The 2008 Beijing Olympics are around the corner and every American wants to see if the USA men's basketball team can bring back the gold medal. Let me rewind you back to a time in 1992 where the greatest collection of basketball players were assembled to represent the United States of America. Everyone knows this team as the Dream Team and they displayed an art form of basketball that will never be duplicated ever again. A few players like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Charles Barkley accomplished their goal by putting their egos to the side for the betterment of the team. The Dream Team didn't want to just win, they wanted to embarrass anyone that stepped on the court with them. It didn't matter if you were from Mars, this team was going to beat you by fifty maybe sixty points, and after the game was over they would smile and take pictures with you.
The Dream Team is just a distant memory of when the United States dominated Olympic basketball. Now the world has caught up with the game of basketball and they are not only competing with America. This summer its up to Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony to help bring the gold back to it's rightful owner the U.S.A. If last Friday is any indication to how the U.S. team will play in Beijing, then you might as well crown them now. The team displayed a mirror image of the Dream Team as they whopped on Canada for a ridiculous margin of victory. The team gave America a look into what they have been working on in their practice sessions and what their chemistry is like as a team. Unselfishness, determination, and heart are three of the many things the team needs to bring with them over to Beijing.
The biggest thing that stood out to me as the game went on was the defense pressure the U.S.A. team put on Canada. The guards dominated the flow of the entire game defensively which lead to easier opportunities on the offensive end of the court. Defense will be a huge key if the U.S. wants to return home with the gold medal. The makeup of this team is heavy placed on the guard position. Leading the guards is future hall of fame point guard Jason Kidd, whose presence along with Kobe Bryant, has changed the mentality and work ethic of team U.S.A. Jason Kidd will provide a certain skill that only he can give at the point guard position. His under studies Chris Paul and Deron Williams will back him up with a youthful energy that pumps the heart of the team U.S.A.
Key players like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade all have a responsibility to make sure that the perimeter is owned by team U.S.A. This team will have all the tools that they need to win the gold medal, but it's up to them to determine what level they will play at. My vote is for team U.S.A. to bring back the gold from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and once again set the bar to how the game of basketball shall be played. Next up for team U.S.A. is a match up on Thursday July 31st. One player that everyone should keep a watchful eye on is CARMELO ANTHONY!
Be Peaceful
10 comments:
CJizzle....waddup fam!!! Great start! Although, I am quite nervous with the inside play that we have. Dwight isnt 100%, Bosh play small sometimes, and Booz acts like he dont average 22 and 12 in the league during key bball games. They inside game suspect...but they guard play is quite phenomenal! I think the defensive pressure from the guards are the key to the gold! Plus the fact that this is not the same Lebron, Melo, and DWade as before, we should be good. Add the Kobester and we got bonafide beasts on the team.
True indeed Wayne. The inside play is definitely a weakness for team U.S.A. and hopefully the rest of the world isn't able to expose them. Keep in mind that Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James can go inside if need be. Jerry Colangelo did a good job of assembling this team, but they need just one more true big man instead of selecting Tayshaun Prince. The rest of the world will definitely test U.S.A.'s bigs and I know that China will try to be aggresive with Yao Ming and Yi
The team was assembled with the best available talent that wanted to show up. I dont care what anybody says, the USA still has the best players. A team with Bron, Kobe, CP3, DWade, Melo, TMac (he still a beast despite averaging 50 games a season), Timmy D, Amare, Dwight, JKidd, KG and DWilliams can be beat any squad assembled! Point blank! It cant happen, the problem is that people scared to go overseas and be embarrassed again! The '92 had the 11 best players in the league at the time, excluding Isaiah! Thats the big difference! We sending 3rd tier players and we calling them the best team! NO BET!! The year we send the absolute best will be the year we show the world we still dominate this sport and win by 40-50 a game, until then, the world gone have a chance 2 bring home that gold!! And as these kids say nowadays...thats REAL TALK!! lol
naw my brother, i think that the selection of Tayshaun Prince gives the U.S. that wirey defender that every team needs. And he is a glue guy, who doesn't have to have to have the ball to feel like he is contributing, ya feel me. but all your other points are very much so valid. i thinkthe U.S.is going to bring home the gold as well. peace and love
I'm feeling The Smith Report lil homie. Good start. Watch out Stephen A! LOL! Personally, I think this team should be able to capture the gold. The perimeter will have to hold us down though. Personally, I would have given spots to KG and The Big Fundamental. But, I think if we pressure the ball and deny post entry then we should be okay. In addition, if our post are solid defensively we should be okay because we are going to face skilled bigs and probably not dominant ones. I think Kobe and JKidd will have to lead this group. I am concerned that Lebron will be exposed seeing as though he struggles with his jumpshot. If I were Coack K, I would have him play the 4, which will create a mismatch for whoever they play and he wouldn't have to shoot from the perimeter as much. Lets get it!
Peace and Blessings
I defintiely agree with Wayne that the U.S. didn't send the best players over to the 2008 Olympic games. But this team that they have is pretty well balanced. Jerry Colangelo and Coach K wants a team that will play uptempo basketball with their guards and dominate the defensive end.Remember guards will always control the tempo of the game on both sides of the court.
Delvin, Tayshaun Prince is a good N.B.A. player, but I'm not sold on him being selected for the U.S. Olympic team. What can Prince provide for this team? Sure he's a good defensive player, but on the offensive end he struggles with his shot and he isn't able to create his own baskets. I would substitue Prince for a big man, like Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire has the aggresiveness and the warrior inside of him that will control the paint for the Olympic games. He's proven it last summer in the tournament of the Americas.
Brum45, the idea of LeBron James spending time at the 4 spot is possible. He and Carmelo Anthony are more than capable of creating matchup problems for opposing teams. This is why I believe that the U.S. didn't pick up another big man when selecting their team. Anthony and James can play inside and be effective, especially Carmelo Anthony
Waddup fellas....I feel everybody when it comes to Tayshaun, yes he is a glue guy, and yes he is a "good" NBA player, definitely not great, although he would ball the hell out of all of us. But the fact still remains that the reason he was even considered for the team is because nobody else wanted to play. You think he was on Jerry Colangelo's mind when he was put in charge?? I highly doubt that. Tayshaun is just a 3rd tier NBA player who happens to be an excellent team player and understands team concepts. Thats why he got chose, that and his 30ft armspan! But Tayshaun is a great add for this team, he just isn't KG, Timmy D or Amare! But hey, who is!!???
What you think about this????
Paul Pierce says he's the best player in the world
By J.E. Skeets
Finals MVP Paul Pierce, who recently spent three days at a ball camp in Madrid, is making, ahem, news about what he said to a Spanish reporter. The money translation, via RedsArmy: "Q: Is Kobe really the best player in the world? Pierce: I don't think Kobe is the best player. I'm the best player. There's a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don't cross that line but I have a lot of confidence in myself." Surprisingly, Spurs fans seem more upset by this than actual Lakers fans. (Update: OK, Lakers Nation is pretty upset, too.)
Hopefully Tayshaun Prince will prove why he was selected to the team, but I can only see him doing that on the defensive end. His wingspan and agility can disrupt some teams. Defense is what he can try and bring to this U.S. Olympic team.
Sanekt, we will definitely have a topic on who's the best player in the N.B.A. today. Be patient because I know this will have a lot of controversy
what up everyone. aye man no one ever said that Tayshaun was to be the leader of team u.s.a. i just said that he is needed when it comes down to someone who can stop someone on the defensive end. granted he can only score off of the ball in most cases, he still will make an impact. and i agree that STAT should have been on this team, but the kid didn't want to play. guess he didn't want to help his country win gold, but that is his lost. but we don't need him. we have the best thing to happen to the game since Larry Jordan's Lil brother. (MJ23 for those that don't know). we have the Black Mamba....
Post a Comment