G'Day and G'Bye Mate, Aussies Fry On the Barbie

One down, two more to go.

A rematch of what had been the Americans' most challenging game so far amounted to about 19 minutes of slight tension, followed by 21 minutes of what turned out to be a Dream-like romp. The USA Men's Basketball team skewered the Aussies 116-85 in a second half performance reminiscent of the old days.

The game started off tight, the lead only at one after the first quarter. The Aussies looked competitive, as they came out fast, strong, and accurate; Patrick Mills was a blur tearing around the court while Saville and Newley were consistent and active. The US were goaded into taking bad shots, trying to answer back every shot the Australians made with something more impressive, making it seem like a giant game of "Top That". They shot free throws poorly and had to use too much of their athleticism and strength instead of their skill and accuracy. The second quarter started slowly but ended with a bang, honors going to Mr. Deron Williams and his ridiculous aptitude for clutch shooting. Other writers are saying that this shot was the turn around of the game, but what really hurt the Aussies was the American intensity and the relentless pressure. And I also have to add that the small speed team where Lebron was at center was great. But still, the game was close, and the twelve point half time lead wasn't nearly as large as it seemed.

The later quarters showed more efficient and even outstanding scoring by the Americans. The threes started to fall, the fast break was running, and the wrecking balls also known as Kobe and Lebron were tearing through the Australian defense with ease.

Frustration lined the faces of the men from down under, as they looked more lost than Nemo during the American flurry that was the third quarter. When Andrew Bogut "left due to injury" around halfway through that period, it signaled the waving of the white flag, as the only green jerseys left fighting were the frisky little gnats Nielson and Worthington. Though James Ingles and Patrick Mills could be seen as silver lining, the game overall was not only a storm cloud, but a full blown hurricane. The depth of the US bench was too overwhelming, the constant pressure waterfalling onto the Aussies uncontrollably.

Up next for the Redeem Team is Argentina, who snuck past Greece to set up a full top-seeded final four. The door to the gold is still through the Argentinians, and no matter how banged up their stars may be, they have the personnel and intangibles to repeat. If the Americans can't impose their style from the get go, there's going to be some high drama come Friday.

If Manu, Delfino, and Luis Scola are on, Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Melo, CP3.... ok nevermind. The only fear for the US is their own inconsistency. As long as these NBA All-Stars have enough left in their tanks, they are both more beautiful and more terrifying than any other opponent in any other sport EVER. The battle between Manu and Kobe will be the key, a miniature of the Lakers/Spurs rivalry packed into a single sitcom-sized time period.

Oh, I almost forgot.

PRACTICE YOUR FREAKING FREETHROWS. 58%? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Read/Discuss >>

Random Ramblings: USA vs. Angola Men's Basketball

It's 5 AM here in California, and here I am, excited and up for Team USA's second game. I fully expect the game to actually be broadcasted live this time, and hope for the sakes of NBC's executive cabinet that the event actually is on. After cruising through the first fifty channels on my television (anger slightly boiling over after the absence of any Olympic coverage over the first two known Olympic channels) I was relieved to see that the game was actually playing on USA. NBC, thank you for granting my request (threat, request, tomato, tomatoe). So here goes:

• I turned on the television to see an athletic breakaway dunk and felt quite happy with myself. Turns out it was an Angolan by the name of Morais, not an American. Wow. Great way to start the day.
• Angola actually looks pretty athletic and shoots well. For a team supposed to be losing big, they aren't doing too badly through the first quarter so far.
  
• Wow, the Angolan coach just admitted that his goal for the game was to not lose by forty. Modest, mocking, or serious? Who knows, but I am sure that we better win by forty.
  
• OK, I have seen the woman referee call at least five travels within eight minutes. She has made no other call so far, so I guess that's her mission. Keep the world travel-free. Good job lady, just miss all the shoves and flops going on. Female Donaghy, I swear.
  
• They just played a flashback of the original Dream Team's first meeting with Angola. Sir Charles has been officially documented as a global-grade jackass. Man, what a bully. It's turrible.
• Kobe's really not shooting too well. I hope this not taking over too much thing doesn't carry over into the NBA season, because if I see Kobe dishing consistently to Mr. Machine and Sun Yue instead of going Black Mamba, I'll have an aneurysm.
• Look for this around the 5 minute mark of the 2nd quarter. Lebron just turned on his inner Kerri Walsh and tried to permanently implant an opponent's shot into the Beijing basketball gym floor.
  
• DWade was just called for a foul while jumping in the air on an alley oop. I don't think I've ever seen someone on the receiving end of an alley oop get called for anything before. I must admit, that was strange.
• I don't want to say it again, but COME ON NOW, PRACTICE YOUR FREE THROWS.
• At the half, they lead by 18. Not horrible, but could be a lot better. It is about half way to 40 though, so sucks for the Angolan coach.
  
• After watching a recap of the Spain vs. China game (which looked like a great game and should be watched on all accounts), I'm really starting to hope that the Lakers team doesn't get too tired out over the course of this summer. Pau and Kobe should both travel deep into this tournament, and I really hope fatigue doesn't play too much of a factor.
• I'm happy to see that the NBA on NBC theme song is still being played. John Tesh's best work, no question.
  
• I think Jason Kidd should be played alongside either Chris Paul or Deron Williams more often. Having two amazing passers on the court works wonders for the fastbreak and the overall ball movement.
• Start of the second half, and Kobe misses another three. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU DOBERMAN? Just as I've said that, I realize that the nickname Doberman sucks. Why Doberman? What's with Kobe and Animal Planet references?
  
• I'm not sexist, I swear. BUT I HATE THAT WOMAN REF. SHE IS RIDICULOUS.
• The US has come out very, very flat in the second half. And Kidd's refusal to shoot the ball is getting annoying... maybe he is getting old. Just kidding, just kidding.
  
• Kobe Bryant on fast breaks is just so beautiful. Too bad he's missed like five threes. I really don't understand where his shot is right now. Animorph into Black Mamba, Doberman isn't needed this game.
  
• It doesn't look like the USA was properly prepared for this game. The matchups that they're creating don't favor them whatsoever. Why not put in a team of Boozer, Howard, Lebron, Wade, and Paul? They would dominate rebounding while still being quick enough to run. This Angolan team is fairly physical, so push back.
• With 3:30 left in the 3rd, it looks like the USA has woken up, and Angola is finally falling apart.
• Oh man, Chris Bosh being the regular old American tourist is great. That giant man getting so excited with his camera and snapping picture after picture along the Great Wall reminds you that these guys are just normal people. Well, really talented, really rich, and really famous "normal people".
• I love the two-man game of Deron Williams and Chris Paul. There are no words for how well they seem to mesh. Either that, or they're both just so baller that its beautiful.
• The lead has ballooned to 28 after three. This game is on it's way to being what I expect from the Redeem Team.
  
• Dwayne Wade just saved the ball off of an Angolan player, and the player jumped up immediately to protest, only to be stared down by Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. The Angolan stopped mid sentence and proceeded to run away. He looked like a chihuahua cowering away from a pair of rottweilers. Too bad the Doberman was on the other side of the court.
• As soon as I started being proud of them, The US team started getting sloppy. They no longer impress me.
• Morais of Angola is really impressive. Yeah, he has double digit turnovers, but that's because he has it in his hands almost 80% of the time while being hounded by Kobe and DWade.
• With a final score of 97-76, the Americans cruised to victory, albeit not up to my personal expectations. Wade was perfect in Beijing for 6 quarters still having missed only 2 shots total and Lebron has been overpowering anyone that dares come close to him. The US team is winning easily, but the blowouts just aren't what they used to be.

To conclude this game, it must be stated that the US team shot ridiculously poorly. 24% from the three and 64% from the line is horrible. Had they shot a more reasonable 43% from the arc (which is more or less a twenty foot jumper) and 80% from the line, they would have won by thirty-seven instead. And that's being generous. Kobe and Redd need to start hitting their threes with more consistency and Lebron really needs to learn how to make a freethrow. So far, Dwayne Wade has been the star of these 2008 Olympics. By far.

PRACTICE YOUR FREAKING FREETHROWS

Read/Discuss >>

Liveblogging: Lakers-Utah

Just as a disclaimer, I think the Lakers are going to win this one. And it is because I've been saying that it's over in 6 that I'm rooting for them to win. Otherwise I am completely unbiased. Now lets get on with it.

• The Cavs-Celtics game finally ended! For those of you who dared question me when I said Cavs in 7 all I have to say is this is why I run a sports blog and you don't! Just kidding guys! I'm kind of scared about game 7, but I'm rooting for the Cavs all the way so that I can feel like a genius.
• Lakers are starting the game really fast. This is a very nice change from the last Utah home games, where they would get lost on offense a lot.
• I never noticed before but Carlos Boozer's free throws have some amazing arc. I wonder if he shoots a lot better now and days.
• Man I can't get enough of this Laker offense, everything is so smooth.
  
• Lakers now up 24-12. Uh oh Utah. Utah just keeps on taking fade-aways.
  
• Man who else saw Pau almost lose the ball then pick it back up and try a little floater when vlad was wide open for a dunk. Give him the ball man! Vlad ended up tipping it in anyways. But still, where's the respect.
• Hubie Brown just said Kobe is averaging 33-7-7. What?? I haven't been following stats but those are dominating numbers. They all came really quietly...Is that a good thing or a bad thing?? I think it really shows me that the Lakers have truly become a team now.
• I can't wait for next year, when Vlad really gets integrated into the offense. This guy has a lot of potential, even though at times its really, really, really hard to see some times! But Phil agrees with me! He told me over lunch. That's why he's been starting Vlad for the last couple months.
  
• 2nd quarter 11:40, Korver misses a three. Who would you rather have Vujacic or Korver??? Sasha hands-down!!
• Did you know Sasha stole Vlad's nickname??? From wikipedia: "Was nicknamed "THE MACHINE" by Supersonics announcer Kevin Calabro, after his resemblance to NFL quarterback Joe Namath."
• I know you guys saw Korver hit a 3 right after I picked Sasha. And I KNOW you saw SAsha hit one right after!! Thank you, thank you....
• And there's Sasha taking it to the hole, 7pts!! 3 for 3 !!!
• Who else thinks that live-blogging is weird. Am I supposed to comment on every single play??
  
• Matt Harpring is being a little overly aggressive now while guarding Kobe. I hope no one gets into a fight tonight..... Who am i kidding!!
• Derek Fisher cookie!!!!!!!!
• Derek Fisher assisst!!!
• Kobe dunk!!!
• by the way, when is Kobe ever going to do a one-handed dunk... the last one must have been when he dunked over Steve Nash two years ago.
• Lakers in 6?? What did I say??
• Time-out now, finally. Lakers 50 - Utah 35. This liveblogging is so much work. I hope 50,000 people read this.

• I just saw a commercial for the WNBA, featuring Candice Parker. I happened to watch the Women's final four with Tenessee. Anyone else?? I still cant believe the half time speech Pat Summit gave Candice Parker. She guilt tripped her into playing with her injury!
• Utah is in a zone now.. zones work well against teams who can't shoot. Zones used to destroy the Lakers when they had Smush Parker. I will stop there.
• Trevor Ariza is cleared to play??? Now they have a lockdown defender.. this will come in handy for them vs. the Spurs. Did I just? Yes I did.
• What is C.J. miles doing...Deron Williams must want to kill him.
• Derek Fisher cookie!!!!
• Back to the man-to-man they go. What did I say. What did I say?? If you didn`t realize. I like being right, alot.

• Back from halftime. First sequence for Utah, and Deron Williams pulls off one of the nicest passes I have seen this playoffs. I could have sworn it curved in the air.
  
• Deron Williams is finally turning it on. But that and1 with 9:45 ish was a travel, undoubtedly. It's just questionable as to whether the foul or the travel came first.
  
• On that note, I think Derek Fisher could beat up Deron Williams easily. Williams is pretty buff, but I think he has a pretty small frame. That's why he is so deceptively quick!
• I think the Lakers will have the most efficient offense in the leauge next year. They might not score the most, but they're ridicuolously efficient.
• I love Pau's intensity. And I love how his personality meshes with the Lakers. I would rather have him than Kevin Garnett.
• Utah has been complaining all game about fouls. And by 3:25 left in the 3rd quarter they're even! I can't believe the fans were chanting "refs you suck! refs you suck!" I wonder if they put that on the jumbotron. Outrageous!!
• with the hanging fade away at the end of the 3rd, Kobe Bryant is officially back. For a moment, Lebron and Chris Paul were the most exciting and most dominant. But today marks when Kobe officially returns. So many people would say Keving Garnett was the best player of the first half, Chris Paul the best of the second half and Kobe was number 2 throughout the year. So they gave the MVP to him for being consistently "2nd best." That's over and done with.
• Man, there's a lot less to write about when the game is a blowout. If Kobe doesn't come back in during this time out (9 min left) then we've already seen the last of him for the conference semis.
• Man, 9 point game! I spoke too soon. Kobe is back in, and Paul Milsap is a beast. He's 6'8 and 258. I didn't know they came that huge! Lebron James is listed as 6`8 and 240. Ron Artest: 6`7 , 246; Elton Brand 6`8 and
  
• Matt Harpring is being outrageously physical. Kobe too, but I didn`t think they allowed this much contact anymore!
• Kobe 3 pointer in Matt Harprings face around 4:50. In game 4 Kobe would have tried to do too much, too soon. But as I said at the end of the 3rd quarter. He is officially back.
• These refs are loving the Lakers and these Jazz CANNOT miss. Mehmet okur is one of the clutchest big men I`ve ever seen.
• Hate to say it but, Kobe Bryant got twin towered. By Kirilenko and Okur with 1min left. One of the best tandem blocks I`ve ever seen!
• Sadly, all of these clutch Utah plays are far from enough.
• AGAIN! Kirilenko! It makes no difference! But this must be fun as heck for Utah fans. At least for the next 15 seconds.
• This is some horrible endof game defense by the Lakers. But again. 12 seconds until the end of Utah.
  
• MY GOODNESS, Utah had 3 chances to tie the game with a 3 and make me eat my feet.
  

Well that`s the end! I`ll end by saying that I LOVE being right =). Till next time folks.

Read/Discuss >>