USA Basketball Continues to March Down Redemption Road

August 15, 2008

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

BEIJING - The United States stopped the pick-and-rolls, and just about everything else, to beat Greece 92-69 Thursday at the Beijing Olympics. These Americans that looked so lost two years ago appear to have found their Olympic defensive way. Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to win big.

Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh each scored 18 points for the United States (3-0), which clinched a spot in the medal round and moves on to a match up of Group B unbeatens Saturday against world champion Spain. The winner will earn the group’s top seed for the quarterfinals.

Dwyane Wade added 17 points and LeBron James scored 13.

Greece stunned the Americans two years ago in the semifinals of the world championships, shredding the U.S. defense for 63 percent shooting with clinical execution of its pick-and-roll offense in a 101-95 victory.

This time, the Americans had an answer for everything, using a suffocating defense to extend a seven-point lead into a 19-point cushion in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the first half.

Theo Papaloukas scored 15 points for Greece, which found things easy against the Americans two years ago but not this time. The Greeks had 26 field goals but committed 25 turnovers.

Here is ESPN’s Ric Bucher giving an in depth analysis surrounding Team USA’s huge win over Greece, as well as their overall performance up until this point both as individual players, and more importantly - a team.

Team USA faces Pau Gasol and the rest of Spain Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m. This match up should be a lot of fun to watch, but if the American’s play like they have been this contest, just like all the others so far in Beijing, will be a one sided victory for the good guys - USA.

It is however important to note that Gasol sn’t the only NBA talent on Spain’s roster. In fact there are three other NBA players — Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors, Juan Carlos Navarro of the Memphis Grizzlies and Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trail Blazers. All of whom are currently on their respective teams roster.