Team USA overcame a sluggish first half to defeat China 101-70 in Beijing.  The United States struggled from outside, but were able to capitalize on their superior athleticism and pressure defense in the second half.

Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-7 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.  LeBron James scored 18 points on 8-of-12 from the field, grabbed 6 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, and tallied 3 blocks.  Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant paced the US with 13 points a piece.

Team USA shot 38-of-70 from the field, but connected on only 7 of their 24 three-point attempts.  Bryant was 1-of-7 from behind the arc and took at least three ill-advised three-point shots.

Defensively, Team USA was solid, but not spectacular.  The United States had trouble defending the 3-point line early, as China opened the contest 5-of-7 from the three-point line.  Team USA’s defensive intensity was good, but their rotations were slow at times.  Wade overplayed the passing lanes twice and gave up three 3-point baskets by failing to stick with his defensive assignment.

The United States was shaky offensively, but their ball movement improved when Coach K went with his two point guard lineup featuring Chris Paul at the point guard position and Deron Williams at shooting guard.  Williams applied great ball pressure and Paul had 6 assists in the contest.

There is plenty of reason for optimism after a 31-point victory.

But I’m still concerned about a few things:

• Outside shooting.  Team USA is 10-of-42 from the 3-point line over their last two games.  The reason is simple:  Michael Redd is the United States’ only catch-and-shoot threat.  The international 3-point line is 20 feet, 6 inches, that’s roughly three feet shorter than the NBA 3-point line.  Dwyane Wade and LeBron James haven’t fine-tuned their mid-range games.  Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony have perfected their mid-range jumpers, but both players do their damage off the dribble or fading away instead of squaring up and measuring themselves from that distance.  The United States can get away with shooting poorly from outside against the likes of Australia and China because they can make up the difference with easy baskets off of turnovers.  But Spain, Greece, and Argentina will take care of the basketball.  Spain, Greece, and Argentina will also pack the paint and force the United States to connect from outside.  Kobe Bryant has to take better shots and shoot a better percentage from beyond the arc.

• Carmelo Anthony has failed to get on track.  Anthony was 0-for-3 from the field against China.  To be fair, Anthony was whistled for several bogus fouls.  Carmelo was also yanked at one point in favor of Kobe Bryant after he appeared to give an official an earful after being assessed a foul.  Dwyane Wade has done a fantastic job of picking up the slack by scoring in transition and creating turnovers.  But the United States is going to need Anthony’s mid-range, half-court game before the Olympics have concluded.

• Offensive continuity.  Team USA failed to run any semblance of an offense to begin the contest.  The United States started the second half with two straight pick-and-roll possessions for Kidd and James that yielded a dunk for Bryant and a trip to the line for Anthony.  Kidd and James are Team USA’s best playmakers.  I’d like to see more pick-and-roll opportunities for both players.

• Deron Williams needs more minutes.  Williams has been Team USA’s best point guard thus far.  He’s done an excellent job of pushing the ball in transition and he’s been the best defender out of the United States’ point guard triumvirate.  Paul had 6 assists against China, and Kidd was effective in pushing the pace, but Williams has the best skill set for international play.  At some point, Coach K is going to have choose a backup point guard to make more minutes for Michael Redd, he should choose Williams over Chris Paul.

Much has been made of Carmelo Anthony being the “best player in international basketball.”  But LeBron James was the star today and may end up the MVP of Team USA.  At 6-9, 260 pounds, James can play all five positions in international play.  NBA basketball is about isolation and specialization.  The international game is about versatility.  And with his combination of size, speed, and court awareness, LeBron is a perfect match.

James had the play of the game — on both ends.  Offensively, James caught an alley-oop pass from Wade and slammed the ball home while drawing the foul.  Defensively, he had an awe-inspiring block where he skied to grab a shot attempt with two hands before it hit the backboard.

LeBron has also established himself as the vocal leader of Team USA.

All in all, it was an impressive performance for the United States.  But it’s important to consider the quality of their opponent.  The competition will improve over the next two weeks.  If the ‘Redeem Team’ is to win the gold medal, they will have to play much better than they did today.

(Photo by REUTERS/Danny Moloshok)

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Steve Nash & Baron Davis

I've watched thousands of basketball games.  And I'll watch thousands more.  Some of the games I've watched have been more memorable than others.  I'll never forget Team USA's 92-73 loss to Puerto Rico four years ago.  Puerto Rico packed the paint against the United States in that contest and dared Team USA to fire away from outside.  The United States responded by shooting 3-of-24 from 3-point line.  I'm not prone to emotional outbursts while watching basketball, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I was screaming at the television during that game.  I remember Puerto Rican guard Carlos Arroyo 'popping' his jersey at Team USA -- his team up 20.  I'm still frustrated and disappointed about that loss.

Frustrated because the team we sent to Athens wasn't comprised of the best our country had to offer.  Disappointed because Larry Brown made himself larger than the team he was hand picked to coach.  Team USA couldn't hit from long-distance because their best shooter was sitting on the bench.  Through six prior exhibition games, Carmelo Anthony was the 2004 team's third leading scorer (behind Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson).  But when Olympic play began, Brown chose to play Richard Jefferson (who had two of his shot attempts hit the side of the backboard against Puerto Rico) and Shawn Marion at small forward.  Brown started Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury in the backcourt.  Iverson and Marbury were incapable of creating for their teammates -- while LeBron James -- Team USA's best playmaker, rode the pine next to Carmelo.

Granted, James and Anthony were wet behind the ears rookies in 2004.  Even still, they were twice the players that Richard Jefferson, Shawn Marion, Allen Iverson, and Stephon Marbury were.  Why did Brown ignore the obvious and play lesser players?  Brown shortened his bench because of his well-publicized disdain for young players.  And he didn't stop there, he also took every opportunity to berate his players in the media and criticize the player selection committee.

Mark Kriegel of Foxsports.com wrote an article recently that questioned the importance of winning gold in this summer's Olympics.  Kriegel asked Kobe Bryant, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony if winning the gold medal would mean more than an NBA championship.  All of the players agreed that they'd choose a gold medal over an NBA championship.  Kriegel didn't "buy it."

Kriegel even admitted to taking "perverse satisfaction in the declining fortunes of Team USA."  He's not alone.  Anti-American basketball sentiment has permeated message boards and NBA related blogs and articles for quite some time.  I know there are a few bad apples in today's game that feed the arrogant, selfish, stereotype of American born basketball players.   The 2000 and 2004 Olympic teams did little to disprove that perception.  The 2004 team in particular displayed terrible body language, attitude, and sportsmanship.

That's why the 2008 games are so important.  Basketball may be the world's game, but it's important that the United States prove that we play it better than anybody.  And that we play it the right way.  With humility and respect for our opponents.  In Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, Team USA sports the two greatest players in the world.  In Coach Krzyzewski, we have one of the finest coaches in all of basketball.  There's no excuses this time around.

I've never played in the NBA or the Olympics and I never will.  But I'm as big a fan of the game of basketball as anyone.  I've watched my favorite NBA team win championships, lose in the Finals, miss the playoffs, rebuild, and return to the Finals only to lose again.  I've dealt with the highs and lows that have accompanied each of those moments.  But if given the opportunity, I'd trade every NBA championship of the past and every NBA championship of the future for a gold medal in Beijing.

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Shortly after receiving a verbal committment from Baron Davis, the Los Angeles Clippers reportedly offered Elton Brand a five-year, $70 million dollar contract extension.

Instead of agreeing to the extension on the spot, Brand is contemplating an offer from the Golden State Warriors that is rumored to be $90 million over five-years.

According to Basketball-reference.com, Brand has made $81,543,136 over his nine-year career.  At that point, what difference does an extra $20 million dollars make?  How many homes and luxury vehicles does one person need?

Maybe Elton is having second thoughts about the Clippers roster.  That’s understandable.  When healthy, Davis is one of the NBA’s top five point guards.  But is he any better than the point guard-shooting foward combination of Sam Cassell and Corey Maggette?  Doubtful.  Maggette and Cassell were the Clippers 2nd and 3rd leading scorers on a team that came within one game of advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2006.

The addition of Davis all but sealed Maggette’s fate.  He won’t be returning to La La Land.

That leaves the Clippers with a starting lineup that will feature Davis, Cuttino Mobley, Al Thornton, Brand, and Chris Kaman.  With Tim Thomas coming off the bench.  LA will be good enough to compete for a playoff birth in the Western Conference.  But they’re still far from championship contention.

There are plenty of All-Star point guard-power forward duos in the NBA.  Deron Williams-Carlos Boozer, Chauncey Billups-Rasheed Wallace, Chris Paul-David West, Steve Nash-Amare Stoudemire.  All of those teams are searching for that third piece.  The Davis-Brand Clippers will be no different.

Triumvirates win NBA championships.  Garnett-Pierce-Allen, Duncan-Ginobili-Parker, Jordan-Pippen-Rodman, Magic-Kareem-Worthy. There have been a few exceptions to that rule over the years.  Shaq-Kobe, Olajuwon-Drexler, and the celebrated team work of Isiah Thomas and Chauncey Billups’ Pistons come to mind.  Although I don’t think anyone would mistake Brand-Davis or the Clippers for those players or teams.

Still, Los Angeles — with Brand and Davis — would be 2/3 of the way there.

Don Nelson’s system puts butts in the seats.  But it won’t win an NBA championship.  It's not a system that plays to Brand's strengths either.

Either way, Brand’s career will end with him having made upwards of $150 million dollars to play a game he used to play for free.

When it’s all said and done, how much of that would he have traded for a chance to win a championship?

We’re about to find out.

BallerBlogger.com

From William Bender of the Philadelphia Daily News via TrueHoop:

TIM DONAGHY might be headed to jail, but he probably won't take any other NBA employees with him, federal prosecutors said yesterday in a letter to the judge overseeing the ex-referee's gambling case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Goldberg, who is prosecuting the Delaware County native, told U.S. District Judge Carol Amon, of the federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., that his office investigated Donaghy's claims of rigged basketball games and corrupt NBA executives and decided not to file charges.

The investigation, Goldberg said, "did not lead to evidence of prosecutable federal offenses." [Read]

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From Russ Bengston of SLAM:

What ever happened to you, when did you get so bitter?
Used to be a champion, now you’re a quitter
Could have done more in Miami if you only got fitter

If you couldn’t take the fire, should have stayed out the Heat
You’re so out of shape you can barely THINK on your feet

I’m a Laker for life, you’re just another man on a journey
In fact, don’t ever speak to me, just call my attorney
Keep playing with fire, you ain’t gonna burn me

You never really could rhyme, got carried by many
Kind of like how it worked with Dwyane, Kobe and Penny [Read]

Everyone seems to be freestylin' today so I thought I'd share the best one I've come across.  Courtesy of the guys over at SLAM Magazine.

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Patrick Ewing

Career Statistics

20.1 PPG, 1.9 APG, 9.8 RPG, 50 FG%, 35 3FG%, 74 FT%.

"Warrior. That is the one-word description often applied to Patrick Ewing. He was indefatigable and relentless in pursuit of an NBA championship despite being denied on an annual basis. Bold predictions did not always materialize and some took them as empty promises, while others as a will to succeed. One of the finest shooting centers to play, he left the game as the New York Knicks' all-time leader in nearly every significant category and the game's 13th all-time scorer with 24,815 points.

He arrived in New York after a ballyhooed college career with the Georgetown Hoyas that included one NCAA title and appearances in two other championship games. The team's fierce in-your-face style of basketball created a phenomenon known as "Hoya Paranoia" and as the key intimidating defensive presence, Ewing was tagged the "Hoya Destroya." A media star since his schoolboy days, his anticipated arrival to the NBA was unprecedented.

Never achieving the Holy Grail of the NBA, Ewing came painfully close. He led the Knicks all the way to the NBA Finals in 1994 but lost to the Hakeem Olajuwon-led Houston Rockets in seven games, which avenged a loss by Olajuwon's Houston Cougars to Georgetown in the 1984 NCAA championship game.

Also, at the tail end of Ewing's career with the Knicks, he was sidelined with a partially torn Achilles tendon when the San Antonio Spurs defeated New York in the 1999 NBA Finals.

Some hold that Ewing's failure to win a ring is the litmus test defining his career. But timing is everything and Ewing just happened to be born within five months of both Olajuwon and Michael Jordan, whose Chicago Bulls defeated Ewing's Knicks in five playoff series. In fact, from 1990 through 1998, the NBA championship went to teams that featured either Jordan or Olajuwon." [Read]

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

(Sources: NBA.com, YouTube, Basketball-reference.com)

Via TMZ:

Shaquille O'Neal took the mic at a NYC club last night, unleashing a freestyle verbal assault directed at his arch-enemy Kobe Bryant -- blaming his former teammate for ruining his marriage and imploring him to "Tell me how my #### tastes." [Read]

Via AOL Fanhouse:

This video contains foul language.

As a Lakers fan, I can't wait until LA plays Phoenix next year.

I'm also happy that Shaquille O'Neal is finally being exposed as the classless individual he is.  It's no coincidence that he's left every team he's played for on bad terms.  O'Neal even took the opportunity to trash Pat Riley and his former Miami Heat  teammates when he landed in Phoenix.

Upon being traded, Shaq all but promised another ring for the Suns.  He hasn't retired yet but was ousted in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs.  The very same team the Lakers dispatched of in 5 games in the Western Conference Finals.

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Via RealGM:

USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo today announced the 12 players who will represent the United States in the Aug. 8-24 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China.

The player selections were approved by the USA Basketball Executive Committee and will be nominated to the United States Olympic Committee to participate in the 2008 Olympic Games. In addition to Dwight Howard, others named to the 2008 USA Basketball Senior National Team: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets); Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons), Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat), and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).

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Team USA's minicamp begins next week. Jason Kidd, Michael Redd, Tayshaun Prince, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Deron Williams, and Dwight Howard appear to be shoe-ins.

Joe Johnson, Tyson Chandler, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Mike Miller, Brad Miller, Luke Ridnour, Antawn Jamison, JJ Redick, Shawn Marion, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom, Shane Battier, Bruce Bowen, Gilbert Arenas, and Adam Morrison are vying for the 2 roster spots.

Of those players, I would select Carlos Boozer and Tyson Chandler.

I think Coach K will start the 6-8, 250 pound LeBron James at power forward in an attempt to jumpstart the fastbreak and capitalize on the US's athleticism. If that's the case, Boozer becomes his backup. Chris Bosh is a very good player but he's not the shot blocker or finisher at the basket that Chandler is.

I'm surprised that Tayshaun Prince is rumored to have been selected. Outside shooting is a premium in the international game. Prince scores most of his points off of post-up opportunities. The international game is also much more physical. It will be interesting to see how Prince's slight build translates to a differently officiated ballgame.

Mike Miller or Bruce Bowen would have been a better fit.

Projected starters:

PG: Jason Kidd

SG: Kobe Bryant

SF: Carmelo Anthony

PF: LeBron James

C: Dwight Howard

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The Boston Celtics are the 2008 NBA champions. Congratulations to the Celtics and their fans.

I didn't pick the Celtics to win the NBA championship. I picked the Lakers over the Celtics in 6 games. But I did pick Boston to advance out of the Eastern Conference before the season began. I broke down the teams I considered to be championship contenders two months ago yesterday.

My concerns with the Lakers (inside scoring, defense) came to the forefront versus the Celtics. Pau Gasol wilted under the pressure and Paul Pierce TORCHED Radmonovich and Walton. When Pierce and Allen penetrated the defense, there was no one to protect the basket.

My only concern with the Celtics was their coaching staff. I wasn't convinced that Doc Rivers was capable of making the in-game adjustments that would be necessary to win the NBA championship.

I was wrong.

Doc Rivers was more than capable. Not only did he make perfect adjustments but he outcoached Phil Jackson -- a championship strategist with 9 rings. Rivers was inspirational. He implored his team to "never stop believing" and to "never give up." The Celtics were an extension of him. They followed his lead in fighting back from a 24-point deficit in Game 4. Looking back, the Celtics won the NBA championship that night.

In total, I missed four picks in the 2008 NBA playoffs. I picked the Wizards to beat the Cavaliers, the Mavericks to beat the Hornets, the Magic to beat the Pistons, and the Lakers to beat the Celtics.

But the only pick I regret making was the Mavs over the Hornets. Honestly, I hadn't watched the Hornets as much during the regular season as I probably should have. New Orleans was a great team and would have matched up well against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tyson Chandler and David West would have been a nightmare matchup for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Especially considering Gasol and Odom's struggles versus Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett.

The Cleveland Cavaliers struggled towards the end of the season before being awoken by the mindless trash-talk of DeShawn Stevenson and Gilbert Arenas. Arenas' injury didn't help the Wizards cause either.

Match-ups (the Pistons and Cavaliers were better defensively than the Lakes) played a part in Boston's early round struggles. But the Celtics simply weren't as good in the opening rounds as the team that won 66 regular season games. To their credit, they got stronger as the playoffs progressed -- and they learned to win on the road in the process.

The Celtics won the first two rounds with only 2/3 of their 'Big 3'. Ray Allen struggled mightily versus the Hawks, Cavs, and through the first five games versus the Pistons but increased his shooting percentage in each round. Allen shot 50% from the field and 52% from the 3-point line versus LA.

Ray was every bit as deserving of MVP as Paul Pierce.

All in all, it was a fitting ending to a season for the ages. With no games scheduled for tonight, I'm already getting the basketball withdrawals. Thankfully, the Olympics are right around the corner!

First round: 6-2

• Picks

Second round: 3-1

• Spurs vs. Hornets
• Magic vs. Pistons
• Lakers vs. Jazz
• Boston vs. Cleveland

Conference Finals: 2-0

• Celtics vs. Pistons
• Lakers vs. Spurs

NBA Finals: 0-1

• Lakers vs. Celtics
  

Prognostication results: 11-4

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President Bush was 0-for-4 from the field and had 3 assists in just under a minute of action.

This blog and my Barack Obama blog yesterday were intended to be humorous in nature.

(Hat tip: My good friend 100%InjuryRate of FanIQ)

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Jimmy Kimmel talked politics and hoops with Presidential candidate Barack Obama yesterday.

If Obama is elected, he plans on replacing the White House's bowling alley with a basketball court.

Barack thinks "Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world." And he "didn't anticipate Boston manhandling the Lakers the way they have so far."

Neither did I Mr. Obama.

Neither did I.

(Hat tip: Ball Don't Lie)

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In 1996, the NBA celebrated it’s 50th anniversary by unveiling the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Eighteen of those 50 — were players from two franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

That’s 36%.

Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, John Havlicek, Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Nate Archibald, Sam Jones, Robert Parish, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, James Worthy, and Magic Johnson.

During the 2008 NBA Finals, I’ll profile (nba.com, youtube, basketball-reference.com) one of those Lakers-Celtics legends daily.

I profiled Robert Parish on Saturday.

Today, we’ll take a look at Shaquille O’Neal.

Career Statistics

25.2 PPG, 2.7 APG, 11.5 RPG, 58 FG%, 52 FT%

"One of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players and one of the most prolific scorers in league history. He owns a career scoring average of 25.6 points, the ninth-highest in league history, and ranks 11th all-time in scoring (25,908) in 1,013 career games. The 16-year veteran is a career 58-percent shooter, third-highest in NBA history, and has led the league in field goal accuracy nine times, matching Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time record. O’Neal has averaged 11.5 rebounds (21st-NBA history) and grabbed 11,630 (21st) boards as a member of the Orlando Magic (1992-97), Los Angeles Lakers (1997-2004) and Miami Heat (2005-2008). The three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree (2000, 2001, 2003) ranks 8th all-time in blocks (2,485).

Won three NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001, 2002) and one with the Miami Heat (2006). A three-time NBA Finals MVP (2000, 2001, 2002). Shaq has pulled down the third-most rebounds in NBA playoff history (2,401) and blocked the third-most shots (433). " [Read]

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In 1996, the NBA celebrated it’s 50th anniversary by unveiling the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Eighteen of those 50 — were players from two franchises — the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

That’s 36%.

Bob Cousy, Dave Cowens, Bill Russell, Bill Sharman, John Havlicek, Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Nate Archibald, Sam Jones, Robert Parish, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, James Worthy, and Magic Johnson.

During the 2008 NBA Finals, I’ll profile (nba.com, youtube, basketball-reference.com) one of those Lakers-Celtics legends daily.

I profiled Wilt Chamberlain yesterday.

Today, we’ll take a look at Robert Parish.

Career Statistics

14.5 PPG, 1.4 APG, 9.1 RPG, 54 FG%, 72 FT%

"Robert Parish played in more games than any other player in NBA history. A 7-1 center who combined strength, agility and remarkable endurance, Parish won three NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s and teamed with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale to form one of the greatest front lines in NBA history. He capped his career by winning yet another championship ring as a member of the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls.

Parish, whose signature shot was a high trajectory jumper that seemed to kiss the banners at Boston Garden before finding its way to the basket, announced his retirement at age 43 following the 1996-97 season, his 21st in the NBA, and after playing in 1,611 games. Upon his retirement, Parish ranked 13th in the NBA in scoring with 23,334 points, sixth in rebounds with 14,715, sixth in blocked shots with 2,361 and eighth in field goals made with 9,614.

"He's probably the best medium-range shooting big man in the history of the game," said Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who was Parish's backup in the Celtics' 1986 championship season.

The Warriors traded Parish to Boston in 1980, and he enjoyed a remarkable 14-year run with the Celtics. In his tenure with the club, the Celtics went to the playoffs 13 times, won nine Atlantic Division titles, reached the NBA Finals five times and came away with three NBA titles." [Read]

(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

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