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

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!!!