Loading ...Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: “After receiving warm welcomes from well-wishers in every place he visited in his two trips to Oklahoma since the Sonics’ relocation became official July 2, Carlesimo now believes the city’s passion will exceed even its surprising support for the Hornets. “This is different,” Carlesimo said. “This is our team.” But history says Carlesimo is correct in his assumption that more wins aren’t guaranteed. Of the past three NBA relocations, the Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets all enjoyed increased attendance after their respective moves from Kansas City, Vancouver and Charlotte. But the Hornets (three wins) and Kings (six wins) saw only minimal improvement in their win total. The Grizzlies finished with the same record. The Hornets drew nearly 200,000 more fans and 20 more wins than the previous season in 2005-06 when they played in Oklahoma City. But the win improvement stemmed more from a roster overhaul that included the addition of Chris Paul, the 2005-06 Rookie of the Year, and improved health than stability and fan support.”
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Bright Side Of The Sun: “I still contend that we shouldn’t judge NBA players based on their personal lives and I agree with Sir Charles that if you let your kids look up to professional athletes as role models then that’s on you. But Shaq is a $20m / year salary cap busting exception to all the rules. So let’s hear it all you Shaq Lovers about how he’s just misunderstood and boys will be boys. Maybe Shaq was just breathing heavy because he finished a workout so he would be in peak physical condition for the up-coming season. And while we’re at it, let’s see how all those self-righteous Phoenix fans react to this one. Can’t stand AI and Melo because they’re “thugs”? Never would trade for Kobe in a million years? Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson should be in prison? How are you all feeling about Superman right about now?”
Blazer’s Edge: “As soon as one player tried to dominate the game the team would fall apart, passing would fail, the opposing defense would key, and we’d see outside jumpers missed and run back for easy points, leading to a loss. On the other hand you have talent on that team for a reason. If no individual player is able to step forth and flourish, if giving up the rock is always the right play, then you end up losing because you never took full advantage of the players you put on the squad. You get to the end of the game and the analysis reads, “Kobe was never Kobe” or “We never saw the real LeBron for some reason”. As it turned out, the U.S. team did play a team game up until the point in the fourth when Kobe took the game over. When he did none of the other players vied with him for the position. It seems like they said, “In crunch time this is the guy, and we’re all going to be cool with that.” In reality this is just another variation of the unselfishness that Collins was talking about. Any of them could have been that guy, but all of them competing to would have led to disaster. The other guys–even LeBron–accepted the torch being passed to Kobe and said, “Down the stretch this team needs 100% of you more than it needs 20% of all of us.” We got the best of both worlds: a team game plus Kobe being Kobe.”
Mike Baldwin of The Oklahoman: “Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and a deep, talented roster of NBA All-Stars have dazzled. But Team USA also has benefited from a thorough, detailed approach. Branch and veteran NBA scout Todd Quinter spent the past two summers scouting opposing countries. Before the quarterfinal game against Australia, Branch and Quinter compiled a 37-page scouting report that was sent to coach Mike Krzyzewski. A similar report was sent to China before Team USA’s 101-81 semifinal win Friday over Argentina.”
Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic: “For Colangelo, it completed the trifecta, giving him a World Series championship, a spot in the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame and a gold-medal Olympic team. Sure, the game always is about the players. But Colangelo was the glue of the entire operation. He’s the one who changed the infrastructure of USA Basketball, demanded and received three-year commitments from the NBA’s best players and brought it all together. Listen to how these players respect him, all referring to him as Mr. Colangelo. As if they’re a little scared of him. There was a time in Sunday’s fourth quarter when Colangelo was so scared that he couldn’t bear to watch. He left his seat and took a short walk. But the team he built was just that, a team. And it saved its best for last. Surprisingly, instead of walking off into the sunset, Colangelo said he’ll likely remain in charge of USA Basketball for another Olympic run.”
Ira Winderman of The Miami Sun Sentinel: “Fine. Wade should be lauded for his Beijing effort. It has been outstanding. Yes, yes, yes, he’s back. But he can also be so much more than a player who gambles for steals, plays the passing lane, risks defensive position in bids for blocked shots. He can, to use Pat Riley’s parlance, be “rock solid” on defense. If he so chooses. Over six months and 82 games, it can’t be an all-the-time thing. But with the Heat lacking a definitive shot-blocker amid the rehabilitation of Alonzo Mourning, and without a Bowen- or Artest-like defensive stopper (although Shawn Marion could be that), Dwyane Wade could significantly boost the Heat by becoming a far more complete player than he has been to this point.”
Canis Hoopus: “The Redeemers, having their points off of turnovers edge effectively reduced to only six points for the entire game, played more in the half court. USA shot an excellent 60 percent overall, but more importantly hit 46 percent on 13 of 28 shooting from the three point line. Unlike Athens in 2004, they were able to make their opposition pay just enough for employing it’s zone, although it was only needed for this one game. Of all the head scratching that’s been done regarding why the USA shot so much from the outside–given their obvious athletic edge–this game explains it. Could they have won otherwise? Maybe. But, anything less than USA gold would have again sent reverberations around the world. The fact they outscored Spain today 39-24 from three point range, as well as a 16-2 edge in fast break points tells anyone wanting to listen that not only did this team play to its strength, they also improved on their weaknesses.”
Scott Ostler of The San Francisco Chronicle: “The executives, coaches and players of USA Basketball - the Olympic team - have been telling us for three years that this group of players would be different. It would be a team. The players would blend, respect one another, respect the coach, play hard for their country, not personal glory. They would not be a bunch of knuckleheads. The assurances sounded to skeptics like a slick sales pitch. Why should we believe? It had become apparent that while America produces the world’s greatest basketball players, those players treat the team concept with contempt and disdain. Now we can believe. For eight games, the U.S. walked the walk, passed the pass, set the pick, played the D and honored the game of Dr. James Naismith.”
Helene Elliott of The Los Angeles Times: “Their rugged, defense-be-damned, 118-107 victory over Spain came from the heart. It was built on Dwyane Wade’s 27 points, Chris Bosh’s team-high seven rebounds and the team’s 60% shooting efficiency. But it would not have been possible without Bryant’s spectacular 13-point effort in the fourth quarter. For that he credited Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who had urged him to set aside the caution he had adopted after he drew two personal fouls early in the first quarter. “He told me to let that mamba loose,” Bryant said, “and that’s what I was able to do.”"
Joanne C. Gerstner of The Detroit News: “Prince clearly was enthralled with his gold medal, constantly stealing looks at it and absent-mindedly touching it. He was asked how winning gold compared to winning the 2004 NBA title with the Pistons. “It’s a different feeling because you’re representing your country,” Prince said. “I think it’s even more special, having the Anthem played at the end when we’re standing on the stage. Those type of things don’t happen in the NBA when you win a championship. “What sets it apart is in the NBA, you’ve got your city, Detroit, and your family cheering for you. When you’re playing for the U.S., you’ve got everybody cheering for you. … This was great. I’m going to celebrate this. Soon enough, it’s time to go home and rejoin reality.”"
Matthew Sekeres of The Toronto Globe and Mail: “Bosh was not the star on the U.S. team. He wasn’t the high scorer, he didn’t get the ball in the clutch and he wasn’t asked to be his team’s focal point as he is on North American soil. But Bosh symbolized what the U.S. team was trying to achieve in Beijing, and why it was so successful in an undefeated Olympic tournament where only the Spanish came close - on their second try. The U.S. outfit may have been called the Redeem Team, but Bosh’s Olympic debut needed no redemption. He wants to play again in London in 2012, and if Krzyzewski is back, there’s no doubting Bosh will be there. “I know I can score the basketball, but that wasn’t my duty,” Bosh said. “I had to realize that as a basketball player and do everything I could to affect the game some way.”"
