USA Basketball

[Keetch]

Saturday morning at 10:15, Team USA faces Spain. This USA team has matured a good deal and is playing fantastic, can't-miss basketball. I mean how about this for a starting lineup:

Dwight Howard
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
Chris Paul

Who doesn't want to watch that?

Then substitute in Dwyane Wade for Anthony and Chris Bosh for Howard and your all-earth team becomes all-universe. Those two have been going in and making a great team, explosive.

Spain is a bonafide gold medal contender with NBA guys:

Pau Gasol
Marc Gasol
Rudy Fernandez
Jose Calderon
Jorge Garbajosa
Juan Carlos Navarro

Not chopped Liver.

and then of course Spain has 17 year old rock-star Ricky Rubio - you want to see Ricky Rubio? Yeah, you want to see Ricky Rubio.

I've been staying up late and enjoying many of these games...not just Team USA. It's really special to see familiar guys from the NBA and FIBA playing their hearts out for their national teams.

It's been truly phenomenal basketball.

[Ghost Kat]

I agree, Overall this has been one of the best olympics in my short life. Bring Bosh paul, and Wade off the bench is a giant boost to the USA team. Carmelo hasn't played that well in my opinion. Even though Kidd isn't a scoring threat he still knows how to get the ball to a open player.

We stomped Greece and they were "suppose" to give us a tough game. The USA has improved their defensive effort 114% and the fact that we really run a fast break offense means other teams will have trouble keeping up with our speed. I'm looking forward to this game against Spain, I think we have over hyped the other counries. USA teams in the past didn't show this much fire and desire to win gold. I doubt this will be a close game.

[Keetch]

I think Bosh has been a revelation; I always knew he was a stud but this is extraordinary.

And....Wade....wow; he's returned stronger, meaner and better. For all the talent on this team; LeBron may be the Captain; Kobe the Doberman; they're all doing well, but Wade is the Difference.

[dnbman]

I'm watching. So long as the little doesn't interrupt, I'm going to watch the entire second half.

[dnbman]

That last Howard block and the subsequent ball movement was NICE.

[Keetch]

BLOW OUT :p

Rubio didn't do much...he looked like a child playing with men; which he is. He'll be a good one though.

[tamburello]

USA beats most serious rivals. Congratulations to you fellas.

I didn't watch the game, this blowout result will probably is pumping you all, but please wait before winning the gold. There might be another Greece in this Olympics.

Ricky is really a child playing with beasts, you can see this better alive ;) He's the most impressive thing I've ever seen.

[Keetch]

Tamb...I REALLY enjoyed the China/Germany and Lithuania/Croatia games more. I've been pulling for China and Yao for some strange reason. They seem to have a lot of heart; and their guards are playing their butts off. When Yi plays well, China is tough. They lack depth though, so tend to run out of gas. That Sun Yue dude that signed with the Lakers is fun to watch!

Very early in the USA/Spain game, Pau Gasol set a pick on Kobe Bryant and Kobe lowered his shoulder and fairly violently flattened his Laker teammate. The look on Gasol's face was precious. Laying on the floor he was staring wide-eyed at Kobe..."Wha???" ... and Kobe walked away without even looking at him. Message sent.

That's why I think this will be the USA's year.

But you're right Tamb, once it goes to the medal round its one and done; The USA isn't shooting well still, but the defense is ferocious and Dwyane Wade is taking no prisoners. Still, anything can happen, all of these teams can play and they're all well coached.

[Ghost Kat]

Usa!!!

Usa!!!!

Usa!!!!!

[Ghost Kat]

Aussie!! Aussie!! Aussie!!

No
No
NO!!!

[TheBeagle]

To be honest: I see enough basketball during the fall/winter/spring that I need a break during the summer, so I haven't seen the first dribble of the USA team (it doesn't help that they play too early in the morning for me either). I enjoy watching the sports that don't really get televized except every four years (water polo, the swim events, gymnastics, volleyball, etc.).

All that said, I'm glad at how the team is performing and will reclaim world domination in the sport. It looks like the maturation of LeBron, Carmelo and Wade, along with additions like Kobe, Paul, Williams and even Prince, along with K have been what the doctor ordered and it's good to see....not literaly in my case, but you understand.;)

[WarioVsMooChicken]

Angolia has came the closest to beating us...

FREAKIN ANGOLIA!

[Dead_Real]

Can't wait to see todays game I pretty sure it starts at 10:15 on NBC winner faces Spain in the gold medal game. Hopefully I'll get my wish of seeing Ricky Rubio going up against CP3.

[Dead_Real]

Team USA is just running on Argentina and playing great D so far.

Damn 30-12 to end the 1st.

[Dead_Real]

We have a game now as expected gotta love the flops from Team Argentina.

Scola beasting :mad:

[BIGCatBobcat]

Glad to see someone is watching this other than me. Scola and Nocioni are gamers but they are also punk bitches that don't like it when it doesn't go their way. Howard is a beast, Kidd is running the point really well. Kobe, Lebron, Carmello and Wade are doing what they do, dominate. Carmello is a thug, I mean straight up thug-life. This in no way has anything to do with race but I have a feeling a conversation between him and AI would be like me listening to a different language. They probably talk about tattoos. Good to see the domination is back. It's our sport that we let the rest of the world play and they got good, but we got better.

[Dead_Real]

So it's set Spain vs USA for the Gold

Bosh should start Sunday against Spain he continues to look better than Superman.

[BIGCatBobcat]

So it's set Spain vs USA for the Gold

Bosh should start Sunday against Spain he continues to look better than Superman.

Agreed. Bosh is playing sick perimeter defense.

[Dead_Real]

Agreed. Bosh is playing sick perimeter defense.
I see Bosh and Dwight having there way with Pau Gasol on Sunday either way I expect us to win Gold again finally.

[Muttley]

I see Bosh and Dwight having there way with Pau Gasol on Sunday either way I expect us to win Gold again finally.

Oh, most definitely. It's still 3 hours away. Time to make the coffee.

[Dead_Real]

Oh, most definitely. It's still 3 hours away. Time to make the coffee.
hopefully the Bronze Medal Game can keep me from falling asleep I got the DVR set for the gold game just in case.

[tamburello]

USA leads 69-61 in first half. I wonder what would happen if USA didn't shoot lights out from downtown. Spain will not let USA destroy themselves.

You've probably seen how great Rudy Fernandez is. I clearly remember that I wanted us to select him badly instead of Jared Dudley. He's simply the new generation Ginobili. Suns should feel as dumbasses for trading him to Blazers for $500k. And... Pritchard hit in the eye, again.

[Dead_Real]

Spain showed a lot of heart but Bryant was just to clutch as usual when the game was on the line but I agree Tamb Rudy Fernandez is a fearless baller USA couldn't stop him or Juan Navarro.

[tamburello]

USA won. USA deserved. 118-107. I'd like to congratulate my American friends here.

I wonder what would happen if Calderon and Garbajosa had played. Hopefully you've understood that the difference between USA basketball and the rest of world is not big enough that you can call NBA champions as "world champions". ;)

This USA team was definitely the best available but not as great as 1992 Real Dream Team. When I first saw the US roster, I said "USA will be champions" only because Kobe was included. Kobe is always makes the difference. If Kobe was not there, I really wonder who would score that 4 point play or make those bunch of clutch shots!!!

[tamburello]

P.S. Rudy's dunk over Howard was just sick.

[SWedd523]

Are they going to replay the game today at a reasonable time? I couldn't for the life of me stay awake. Stupid females....;)

[Alex]

Angolia has came the closest to beating us...

FREAKIN ANGOLIA!

Anoglia isn't a country, you're thinking of Angola.

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USA USA USA!! That game was awesome! In a way I'm more glad that it was a game and not a blowout. I stayed up and watched the whole thing, of course I was pretty hammered at the time so that didn't hurt :D