous amount of timeouts in the NBA. Stop blaiming the international rules and zone defenses...Come on, it's a bloody zone - Go ahead and break it!!!
    That said, the US are still heavy favorites based on their individual talents alone.
  23. Sir Spamalot
    23. Posted by Sir Spamalot Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    Why so surprised? There are a lot of reasons why the US Team could struggle. Shooting poorly will happen to every team. It's what you do when you can't run and the shots aren't falling. Entering the Olympic tournament with only one center and no low post players is borderline arrogant. Let's hope Dwight doesn't get into foul trouble.
    Just because these international players aren't playing in the NBA doesn't mean that they can't play. They're fundamentally sound, their big men can all shoot the ball and they're all brought up with a team first mentality...and now their athleticism is catching up as well.
  24. Sir Spamalot
    24. Posted by Sir Spamalot Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:39 pm EDT

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    Sorry about the double post :o)

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