The 2008 Beijing Olympics is upon us and decorated swimmer Michael Phelps is not the only recognizable American hoping to return home with gold. There are twelve other American athletes, the men who comprise Team USA Basketball, who this time travel to China with a chip on their shoulders, for they are no longer considered the best in their sport. On August 10th, Team USA Basketball officially begins their quest for Olympic gold, a shot at redemption and the right to once again proclaim that America’s brand of basketball is the best on the planet.
Over the past eight years, Americans have been flat out embarrassed in international competition. Team USA finished sixth in the 2002 World Championship. They finished 3rd in both the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 World Championships. Despite underachieving recently, Team USA is once again considered the favorite to win the gold medal. By all accounts, they should live up to those expectations. This team and coaching staff, under the guidance of Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, was assembled differently than in years past, embracing a team concept over emphasis on the individual superstar. While this current ‘Dream Team’ still features Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, only one player on this roster, Jason Kidd, owns a gold medal, hopefully leaving eleven more with the desire to join him in that honor.
Under the leadership of head coach Mike Krzyzewksi, several factors, if used to their advantage, set up nicely for an American return to dominance, yet Team USA must not take any opponent lightly. Not only will anything less than a gold medal be a tremendous disappointment, it will also serve as a glaring reminder that the United States is no longer the epicenter of the basketball world.
Rules: While international rules are generally the same as the NBA, there are a few subtle differences that Team USA should be able to use to their advantage. International play is more physical than in the NBA. Hand-checking, long banished from the NBA, is allowed. Team USA will have to adjust to more physical play on the defensive end, particularly on the perimeter, while learning what is whistled and what is not. A return to perimeter hand-checking should help a stronger USA team if they practice it properly. They also can’t get frustrated when covered in that fashion. While many American players may still be able to use their star power to warrant a foul call, Olympic officials will not stand for the temper tantrums for which most NBA players are known. Team USA must also be aware that traveling as it exists in the rule book will be strictly called. The extra step (or two) allowed by many an NBA referee will not be tolerated. Offensive goaltending, which is illegal in the NBA, is allowed in international play. If NBA players can become accustomed to reacting quickly to put-backs, not only can they take advantage of this rule, but emphatic dunks, in addition to the two points, will have a secondary effect of mesmerizing and demoralizing the opponents. Dwight Howard could have a heyday.
Jump-Shooting: The international three-point line is considerably closer to the basket than in the NBA (20 feet, 6 inches as opposed to 23 feet, 9 inches). This is enough to make jump shooters like Michael Redd salivate. Most anyone on Team USA can shoot from the perimeter. That being said, they must not fall in love with the jump shot. While undersized (Team USA features no seven-footers), the Americans must still use their strength and quickness to their advantage. While Team USA only has Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard in the post, they should still be able to work the inside-outside game to their advantage. A cold shooting Team USA that settles for jumpers will lead to fastbreaks and if that’s the case, Team USA better have their transition defense in order. Team USA shot 66% from the floor in their warm up against Canada, by blending a nice mix of post-up and perimeter play. While it’s unlikely that the US can shoot that high a percentage from the floor against the remaining Olympic competition, a number relatively close to that should guarantee a gold medal
Point Guard Play: Jason Kidd is the only current player on this U.S. team to have a gold medal on his mantel. While many pundits questioned his invitation, his veteran presence has allowed him to become the team leader. As one of the game’s premier point guards over the past decade, he has earned the respect of his teammates. While he’ll likely not log the minutes of his more capable backups, Chris Paul and Deron Williams, it will be Kidd who starts the games and sets the tempo. Much like a starting pitcher sets up shop for the closers, Paul and Williams should close out what Kidd has started… with flair. Against Canada, Coach K played both Paul and Williams at the same time. That lineup could definitely work, particularly against the speedier teams in competition. Paul and Williams have proven they are the next generation of NBA point guards and should be a load for any opposing perimeter defense. Paul and Williams must also play competent 'D' to shut down opposing playmakers such as Spain’s Jose Calderon. Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James might also likely see some time handling the ball.
Desire: If USA basketball's recent international woes are not enough to motivate this team, nothing will be. In 1992, when the original Dream Team of Michael, Magic and Larry took the floor, opponents were awestruck. Competitors were too busy asking for autographs to be concerned that they were being beaten by an average of fifty points per game. While scoring discrepancies of that magnitude are unlikely in this Olympics, the US team should be motivated enough to humiliate its opponents. After all, Team USA has been humiliated over the past eight years and turnabout is fair play. Team USA should have their game faces on. Anything less will be a total disappointment.
Coaching: Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has assembled a talented group of coaches to assist him in bringing home the gold. Current Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni was an obvious selection because of his international experience. Portland Trailblazers coach Nate McMillan and Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim are also great basketball minds. These coaches should do fairly well at keeping this young team’s eyes on the prize.
Size/rebounding: Team USA only features one true center: Dwight Howard. Chris Bosh will also share time on the low blocks, as will Carlos Boozer. Team USA will be undersized when they face Yao Ming and Team China in their opening game. Dwight Howard is still recovering from a fractured sternum, though by his accounts, he’ll be ready to play. An aggravation to that injury, however, will leave Team USA center-less. Boozer, Bosh and Carmelo Anthony should all help with the rebounding load, and LeBron has been known to pull down his fair share. But Team USA will be at a disadvantage if opposing teams are successful pounding the ball inside and getting Team USA into foul trouble. Players are allotted five fouls only in Olympic play, not six as NBA players are accustomed to. The team USA frontcourt will have to learn how much physicality they’ll be able to defend with while not getting themselves into foul trouble.
LeBron’s health: The chosen one, LeBron James, is nursing a bum ankle but should likely be 100% come tournament time. Can Team USA win gold without a healthy LeBron? Likely. Will Team USA be much more entertaining to watch, as well as more intimidating with LeBron on the floor? Unquestionably.
Competition: Several teams should pose at least somewhat of a threat to Team USA. Team Germany features former league MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Team China features Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. Team Australia boasts 2005 top draft pick, Andrew Bogut. Andrei Kirilenko suits up for Russia. But the Americans should be able to dispatch these teams with relative ease. The stiffest competition should come from either current gold medalists Argentina with Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola and Andres Nocioni or Team Spain with Jose Calderon and Pau Gasol. Regardless, no team will have the depth and talent of Team USA. A well-coached and properly motivated American team should reestablish its international dominance and bring home the gold to its rightful owners.
The following article will be published in the May issue ofCampus Talk, a magazine local to Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville and Tallahassee. If you're a local, pick one up and increase their circulation. They also have lots of pictures of pretty girls for extra motivation. Please excuse the brevity, fellow basketball joneses... had to keep it to 750 words or less.
Lakers. Celtics. These franchises dominated the NBA in 1980s. This year’s Finals might see the return of that storied rivalry.
If you like drama, this post-season will not disappoint. Celtics-Pistons. LeBron James. Shaq versus Kobe. The emergence of Chris Paul. The rock steady San Antonio Spurs. The fact the league features no clear cut champion or MVP illustrates how competitive the game has become. Furthermore, a flurry of unprecedented roster reshuffling should make this post-season the most thrilling in recent history.
While Boston has ruled the East, Western teams have jockeyed for playoff position in a league now characterized by its parity. Whoever hoists the O’Brien Trophy at season’s end is anyone’s guess.
Boston Celtics: The off-season addition of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett instantly propelled Boston into title contenders. Boston should boast home court advantage throughout the playoffs and although the Fleet Center doesn’t have the mystique of the old Boston Garden, beating the Celtics four times in seven games will prove difficult in any venue.
Detroit Pistons: Detroit has been a pillar of consistency, returning Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace. If any team threatens Boston in the East, it will likely be Detroit, who have a chip on their shoulder after losing to Cleveland last year.
Orlando Magic: While many have already crowned Boston and Detroit, the three-headed frontcourt of Lewis, Howard and Turkoglu could present mismatches for other Eastern opponents.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James single-handedly deflated Detroit last year in a playoff performance for the ages. The Cavs added Ben Wallace, Joe Smith and Wally Szczerbiak to give him some support.
Atlanta, Washington, Toronto, and Philadelphia round out the remaining Eastern conference playoff teams, but should not pose much of a threat. The Western Conference, however, is rife with teams that can ALL be the last team standing.
New Orleans Hornets: Having played most of last season in Oklahoma City due to Hurricane Katrina, few expected greatness from the Hornets, however, MVP candidate Chris Paul has been nothing less than sensational. New Orleans has flirted with the West’s best record all season.
Los Angeles Lakers: L.A. pulled off a coup, obtaining Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. Andrew Bynum’s return to the lineup, along with Gasol, Lamar Odom and Kobe Bryant pose one of the most formidable rosters in the league.
Phoenix Suns: The Gasol acquisition sent a shockwave through the NBA as teams league-wide made moves to compete. Enter the Big Aristotle. GM Steve Kerr brought Shaquille O’Neal to Phoenix to add some size to their lineup. At 36, Shaq is no longer the player he once was, but his presence frees up Amare Stoudamire to wreak havoc in the lane. An eventual match-up pitting O’Neal and former teammate Kobe Bryant is enough to make even the fringe fan salivate.
San Antonio Spurs: Winners of three of the last five championships, the San Antonio Spurs quietly prod along with their unassuming and disciplined play. Foreign born Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili continue to prove that basketball is more than ever a global game.
Utah Jazz: Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer led Utah to the Western Conference Finals last year. There’s no reason to think they can’t repeat that same success. Although it would be ironic for Jerry Sloan to finally win a title with this team when he couldn’t with Stockton and Malone.
Dallas Mavericks: The runners-up two years ago have had a spell of bad luck. They were defeated by 8th seed Golden State last year and Dirk Nowitzki is sidelined with a ankle and knee sprain. Although Mavs owner Mark Cuban added Jason Kidd, only time will tell whether that duo can lead Dallas to their first title.
Denver Nuggets: Despite being the worst defensive team in the league, nobody wants to face Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby. If coach George Karl can reign in this talent, Denver could do some damage.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets were dealt a blow when they lost Yao Ming for the season, however, in his absence, they still won 22 consecutive games. Role players like Shane Battier, Luis Scola and Rafer Alston have assisted Tracy McGrady in the recent Rocket success, but Houston will be hard-pressed to compete for a title without their big man.
May and June promise to showcase the most competitive basketball in recent memory. And although the NFL still rules the nation, the NBA’s post-season will unquestionably feature some spectacular moments to add to the league’s rich history.
In light of superstar quarterback Michael Vick being connected to a hidden, illegal dog-fighting ring, I felt inspired to start my own.
Place your wagers now, folks, and….. LET’S GET READY TO RUMMMMMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!
Dino – Cannot be counted out. The original purple dinosaur would bring it old-school, prehistoric style. Used to gnawing on bones, Dino could make brontosaurus burgers out of most opponents.
Astro – A robotic nightmare, a veritable machine of an opponent. If he’s made it to the future, it’s safe to assume, he’s around for the long haul.
Rin Tin Tin - A classic, the John Wayne of dog fighters. Every boy scout’s favorite. His German background barks of Max Baer.
Lassie – Questionable. Although a fan favorite, might go down early like the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
Cujo – An indisputable force in the world of dog-fighting. A rabid, foaming Saint Bernard that ate both a kid and a Pinto. The odds on favorite at the Vick household.
Toto – Not to be counted out. Undersized, but still managed to take out the Wicked Witch and found his way through Oz. That’s gotta count for something.
Snoopy – The Red Baron. The King of the Peanuts cartoons. Another top seed. I’d just hate to see him match up against Cujo.
Scooby Doo – Another animated classic. While Scooby wasn’t much of a fighter, his penchant for Scooby snacks would certainly make him impervious to pain.
Taco Bell Dog – A household name on the Mexican circuit, this little Chihuahua probably doesn’t stand much of a chance against the stacked field.
Old Yeller – Another classic, but before my time. And I didn’t cry when Old Yeller died, because I didn’t see the movie. But if he dies in the end, it’s highly unlikely he’d make it very far in the Vickdome.
Butkus – Rocky’s bulldog. I hear “Gonna Fly Now” in the background. Not to be counted out if Mickey’s his trainer. (Speaking of bulldogs, UGA after losing 15 of 17 to the Florida Gators probably wouldn't make it out of the first round).
Underdog – A superhero? Is this fair? The only contestant that might be able to topple Cujo.
Lady and the Tramp – The champs of the co-ed tag-team circuit.
Goofy – A lanky opponent. People thought Screech wouldn’t fare well in the ring and he ended up knocking out his opponent. Besides, the way Goofy talks, it sounds like he’s been hit in the head a few times so he can probably take a punch.
Spuds McKenzie – A one-hit wonder. Already sporting a black eye, he’d probably bow out early.
A perfectly appropriate line for two perfectly appropriate playoff series. There's a point towards the end of "The Matrix" where the agent has Keanu Reeves in an inescapable, stranglehold. With an oncoming subway train careening rapidly towards them, it looks as if Neo's goose is cooked... until he realizes he's the chosen one, and uses his special powers to thwart his enemy, rendering him useless.
Sound familiar?
The Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs, the league's last two world champions, both on the brink of elimination and facing hostile road environments, did their best Neo impressions, pulling rabbits out of their hats and forcing respective Game 7's.
Did anyone honestly expect the Cavs to come away with a series victory against the NBA's Fab Five? Even Cavalier fans were skeptical, having been burnt by the greats before (insert Craig Ehlo reference here), wondering how their team would come to give this series away. The closest the Cavs have been to advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals is in the computer-generated Gatorade commercial where Michael Jordan MISSES the jump shot over Ehlo. And it now appears that the Spurs clearly have Dallas' number once again. Jason Terry or no Jason Terry, San Antonio was not to be denied on Friday night, as Dirk Nowitzki, Mark Cuban and Avery Johnson now go back to the drawing board.
But it's too late. The champs have that supreme, psychological advantage over their challengers going into Games Seven, not to mention home court advantage. Once again, the sound of inevitability rings loudly in Cleveland and Dallas.
I wrote last night that the hardest thing to do in professional sports is to hit a major league fastball. I think I'm starting to change my mind.
In the last three playoff games I've watched, which coincidentally also happen to be the last three games TNT has aired, I've witnessed three separate, errant inbound passes that either cost or could have cost their team the game.
Dateline Monday night... Spurs led the Mavericks by a point with possession of the basketball and thirty seconds remaining on the game clock. Brent Barry was slated to safely inbound the ball to a teammate, who would most likely be fouled and sent to the free throw line to give the Spurs a three-point lead. Instead, Barry's errant pass bounced off Michael Finley's fingers allowing the Mavericks to eventually win the game.
Once again, on Tuesday night, the New Jersey Nets placed the ball in the hands of point guard Jason Kidd, who was unable to complete the pass to Vince Carter, allowing Dwayne Wade to sneak in and knock the ball away.
In Tuesday's late game, the Clippers had an opportunity to win the game by inbounding the ball deep into Elton Brand. Instead, the pass sailed out of bounds, ensuring that the clock did not start and allowing the Suns one last look at an open basket.
Now certainly it's not only the inbounder's responsibilty to make a good pass. Inbounding the basketball also requires the player receiving the pass to establish position, as he would in the post, thus keeping the defender away from the ball. Vince Carter failed to do this. Elton Brand never had a chance. And the only thing defending Michal Finley was the sideline, and we all know the sideline never misses a tackle.
So instead of NBA head coaches forcing their roster to shoot jumpers and free throws until nightfall, perhaps they should look at the lost art of inbounding the basketball. It just might come in handy one day.
Someone once said that the hardest thing to do in professional sports is to hit a major league fastball... but apparently for Brent Barry, it's inbounding the basketball with his team's season on the line. With under a minute left and a one-point San Antonio lead, Barry attempted misguidedly to inbound the ball to Michael Finley.... WITH A WIDE OPEN TONY PARKER AT MID-COURT!!! Instead, Barry threw an ill-advised, errant pass off of Finley's fingertips along the right sideline and out of bounds, keeping Dallas' chances alive.
Barry also had the ball stolen from him in overtime, leading to a Jerry Stackhouse lay-up. The emotion of the crowd, a few favorable calls and a slashing Devin Harris were all simply too much for the Spurs to overcome as Dallas went on to win the game in overtime.
Barry will be replaying that pass over and over in his head tonight, as his team is now down three games to one, and faces their first early elimination in years.
Turn-ons: Gator national championships ; Sushi; NBA Playoffs; A Tribe Called Quest; Women; Jack Daniels; Women who drink Jack Daniels; Women who drink Jack Daniels while eating sushi; Women who dream of more Gator national championships while eating sushi and drinking Jack Daniels during basketball season, The Red Zone Report
Turn-offs: Waking up early; The inevitable media coverage Bobby Bowden will get when he finally retires; Drama; Prejudice; Chicken liver; Work of any sort
