Team USA vs Lithuania

[YugoRocketsFan]

Game is on right now, no thread.

[YugoRocketsFan]

Lithuania is playing the USA pretty good right now

[Real Deal]

Wow, forgot all about this game.

 

Just started watching about five minutes ago, caught the very end of the first half. I'm not sure if I'm really shocked, though, because Lithuania is one of those squads that will force the US to play more like a team. Those P&R's are killing us because we take pride in our individual defense more than team, but that's only because we haven't been together for the many years these other teams have.

 

Coach K needs to tell these guys exactly what players to switch on, and which we should go under/over with on those screens. Then, it's up to the player to remember that, and all we would need to do is yell out each pick.

[Oliver P]

Lithuania has played quite well but Team USA hasn't played very well.. That's the least we can say.

 

Team USA's defense has been an absolute disgrace. They basically played no D at all.. And they shot too much from long distance. Well Lithuania's zone D is the first reason why, and the fact that US' major offensive threat inside (Kevin Love) loves to take 3's doesn't help.. Still they gotta pass the ball more (MUCH more and better) and play more in the paint.

 

I can't say that I'm very surprised to see the US in trouble so far though, cause the fact that they literally destroyed Nigeria didn't help them, it gave them too much confidence in themselves. And they clearly have forgotten that they always need to play at their best in this first half.

 

Yes Lithuania ain't as good as they used to be but they are not Nigeria or Tunisia, they're a much better team and Team USA should be at their best against them. I seriously expect to see something else in the second half. I don't want to see Team USA lose again. Especially that, as I said, Lithuania CLEARLY is not as good as they were the last decade. So a loss today would REALLY be outrageous.

 

Team USA has to wake up as soon as the second half start.

 

Let's go USA !!!!

[YugoRocketsFan]

Lithuania has played quite well but Team USA hasn't played very well.. That's the least we can say.

 

Team USA's defense has been an absolute disgrace. They basically played no D at all.. And they shot too much from long distance. Well Lithuania's zone D is the first reason why, and the fact that US' major offensive threat inside (Kevin Love) loves to take 3's doesn't help.. Still they gotta pass the ball more (MUCH more and better) and play more in the paint.

 

I can't say that I'm very surprised to see the US in trouble so far though, cause the fact that they literally destroyed Nigeria didn't help them, it gave them too much confidence in themselves. And they clearly have forgotten that they always need to play at their best in this first half.

 

Yes Lithuania ain't as good as they used to be but they are not Nigeria or Tunisia, they're a much better team and Team USA should be at their best against them. I seriously expect to see something else in the second half. I don't want to see Team USA lose again. Especially that, as I said, Lithuania CLEARLY is not as good as they were the last decade. So a loss today would REALLY be outrageous.

 

Team USA has to wake up as soon as the second half start.

 

Let's go USA !!!!

 

USA would be losing by 20 if Motiejunas was playing

[Sħãlïq™]

Terrible officiating - Iggy getting called for inexistent fouls.. <_< Check out this TO stat:

 

LIT: 20

USA: 7

 

^ And still the score is close (USA up 74:72 @ the end of the 3rd).

Edited August 4, 2012 by Sħãlïq̵'

[TheNotoriousBANG]

USA would be losing by 20 if Motiejunas was playing

 

he would make a 1 point difference at best

 

looks like this game is going down to the wire, sarunas jasikevicius lives for moments like this

[Guru]

USA would be losing by 20 if Motiejunas was playing

 

Lithuania would be losing by 40 if Dwight was playing

[DunkinDerozan]

USA needs to stop chucking up these 3's. Give it to Melo in the post

[TheNotoriousBANG]

 

Lithuania would be losing by 40 if Dwight was playing

 

typical American arrogance

[Sħãlïq™]

Lithuania >> Spain

[Guru]

typical American arrogance

I was being sarcastic genius

[Guru]

KD and Kobe have been playing extremely poor D so far in the Olympics. Kobe needs to step it up guarding Manu in the next game. Obviously the FTs and 3s weren't falling tonight so that didn't help but the defense today was the reason this game was close. Lithuania had a bunch of uncontested layups.

[Napoleann]

Ugly win. Good hard play by Lithuania.

 

Overall an eye-opener for the U.S.

[Oliver P]

I'm glad the US finally won that game but I certainly don't feel like celebrating.. Really expected the US to show something else in the second half but they didn't. They just didn't play well in that game. They didn't play well but they won though, so it ain't that bad..

 

Anyway this game can only have a positive impact on the team though. It will remind them that anything can happen in one game and that it's not because you're the most talented team that you will get the win. And that they have to be at their very best every time to get the gold medal. Especially that Lithuania is not even the best non American team, Spain and Russia are both CLEARLY better teams. This kind of "under" performance should not happen again (I sure hope so).

 

By the way is there still anyone who think that this team would beat the Dream Team ? Cause I'm sorry but anyone who thinks that clearly hasn't watched the 90's (no offense intended, that's really what I think).

 

Not only the Dream Team was much better inside (obviously) but they had a much better passing game and a way higher basketball IQ. And defensively they had two of the best defensive centers ever, one of the best defensive PF ever and the two best wing defenders ever.

 

Everyone's entitled to their opinion but I have watched the 90's and personally I have no doubt that the Dream Team would blow out this year's Team USA.

 

Anyway I hope that Team USA will get back to their best against Argentina in two days.

Edited August 4, 2012 by Oliver P

[Nitro]

I said it before and I'll say it again...this team desperately misses Dwyane Wade.

 

They aren't pressuring the ball and forcing turnovers like they did in '08, where they basically destroyed every team besides Spain by overwhelming them on defense. Besides Wade, what is also hurting this team is not having Howard and Bosh. So many times I see this team can beat off the dribble with no help at the rim, and the bigs aren't defending the PnR like they did in '08. Howard and Bosh would alleviate many of these problems.

 

Offensively, I see far too much iso and quick spot-ups from 3. Guys like Williams and Kobe aren't spot-up shooters, and they are being force into these roles with the way the team is playing. There needs to be more post-ups, and more off-ball cuts going to the rim. That play where I think LeBron or Paul found Melo, then Melo found Westbrook for the and-1 is a model of how this team should run in halfcourt sets. There is no reason for forced iso's when you have 3-4 superstars as teammates. That doesn't mean there should be iso plays, because some of these guys are elite 1-on-1 players who flourish in those situations, but you can't overdose on it.

 

LeBron needs to take control of this team like he did in the final 2-3min of the game. He can literally do whatever he wants against anyone whenever he wants, both offensively and defensively...much like with the Heat, it's just a matter of him putting the foot on the pedal. If he is aggressive, everyone else will fall into place.

[JYD]

Great post Nitro, sums it up.

 

I don't understand why Anthony Davis isn't playing. He's far from Dwight Howard, but when Chandler goes to the bench, I'd love to see what Davis brings to the table. He should be able to defend the basket, and his length and offensive skill set would be tough for a team like Lithuania to match up with.

 

I guess Coach K thinks otherwise.