Category Archives: Team USA

Kobe is back and LeBron is still really really really good!

After having an atrocious last few games in the Olympics, Kobe Bryant was able to find his killer instinct. He had a pretty awful first half with just two points and a couple turnovers. The second half was quite different.

Australia went on an 11-0 run to start the third quarter and the Americans appeared to be in trouble. Clinging to just a six point lead, Bryant was able to make his first three pointer of the game. On the very next possession, Kobe stole the ball giving the United States a fast break. He pulled up from beyond the arc and nailed another three.

Australia was forced to call a Timeout, which presumably would slow down the “Black Mamba”. But Kobe was not done. Just about halfway through the fourth quarter, Bryant made four three pointers in a row in just a fifty-six second span! That was the dagger!

After the game, Kobe was asked what helped him get out of his ten quarter slump. He said that he got angry. When asked if he was angry about playing Argentina next, he responded, “Livid.”

But I respect the Australians performance. Australia was able to stay with the Americans for three quarters. They were only down fourteen going into the fourth and they had it down to six at one point in the third quarter. Back-up San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills led the team with twenty-six points. But Team USA just has too many All-Stars and LeBron James is one of them.

LeBron was absolutely masterful even though he only converted three field goals. He had his first triple double in Olympic history! James scored 11 points, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds. Might I add that he also did not record even one turnover! He did it all.

LeBron’s performance was riveting and he was seeing the court just as well as Magic Johnson did back in the day. There were two plays where James was on the wing and was able to find a three-point shooter in the weak side corner for wide open buckets. He is so big that he has the length to pass it over the defense. James also had a spectacular pass in the first half when he placed the ball perfectly through the defender’s legs finding Carmelo Anthony who got the “and one”.

James is 6’8” but was running around the court like he was Steve Nash in his prime. And at the same time, he was able to lead the team with fourteen rebounds including three on the offensive end of the court. I used to hate “King James” but I just cannot dislike the guy anymore. He is amazingly talented and is the MVP of this Olympic team.

So after a sluggish first half, Team USA was able to trounce Australia 119-86 and move into the semi-finals. Lithuania was close to defeating the Americans earlier this week but they lost to Russia earlier today. So at this point, only a miracle could stop Team USA from winning the gold medal.

 

Posted in Australia, Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Olympics, Team USA, Three-Pointer | Comments Off on Kobe is back and LeBron is still really really really good!

Kobe is back and LeBron is still really really really good!

After having an atrocious last few games in the Olympics, Kobe Bryant was able to find his killer instinct. He had a pretty awful first half with just two points and a couple turnovers. The second half was quite different.

Australia went on an 11-0 run to start the third quarter and the Americans appeared to be in trouble. Clinging to just a six point lead, Bryant was able to make his first three pointer of the game. On the very next possession, Kobe stole the ball giving the United States a fast break. He pulled up from beyond the arc and nailed another three.

Australia was forced to call a Timeout, which presumably would slow down the “Black Mamba”. But Kobe was not done. Just about halfway through the fourth quarter, Bryant made four three pointers in a row in just a fifty-six second span! That was the dagger!

After the game, Kobe was asked what helped him get out of his ten quarter slump. He said that he got angry. When asked if he was angry about playing Argentina next, he responded, “Livid.”

But I respect the Australians performance. Australia was able to stay with the Americans for three quarters. They were only down fourteen going into the fourth and they had it down to six at one point in the third quarter. Back-up San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills led the team with twenty-six points. But Team USA just has too many All-Stars and LeBron James is one of them.

LeBron was absolutely masterful even though he only converted three field goals. He had his first triple double in Olympic history! James scored 11 points, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds. Might I add that he also did not record even one turnover! He did it all.

LeBron’s performance was riveting and he was seeing the court just as well as Magic Johnson did back in the day. There were two plays where James was on the wing and was able to find a three-point shooter in the weak side corner for wide open buckets. He is so big that he has the length to pass it over the defense. James also had a spectacular pass in the first half when he placed the ball perfectly through the defender’s legs finding Carmelo Anthony who got the “and one”.

James is 6’8” but was running around the court like he was Steve Nash in his prime. And at the same time, he was able to lead the team with fourteen rebounds including three on the offensive end of the court. I used to hate “King James” but I just cannot dislike the guy anymore. He is amazingly talented and is the MVP of this Olympic team.

So after a sluggish first half, Team USA was able to trounce Australia 119-86 and move into the semi-finals. Lithuania was close to defeating the Americans earlier this week but they lost to Russia earlier today. So at this point, only a miracle could stop Team USA from winning the gold medal.

 

Posted in Australia, Basketball, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Olympics, Team USA, Three-Pointer | Comments Off on Kobe is back and LeBron is still really really really good!

Team USA Tested by Lithuania

So let me get this straight… Team USA beat Nigeria by 83 points two days ago. Today, Lithuania was beating us in the 4th quarter? With six minutes left, we were down by 2?

Linsa Kleiza (Toronto Raptors reserve player) led the Lithuanians with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Martynas Pocius (who does not even play in the NBA) had a great all around game scoring 14 points, dishing out 6 dimes, and grabbed 7 rebounds. All of this production came against some of the greatest players in the world and most likely, half a dozen future Hall of Famers. Lithuania gave America a true scare.

Now some of you might be thinking that the United States must have played an absolutely terrible game. And yes, they certainly underperformed, but this game was all about how well the Lithuanians played together. Lithuania shot an unbelievable 58.5% and 43.8% from beyond the arc. Team USA shot a mediocre 44.3% from the field and 30.3% from the three-point line.

“We can play better offensively and defensively, no questions about that,” Krzyzewski said. Well yeah, I sure hope we can. This was not the talented Spaniards. This wasn’t even France or Argentina. This was Lithuania! No disrespect to the Lithuanians, but I was just not expecting them to play us hard until the very last whistle.

LeBron James was able to lead the team on a 17-10 run to end the game and the Americans won 99-94. Notice, I used the word “lead”. LeBron James is officially the leader of this team. Not Carmelo, not Durant, and not Kobe Bryant. This is LeBron’s team and he proved it in the fourth quarter scoring 9 of his 20 points.

The Americans improved to 4-0 and have their last preliminary game against Argentina on Monday. Then, its do or die… Lets hope we don’t draw Lithuania as our first opponent.

 

 

Posted in America, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Lithuania, Nigeria, Olympics, Team USA | Comments Off on Team USA Tested by Lithuania

Team USA Tested by Lithuania

So let me get this straight… Team USA beat Nigeria by 83 points two days ago. Today, Lithuania was beating us in the 4th quarter? With six minutes left, we were down by 2?

Linsa Kleiza (Toronto Raptors reserve player) led the Lithuanians with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Martynas Pocius (who does not even play in the NBA) had a great all around game scoring 14 points, dishing out 6 dimes, and grabbed 7 rebounds. All of this production came against some of the greatest players in the world and most likely, half a dozen future Hall of Famers. Lithuania gave America a true scare.

Now some of you might be thinking that the United States must have played an absolutely terrible game. And yes, they certainly underperformed, but this game was all about how well the Lithuanians played together. Lithuania shot an unbelievable 58.5% and 43.8% from beyond the arc. Team USA shot a mediocre 44.3% from the field and 30.3% from the three-point line.

“We can play better offensively and defensively, no questions about that,” Krzyzewski said. Well yeah, I sure hope we can. This was not the talented Spaniards. This wasn’t even France or Argentina. This was Lithuania! No disrespect to the Lithuanians, but I was just not expecting them to play us hard until the very last whistle.

LeBron James was able to lead the team on a 17-10 run to end the game and the Americans won 99-94. Notice, I used the word “lead”. LeBron James is officially the leader of this team. Not Carmelo, not Durant, and not Kobe Bryant. This is LeBron’s team and he proved it in the fourth quarter scoring 9 of his 20 points.

The Americans improved to 4-0 and have their last preliminary game against Argentina on Monday. Then, its do or die… Lets hope we don’t draw Lithuania as our first opponent.

 

 

Posted in America, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Lithuania, Nigeria, Olympics, Team USA | Comments Off on Team USA Tested by Lithuania

Team USA Tested by Lithuania

So let me get this straight… Team USA beat Nigeria by 83 points two days ago. Today, Lithuania was beating us in the 4th quarter? With six minutes left, we were down by 2?

Linsa Kleiza (Toronto Raptors reserve player) led the Lithuanians with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Martynas Pocius (who does not even play in the NBA) had a great all around game scoring 14 points, dishing out 6 dimes, and grabbed 7 rebounds. All of this production came against some of the greatest players in the world and most likely, half a dozen future Hall of Famers. Lithuania gave America a true scare.

Now some of you might be thinking that the United States must have played an absolutely terrible game. And yes, they certainly underperformed, but this game was all about how well the Lithuanians played together. Lithuania shot an unbelievable 58.5% and 43.8% from beyond the arc. Team USA shot a mediocre 44.3% from the field and 30.3% from the three-point line.

“We can play better offensively and defensively, no questions about that,” Krzyzewski said. Well yeah, I sure hope we can. This was not the talented Spaniards. This wasn’t even France or Argentina. This was Lithuania! No disrespect to the Lithuanians, but I was just not expecting them to play us hard until the very last whistle.

LeBron James was able to lead the team on a 17-10 run to end the game and the Americans won 99-94. Notice, I used the word “lead”. LeBron James is officially the leader of this team. Not Carmelo, not Durant, and not Kobe Bryant. This is LeBron’s team and he proved it in the fourth quarter scoring 9 of his 20 points.

The Americans improved to 4-0 and have their last preliminary game against Argentina on Monday. Then, its do or die… Lets hope we don’t draw Lithuania as our first opponent.

 

 

Posted in America, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Lithuania, Nigeria, Olympics, Team USA | Comments Off on Team USA Tested by Lithuania