USA Men's Basketball

[carphalen5150]

I was lucky enough to get some free tickets for the USA Olympic Team scrimmage yesterday here in Vegas and I came away real impressed. They split the camp players into two teams (Blue and Red) and let them play against each other. The changes they have made to make this more of a team and not the Harlem Globetrotters like they were was very evident. Some things that really stood out....

- I have never liked Kobe, but he sure earned my respect yesterday. I mean every time he touched the ball the crowd was waiting for him to do something...and he did not let them down. He even hit the game winner with 6 seconds left. Him and LeBron matched up all day long...it reminded me of a Magic/Bird match up. They went at each other hard.

- I thought Carmelo was having an off day, then I look up and he has 28.

- Durant is for real. He was on the "Blue" team with Kobe and he was a big reason for them to come back and win. He had 22 points and hit some big shots in teh comeback. You could tell on the guys on the team liked him...Kobe kept talking to him and giving him pointers.

- The inside crew of Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler, and Amare Stoudamire is going to be tough for other teams to stop. Howard is just a freaking beast...he is massive.

- Mike Miller has a good shot to make this team. Him and Michael Redd were solid from downtown and that is a big factor in international play.

- Free throw shooting is still an issue...one side was 11-16 and the other was 9-18.

- JJ Redick looked lost out there...he needs to thank Coach K for letting him still be out there because he has no business on the team.

Anyways...I could go on and on...it was great, like an All Star Game where it meant something because the rosters are not set yet. Below is the box score.

http://www.usabasketball.com/seniormen/2007/07_msnt_exhbox1.pdf

 

[Yeagermeister]

I was lucky enough to get some free tickets for the USA Olympic Team scrimmage yesterday here in Vegas and I came away real impressed. They split the camp players into two teams (Blue and Red) and let them play against each other. The changes they have made to make this more of a team and not the Harlem Globetrotters like they were was very evident. Some things that really stood out....

- I have never liked Kobe, but he sure earned my respect yesterday. I mean every time he touched the ball the crowd was waiting for him to do something...and he did not let them down. He even hit the game winner with 6 seconds left. Him and LeBron matched up all day long...it reminded me of a Magic/Bird match up. They went at each other hard.

- I thought Carmelo was having an off day, then I look up and he has 28.

- Durant is for real. He was on the "Blue" team with Kobe and he was a big reason for them to come back and win. He had 22 points and hit some big shots in teh comeback. You could tell on the guys on the team liked him...Kobe kept talking to him and giving him pointers.

- The inside crew of Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler, and Amare Stoudamire is going to be tough for other teams to stop. Howard is just a freaking beast...he is massive.

- Mike Miller has a good shot to make this team. Him and Michael Redd were solid from downtown and that is a big factor in international play.

- Free throw shooting is still an issue...one side was 11-16 and the other was 9-18.

- JJ Redick looked lost out there...he needs to thank Coach K for letting him still be out there because he has no business on the team.

Anyways...I could go on and on...it was great, like an All Star Game where it meant something because the rosters are not set yet. Below is the box score.

http://www.usabasketball.com/seniormen/2007/07_msnt_exhbox1.pdf

Mike Miller is one of my fav Grizz players. He is an excellent shooter but is so streaky it's frustrating but it's good to know he's playing well so far.

Hopefully we won't get our butts kicked again.

 

[carphalen5150]

Mike Miller is one of my fav Grizz players. He is an excellent shooter but is so streaky it's frustrating but it's good to know he's playing well so far.

Hopefully we won't get our butts kicked again.

He was killing in warm ups...hit like 13-14 in a row and then took it way beyong the 3 line. His range is sick.

 

[gazmc_06]

Kobe is m favorite player, the guy is on another level from anyone else IMO...I think this team is a real team. Durant happens to be my next favorite player so with him, Kobe, Melo, Lebron, Wade (possibly), Amare, Howard....we have a team of really good players. we could play Howard at center and Amare at PF, that is two big men that can play offense and defence. then throw in those other guy's and WOW.

 

[carphalen5150]

Kobe is m favorite player, the guy is on another level from anyone else IMO...I think this team is a real team. Durant happens to be my next favorite player so with him, Kobe, Melo, Lebron, Wade (possibly), Amare, Howard....we have a team of really good players. we could play Howard at center and Amare at PF, that is two big men that can play offense and defence. then throw in those other guy's and WOW.

I could see them starting Bosh over Stoudamire...

Also, the international game does not emphasize the big men as much, so I could see the starters being Kidd, Kobe, Carmelo, Lebron, and Howard.

 

[gazmc_06]

I think Bosh is easier for big men to gaurd than Stoudemire though, Stoudemire has the strength and speed to control any defensive player, Bosh is great too but I think the speed of Amare would be very effective. Kidd isn't the guy to take many shots, I'm not sure but that could be what we need with some pure shooters?

 

[gazmc_06]

I was watching the under-19's championship the other day and we were losing to France by 15 in the second half (they were dpominating us for the enrite game) because we were playing them in a half court shooting game, but then we started to play like Pheonix in a run and gun style and in the space of 12 minutes were back within 3....in the end we won so I think international teams can be suspect to run and gun.

 

[carphalen5150]

I think Bosh is easier for big men to gaurd than Stoudemire though, Stoudemire has the strength and speed to control any defensive player, Bosh is great too but I think the speed of Amare would be very effective. Kidd isn't the guy to take many shots, I'm not sure but that could be what we need with some pure shooters?

I could go either way with Bosh and Amare. Bosh compliments Howard better IMO though. He will clear out and allow Howard the lane, while Amare is similiar to Howard in that he more of a conventional post player. Bosh can drive well for a big man and finishes well.

Kidd will be perfect for them, setting up guys all over. I really think Mike Miller is going to play a big role because he is a guy who is kind of forgetten about and will get plenty of open looks from 3.

 

[gazmc_06]

Mike Miller is a very good shooter, I think when he is on the floor he could be a big scorer because he is not going to be a superstar name that people double team. if we play a half court game then Bosh will probably start and if we play a run and gun game Amare will start...it's in the coach's hands.

 

[carphalen5150]

Mike Miller is a very good shooter, I think when he is on the floor he could be a big scorer because he is not going to be a superstar name that people double team. if we play a half court game then Bosh will probably start and if we play a run and gun game Amare will start...it's in the coach's hands.

Actually Toronto runs a simliar offense to Phx, so Bosh is an up and down the court guy. Either way, you have some good bigs and great swings.