The Fundamentals

Trevor Smith of Hoops Addict:  “Measuring defensive prowess and success has long been a difficult thing to accurately project, particularly for individual players. Generally, we use dated measures such as: Opponent Field Goal Percentage, Opponent Points Per Game, Rebounding Rates and Turnovers Against.  While these all have their place, every dedicated fan knows that much of what makes a great defender cannot be expressed in pure numbers alone (something Hoops Addict’s Floor Burn Tournament is currently showing us). We all accept that Bruce Bowen is an all-world defender based on watching his tactfulness and tenaciousness first-hand, yet he is not one to lead the league in steals or blocks.”

Ball in Europe:  Fourteen European based basketball experts predict who will win the gold.  Don’t recognize any of the names?  Neither do I.  But Ball in Europe knows their hoops.

Fran Blinebury of The Houston Chronicle:  “When the NBA stars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Team USA square off against Yao Ming’s Chinese national team on Sunday, the event will create fireworks that could rival the display in the opening ceremony of the Olympics.  “I think close to 3 billion people are gonna be watching that game,” said forward Carmelo Anthony. That’s what they say. That’s what I hear. That’s a lot of people.  The atmosphere is gonna be crazy. We’re playing against the home team to open up the Olympics and I’m pretty sure it’s gonna be crazy and energetic in there. Everybody in that building is gonna be jumping. It’s the biggest game on the biggest stage in the world.””

Jennifer Floyd Engel of The Miami Herald:  “And now for the somewhat ironic twist, or at least ironic if you believe whispers, Team USA mastermind Jerry Colangelo wanted JKidd in Beijing to help meld this array of superstar All-Stars into a team.  The irony is he has been labeled a team killer in past incarnations and had been written off by a few as TBO, too bleeping old, after flailing post-trade deadline in Dallas.  “Maybe y’all have a problem in Dallas. I like to think so anyway,” Team USA assistant coach Mike D’Antoni said with a chuckle. “Get him in the open court, run, spread the floor, let him go. Let him create. Let him be Jason Kidd. He is one of the best at what he does.”"

The Association:  A warm and fuzzy photo of Team USA

At The Hive:  A break down of the most intriguing international matchups

Brian Hanley of The Chicago Sun-Times:  “He and the team have failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension since negotiations started last summer. Gordon turned down a five-year, $50 million offer from the Bulls last October. The team is believed now to have offered six years and approximately $60 million and do not want to go any higher because then they would be subject to the NBA’s luxury tax, a dollar-for-dollar penalty when the payroll exceeds the tax threshold of $71.15 million.  Deng’s deal was within the market set for forwards of his experience and potential.  The Bulls believe Gordon’s asking price is out of the market line for a 6-2 shooting guard and sixth man.”

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:  “With a most un-Jordanesque performance in the NBA Finals, Bryant sidestepped harsh criticism upon losing the championship to the Boston Celtics. This time, the odds are on his side. He’s surrounded with the American’s most complete and prepared team since Barcelona, and he knows well that should Team USA win, he’ll be hailed the hero. LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade were on site for that American debacle four years ago, but Bryant was nowhere near Athens. Here he comes now, a savior, the most redeemed of the Redeem Team.  As much as anything though, these Games promise to be a salvation for Bryant. This is a chance for him to undergo yet one more transformation in a chameleon career of reinvention.”

Marc Narducci of HoopsHype.com:  “As for Bryant and James, they are facing the same sort of criticism that Michael Jordan received while he was competing at the highest of levels in the NB A. Jordan wasn’t one to speak up on controversial issues.  And that brings up the age-old question – should athletes be expected to make a stand on social issues?  Some will suggest that athletes such as James and Bryant, who carry a large marketing portfolio, don’t want to incense advertisers by saying anything that could be perceived as controversial.  However, speaking out on genocide or other social evils should be appealing to many companies looking to market products.”

Blazer’s Edge:  A great recap of last night’s opening ceremonies