Team USA vs. Lithuania

[Nitro]

Anyone watching this right now. It's 10-5 Lithuania. USA looks horrible. Really making me reminisce about the Redeem Team and how they would have wiped the floor with this team.

[Flash]

This is embarrassing to our country...they should be running this team out of the gym.

[Doc]

Wow this team is half-assing it on the offensive side.

 

 

Durant, 1-7.

Edited August 21, 2010 by Doc

[*Swish*]

WTF come on USA

[Flash]

Having Amare would've been so huge for this team. Damn Knicks.

[*Swish*]

WTF Billups missed two fkn free throws! USA is looking horrible so far. Hope it's going to change or else... Lithuania will get this [expletive]

[Flash]

This teams defense is great. Its gonna keep us in every game we play but we need to figure out what we wanna do offensively.

[Vitasoy]

Good to see Eric Gordon doing well.

[Lkr]

This team isn't gonna do much. We really need a big man, there are no legit big options on the team

[magicbalala245]

This USA team is [expletive]ing sad. Only up 12. Kobe, LeBron, Dwight, Wade, & Melo would smash this team without a bench.

[YugoRocketsFan]

Lithuania isnt even good anymore, they completely failed at Eurobasket

[Nitro]

They seemed to figure out the recipe for success in the second half that made the Redeem Team blow out almost every competitor in the 2008 Olympics...play great defense, force TO's and ignite the fastbreak. This team doesn't exactly have the sharpest knives in the drawer when it comes to good, fundamental basketball so it's of the utmost importance that they play to their major athletic advantage. Against Spain this will be more difficult because they don't turn the rock over very often, but otherwise it'll be the key ingredient to their success.

 

I really hope someone on the team, maybe Rose, watches some film from the Olympics and takes note on how Dwyane Wade dominated the international game. Wreak havoc in the passing lanes, makes some sharp cuts, don't over-dribble and take it hard ALL THE WAY to the rim. If you over-dribble and let the defense set-up, it becomes an unnecessarily difficult task. I saw that often today where players over-dribbled then couldn't get all the way to the rim when they finally made their move. Wade mastered it on the international level and using the same formula could give the consistent #1 option they'll really need.

[Flash]

Rudy Gay was again great aside from that missed dunk. I was also really impressed with the way Westbrook played today as well. Rose needs to start asserting himself offensively too, same with Durant.

[Nitro]

Rudy Gay was again great aside from that missed dunk. I was also really impressed with the way Westbrook played today as well. Rose needs to start asserting himself offensively too, same with Durant.

 

Yeah I agree about Westbrook, and Eric Gordon also really impressed me as well.

 

As for Durant needing to assert himself more offensively...no. He was a train-wreck in the halfcourt game today. He's been pretty dissapointing on all the televised games and needs to start getting into a groove.

[Lkr]

The defense is a bright spot, but the offense is just abysmal. No one could hit shots, and they were getting good looks early on. If we had a few bigs like Bynum, Amare, Howard, Kaman, Bosh, etc we could be unstoppable.

Coach K plays the college game and likes to have a million guards though, so I don't know how much faith to have in this team.

Edited August 22, 2010 by Lkr

[Nitro]

The defense is a bright spot, but the offense is just abysmal. No one could hit shots, and they were getting good looks early on. If we had a few bigs like Bynum, Amare, Howard, Kaman, Bosh, etc we could be unstoppable.

Coach K plays the college game and likes to have a million guards though, so I don't know how much faith to have in this team.

 

Traditional big men generally don't work as great as you'd expect in FIBA. Duncan had a lot of trouble in the 2004 Olympics, and Dwight made a minimal impact in 2008. I do think the US is undersizesd, but it's not quite as big of a deal as many believe it to be, and I also feel the big men most people propose wouldn't have nearly as much success as expected.

[Real Deal]

Traditional big men generally don't work as great as you'd expect in FIBA. Duncan had a lot of trouble in the 2004 Olympics, and Dwight made a minimal impact in 2008. I do think the US is undersizesd, but it's not quite as big of a deal as many believe it to be, and I also feel the big men most people propose wouldn't have nearly as much success as expected.

I agree to an extent, but I think Duncan would've been utilized more effectively if we actually had a team back then. Howard isn't an offensive stud, and he still hasn't developed any significant moves in the post, so I wouldn't care to see him out there again (unless we're talking defense).

 

But someone like Bynum (who will never do this because of his issue with injuries) and a healthy Brook Lopez (came in after getting rid of mono), or even Blake Griffin...I think those guys would do well for Team USA. Not necessarily centers, even, but you can run fours at the center position in international play with minimal problems.

 

I'm just thankful that Pau Gasol isn't playing this year, even though his brother will still give us trouble.

[Multi-Billionaire]

Obviously Kevin Durant is key to the USA success... but when/ if he has off game... I think these guys hold key to success:

- Stephen Curry... if I was Coach K, I'd make him dribble less and give him a designated catch-and-shoot shooter role. He can shoot from any spot, his range is incredible, but more importantly is, he's a shot-maker, not just a three pt shooter or mid range specialist. Success to international game is the ability to knock down shots when you're open... just penetrate and kick it to Steph... I'd make him Reggie Miller of this team. Catch and shoot type of guy, make him dribble less.

 

- Lamar Odom... he is a very good rebounder... make him rebound and get every ball... defensively, he's tall and long. His versatility to play outside and bring the ball inside should have big impact in international game.

[Nitro]

I agree to an extent, but I think Duncan would've been utilized more effectively if we actually had a team back then.

 

Like we have an actual team now?

 

Howard isn't an offensive stud, and he still hasn't developed any significant moves in the post, so I wouldn't care to see him out there again (unless we're talking defense).

 

But someone like Bynum (who will never do this because of his issue with injuries) and a healthy Brook Lopez (came in after getting rid of mono), or even Blake Griffin...I think those guys would do well for Team USA. Not necessarily centers, even, but you can run fours at the center position in international play with minimal problems.

 

Listen, I'm not saying having a good, true big man wouldn't be beneficial...of course it would. But I just don't think it's as big of a deal as most are making it out to be. Many of the big men who have played for the team the last 6-8 years (didn't catch any of the 2000 Olympics) have not performed how you would expect. It would certainly help to have a Brook Lopez or Blake Griffin, but to me it's a lot more necessary that we have a good floor general and guy that can attack the rim at will. Right now the PG play for this team has been pretty dreadful, and I just don't see a player on the team that could score at will like Wade did in 2008. If we had those two things, I think we'd be the favorites despite all the other problems. But without those two things our offense is prone to horrific slumps (as seen in the 1st quarter against Lithuania).

[Real Deal]

Like we have an actual team now?

That's the problem: we don't. We need legit post threats, guys that will attack the rim and create out of penetration, and another big that can protect the rim.

 

good floor general and guy that can attack the rim at will

I actually agree. A veteran leader would be nice, also...one with experience and that can carry a team on his back if needed (ala Kobe Bryant). Billups doesn't cut it, and Odom...I'm really not sure what he's even doing on the team.

 

Now, as far as importance goes, I don't know...just depends on the team, in my opinion. But yes, a floor general would be nice. That was supposed to be Billups and Curry. Attacking the rim at will? That's supposed to be Rose and Westbrook.

 

All four need to get it together before the real games start in about a week. I really don't know what to say about the rest of the team, though. You can't expect to get a comfortable lead against an elite international team if you are bricking all of your jumpers, and Durant's poor shooting display definitely hurts us.

[Nitro]

I actually agree. A veteran leader would be nice, also...one with experience and that can carry a team on his back if needed (ala Kobe Bryant). Billups doesn't cut it, and Odom...I'm really not sure what he's even doing on the team.

 

Now, as far as importance goes, I don't know...just depends on the team, in my opinion. But yes, a floor general would be nice. That was supposed to be Billups and Curry. Attacking the rim at will? That's supposed to be Rose and Westbrook.

 

All four need to get it together before the real games start in about a week. I really don't know what to say about the rest of the team, though. You can't expect to get a comfortable lead against an elite international team if you are bricking all of your jumpers, and Durant's poor shooting display definitely hurts us.

 

First off, the problem with Billups in that role is that he's a scoring PG. Even though he's a good vocal leader, it doesn't translate onto the court when the team's offense needs structure. That's why Kidd was amazing for the Redeem Team; he knows how to set-up an offense, get players the ball in sweet spots and be a guy the others can play off of. Billups isn't that.

 

Secondly, I actually like Odom on the team. Offensively he's a mismatch at Center and he's an awesome rebounder.

 

Lastly, I really do think the biggest problem with this team is having a PG that can settle the offense down and give the team structure. I watched every single game of the 2006 WC's, 2007 FIBA's and 2008 Olympics, and the one constant I noticed when we were in trouble was chaotic scrambles in the offensive set. I know that sounds so simple, but it's something a smart PG can alleviate. No matter how much talent you have, a structured offense will always beat you out. Rondo is the ONLY guy on the team that can be the solution, but he really has to limit his TO's and focus on keeping things simple.

[Real Deal]

You aren't going to like Odom once he starts screwing up and destroying any chance our team has. He's bound to do it. It's Lamar.

 

Excellent rebounder, and I could argue he's one of the best rebounders in the league (people will laugh, but it's not out of reach)...but after watching every single game Odom has played in since 2004, I always wait for him to start taking ignorant jumpers, missing right-handed layups, and doing absolutely nothing when the team needs him to produce on the offensive end (like you saw today, actually).

[Multi-Billionaire]

I'm also going to add that instead of Billups, maybe play Gordon more. Like Billups, Gordon is also a scorer in a PG body but is much younger and has more explosiveness. He can shoot 3s, he can take it to the rack, and at this point in their careers, is a better defender than Billups.

 

Billups is more clutch and has more leadership, but hey, someone has to start from somewhere right? I've also started questioning Billups' leadership quietly this season, his constant poor decision makings (you can count he will commit a turnover 50% of the time when he penetrates to the rim by trying to dish to the bigs, or when trying to pass in transition, or when he's trying to cross over someone) and shot taking. The rate he shoots can almost put him in the "selfish" category... He's an average passer... and should serve his leadership elder state man role best on the sideline.

[AllenIverson#1fan]

Didn't watch the game. Who won?