<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">For three quarters the U.S. Men's Olympic Team (2-1) chased Australia (1-2) and still heading into the final 10 minutes the Americans trailed 67-65. Stepping up its defense, the U.S. reeled off 10 consecutive points to take control of the game and went on to outscore the Aussies 24-12 in the fourth quarter to earn an 89-79 victory Thursday afternoon in Athens. "For our team to be successful, we have to play hard on defense," said LeBron James after accounting for eight points and five assists in 18 minutes. "I told you that the other day when we lost, we didn't stop people and we didn't make shots. And then the other night against Greece we still didn't make shots, but we stopped them down the stretch. That's what this team is about, we stop people. We're the most athletic team in this whole tournament. We should be able to get out there and make some easy buckets." "The second half I thought we defended a lot better. They shot 60 percent in the first half and I thought they had a lot of open looks," U.S. head coach Larry Brown stated. "Again, like the Puerto Rico game, we had trouble keeping people in front of us on the perimeter and it got some people in foul trouble. In the second half we did much better job of keeping people in front and contesting shots. Like LeBron (James) said, we got out on the break. The most important thing is that we continue to struggle from the outside, but we got the ball inside better. Even though we talked about it every trip down the court, tonight was the first night I think we honestly did it when we really needed to.</div> Full Article | Box Score | Quotes Courtesy of USABasketball.com Seems as if we played another up-and-down game, with only a surge in the fourth to level it out. Glad to hear that the guys, and coach thinks we're leveling out to play more like a team, and that we are playing better defense. Allen managed to score 16 points on 6-11 shooting, and 3-5 from behind the arc. However, that was the only things, no rebounds, and a measly two assists, clearly not his best performance, but what matters is that we won, playing as a team. His finger still seems to be bothering him as he mentions it being sore on the quotes page. This could very well affect his passing game, and leading the ball. I did not see the game but think he took more the role of a scoring option this time than a lead guard according to his statisitcs, and just basing on the fact that he is injured.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting i3crossover:</div><div class="quote_post">Team USA is nothing wothout defense. That is y they lost to PR.</div>Yeah if we win a gold medal it'll only be because of great defense that shut down our opponent's perimeter game and forced them to play our game.
IT was a very entretaining close game that kept me in my seat the whole game. LeBron has been carrying the team with his hustle plays both on the court and on the bench and brings much enthusiasm and dtermination to this team as Iverson does too. Another good thing was that Allen showed us he can make the 3 and made over 50% of his 3 PT shots. As long as the forwards get plenty of rebounds I see no need of the smaller players(guards) to get those rebounds. 2 Assist is the only thing that disapointed me about Iversons game.
Agree. Those teams that may bring troubles to USA shoot very good percentage. It's clear that there's not time for USA players to practise there shooting skill now. The only way USA pass every game is to reduce the opponents' open shooting chances. Good deffence does work, and I really think that LB and every playa of the team understand these. So they're improving every day. I still believe they own the gold medal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sasha:</div><div class="quote_post"> Allen managed to score 16 points on 6-11 shooting, and 3-5 from behind the arc. However, that was the only things, no rebounds, and a measly two assists, clearly not his best performance, but what matters is that we won, playing as a team. </div> i don't know how they count assists in international ball, but i counted more than 2 for ivo. he also kept them in the game in the first half, and his shot selection was brilliant (apart from 1 running hook that hit air). his jumper looked smooth, no sign of that thumb causing him any trouble, either.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center"></div> One of the great scenes in the movie "Hoosiers" is the preseason pep rally where the boys from Hickory High are greeted with scorn by their fellow students because star Jimmy Chitwood is not on the team. Gene Hackman takes the microphone, reminds everyone that they should cheer for who is on their team, not who isn't, and then points out passionately: "This is your team." America, this is your team. And you know what? Our men's basketball team isn't half as bad or insufferable as many would have you believe ? including Team USA coach Larry Brown, the anti-Hackman, who would rather rail about deficiencies, no-shows and the flawed selection process than anything else. Thursday in Athens, the United States pushed its new Olympic win streak to two with a hard-fought 89-79 decision over Australia. Team USA's performance wasn't perfect and it never will be. But just as they did against the Greeks on Tuesday, when the game hit crunch time the Americans played tough, played together and played well. "We feel that we are capable of winning the gold medal and that's why we came here," said LeBron James, who scored eight points and continued to be Team USA's most spirited on-the-ball defender. Listening to the players, there is an "I think we can" attitude emerging from the rubble of self-doubt that followed the team's opening-game loss to Puerto Rico. These guys are coming together in a, dare we say, endearing way ? lots of towel waving on the bench, minimal finger pointing on the court. Of course, if you listen to talk radio in the States ? or to their own coach ? you hear about dumb, selfish, immature players. You hear about who isn't here, not who is. "That is something we can't change," said team USA forward Lamar Odom. "Only way we can change that is playing our best basketball, be competitive and represent where we come from well."</div> <div align="center">Full Story</div> Just like Sasha already pointed out the US are finally starting to gel together and play as a team, which is going to be the key, to determine our success in the Athens. If and only our players can co-exist and put their egos aside and play as a team we should do fairly well in the Olympics. Playing as a team has tons of benefits, it helps players communicate better on the offensive end as well as the defensive end, helps move the ball around so everyone can get their touches therefore nobody will complain and it also helps players know they?re role on the team and which they can be more effective. Perimeter shooter or not, if our chemistry is good we cannot be beaten. As for Allen Iverson performance in Athens, it?s been pretty good. He?s taking much better shots. When he?s in Philly he usually takes about 7-8 bad shots, so if you he can just take just maybe two of those bad shots and turn the others to assists, it will help him drastically as far as his FG% goes. But I?m little worry about this thumb. This is the same thumb he?s had problems with last season as well as Olympics Qualifying Round last year. Hopefully, that thumb will be at least 85% percent by the time the season beings. But nonetheless, he?s doing okay job with that broken thumb and just hopefully it will get better by the time the season beings because he?s going to be handling that ball all 48 minutes. And that thumb may possibly affect his shooting and passing game depending on how severely it?s still ailing. BTW, make sure you guys don?t miss today?s game: US vs. Lithuania at 1 PM EST on NBC This is going to be the US true competition, I?m anxious to see how they do.
