Tim Shea's International Basketball BO-log
They are really back! The USA/NBA team, after so many recent disappointments (for all) is back! Sometimes you wish and hope for things and sometimes what you wish for really comes true. Happy endings. The final score being 116 to 85.
As the Aussies were being put away (showing some bad court manners when they knew that the games final result was a closed issue) the NBA guys let them off, let it go, turned the other cheek and moved on... concentrated... on a mission. LeBron heading the group. Special mention to Tayshaun Prince. A class act by everyone. Good stuff and damm good to see professionals handling themselves like professionals. No one can beat this team, not now and not ever.
With this frame of mind, this aggressive mentality, humility, group spirit and intelligence the Dream Team of the Barcelona Olympics would be in serious trouble. Much more than a so called Redeem Team it is The Complete Team. Jamaica's Usain Bolt has nothing over them. (Well maybe a little). Barring some authentic miracle they are Gold Medal winners for a Gold Medal job well done. Thanks to Jerry Colangelo and Co. Thanks to USA basketball for staying the course and showing the way back.
The Dude says "Nice to see you again".
In the other matches, Spain easily eliminates a Croatian team that was living
on borrowed time. Crotaia, well organized and talented but suffering the same
historical weakness, (Trouble bending their knees on D). For Spain, the highlights
being; evenly distributed minutes, the reaparition of Carlos Jimenez and Pau
Gasol leading the scorers and showing his class. Special mention goes to Ricky
Rubio; playing like a (17 year old) veteran.
You guys... Making the Dudes day.
Lithuania disposes of a China team that has consistently experienced difficulties with basketball court balance and breaking (any) pressure defenses; composure and shooting talent being the weapons of choice for the Green side.
Greece against Argentina was the match of the day with the Argentianians squeezing out a victory after a tooth and nail scratching battle where Ginobilli and Delfino carry the weight while Luis Scola and Noccioni do the do;.
Semifinalists. It will be USA against Argentina and Spain versus Lithuania. Folks? It doesn't get much better than this. The Americans will dominate the defensive end and do away with our S. American neighbors. Argentina will not go quietly into the night. Count on that.
The game of the day will be Spain - Lithuania. The two teams having met in pre-Olympic tournaments in Spain where Spain came away with victories. Howisandever, this veteran team is an excellent group when the pressure is on or when there are medals to be won. Spain is favored but they will (and they know it) have a hard time bringing down their classic European rivals lead by Sarunas Jasikevicius. By way of example, recently (August 9) Lithuania eliminates Spain from the Under 20 European Gold medal game.
As the Olympics go on to their finals, on other fronts the International player
market is active and includes the much written about the exodus of lower to
mid salaried players leaving the NBA and emigrating to Europe. The Dude wonders
how some Americans will adapt to the new life surroundings. In addition, the
International Coaching methodologies and styles being so different from the
NBA norm.
The Childress or Jennings cases not being the same as Brezec or Delfino. The
game is the same but... oh! la la so different!
Finally, a note about the overall changes we are seeing in FIBA based basketball. What was once a continuous infraction and where the American teams were trapped was the broad interpretation of what constitutes "travelling" with the ball either in reception or possession. No more! FIBA and NBA are ever so much closer to unifying criteria. What was once a cavalcade of referee whistles has now become a fluid, spectacular show where the basketball players are the focal point. This is good.
Now let's talk about this Pick and Roll craze sweeping the world.
Dude says, The Show must go on.
For more than thirty years Tim Shea has been involved in basketball, first as a player, then a coach at the highest level in Italy, Spain and Portugal and later the International Director of Scouting for the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and most recently the Charlotte Bobcats. Tim is based in Lugo, Spain and gives us his unique insight into the International Basketball scene with his BO-Log (Brooklyn Outlaw log).
(This is an opinion based blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of NBADraft.net)
