Defense: Going into these Olympic games, there were a few basic concerns for Team USA on the defensive end. How would an undersized US team defend the post with only one and a half centers (Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh) and how would they effectively defend the perimeter against hot shooting European or Latin American teams? In the gold medal game against Spain, Team USA’s defense was horrific. While this team had gotten progressively better defensively throughout the Olympics, Team USA allowed Spain to shoot over 60% from the floor in the first half. Marc Gasol was having his way on the inside. Spain repeatedly ran alley-oop, pick and rolls which the U.S. was unable to stop. Juan Carlos Navarro scored at will with running jump shots, breaking down whoever was covering him. And future NBAer Rudy Fernandez, 7-13 from the floor, looked like he could have started for the Americans. In the final game, rather than rely on their defense, which to date had been their staple, Team USA counted on their offense to bail them out.
Kobe Bryant: Kobe Bryant, arguably the greatest player in the league, was saddled with foul trouble, picking up two fouls in the first quarter against Spain. In the second half with the game on the line, Kobe, rather than driving the lane, more often than not relied on his perimeter jump shot. While Kobe’s box score might not necessarily reflect a poorly played game, there were several times late in the game when Kobe settled for ill-advised jump shots. Long ones. While he ultimately proved to be the hero by hitting key baskets late, those could easily have gone the other way.
Size/Rebounding: Late in the game, Coach K opted to play Chris Bosh over a relatively ineffective Dwight Howard. Late in the second half, Marc Gasol shoved the considerably lighter Bosh to the ground like a rag doll without a foul being called. Team Spain easily out-rebounded the Americans 37-31 and was much more effective on the interior. Going in to the games, the U.S. knew size would be a problem. Dwight Howard, who looked like the second coming of Patrick Ewing in this year’s playoffs, was held scoreless in the first half against Spain.
Jump Shooting: As noted earlier, Kobe Bryant often took some ill-advised jump shots. LeBron James did as well. Despite a shorter three-point line, Team USA was relatively ineffective from the perimeter in the Olympic Games. When the US drove to the basket, a la Dwyane Wade in the gold medal game, then kicked it out, they shot a much higher percentage. Team USA had 28 three-point attempts in the final game. Had they made any fewer than 13 of those, Spain would have been breathing down their necks more than they already were. The three-pointers were much more effective off dribble penetration, not off isolation play.
Isolation: Team USA relied upon their athleticism to best their opponent. While the Spaniards ran a more motion-oriented offense, setting pick and rolls, resulting in easy baskets, the Americans would go possession after possession after possession without even setting a screen. Their final game was in many ways emblematic of what’s wrong with the NBA. Too many isolation, take-your-man-off-the-dribble plays, too little passing and too few pick and rolls. The Americans’ one-on-one game nearly cost them the gold.
Spain: Team Spain was good. Very good. And although Bill Walton pointed out that of the seven NBA players on Team Spain, not one would not have made the US roster, Team Spain was still loaded with talent. They played as good as could be expected, almost good enough to beat Team USA. Rudy Fernandez will add a nice element to an up-and-coming Portland Trailblazer team and 17-year old Ricky Rubio will eventually be an welcome addition to whatever NBA team drafts him when he becomes eligible. Team Spain’s coaching staff had a great game plan against the Americans. With Jose Calderon out due to injury, their backups repeatedly broke down Team USA’s perimeter defense. They narrowed the American lead to only two points in the fourth quarter.
Why Team USA won…..
Dwyane Wade: One blogger (mistakenly) listed Wade as one of the top five most overrated players in the league. This is the same Dwyane Wade who only years ago won Finals MVP in leading the Miami Heat to a title. Coming off the bench, Wade kept Team USA in the lead when Bryant and James were on the bench in foul trouble. Wade drove the lane allowing that to set up his perimeter game. He is arguably the third best player on this team. While Bryant received much of the glory with his late-game performance, it was Wade who led the team in scoring with twenty-seven points. When it mattered most, Wade kept the Americans in the game, scoring on his first seven attempts. Saddled with injuries for much of the 2007-8 season, Wade proved he’s back to form and one of the toughest covers in the league. Miami will gladly welcome him back this year as he proved he’s one of the best players in the game.
Coaching: While Coach K and staff may not have been overly effective in encouraging his players to run the pick-and-roll, they did preach team unity. Coach K openly ranked the honor of coaching USA basketball over his three national titles with Duke. As Wade pointed out, the coaching staff reminded them that the name on the back of the jersey was not as important as the three letters on the front. He convinced Team USA to put their egos aside, not an easy thing to do among NBA athletes. His rotations and substitutions were consistently appropriate. While Chuck Daly led the original Dream Team to a gold medal without ever calling a timeout, in 2008, international talent has clearly caught up to the modern American game. Coach K was unquestionably the right man for the job.
Unity: Seeing Kobe, LeBron, Carmelo, Wade and Dwight Howard giggle gleefully after the victory told fans everything they needed to know about the makeup of this team. They put aside NBA team rivalries, understanding that they were on the court as one nation, eager to prove that the NBA’s brand of basketball was the best on the planet. Seeing them all step up to the gold medal podium, arms intertwined, is a credit to both them and the coaching staff. They kept their eyes on the prize and represented their country with class, pride and dignity.
Composure: Team USA knew Spain (and Argentina) would stoop at nothing to get inside their heads. Spain was extremely physical. Marc Gasol was a terror on the interior. The game got chirpy to say the least. While Spain did their best to disrupt the American’s game plan, Team USA maintained their composure and it paid off in gold.
Depth: In what world would Dwyane Wade and Deron Williams come off the bench? Not even on the interplanetary team would Chris Paul not start at point guard. While international teams went to their bench to inferior talent, Team USA simply reloaded. It showed when Wade came in and scored at will while James and Bryant were forced to sit against Spain. When Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd get limited minutes, rest assured that was a deep team.
Kobe Bryant: While Kobe may have settled for ill-advised jump shots late in the game, he ultimately showed why he is the fiercest competitor in the NBA. Kobe’s late game heroics were largely responsible for US gold. Throughout the games, Kobe defended the opposing teams most skilled guard. His four-point play against Spain simultaneously fouled out Rudy Fernandez while sealing the gold medal. He scored 20 points and added six assists in the final game.
Determination: Dubbed the ‘Redeem Team,’ these twelve Americans were not going to be denied. They wanted to put USA basketball back on the map as the best in the world. After a loss to Spain, the NBA would have lost a great bit of luster. Team USA would not let that happen. So Kudos to all those who committed to USA Basketball for the past several years for reminding all us basketball jones that we proudly boast the best players on the planet.
2007-2008 was supposed to be different. The National Basketball Association which in recent years has been characterized by Western Conference dominance (seven of the last nine titles reside in the West, as well as the last six MVP’s) was supposed to see a rise in Eastern competitiveness.
The New York Knicks after a promising first half last season appeared to have turned things around. The Nets behind Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson were poised to contend for a title. After winning the Atlantic Conference last year, the Toronto Raptors, behind Chris Bosh and TJ Ford, were to become an up-and-coming and consistent force in the league. The Cleveland Cavaliers made the NBA Finals last year and many felt LeBron James had turned the page into becoming the best player in the game. The upstart Chicago Bulls were expected to give the more veteran teams in the league quite a challenge. And the Miami Heat, who only two seasons ago were hoisting the O’Brien Trophy, were to once again be led by their dynamic duo.
Currently, only one of the aforementioned teams is above .500. Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss… the Western Conference.
There have been a few pleasant surprises in the East. The Celtics Big Three look like potential NBA champions. The Orlando Magic behind man-child Dwight Howard raced off to a hot start. And the Detroit Pistons are still the Pistons. But questions even lie within these rosters. Will the Celtics add a veteran back-up point guard to provide support for young Rajon Rondo when it matters most… in June? Does anyone expect Rondo to contend with the likes of Tony Parker, Steve Nash or Deron Williams, never mind Chauncey Billups? Despite the hot start, the Magic have dropped seven of their last ten, are playing sub-.500 ball on their home floor and are allowing 100 points a game. And although steady, does Detroit have enough in their tank for one more title run.
The remaining Eastern Conference teams have been nothing less than tremendously disappointing…
Toronto Raptors (15-14): This team is waiting for someone to step up and become a third scorer. Bosh and Ford are talents but the rest of their roster is devoid of consistent, clutch scoring. Top draft pick Andrea Bargnani is averaging less than 10 points per game and is being outscored by teammate Jason Kapono.
New Jersey Nets (12-15): Is it any wonder that we hear weekly rumblings about Jason Kidd’s trade demands? For years, the Nets have failed to land an inside presence to help their backcourt. Show me a team where the point guard leads the team in rebounds and I’ll show you a team destined to get bounced in the second round of the playoffs, if they make the post-season at all. Can anyone even name the Nets starting power forward and center? I didn’t think so.
New York Knicks (8-19): On paper, the Knicks actually look like they could be a contender: Jamal Crawford, Zach Randolph, Stephon Marbury, David Lee, Quentin Richardson. Unfortunately for Knicks fans, Isiah Thomas is still their coach and James Dolan is still their owner. With off-court problems casting a heavy shadow over the franchise, it’s unlikely the Knickerbockers will emerge and pose a serious threat in the Atlantic Division.
Cleveland Cavaliers (13-16): Ultimately, LeBron’s decision to re-sign with Cleveland when his contract is up will make or break this franchise. Their inability to surround him with top caliber talent might make his decision to bail easier. The front court of Drew Gooden and Anderson Varejao is formidable, but they’re no Carlos Boozer. Daniel Gibson is a spark, but the Larry Hughes experiment has been a total failure. There’s only so much one man can do, even if he is the chosen one.
Chicago Bulls (9-16): Chicago’s inability to get it together just cost Scott Skiles his job, but the Bulls’ fate may have been sealed when they signed Ben Wallace to a long-term contract. I know Big Ben was acquired for his defense presence, but he may very well be the highest-paid player per point scored to ever play the game. He’s making $15 mil this season and averaging fewer than five points per game. You do the math. Kobe trade rumors may have distracted the team, but at this point, Chicago should have pulled the trigger. They couldn’t be playing much worse.
Miami Heat (8-20): Hampered early by Dwayne Wade’s health problems and currently by Alonzo Mourning’s, the Heat look hard-pressed to make the playoffs. Shaquille O’Neal is averaging career low numbers and looks considerably older than 35. If anyone other than Pat Riley were coaching this team, he would have already been relieved of his duties. Even Stan Van Gundy, who’s now having the last laugh in Orlando, didn’t lead the Heat to an 8-20 record.
There have been some pleasant surprises in the East. The Atlanta Hawks are playing .500 ball and their young talent may be enough to bring this team into the post-season. But winning a playoff series is beyond anyone’s legitimate expectations. Indiana and Washington are mediocre at best. And nobody expected Charlotte or Philadelphia to be any good this season… and they’re not.
Contrast that to the Western teams who most thought would be average. The Lakers have shown renewed life and are playing among the best of the West. The young Portland Trailblazers have now won 11 straight. And there’s always the Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Nuggets and Mavericks.
Come June, we’re bound to hear even louder rumblings for Commissioner Stern to revise the league’s playoff structure, co-mingling the Eastern and Western teams in early rounds to weed out the lesser talent. As least hoops junkies can take solace in the fact that the Eastern Conference Finals between Detroit and Boston will be a series worth watching and the winner should pose a legitimate threat to whichever team comes out of the West. The rest of the Eastern teams might as well combine their rosters to form an All-Star team to contend with the top two. After all, that’s what Pistons and Celtics management has done and it seems to be working fairly well for them.
Mr. Roarke uttered these memorable words weekly as he and his miniature sidekick, Tattoo, would welcome visitors off of their hydroplane and onto Fantasy Island. Similarly, Celtics fans nationwide are currently pinching themselves, awaiting their complimentary leis and shamrock beverages, as Boston ushers in a new and promising era. By landing both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett this off-season, Danny Ainge may have already locked up G.M. of the Year.
However, let us all not drink the green Kool-Aid just yet. While the Fleet Center‘s future is certainly more promising than in seasons past, the Celtics are still far away from locking up the Eastern Conference, never mind an NBA title. Championships are not won on paper; several factors still stand in the way of the Celtics raising the O’Brien Trophy. The lack of a quality point guard both offensively and defensively, limited cap space, lack of a quality defensive presence on the interior, a strengthened Eastern conference and very possibly their head coach could all deter the Celtics from hoisting their 17th championship banner.
Who’s Bringing up the Ball?: Recent rumors have pointed toward the signing of veteran point guard, Brevin Knight. But can Ainge get him to sign for peanuts, knowing he’ll still have to land another big man? And are Knight and Rajon Rondo, a second year point guard who averaged four assists and two turnovers last year, enough to be the Celtics floor generals and dictate the tempo of the ballgame? And if not Knight, who? They won’t need much scoring out of this position, but they will need quality decision-making, limited turnovers and solid defense.
Who’s Defending the Point?: The last five NBA champions have all had one thing in common: a quality ball-handler in the clutch. Tony Parker won last year’s Finals MVP Award and has run the point for San Antonio’s last three titles. Dwayne Wade handled most of the crunch time point guard duties during Miami’s championship run. And Chauncey Billups won the Finals MVP for the Pistons in 2004. Whoever runs the floor for Boston will have to contend with tough point guard play. In a recent article, Bill Simmons compared the signing of these three superstars to the Rockets’ Barkley-Drexler-Olajuwon experiment. He appropriately pointed out that their point guard, Matt Maloney, was routinely broken down in the playoffs by John Stockton, leading to the Rockets being ousted prior to the Finals. The modern NBA has seen the emergence of Deron Williams, Chris Paul and T.J. Ford. In the Atlantic Division, the Celtics will regularly have to defend Ford, Jason Kidd, and Garnett’s former teammate, Stephon Marbury. If Boston is fortunate enough to get to the Finals, they’ll likely have to defend against Parker or two-time MVP, Steve Nash, both of whom are perfectly capable of breaking down a quality defender, never mind a mediocre one. If Danny Ainge fails to land a somewhat competent point guard who can mesh with this team and play on both ends of the floor, this experiment may all be for naught.
Cap Space: With Garnett, Allen and Pierce, the Celtics have all but expended their available salary. Management will have to be very creative under the cap. Anyone they acquire, and there are still key roster spots to fill, will have to put their egos aside and sign for close to the league minimum. I foresee Ray, Paul and KG picking up many dinner tabs in their immediate futures.
Age and Health: Adrenaline, drive and determination are essential to winning an NBA title. Unfortunately, so are minutes from the big guns. Both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce missed major playing time last year due to injury. Pierce played in 47 games and Allen suited up for 55. Tony Allen, who may also split time at 1- and 2-guard position, only played 33 games last season. The Big Three will all have to stay healthy for the Celtics to achieve their dream of a title. The coaching staff must effectively manage their minutes to ensure they’re all 100% come playoff time.
Coaching: Doc Rivers currently holds a 102-144 coaching record with the Celtics. While he has been saddled with mediocre teams in both Boston and Orlando, he is still under .500 for his career. The last 17 NBA championships have been commandeered by the coaching elite. During this period, only five men have led their teams to titles: Gregg Popovich, Pat Riley, Larry Brown, Phil Jackson and Rudy Tomjanovich. Can you really see Doc Rivers' name in this category? Ainge did the right thing by signing Rivers to a long-term extension to avoid any questions about his future with the team. However, expectations are extremely high. And if Doc cannot get the job done with these players, Celtic ownership can and will find someone who can. By that time, though, will it be too late?
The Diesel: While the center position in the league is not what it once was, the Miami Heat still boast a certain big man named Shaquille O’Neal. While Shaq is on the waning end of his career and will most likely not play a full season, he is still an undeniable presence. In a four-game series, who will cover an inspired Shaquille O’Neal looking for one last shot at a title? Kendrick Perkins? Glenn Davis? The tallest guy on the Celtics roster is free agent Michael Olowokandi. Need I say more? The Celtics must add a body, like PJ Brown or Kevin Willis, someone to absorb some fouls when they have to… and they’ll have to.
Eastern Rebirth: Compared to the Western Conference, the East, commonly referred to as the ‘junior varsity,’ has been the laughing stock of the league in recent years. That will not be the case this year. Chicago’s roster is stout. Detroit will be looking to make another run. Toronto will ensure they’re not a one-hit wonder. The Nets return their big three. Orlando has re-tooled. The Knicks may contend. And Cleveland still has a player named LeBron James who’s already tasted the NBA Finals and assuredly wants a return trip. To paraphrase Dikembe Mutombo, the Celtics will not have “a walk in the cake.”
The Celtics were the second worst team in the league last year. They have clearly made dramatic improvements and generated enough of a buzz to remove Tim Donaghy from the NBA headlines. The acquisition of both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen undoubtedly makes Boston instant contenders. But those three by themselves do not a championship make. Unless Danny Ainge and Celtics ownership face the remaining issues at hand, Boston may just fall short of its goal.
Ohio State Buckeye fan’s worst fears were confirmed Saturday as Thad Matta and his traveling sideshow, Greg Oden, came to Gainesville for what many perceived to be prelude to the B.C.S national championship game. If the football game provides the same result, Ohio State fans should be heading back to Columbus with their collective tails between their legs.
The atmosphere in Gainesville was electric, Gator fans clearly understanding what a victory would mean for the campus. The only available tickets outside the O’Connell Center were being scalped for $200 apiece, as this game was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 12,621, the largest ever in the building. Fans fortunate enough to be inside the raucous arena were witness to the Gators finest performance since their beat-down of UCLA in last year’s championship game.
Hampered by a high ankle sprain earlier in the week and originally scratched from the lineup, Al Horford, Florida’s most dominant power forward since Udonis Haslem, made his presence known early and often, particularly on the defensive end of the floor. Burdened with the task of covering Oden the majority of the time, Horford held the man-child to 6 points in the first half, going scoreless himself but grabbing six rebounds. In the second half, however, the Gators proved to much for Oden and the Buckeyes. A competitive first half turned into a second half rout, at one point featuring a 31-7 Gator run. UF shot 74% from the floor in that half, while holding the Buckeyes to 36% for the game.
Gators got solid guard play out of Taurean Green and Lee Humphrey, who set the tone early, scoring seven and ten points respectively in the first half. Florida guards were able to penetrate, as well as hit the outside jumpers effectively to keep Ohio State on their toes. But in the second half, when Horford stepped outside to hit a couple of fifteen-foot jump shots, the Gator versatility proved to much for Matta and his fab freshman to handle. UF out-rebounded OSU by 17.
As was their plan, Florida kept going after Oden, who was held to one point in the second half. Oden did make his presence felt, blocking four shots, two on one possession, but saw effective double and triple-teams in the second half. The Gators limited OSU on the offensive glass for most of the game, as the Buckeyes were often held to one shot per possession. Any missed shots led to UF fastbreaks, which OSU’s transition defense was unable to contain. The ability of the Gator big men to push the ball up the floor at a frenetic pace also provided a mismatch for Oden, as he appeared winded at several moments of the game.
The Gators returned to their championship form and now the campus awaits to see if they can make it a clean Buckeye sweep, leading Florida to potential, consecutive championships in both major sports.
Can we get some friggin' love for Alonzo Mourning? Think about what this guy is doing. After a kidney transplant back in 2003, it appeared that this mountain of a man would never again lace them up, never mind serve as the back-up center on a World Championship team several years later.
Personally, I've never been a big Alonzo fan. I'd always considered him smug and arrogant. But after listening to him being interviewed several times after his surgery, it appears he's certainly found a new appreciation for life and health. For those of you who didn't know, Mourning donated his ENTIRE Miami Heat salary to charities helping Miami's underprivileged youth and people struggling with kidney disease.
Alonzo plays with seemingly limitless emotion and energy, moreso than he ever did previously in his career. In Shaq's absence, he's logging nearly as many minutes per game as he ever has. Certainly his current overall numbers are down in comparison to his career numbers, but the guy will turn 37 years old next February and is still as intimidating a force as there is in the game. He had 16, 11 and four blocks the other night in a loss, followed up by 10, 6 and 3 at Sacramento. Imagine driving the lane only to spot this beast headed your way to put your shot embarsassingly back in your grill.
Zo, congrats on a great career and here's wishing you another title.
Do you think the New Jersey Nets will be looking for a big man in the off-season?
Shaquille O'Neal, along with his newest prom date, Dwayne Wade, advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals Tuesday night with their fourth consecutive defeat of the New Jersey Nets. Former Gator (note shameless plug of alma mater) Udonis Haslem led the way for the Heat with ten rebounds. Although the Nets had one last shot at a game-winner with less than two seconds left in the contest, Jason Kidd's inbound pass to Vince Carter was intercepted by Wade sealing the game... and the Nets season.
A lack of size down low and a failure to create any sort of balanced attack was the key to the series, despite the presence of three of the league's superstars in Kidd, Carter and Jefferson. When training the Mystery Men to take on Casanova Frankenstein, the Sphinx professed "if you can balance a tack hammer on your head, you will head off your foes with a balanced attack." Obviously, Rod Thorn has not seen "Mystery Men."
Although the discrepancy in rebounds does not show in the boxscores from the series, it was the timeliness of said rebounds, and New Jersey's inability to create any sort of efficient post presence in the series that finished the Nets. Their starting center, Nenad Krstic, went 0-for-3 in Game 5. New Jersey's big three took all but sixteen of their shots tonight.
I'd look for the Nets to make a move for a solid rebounding presence in the off-season, a Rodman type that doesn't need to take that many shots to be satisfied. The Nets have given Jason Collins every opportunity over the past few years to prove his worth but four rebounds and one shot attempt in thirty-three minutes played tonight may have guaranteed himself a spot as New Jersey trade bait.
Ah yes..... how many of us, just yesterday, were lauding the unheralded underdogs. That's right... you in the corner, boasting to your friends that the Bulls, Kings and Lakers were ready to pull off miraculous upsets over their heavily favored opponents and advance to the next round of the playoffs. No less than 24 hours later, a few of us are eating our words.
A once lackluster and seemingly uninspired Miami Heat team has turned things around and played Game Five like the Riley-coached veterans we expected. Manu Ginobli was finally able to pull a few stutter steps over on Artest and get to the rim. And the Suns appear to be heating up at just the right time. The last thing the Lakers, Bulls and Kings wanted was to go back home for a Game Six. Well, guess what. Shame on any of us who ever underestimated the favorites. Keep in mind, they feature Shaq, Duncan and Nash on their rosters.
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
