Team USA hasn’t redeemed themselves yet. But they enacted revenge against a Greece team that defeated them two years ago in the World Championships. Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh led the team in scoring. And Dwayne Wade wreaked havoc offensive and defensively in a 92-69 victory.
Wade shot 6-of-9 from the field and grabbed 5 rebounds. LeBron James scored 13 points on 6-of-12 from the field, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out a team-high 6 assists.
The United States rebounded from three subpar three-point shooting games to knock down 7 of their 20 attempts from beyond the arc. Bryant and Carmelo Anthony led the way with a combined 4-of-9 performance from long distance.
But the story of the game was Team USA’s defense. And once again, Dwayne Wade and LeBron James led the way. Wade was everywhere. Picking Greece’s pockets, intercepting passes, and playing ferocious on-ball defense. James anchored the United States’ inside and recorded a game-high 3 blocked shots.
Gone was the uncertainty with which to defend the pick-and-roll. Coach K and his coaching staff implemented a brilliant game plan and the United States executed it with precision. When the screener was defended by Dwight Howard, Howard hedged and recovered. When the screener was defended by Chis Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, or LeBron James, those defenders switched and jumped the ball handler before he could get an open look or turn the corner. On a three defensive possession sequence to close the second half, Bosh forced two steals and a blocked shot on Greece’s highly touted guard tandem of Dimitris Diamantidis and Vasileios Spanoulis.
The Greek team never recovered. Knowing that their pick-and-roll offense was stymied, Greece resorted to a dribble weave offense behind the three-point line that the United States also switched.
Up next for Team USA is a matchup with Spain. As good as Greece was reported to be, Spain presents an entirely different challenge. Spanoulis was an NBA calibert point guard but couldn’t get off the bench in Houston. Jose Calderon runs the show for Spain, and he should have made the All-Star team for the Toronto Raptors last season. Team USA forced 25 turnovers against Greece, but they’ll be hard-pressed to duplicate that number against Spain’s backcourt, despite possessing what Jason Kidd insists is the “greatest defense ever assembled.”
Asked to expand upon that belief, Jason Kidd simply replied “LeBron James.” And that may be one of the biggest surprises of this tournament. James is a capable defender in the NBA but isn’t always allowed to expend energy defensively with the Cavaliers. Another reason for James’ apparent improvement on that side of the ball is the amount of minutes he’s spent at the power forward position. In fact, Team USA’s best lineup thus far, has consisted of Chris Paul at point guard, Dwayne Wade at shooting guard, Kobe Bryant at small forward, LeBron James at power forward, and Chris Bosh at center.
Defending from the power forward position, James can see the entire floor and has been credited with barking out instructions to his teammates. At 6-9, 260 pounds, he has the size to bang down low and the agility and leaping ability to make up a lot of ground on rotations while contesting shots. Offensively, he’s been able to corral rebounds and get out on the break ala Charles Barkley. Playing down low also allows James to operate behind the defense. On one possession in the second half, James caught the ball at the free throw line, broke his man down off the dribble and dropped a gorgeous pass to Chris Bosh. It seems preposterous to have a player with James’ skills doing what many consider to be the dirty work. But LeBron makes it look pretty.
Coach Krzyzewski has to thrilled about how the US responded in it’s first big test since regrouping in last summer’s FIBA games.
Redemption is right around the corner, it’s time to put the pedal to the floor.
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
August 14th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
All,
You’ve probably read at least twenty recaps by now. Sorry it took me so long to get mine up. My PC has been on the fritz today, but I think I’ve got it fixed.
Cheers to an awe-inspiring performance from Team USA.
I couldn’t be any happier with their play.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Yes, today was very encouraging. They played tough, with a lot of emotion, and they just outhustled the Greeks. I was very impressed with the not only the defense, but the unselfishness. The team chemistry is excellent. I don’t think these guys will LET anyone win the Gold – the defense is just too tough.
Go USA!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Tsunami,
I’m psyched too. But Spain is going to be tough. And let’s not forget Argentina. Ginobili is reportedly healthy.
Looking forward to Saturday…
August 14th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Usually I’m the last one with a game analysis up, but I wanted to get mine out there early today for some reason. I was REALLY excited both to see this game, and to see it go as it did.
Greece knew we would stay man to man on defense if we could, and they knew we have been obsessed with learning to defend the pick and roll, so they tried to play one step ahead of us and pick off the ball and pass to a cutting big, or create a mismatch, depending on how USA played the picks.
Bosh was so important in thwarting them.
Good work on identifying our strongest 5. I’ve been wondering that myself and I think you nailed it: Paul, Wade, Bryant, James, Bosh… but Williams hasn’t been a slouch either.
I don’t think the 2nd quarter broke open until Paul, Wade, Bryant, James and Bosh started creating turnovers and running.
I didn’t worry too much about USA’s outside shooting (just a little), I was confident it would be adequate.
USA’s outside shooting will matter more against Spain, as the USA will be out rebounded and have less chances to run. The floor will need to be spread for SLASHERS to score, not post up scoring. Bryant, Wade, Paul, Williams, and James are all built to slip into the seams of interior defense and get to the foul line while scoring.
I also wonder if Tayshaun will be more needed to spell Kobe so as to keep the perimeter ineffective so that the remaining Yanks can clog the paint and help each other with Spain’s Bigs.
Michael Redd’s dead eye may be needed as well to spread the floor.
Dwight Howard should be well rested for Spain. Boozer too.
Interestingly, if I understand correctly, it looks like the US will play Spain TWICE before all is said and done.
Knowing that, I’ll be especially nervous if the first game against Spain is close, ’cause that means it is more likely Spain is able to beat the US in the gold medal round.
Thankfully, TeamUSA is all healthy.
Dwight especially worried me.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Spain will be tough…Im glad we are in the same GROUP as them so we can get a feel for their game before its medal time…
August 15th, 2008 at 6:04 am
“And let’s not forget Argentina. Ginobili is reportedly healthy.”
Brandon Hoffman, don’t forget that Argentina is not the leader in Group A. Ginobili, Scola and Co. were beaten by another company.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
BasketSLAVE,
Welcome.
That’s why it’s important that the United States defeat Spain tomorrow. If the US wins, they will be the #1 seed and Spain will have to defeat Argentina to get to the gold medal game.
I’m always leery of a team with Manu Ginobili on it. His will to win is incredible.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Basketballogy,
I noticed Greece’s off the ball backscreens. They were successful with them too. I bet we’ll see more of that against Spain.
If I remember right, Michael Redd didn’t get off the bench in the first half. Which was surprising.
I don’t think we’re going to see Spain’s coach play his hand tomorrow. ESPN talked about this today, but Spain has been going with a lot of “junk” lineups to throw other teams off in their preparation.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:04 am
USA in semifinal will play with Argentina. It will be a great show!