http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/502/usabasketballoz1.png

Anybody else catch any of the game last night on FSD?

I only saw parts of the 2nd half, but it was basically an All Star game with effort and defense.

Great ending, too.

Kobe was a complete ballhog down the stretch, but he was canning some huge jumpers.

I saw Tay get a few minutes, and Chauncey was there too.

All in all, it looked like good basketball (although I saw a lot of missed jumpers).

I wouldn't want to be the one to have to pair the roster down to 12.

Recap:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=2945741


Despite gaffe, Kobe the star at the end
By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com

Updated: July 22, 2007

LAS VEGAS -- Kobe Bryant hit the biggest shot and made the biggest defensive stop after committing the gravest gaffe of the game -- all in the final 21.3 seconds.

Playing in a Team USA jersey for the first time, Bryant hit the game-winning shot over Tayshaun Prince with 6.6 seconds left to give the blue team a 105-104 victory over the white team Sunday in an intrasquad scrimmage.

Bryant hit the game-winning shot during the Team USA's intrasquad game.
Bryant freed himself of Prince with a pump fake before hitting a jumper from 19 feet away to put his team ahead by one. After a timeout, Bryant defended LeBron James on the game's final possession and forced him to miss wide right on a short jumper from the lane that would have won it.

Afterward, Bryant took plenty of playful ribbing from teammate and Team USA veteran Jason Kidd after Bryant tried to call a timeout with 21.3 seconds left -- a no-no under international rules, under which only a coach can call a timeout.

The episode happened after Bryant brought the ball upcourt, came to a halt near the scorer's table and signaled with his hands for a timeout. The referee blew his whistle, then bailed himself out by calling a foul on Kidd, who was defending Bryant on the play.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski conceded after the game that the timeout rule has not yet been explained to the players in person, although they have been given paperwork with a list of the differences between FIBA rules and NBA rules.

"Situations like that can actually be helpful to us because sometimes the best way to learn the rule is by actually doing it," Krzyzewski said. "It definitely added to the intrigue."

Bryant made light of the episode afterward, joking that he actually made a "T" sign with his hands because he wanted the referee to call a technical foul on Kidd for elbowing him in the stomach "like it was a game from the '80s."

Bryant finished with 26 points on 10-for-22 shooting, including 4-for-9 from 3-point range, and blue squad teammate Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 28. One of the more impressive performances came from rookie Kevin Durant, who shot 9-for-14 for 22 points for the blue squad.

For the white squad, Mike Miller scored 22 and made four 3-pointers in the second quarter, when both teams played nothing but zone defense. Dwight Howard shot 9-for-9 and scored 21, and James had 18.

On the negative side, the teams combined to shoot only 19-for-68 on 3-pointers (28 percent) and 20-for-34 (59 percent) on free throws -- the latter area coming as perhaps the biggest concern to Coach K, who lamented during the team's three-day minicamp that foul shooting was one of the primary deficiencies to hamper Team USA at the World Championship in Japan last summer.

All in all, though, Krzyzewski summed up the three-day camp as an "off the charts" success.

"We have more shooters, and we have more talent -- veteran talent," Coach K said.

The players will scatter for three weeks before reassembling in Las Vegas on Aug. 14 to prepare for the Tournament of the Americas, at which two Olympic berths will be at stake. Team director Jerry Colangelo said Nick Collison will be added to the national squad for the Aug. 14 camp, and he also expects Greg Oden to rejoin the team after tonsillitis kept him away from minicamp.

The Americans must pare their roster to 12 before the Tournament of the Americas, and the players who appear most likely to be dropped from the active roster include J.J. Redick, Collison and Shane Battier. Going into Sunday's game, it appeared Durant would be on that cut list, as well, but his performance Sunday clearly was giving Krzyzewski and Colangelo something to think about.

"You never know sometimes," Colangelo said.

Colangelo also said a squad of young NBA players, including Brandon Roy, will be brought to Las Vegas for the next stage of camp to compete against the senior team in scrimmages. The final roster for the Tournament of the Americas does not have to be submitted until 24 hours before the competition begins -- a big difference from what will happen next summer (assuming the Americans qualify for the Olympics), when the final 12-man Olympic roster must be submitted by June 28, about six weeks before the Games start.

Sunday's game attracted an announced crowd of 15,132 to the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV, and Bryant was clearly the crowd favorite -- even hearing a "Ko-be, Ko-be" chant as he dribbled the ball on his team's final possession before hitting the winner over Prince. But up until that point, the play that got the crowd most charged up was when Bryant drove in on a break and tried for an up-and-under reverse dunk, only to have James block the shot and send Bryant flying into a row of photographers.

"His big, grown-up body knocked me off-balance, so I have to get used to playing at a lighter weight," said Bryant, who has dropped 19 pounds since the end of the NBA season.

The biggest groans of the night were directed at Michael Redd, who shot two air balls in the first half that missed the rim by several feet. Redd, also making his Team USA debut, shot 4-for-10 on 3s and finished with 17 points.

Other noteworthy items from the box score: Bryant had five steals and five assists; Tyson Chandler grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds; Deron Williams had nine assists and five turnovers; Chauncey Billups had seven assists and four steals in just 19 minutes; and Kidd had eight assists and six rebounds to go with his two points, which he got by converting his only field goal attempt of the night.

Kirk Hinrich joined Greg Oden and Shane Battier in pulling out of U.S. training camp Monday, removing what may have been one of the toughest roster decisions the team would have faced.

Seattle forward Nick Collison also was added to the squad, leaving the Americans with 16 players as they return to Las Vegas for practice starting Wednesday. The roster must be trimmed to 12 the day before the FIBA Americas tournament begins on Aug. 22.

Hinrich and Battier withdrew for personal reasons. Oden, the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft by Portland, had his tonsils out last month and opted not to take part in camp.

Hinrich played in all nine games for the Americans last year in the world championships, starting three of them. But with Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups joining the team this summer, the Chicago guard was likely going to have a tough battle with Utah's Deron Williams for the third point guard spot.

Hinrich played only 13 minutes last month in the intrasquad scrimmage to close minicamp. Only J.J. Redick played less.

Battier also was a frequent starter in Japan. He was in minicamp but wasn't expected to return this week because of a family matter, with Detroit's Tayshaun Prince or Mike Miller of Memphis possibly taking his spot.

The Americans will train from Aug. 15-20 at a Las Vegas high school, scrimmaging against a select team of young NBA players. They face Venezuela in the opener of the 10-nation regional qualifying tournament, needing to finish in the top two to clinch a spot in the 2008 Olympics.

The rest of the players expected in camp include: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard and Michael Redd.
The select team also lost a pair of players Monday when Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge (sore left heel) and Golden State's Monta Ellis (strained back) were forced to withdraw. Eight players remain for that roster, though USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo previously said that Redick may be moved to the select team.



no cb?

Tayshaun could be in peril.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-magic1507aug15,0,58502.story?page=2&coll=orl_tab02_layout


Although it's purely speculation, the four cuts from the current 16 players that begin practicing today are expected to come from Redick, Durant, Collison, Redd, Miller and Tayshaun Prince.

Hard to beleive that he could be

:dismissed:

Chris Bosh leaves U.S. training camp because of left foot injury

August 15, 2007

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Toronto forward Chris Bosh withdrew from U.S. training camp Wednesday because of a left foot injury.

Bosh has plantar fasciitis and will not play in the FIBA Americas tournament that starts next week, USA Basketball spokesman Craig Miller said.

The 6-foot-10, 230-pound Bosh will remain on the team and under consideration for a spot if the Americans qualify for the 2008 Olympics. His withdrawal leaves the Americans with 15 players.

With Battier leaving,there's no way Tay could get cut.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/502/usabasketballoz1.png

Thanks Matt.

I'm looking forward to all of those 11pm, midnight, 1 am and 2 am tip offs.

Thanks Matt.

I'm looking forward to all of those 11pm, midnight, 1 am and 2 am tip offs.

where are the games played?

Nebraska hates Kobe:

http://img3.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/330d22304f.jpg

Colorado is surprisingly supportive.

Colorado residents obviously crossed state border to vote

Tay and CB both make it.

I really doubt Tay plays alot though.

Kidd/CB/Deron
Kobe/Redd
LeBron/Mike Miller/Tay
Melo/Bosh
Dwight/Chandler

Fuck Nebraska, they're going to look like fools when the US take silver.

just a little heads up if anyone's on right now.

i caught a little of the canada / brazil game, and will watch most of this one. pretty much the first international ball i've watched in about 10 years or so. but i think the basketball elitists are wrong. it really is all about these guys just giving a fuck. i dont think for a minute it matters how well brazil or argentia or serbia play.

a few points: bill walton was just ranting about the pistons for bit, some good stuff.

-he said tay was by far the smartest guy on the team.

-ws praising chauncy. said he could get anything he wants.

-ripped the pistons for focusing too much on guard play when our needs were at the bigs. i could not agree with him more. i know joe said 'the bigs werent the problem' but to me that is like blaming 06's demise on ben wallace.

OF COURSE THE BIGS WERE A PROBLEM! yea, guard depth was too, but in our heyday we had quality bigs to spare. we seemed to be fine w/ our bigs in the playoffs, but thats because the two series people payed attention to were against guard oriented teams. what a joke. has anyone contemplated our big man situation? we have a complete asshole in sheed that obviously cant be trusted, we have dyess who wont be helping till after the break, and those are the highlights. if amir or maxiell doesnt step up we are uber fucked. especially with the east suddenly being loaded with big men.

did you know venezuela abolished slavery ten years before the us?

oh yea, this game is beyond joke level. they should be piping in "sweet georgia brown" when the us has the ball.

also, kobe has dropped 18 pounds since he last suited up for the lakers. not that he's giving up working out, but he's added a strict diet to his regimen. his goal is most improved player and finals mvp. and he does look damn good. losing that weight is really going to help with that knee, i'd think. i honestly cant believe any professional athlete would touch red meat. also, about 3/4 of the nba should also be swimming every day to help with their back problems [/two cents]

the international 3 for these guys is like taking a layup. one of my biggest pet peaves about nba fans is that these guys cant shoot. what a joke.

hugo chavez, in the news again today, trying to rewrite the constitution. some of these imperial dictators get in there and dont like to give it up. kind of like some of these guys with the ball.

lol. bill walton=best broadcaster in the world.

bill breaking some bad news for spreewell fans. apparently he cant afford to feed his kids and pay the boat bills, so they took his boat. comeback looming?

kg to spree connection is there.

Foul, Foul, Foul, Foul.

^ Pretty much the entire USA-Venezuela game.

Didn't see the game, but from the ESPN recap, looks like this OGT thread was more entertaining (and lopsided) than the game itself.

It sounds like it was fitting that this was on ESPN Classic.

Not only do they put these on in the middle of the night to make sure that nobody cares in the EST zone, but ESPN even relegates it to their stepchild channel.

I was going to watch some of this on ESPN360 until realizing that my college's ISP doesn't meet the specifications for it (who knows how). The highlights were okay though. Glad to see that Tay was an integral part of the win, playing the most minutes and doing a good job all-around.

-ripped the pistons for focusing too much on guard play when our needs were at the bigs. i could not agree with him more. i know joe said 'the bigs werent the problem' but to me that is like blaming 06's demise on ben wallace.

OF COURSE THE BIGS WERE A PROBLEM! yea, guard depth was too, but in our heyday we had quality bigs to spare. we seemed to be fine w/ our bigs in the playoffs, but thats because the two series people payed attention to were against guard oriented teams. what a joke. has anyone contemplated our big man situation? we have a complete asshole in sheed that obviously cant be trusted, we have dyess who wont be helping till after the break, and those are the highlights. if amir or maxiell doesnt step up we are uber fucked. especially with the east suddenly being loaded with big men.



Walton needs to move on with the times. Gone are the days of teams having a plethora of big men like the pistons did in 1989. Comparing today's game to back then is apples to oranges. If you recall, the damage to the pistons front court depth took a hit post-1989 when the t-wolves and magic came into the league (the pistons lost mahorn in the expansion draft and dropped the rotation to 8 serviceable guys and really only 4 serviceable and at times flawed bigs: laimbeer, edwards, Rodman and Salley...).

This was just the beginning for all teams.

Since then the league has added even more teams to further deplete the potential pool of big men. It's much more challenging to find serviceable bigs.

Add to that the fact we're playing in an insane 3-point shooting era further depletes the potential pool and potentially the necessity of front court depth (now most bigs prefer to sit back and chuck).

Back in 1989 the team that chucked the most 3 pointers barely eclipsed 1100 (the knicks may have been the only team to even chuck more than 1000) and that was a record setting performance.

In 2007 there were 2 teams in the NBA that just missed launching 2000 3's and only 3 teams that chucked less than 1000.

The game has changed (for the worse in my opinion which I believe is completely due to the introduction of the 3 point shot in college basketball in the mid 80s. It changed the way the game was played and taught with kids preferring to chuck 3's rather than learning the art of the high percentage shot.....but that's a different debate. Thank GOD the NCAA is finally moving back the 3-point line next year).

Today's NBA it's much easier to find guard depth and almost more important to have guard depth....although the need to have a post presence will always be a big deal in the NBA and in basketball in general. And to me having a big that can defend the basket is almost more important in today's game than a guy that can score in the post. Almost.

And for Bill Walton to think the pistons didn't need to improve their guard depth is just plain silly. This team hasn't had a serviceable guard off the bench since the days of Jon Barry.

Again, not saying the pistons don't currently have a need to improve their front court depth just that it's much more challenging (although it's not nearly as bad as people think. I'm intrigued to see a sheed, nazr, maxiell, johnson, mcdyess rotation) and in my opinion more important right now to improve their guard depth. The hunters, arroyos, evans, murrays, delfinos and smush parkers of the present and past never quite did it for me.

i was actually referring to our glory days of 2-5 years ago, when at various times we could roll out big men of ben, rasheed, memo, big nasty, mcdyess, soup, dale davis, and even darko.

and i disagree, its still important to have the bigmen. the east is loaded with big men talent this year, and we are mediocre there now.

which is why i really thought AA was a redundant pick.

Keith says the Pistons saved the day!

Go Pistons!

:langlois:

I think the presence of the two Pistons helps Team USA on that count. Apparently, Mike Krzyzewski does, too. Tayshaun Prince played a team-high 24 minutes, scoring four points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists – exactly the type of understated efficiency they were looking for when they added him to the roster for his savvy, defense and intangibles.

What Chauncey Billups did best in a tidy five-point, three-assist, 14-minute outing – Jason Kidd played 15 minutes – was try to pull in the reins. When Team USA looked like it was going into Globetrotter mode on one transition attempt, Billups tapped the brakes and insisted on running a play. It didn’t matter against the overmatched Venezuelans and it might not at any point in this qualifying tournament – but it will when they gather again next summer in Beijing.

i was actually referring to our glory days of 2-5 years ago, when at various times we could roll out big men of ben, rasheed, memo, big nasty, mcdyess, soup, dale davis, and even darko.

and i disagree, its still important to have the bigmen. the east is loaded with big men talent this year, and we are mediocre there now.

which is why i really thought AA was a redundant pick.

Are the glory days really considered 2-5 years ago? Am I getting that old?

anyway, I would also hardly call the eastern conference loaded with big men now that the head case known as zach randolph and 2 perimeter-oriented big men have changed locations (garnett and rashard lewis). I'd much rather have rasheed than either zach or lewis. And it's not like these guys are proven winners.

Everyone is still mediocre in the eastern conference and our depth at the big positions is still better than the knicks (maybe), magic and celtics while the rest of the conference stood pat or added either rookies or joe smith.

I'm not recognizing how the eastern conference is supposedly now loaded with big men or why they're much better than us.

In my opinion AA was absolutely not a redundant pick. Getting a legit 2-guard off the bench is absolutely necessary especially since it appears that stuckey will be primarily used as a playmaker off the bench. Even then this team needed both stuckey and afflalo.

If AA proves to be able to defend perimeter players and hit the occasional shot that's something this team hasn't had in quite some time.

The lack of solid, contributing perimiter players is one of the main reasons the pistons only had 1 championship during "the glory days" We played Chauncey, Rip and Tay too much during the regular season (partially because we have a retarded coach but mainly due to having no one else good enough to play) which led to burnout and to this team not being able to score from any of our backup 1s, 2s, and 3s because they all sucked.

Aren't you getting sick of those 70 point games?

Joe needed to change this and he finally made an attempt.

Should be a good one tonight.

Don't sleep on the Virgin Islands.

Wait, the game starts at 11 pm?

zzzzzzzzzzzzz (sorry, V.I.)

i honestly cant believe any professional athlete would touch red meat. also, about 3/4 of the nba should also be swimming every day to help with their back problems [/two cents]

I find it absolutely amazing as well. There are more than enough cases where diet alone has been shown to prolong longevity (Stockton and Larionov to name two). The same goes with swimming, diet and proper back exercises to lower the effects of back problems (myself to name one). The evidence is right there...I just don't get it.

I have noticed though that many athletes are switching over to a more calesthenic type regitment over weight training (especially baseball and some basketball players) as it's shown to increase strength as much, if not more, without the problems of unnecessary bulk.

Kobe lost a lot of weight.

Walton is irritating.

game two is on right now.

i wonder if a light is going on in mike brown's head watching this game.

"lebron james plus fastbreak equals.... points??"

it is very fun watching lebron on the break. too bad brown insists on putting the ball and chain on him for the cavs games.

damn, i don't seem to get espn classic and espn 360 doesn't seem to work for me....

http://www.andromedanet.com/tvtuner_espn360.html

cool.

Bill Walton just said that Kobe Bryant was the only player on the roster with an NBA championship.....

2004, you bitch, 2004.

Let it go, Matt. Let it go.

Don't sleep on the Virgin Islands.


I slept WITH the Virgin Islands...now they are just known as the Islands.

Jason Kidd is still the best PG in the NBA btw.

123-59...I wonder how the islands are feeling after that buttfuck.

If only the refs wouldn't beat up so hard on poor Timmy Duncan...

its alot of fun watching dwight, carmello, and kidd playing together. i get the sense you could plug in two nobodies next to those 3 and they'd still run the show.

carmello has to be the best scorer in the nba.

I find it absolutely amazing as well. There are more than enough cases where diet alone has been shown to prolong longevity (Stockton and Larionov to name two). The same goes with swimming, diet and proper back exercises to lower the effects of back problems (myself to name one). The evidence is right there...I just don't get it.

I have noticed though that many athletes are switching over to a more calesthenic type regitment over weight training (especially baseball and some basketball players) as it's shown to increase strength as much, if not more, without the problems of unnecessary bulk.

yea, you dont need to be jacked out of your mind to play basketball. strength training is important, but curls and the bench arent necessarilly the way to go. dirk being an example of someone who does alternative methods of training. i think core strength and balancing are the most important things to work on. nd having soe body fat probably is important as well. maybe not for ben "the body" wallace. but for a guy like dwayne wade who constantly sacrafices the body?

I'm not recognizing how the eastern conference is supposedly now loaded with big men or why they're much better than us.



dwight howard, shaq, omeke, kg, bosh, watch out for the magician too, zach and eddy, the bulls contingent, jermain oneal, and now al horford too.

we could be ok if our young guys step up, but i suspect that our big men are going to be outplayed by eastern teams on a fairly regular occurrence. we'll see if our guard play suffers as a consequence.

"even in the nba right now, there were teams that said we dont want to pay those 3 bodies that wont be available every night". we one of those? my guess is yes.

^I would think so as well.

Why doesn't Nash play for team Canada? If Sammy D can pull it off, so could he.

hes already done it, he played deep into the playoffs, his nba team cant sacrifice any of his production, he's getting older.

I liked History as a kid in school and all, but when I watch USA Basketball I want to watch a basketball game, not some history lesson on how Venezuela's name came from the fact Europeans felt it reminded them of their home in Venice. Fuck off, Bill Walton.

tay jst hit his knee. limped to lockerroom. more to come.

I liked History as a kid in school and all, but when I watch USA Basketball I want to watch a basketball game, not some history lesson on how Venezuela's name came from the fact Europeans felt it reminded them of their home in Venice. Fuck off, Bill Walton.

Who the hell came up with the idea of handing Bill Walton these 10 page prep sheets on cultural/historical information for every game? My best guess is that they thought that with having a high chance of blow-outs, they had better have some other things to talk about on the air.

any update on prince? i almost had a heart attack when i saw him go down and grabbing his KNEE of all things. that scared the hell out of me. but the replay didn't look too bad and i'm hoping it's just a bruised knee as they did colide. i didn't see any real 'buckling' of the knee.

*fingers crossed*

According to all reports, it's a sprained ankle for Tay. Not too bad, hopefully he can rest it out and be ready to go in the regular season.

OTOH, having Tayshaun REST to start out the season might not be a bad idea.

Seriously, does Tayshaun think he's like Warren Zevon, busting his ass to make that one last album before the lung cancer does him in? Take it easy, dude. You got a career ahead of you.

Luckily on a team full of all stars and borderline all stars, Tay can sit and rest it.

"lebron james, highest player of the game!" ...interesting.

The poster Carmelo put that Argentinian kid on was fucking nasty.

and ROFL @ Delfino being rejected by the rim on a reverse dunk attempt.

Carlos Delfino is fucking awful. I also think he's a dumb human being. He'll be out of the league in a few years.

I doubt the last part. i think he'll always show enough potantial to garner a roster spot. out of every team's rotation...I can see that.

I doubt the last part. i think he'll always show enough potantial to garner a roster spot. out of every team's rotation...I can see that.

Delfino can't shoot and he makes horrible decisions with the basketball (and on defense) because he's retarded. When he fails with the Raptors due to his erratic play and overall suckiness and blames their organization for whatever reason he's concocted in his head instead of accepting responsibility for his own actions he'll leave the NBA for some euro-league BS. Good riddance.

I think he'll make more money in Europe than he will here because he's better over there. No reason not to go.

Delfino can't shoot and he makes horrible decisions with the basketball (and on defense) because he's retarded. When he fails with the Raptors due to his erratic play and overall suckiness and blames their organization for whatever reason he's concocted in his head instead of accepting responsibility for his own actions he'll leave the NBA for some euro-league BS. Good riddance.

You are right about how he'll approach it. Once he gets the 10th-12th man role I mentioned he probably would run away overseas.

I missed the beat down of Puerto Rico, but I guess they're playing Argentina for gold. How many will they win by? Let's take it to the Sportsbook!!

I just read that Walton and the other guy have been doing these games from an ESPN studio in Connecticut, they are not even at the games!

This tournament was destined to go unnoticed from the start.

I believe that other guy is John "Detroit fans are punks" Saunders.

ESPN says Prince made the 12 man roster for the tourny of the 5 rings in China.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/news/story?id=3452552

That certainly won't hurt his trade value.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2042/tayshaunprincexh2.jpg

billups made a wise decision to bow out. he wouldn't have made the team anyway with all those young PGs and the fact that USA seems to favor kidd also.

billups made a wise decision to bow out. he wouldn't have made the team anyway with all those young PGs and the fact that USA seems to favor kidd also.

He was probably tipped off by Coach K

Yeah, that was definately a "quit before you are fired" move. Kidd was better last time anyway and I guess they figure they have enough perimeter shooters w/o Chaunce.

Plus his defense = Melo's

WE GOT WADE!!!

I don't know what is worse, reading that LeBron has guaranteed a gold medal for the US in the Olympics or being forced to see his nasty ass feet/toes on Sportscenter every 5 minutes.

I don't know what is worse, reading that LeBron has guaranteed a gold medal for the US in the Olympics or being forced to see his nasty ass feet/toes on Sportcenter every 5 minutes.

You mean the royal feet.

His gnarled toes are just not something that I need to WITNESS.

Friday, JULY 25
USA vs. Canada 8 p.m. ET, ESPNHD, ESPN360.com

THURSDAY, JULY 31
USA vs. Turkey 8 a.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1
USA vs. Lithuania 8 a.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com

SUNDAY, AUGUST 3
USA vs. Russia 3 a.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
USA vs. Australia 8 a.m. ET, ESPN2. ESPN360.com

USA disembowels Canada 120-65.

They are out for blood. Full court press for the entire freaking game. They were even trapping up 50 points.

I didn't watch the game and I haven't read through the thread. Who'd they play in the first exhibition game? Did they win?

good effort on their part. it should be noted, however, that canada's team sucks ass.

USA disembowels Canada 120-65.

They are out for blood. Full court press for the entire freaking game. They were even trapping up 50 points.
The flame that burns twice as bright lasts half as long.

The flame that burns twice as bright lasts half as long.

:cogent:

The flame that burns twice as bright lasts half as long.
Tell that to the Celtics.

Is it bad that i dont give a rats ass about the olympics? I mean Russsia isn't the USSR anymore and Al Queda doesn't have a team, so it doesn't have that world relevant feel it had in the 80's and early 90's.

We must destroy the "Axis of Evil"

We must destroy the "Axis of Evil"
Hey that was good advertising and Olympic Propaganda to get the patriotic juices flowing. Made you want to salute your flag before burning it.

Rodney Stuckey reportedly played very well for the U.S. Select Team as its week of practice against the U.S. Olympic team wound down. Stuckey played off the ball, curiously enough, as Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo and Jerryd Bayless took turns at the point, struggling to get the ball up court against the Olympic team.

I know that this will hurt some of you, sorry.

I know that this will hurt some of you, sorry.
How? we don;t have a team full of draft picks running up and down the floor, when we do let me know. Also where's that article on dumars endorsing it no strings attached?

Also where's that article on dumars endorsing it no strings attached?

Yeah, because that's exactly what I said.

:dismissed:

Gutz, come on. Glenn only has time to scour the net for random articles that are only vaguely related to his point. He can't be pressed to actually back up his points with articles that are actually on the topic he's defending.

Also, that article quote is confusing. Is it saying that Rose, Mayo, and Bayless had trouble bringing the ball up court or that part of the reason Stuckey played SG was because he had trouble doing it. Also, if it was the trio having trouble why didn't Stuckey get a chance?

Man, I'm getting pwned today.

I shouldda stayed home and played with myself.

I shouldda stayed home and played with myself.

Fool, I'd read that article as more of those 3 had problems bringing the ball up the court. Not sure why Rodney "Rodney Stuckey" Stuckey didn't get a chance.

I think the point is that "anyone" is going to have trouble bringing the ball up against that press.

But what do I know?

NOTHING.

I'm DONE.

I think the point is that "anyone" is going to have trouble bringing the ball up against that press. Especially a dude who should be starting at SG.

But what do I know?

NOTHING.

I'm DONE.

I see what you did there.

Very clever, young Fool.

But he should be "playing" SG, not necessarily "starting" at SG.

IBFPAMWTTR

In Before Fool Pretends A Mexican Water Troll Tells Riddles?

Tay's getting some garbage time:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/playbyplay?gameId=727

They looked good again in the second half. Still having trouble on the "FIBA pick and roll."

Kidd may be out the door as the starter (didn't play a single minute in the second half against Russia) and Bosh looks like he's starting to overtake Dwight Howard.

Per ESPN:

Krzyzewski went with a lineup of Williams, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Redd and Dwyane Wade to start the fourth quarter, singling out Bosh for praise afterward even though he did not grab a rebound nor make a bucket and earned his three points from the foul line. (So keep an eye out for Bosh's possibly supplanting Dwight Howard as the primary big man, perhaps when the Americans face Spain in the fourth game of the preliminary round of the Olympics. Bosh might be a more effective post defender against Pau Gasol, and he's certainly more mobile -- and a better free-throw shooter -- than Howard.)

but honestly, no one can really stop dwight howard from going straight up, which is why id keep dwight in.

Its not that he won't play, but Bosh's defense to start the game would be nice. Its like having that gunner SG coming off the bench to just rack up points. Play defense to start the game, then bring in Howard to devestate them by just feeding him in the post for easy buckets.

In Before Fool Posts Any More White Text ... Trick Replies ...?

USA 87, Australia 76

Basketball is just as painful to watch as I remember.

I'm watching the re-air of this on ESPN2. I really think that Team USA would be much better off if they would just send the country's best college players, or maybe the NBA's best role players. The only time the USA looks impressive is when they're playing team ball, which is few and far between. The egos on this team are massive - every one of them think that they can take the game over (which they can in the NBA) so they isolate themselves. Most of the time it ends in a turnover.

But when this team looks good, it makes quick pass after quick pass, and it usually ends up down low for a dunk. Right now they suck in the half court, and that's mainly LeBron, Kobe and Melo's fault - they isolate themselves way too much. They're playing like it's an all-star game, not a Olympic game.

Chris Paul is the only guard/forward out there looking to play team ball. Wade is to a lesser extent, but he's trying. This is why the NBA no longer represents basketball, but a much more professional level of And1. This is also why Chris Paul is my favorite player in the entire NBA, and the best all around basketball player in the world.

it was the 5th game of a 5-game tune up. Don't read too much into it. There guys are sick of playing games that don't matter.

I secretly want them (Team USA Men's Basketball) to come in 6th again...

Not a secret anymore, champ. I agree with you to an extent though. Maybe it would teach some of the younger guys that its not about being the best by outplaying the entire opposing team by yourself, but being able to do that when your team needs you to, but playing the best team ball possible the rest of the time.

I'm watching the re-air of this on ESPN2. I really think that Team USA would be much better off if they would just send the country's best college players, or maybe the NBA's best role players. The only time the USA looks impressive is when they're playing team ball, which is few and far between. The egos on this team are massive - every one of them think that they can take the game over (which they can in the NBA) so they isolate themselves. Most of the time it ends in a turnover.

But when this team looks good, it makes quick pass after quick pass, and it usually ends up down low for a dunk. Right now they suck in the half court, and that's mainly LeBron, Kobe and Melo's fault - they isolate themselves way too much. They're playing like it's an all-star game, not a Olympic game.

Chris Paul is the only guard/forward out there looking to play team ball. Wade is to a lesser extent, but he's trying. This is why the NBA no longer represents basketball, but a much more professional level of And1. This is also why Chris Paul is my favorite player in the entire NBA, and the best all around basketball player in the world.

In a (not very exciting) fantasy, I always wished the team that lost in the NBA finals could go to the Olys as a team. Pissed off, lots to prove, etc. The timing doesn't work anymore.

^ i remember there were times when everyone was like "send the pistons to the olypmics for team usa". thats when we were fucking good ahd hungry...

In a (not very exciting) fantasy, I always wished the team that lost in the NBA finals could go to the Olys as a team. Pissed off, lots to prove, etc. The timing doesn't work anymore.
Not to mention that most NBA teams have a significant player or two that are not American.

Like me!

Not to mention that most NBA teams have a significant player or two that are not American.

Not back when I first thought about this.

Nice Kaman reference, and Barwis would kick Batman's ass.

Is Valter playing for Argentina?

Is Valter playing for Argentina?

I guess not.

http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08/olym/men/teamPlay/team/p/eventid/4004/langid/1/langlc/en/roundid/4004/teamnumber/237/fe_teamPlay_teamRost.html

Anybody know why? Was it because he was a free agent?

But look who is on the Greek team:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08/olym/men/teamPlay/play/p/competitioncode//eventid/4004/langlc/en/playernumber/25390/roundid/4004/season//teamnumber/291/fe_teamPlay_playStat.html

"Baby Shaq" is also reportedly around 350lbs now.

You know I've actually played basketball with him before. He used to go to the Shelby Lifetime (so did Jermaine Jackson) and shoot around. He's actually a pretty nice guy. (Jermaine, not so much).

lebron and dwade shitted all over china...

But look who is on the Greek team:
http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe/08/olym/men/teamPlay/play/p/competitioncode//eventid/4004/langlc/en/playernumber/25390/roundid/4004/season//teamnumber/291/fe_teamPlay_playStat.html

"Baby Shaq" is also reportedly around 350lbs now.
I watched a few minutes of Greece and Spain. He looked like crap out there.

Still vondering vhy Valter isn't playing for Argentina.

lol@ argentina for losing to linas kleiza

I watched the last 10 minutes or so of that, it was funny.

lol@ argentina for losing to linas kleiza

lol@ Kleiza not seeing the floor much even in the Olympics.

In the part of the game I watched, he was their whole team, the rest of them looked like ass.

A must read interview with Craig Sager:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2008/08/bud_lights_and_blonds_five_min.html

Also:
http://www.red-foxes.net/photo.php

There's no way to accent it at all?
The only thing I can do is have this and have a matching thong. That's about the only thing I can do.
[B]Do you have a matching thong? [laughing]
Yeah! I'm not going to show it to you though.
You really do? [staring]
Yeah, but I'm not going to show it to you.
Why would you have a matching thong? [horrified]
Because you've gotta be excited!

Solid.

The Red Foxes are ... ok.

tayshaun getting some points! and the fk is up with 5-21 from downtown for team usa...the team was suppose to be good at 3's.

A little local angle here, anybody ever eat there?


Team USA Would Starve Without Major Chain Restaurants

August 11, 2008 6:08 PM

Syracuse head coach and Team USA Assistant Coach Jim Boeheim has been writing about the team's travels for the Syracuse website. Here he talks about everybody's eating habits (a few days old, via Deadspin):


We went out to a local restaurant on Monday night and finally ate a Chinese meal. It wasn't like a P.F. Chang's; it was, you know, more Chinese. They didn't serve us snake and stuff like that, but it wasn't like back home at all. It was very traditional with a big round table and a serving tray that you shared and spicy soup and a few appetizer things. In other words, it wasn't fried rice and stir-fried chicken. It's not like that over here. And you know something? It was good.

It was just us coaches. The players ate at places like California Pizza Kitchen and Tony Roma's, which they've been doing all along. They don't know what they missed.

Tony Roma's for gold!

I'm actually a little worried. Will Tony Roma's work?

It better, because I don't think there is a single Cheesecake Factory outside the United States.

UPDATE: Turns out the headline of this post is a lie.

In fact, Team USA is traveling with a private chef, who is churning out massive quantities of home cooking. Spaghetti and meatballs, chicken noodle soup, fresh fruit, chocolate truffle cake ... most of the goods for the men's and women's teams were shipped from the states some time ago. Chef Shawn Loving, who has cooked for Rip Hamilton for years and has his own Michigan-based restaurant and catering business (http://www.lovingspoonful.com/info.html), is on the job. If Team USA needs familiar food, it turns out there is no need to even leave the hotel.

edit: nevermind, looks like he closed the restaurant http://www.lovingspoonful.com/

I've eaten at several legit Chinese restaurants in China, and I lost about 5 pounds in a week. I'm a meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, so rice didn't quite do it for me. I hit up the first McDonald's I saw, and it was different, but still decent. I'd imagine the Team USA players would last long eating real Chinese food. Howeva, I liked dumplings quite a bit -- beef, chicken, pork, cinnamon, and even squid, to an extent.

I guess I've never had traditional Chinese. I've had traditional Japanese food. It wasn't bad, just not filling enough. Traditional polish food, that's where it's at.

http://slamonline.com/online/2008/08/links-game-notes-team-usa-97-angola-76/


• Wow, Tayshaun Prince checks in! The Human Victory Cigar is smoldering early!


• USA goes to a zone, and Angola promptly nails a three. Then Tayshaun wets a three, then gets a steal and dunks. Tayshaun looks great early on, which makes me wonder why Coach K hasn’t been playing him at all over the last week.


• By the way, Jason Kidd still hasn’t taken a shot yet for the entire Olympics.


• Kobe misses another three. 55-39. Then Kobe misses another three. Kobe’s 0-for-6 on threes.


• Bosh and Prince apparently visited the Great Wall yesterday. Sager quotes Prince as saying “It truly is one of the wonders of the world.” I’m glad we finally got some independent confirmation on that from a member of Team USA. I suspected The Great Wall of China was a wonder of the world, but hearing that from Tayshaun Prince actually confirms it!

It ain't real until Tayshaun says so!!!!

So they have a poll on espn.com that looks like this:

Which team would give the U.S. a better chance to win an Olympic gold medal?

- Team USA
- Boston Celtics

With surprising results, Massachusetts and New Hampshire are the two states that have overwhelmingly voted for the Boston Celtics. Boston fans are very smart.

Wasn't Paul Pierce on the 2002 team that finished 6th? He's the Truth.

Did anyone else see the falling out of bounds alley-oop that Wade gave to Kobe?

^ Yeah, that was badass!

^x2

(10 char)

It will be interesting to see if this Ricky Rubio can live up to all the hype.

He's being touted as a top 2 pick whenever he comes to the NBA.

He's what, 17?

He's being compared to Maravich.

Garbajosa looks like a guy they just woke up in the dumpster right before tip off.

Garbajosa just woke up in the dumpster right before tip off.

Spain has some players with their first name on their back and some with their last name on their back. That makes me hate them even more. I think wearing your first name on your back is ridiculous and should be done by 4 year olds, but to mix it is even worse. Am I the only one that feels this way?

Spain is the most successful national team ever assembled, and the US thrashed them by 37 points.

Shit, they only beat Angola by 21.

China does first names but that's a heritage thing, so it makes sense. With Spain, that's just stupid.

BEIJING -- Half a world away, Kamanhaus is divided.

Actually, LeRoy Kaman would probably take issue with calling his home Kamanhaus. He'd prefer "the Kamans' house."

And if LeRoy Kaman turns on the television in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Monday morning to watch his son Chris play basketball, he'll be cheering against him.

"My dad is not so thrilled," Kaman said. "My mom has always supported me, she's great. My dad is kind of negative about it. He's like: 'You're not German, you're an American citizen.'"

But the Los Angeles Clippers center is not only an American citizen, he's a German citizen now, too, in possession of a freshly minted Deutschland passport that was processed earlier this summer, allowing him to join the German national team for the Beijing Olympics.

So when Germany takes the court against Team USA on Monday at 8 a.m. ET for its final game of this tournament, the man in the middle playing opposite Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh will be Chris Kaman. A red-blooded, born-and-bred American, three generations removed from the great-grandparents who decades ago first set foot on U.S. soil at Ellis Island in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty.

"He should be happy," Kaman said of his father, whom he has not spoken to since the Olympic tournament began more than a week ago. "It's his grandparents, so he should be happy about it, but sometimes he focuses on the negative a little bit. I tell him, 'C'mon, it's just basketball. That's the way I look at it.' But my dad was a little negative. I had to get in his face a little bit."

Under FIBA rules, Kaman is no longer eligible to represent the United States in international tournaments unless a special waiver is granted (the same rule applies to J.R. Holden, the American point guard from Pittsburgh who is representing Russia, along with Becky Hammon, who is playing for the Russian women's team) for extreme circumstances, such as the partitioning of a country.

So unless the Berlin Wall gets rebuilt in the next four to eight years, Kaman -- even if he becomes the best center in the NBA (stop laughing, we're trying to make a point here) -- will not be allowed to wear the red, white and blue in London in 2012, or in Rio de Janeiro, Chicago, Madrid or Tokyo in 2016.

"I don't know all the rules, I don't care. It was something I vanted to do, go to the Olympics," Kaman said.

Might he have regrets someday?

"Right now, no," Kaman said. "Maybe down the road I might. I'm not thinking about down the road now."
I agree that its just basketball. But if you think you might regret it later, why do it solely to be in the olympics? Just sounds retarded.

Yeah it's stupid, but he's never going to make the US team, so I guess I don't really care. His connection to Germany is tenuous, at best.

He has no use for those back home who consider him some sort of a traitor.

"People are going to hate you no matter what you do. People hate Kobe Bryant, and he's the best player in the world," Kaman said. "I just want to be positive, not focus on the negative stuff. It doesn't get you anywhere."

Germany missed out on a chance to reach the quarterfinals by losing to China on Saturday, so Monday's game against the well-rested Americans, who were given the day off Sunday by coach Mike Krzyzewski, completes Kaman's tour of German duty -- though he said he'll play in EuroBasket next summer in Poland if Nowitzki plays, too.

After going 10-for-12 from the field and scoring 24 points in Germany's opener against Angola, Kaman had only a dozen more buckets in his three other games, and he was yanked early in favor of Patrick Femerling against China when Yao Ming was scoring over him with ease.

So it has been somewhat of a disappointing tournament, but an experience Kaman will treasure.

"You know why I did it? One reason is every summer I play in the summer league, and all these guys in summer league are trying to get a job or are just starting on a team and are trying to prove something," Kaman said. "And I'm not trying to prove anything. I know I'm a good basketball player, I know what I can do, I know what my skills are, I try to play within my game and within my skill set, and the other reason is I vant to have some fun. Summer league is not what I want. I want to try something else. And this is fun. Look, I'm in Beijing, China, with a once in a lifetime opportunity here."
He just sounds seems slow to me. But I dont think he's a traitor. Fuck the Olympics these days. Us winning basketball is like a deabeat dad finally taking care of his kid. Its good and great even, but you were supposed to be doing it in the first place.

Yeah it's stupid, but he's never going to make the US team, so I guess I don't really care.
I dont either, just thought it was a funny read. I just think doing something you think you'll regret later at his age just because you vant to play is dumb. If he said "I'll never have any regrets down the road, because like i said its just basketball" I'd respect that better.

Kaman's not very bright. Actually, I shouldn't say that, I think he's ADD/OCD or maybe even Autistic.

Kaman wanted to have fun. He had fun. Maybe he won't being able to play for Team USA in 4-8 years -- whoopty-fucking-do. Even if Kaman were a stud C by then, I'd probably rather see some younger player make it in. And if you hadn't notice, while Reggie Evans simply grabbed his nuts, Team USA ripped them off his body and force-fed them to him, to the tune of a 50 point margin of victory. Oof.

Anyone have an idea as to when the game is on tomorrow?

Anyone have an idea as to when the game is on tomorrow?

I suggest an email to Keith Langlois.

Keith,

Could you tell me what time the USA Quarterfinal game starts tomorrow?





MoTown,
That's quite an interesting name you have there. Interesting how you capitalize the T. Rodney Stuckey doesn't do anything silly like that to his name, which is another reason his name is going to by synonymous with DEEEEETROOOOOOIT CHAMPIONSHIP! I received word that over the course of this summer, he has not only avoided taking any time off, but he's been training for the iron man and strong man competition. Word has it that he was so miffed about being left off the Olympic Team that he vowed never to lose another game again in the rest of his life. That can only mean one thing: It's a good time to be a Piston's fan. The rest of the league needs to look out, because Rodney Stuckey is taking over.

As for the time for the Olympic game tomorrow, I was talking to Joe Dumars yesterday, and he is confident that the current Pistons team could keep up with the USA team. He told me that this is the core of guys that he's wanted, and the nonsense he said about trading people away in the offseason was just a joke that the rest of the league didn't get.

Have a great day, MoTown.

ps Rodney Stuckey.

So now you know.

alsoLOL

Thats fucking hilarious!

I think it's on like now or something.

lol pwnt

this usa team is looking legit, atleast by the box scores. i wanna watch some fucking games!

Up 9.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/boxscore?gameId=829

lol Tayshaun looked like a 9 year old girl trying to guard Scola.

It looks like Scola is killing it.

Only up 6.

LOL@the Spurs for giving away Scola

Yeah he just made like 3 strong post moves for 3 easy buckets. We're letting him push us around.

God damnit the NBA needs to move back to NBC. It's sickening to me that their awesome theme music is being wasted, only being used every 4 years.

Is it me or is someone on the US team shouting "ball don't lie"?

I heard that too. "Ball don't lie, get outta there!"

I thought it was Howard...the foul was on him I think.

So Manu hasn't played since the 1st qtr?

Where's the courage?

Oh wait, he's on OUR team.

The gold medal game is being played at 2:30 am EST on Sunday

LOL

The gold medal game is being played at 2:30 am EST on Sunday

LOL

They just said on tv it would be sunday night. LIES. It's not sunday night neither here or in Beijing.

This blows.

I'M GOING TO WATCH IT!!!

Okay, I'm kidding. I'm taking it for granted that we'll win. I mean, I've slept through at least half of all the other games while on the couch, so if I'm sound asleep in bed for the entire gold medal game, we'll win by 60, right?

Sleep for your country Atticus!

Weak ass fouls being called. ZzZzZzzzz.

lmfao @ kobe using the truck stick on Gasol.

The Olympics have officially been Tayshowned!

Weak ass fouls being called. ZzZzZzzzz.
Walter?