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Blogtable: On LeBron’s Hot Streak …

February 13, 2013  ·  10:45AM

Each week, we’ll ask our stable of scribes to weigh in on the three most important NBA topics of the day — and then give you a chance to step on the scale, too, in the comments below.

Week 16: All-time favorite Dunk Contest dunk? | On LeBron’s hot streak … | Winning it all without a star

What can LeBron possibly do better than what’s he doing right now? And this hot streak he’s on: Remember one as hot?

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Steve Aschburner: I suppose James could regularly guard five positions rather than just four; we’ve seen scant minutes logged against centers, after all. I guess he could dazzle us with more stylish, less brawny off-the-dribble moves. But c’mon, this truly is nitpicking. He’s the best player in the league by a wide margin, as good as Kevin Durant is. As for the second part, please child! We live in an insta-age, where everything important presumably either happened three hours ago or won’t happen until tomorrow. I’ll just offer up this: Wilt Chamberlain averaged more than 50 points a game in 1961-62. From Dec. 8-13, 1961, he strung together five consecutive games of 50 or more. On Dec. 16, he started a new streak of seven games over 50. Two weeks after that, Chamberlain stacked up six more scoring at least 50, from Jan. 11-19. Then he put together another five-gamer from Feb. 25-March 4 of at least 58, including his 100-point classic. My work here is done.

Fran Blinebury: Come on, LeBron. I want the hot dogs plumper, the popcorn butterier, the beer colder and somebody to pat my back and burp me between quarters. See what you can do. My first season in Houston (1982), Moses Malone went on a similar tear where he was virtually unstoppable, making 30 points and shooting 60 percent seem routine. It produced the second of Moses’ 3 MVP awards.

Jeff Caplan: First, let me say, no, I can’t recall any streak by any player quite like this. It’s elevated LeBron’s field-goal percentage to a ridiculous 56.2, the kind of number that centers who mostly only dunk rarely even put up. But, let’s tackle the more pressing issue: Hey LeBron, how about learning how to shoot free throws, will ya? I mean 73.8 percent? You wouldn’t be shooting technicals on my squad, no sir. Not that you’ve ever been a great free throw shooter like, um, Kevin Durant, but you haven’t shot them this poorly since 2007-08 when you couldn’t ride your bicycle to home games because it’s too freaking cold in Cleveland. And let’s not stop at your free throw percentage, how about just getting to the line? What’s up with 6.9 attempts a game? Seriously? What happened to 10.1 like in 2009-10 or 9.4 the year before or, heck, 8.1 last season? And you call yourself an all-around talent. Hmph.

Scott Howard-Cooper: He is blowing it by not playing the lottery. Anyone in this kind of hot streak has to play the lottery, unless maybe he just does not aspire to be wealthy. The other thing he can do better is make free throws. He is a good shooter, except from the line. (You said to nitpick.) And while I join the rest of the world in being impressed with the streak, there have been no shortage of magical playoff runs through the years. I’ll take Michael Jordan in a couple of the early Bulls title runs or Magic Johnson in the mid-80s. An extended hot streak in the postseason is on a different plateau than a hot streak in the regular season.

John Schuhmann: I guess, as a team leader, he could do a better job of keeping the Heat focused on defense. They’re still not very consistent on that end of the floor. But yeah, that’s nitpicking. And no, I can’t remember anything like this. That time (in the middle of the 2005-06 season) when Kobe Bryant scored 40-plus in five straight games was somewhat comparable. He only shot 45 percent in that stretch, but he was shooting more from the perimeter.

Sekou Smith: Really? We’re going here in the midst of one of LeBron’s all-time great stretches? I guess he could shoot 90 percent from the floor every night for a week or two, average a quadruple double and drive the Heat’s first bus to the airport after road games. Seriously, LeBron is playing on another level right now, even by his own ridiculous standards. But this has been done before, at least in some form or fashion. Wilt Chamberlain played in this realm on a daily basis. And Oscar Robertson did average a triple double for about five straight seasons. And Michael Jordan had stretches throughout his career where he reached this sort of statistical craziness. I go back to Jordan’s 1988-89 season (I know I’m dating myself here) from March 25 to April 14 and he had a 10-game stretch where he was playing like he was in “Space Jam”; triple-doubles in 10 of 11 games. Preposterous!

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U.S.-Australia Game Blog!

August 8, 2012  ·  4:51PM

LONDON – In the interest of fair play and a drama-free evening here at North Greenwich Arena, we’re going to have both the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team and Australia sign a petition to stick to basketball and leave the rabbit punching to others.

After yet another sucker-punching incident at the end of the Spain-France game involving Nicolas Batum’s right hand and Juan Carlos Navarro‘s groin area, we’ve officially seen enough of the below the belt antics. Play ball folks.  Chris Paul and Facundo Campazzo kicked things off Monday night.

But there is Olympic gold (silver and bronze, too) on the line gentlemen. It’s time to cut out the flopping, the foolishness and the fisticuffs and just play ball. Kevin Durant and Patty Mills, two of the hottest scorers in the field, would appreciate it kindly.

We can do without the silly stuff. The winner of this U.S.-Australia game has a date with Argentina waiting on them.

We’re following every bounce of tonight’s final quarterfinal game (with our nearly every) play-by-play. Game tips off in 25 minutes. So get your predictions in now if you want them on the record …

– FOURTH QUARTER –

0.0: 119-86. See you Friday night. Maybe there will be a bit more suspense then … maybe not!

1:26: James Harden batting clean up tight, with seven points in the last 70 seconds. 117-84.

2:07: The U.S. is still firing, Andre Iguodala for 3. 112-84.

3:52: Okay, fun is over. Kobe finally misses one. But the damage has been done. He was scoreless at halftime and goes to the bench with 20. LeBron has a triple-double (what USA Basketball officials believe to be the first in Olympic history) and the U.S. is headed for a rematch with Argentina in the semifinals. The Boomers are going home. 107-80.

4:13: LeBron with the behind-the-back pass to Love for a dunk and the runaway. 107-80.

4:33: And again, for good measure. 105-80.

4:53: On the pull-up 3 now  just to show off. 102-90.

5:10: Kobe for 3. 99-80.

5:48: LeBron finds Kobe on the right wing for a deep 3 and a 96-78 lead.

6:16: K. Love with a little big boy basketball under the rim. Gets a rebound, fouled and goes to the line for two. But not before getting a standing ovation from the bench for his hard work. 93-78.

7:49: LeBron in one corner turns and flings a one-handed dart to D. Will in the opposite corner and he swishes a 3. 90-75 just like that. LeBron erases so many of the U.S. deficiencies on both ends of the floor it’s not even funny.

8:32: David Barlow for 3 after an Andersen layup over Durant. 87-75.

9:16: CP3 with the step back 3. 87-70.

– THIRD QUARTER –

0.0: Wasn’t a particularly sharp 10 minutes for the U.S. But when you can lean on LeBron, Durant and even that Kobe fella, it’s tough to give up too much. 84-70.

22.1: ‘Melo converts the layup but misses the free throw off of a steal and break. 84-70.

1:02: One member of the U.S. press contingent (he shall remain nameless) insists that this team is primed for an upset but admits that he’s not sure there is a team left in this competition capable of pulling it off. Australia has the heart but not the horses. Doesn’t trust Spain or Argentina. “Russia might be the only team that can do it. And they have to get there first.”

1:11: Baynes comes back with an oop of his own. 80-68.

1:23: Durant on the drive and dunk. 80-66.

1:44: We’re back to LeBron just having his way with these poor bigs assigned to try to guard him. It’s not a fair fight when the U.S. spreads the floor and he attacks like this. Too easy. (lane violation on his second free throw) 78-66.

2:19: ‘Melo scores from 3-land on a tipped LeBron pass to the corner. 77-66.

2:48: Unsportsmanlike foul on Westbrook and he didn’t even swing on anybody below the belt. 77-66.

3:07: Matt Dellavedova with a layup off of the feed from Mills. 74-64.

3;30: Mills comes right back with a driving layup. 74-62.

3:38: ‘Melo at the line, the U.S. has calmed things back down a bit now. 74-60.

4:12: LeBron rebounds the Kobe miss from 3 finishes with the baseline layup. But misses the free throw after being fouled. 72-58.

4:37: Steal and another corner 3 from Kobe, 70-58.

4:53: Kobe for 3. 67-58.

5:30: LeBron sinks the first of two free throws, 64-58. But the U.S. needs the second unit to crank things up in here. They need a spark.

5:59: Andersen scores over Durant (3 fouls) in the post. 63-58. The U.S. yawned at the start of this quarter and now they are in a fight. 63-58.

6:39: Kobe sinks two free throws for a 63-56 lead.

7:27: Bryant shuts me up with a nice dime to Chandler for the dunk. 61-53.

7:42: Kobe steps on the line after he and Chandler go after a rebound and he snags it. This isn’t one of his finer performances. He was scoreless in the first half (0-for-4 with two turnovers and struggled to stay in front of anyone). He knows he’s struggling right now. He’ll crank it up, you watch.

8:01: Durant corner 3 to calm things down. 59-53.

8:23: Ingles with another 3. An 11-0 Boomers run and now we get what we were expecting. 56-53 just like tat.

9:11: Ingles sinks the 3. 56-50. We’ve got a game folks.

9:41: Mills with the steal and layup. 56-47 after five quick points from the Boomers’ best player.

A little Kiss Cam (and Prince on the loud speakers) for the second half warm up music. The U.S. is shooting 7-for-21 from deep right now, giving them 83 made 3-pointers and counting in this competition.

– HALFTIME –

The Red Foxes (Ukrainian dace team) didn’t make the move from the Big White Marshmallow to this new venue. There are some very disappointed members of the crowd who had grown fond of our usual halftime entertainment. I’m partial to the Heat Dancers myself. Someone send me a picture …

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Posted in London 2012 / Comments (35) /

Russia And Spain Into The Semifinals

August 8, 2012  ·  2:43PM

LONDON – Russia and Spain will square off in one Olympic semifinal, both of them having survived in quarterfinal action North Greenwich Arena Wednesday.

Russia survived a late Lithuania rally and held on for an 83-74 win behind Andrei Kirilenko‘s 19 points and 13 rebounds and some clutch shooting late from captain Sergey Monya. They led five players in double digits for Russia, which finished first in pool play from Group B.

“Sergey Monya, our captain, is the face of everything we do, the face of Russia,” said Russia’s coach David Blatt. “He has played in every game for Russia in the seven years I have been with the team. He came up the biggest at the right time. He made the two biggest shots of the game and maybe of our career together.”

Spain had to survive France and some late-game licks to advance. They closed the game on a 12-2 run and won 66-59 to set up Friday’s semifinal matchup against Russia.

Nicolas Batum took a nasty swing at Juan Carlos Navarro, balling up his fist and swinging below the belt with 24 seconds to play. His frustration boiled over after his team’s inability to finish with a flourish, the loss itself and Spain’s “flopping” as France exited the competition before the medal round.

It was the second or third such incident of the competition, with Chris Paul of the U.S. and Facundo Campazzo of Argentina both taking swings (or at least Paul was accused of taking one) during their last pool play game Monday night.

“I just wanted to give him a good reason to flop,” an unapologetic Batum said after the game. He was called for an unsportmanlike foul but wasn’t ejected from the game. And as players from both sides shook hands, Batum was in the middle of the mix without incident.

He objected to Spain’s tactics afterwards, though, insisting that he Spaniards resorted to acting late with the game on the line.

“That’s not basketball,” he said, haven taken particular offense to the reaction of Rudy Fernandez after he was fouled by Ronny Turiaf in front of the scorer’s table moments earlier. “Sometimes, you have to give them a good reason to flop. And I hope I did.”

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Posted in London 2012 / Comments (59) /

Parker, France Win Battle Of Spurs Stars

July 31, 2012  ·  5:11PM

LONDON – The first ever matchup between San Antonio Spurs teammates Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in a FIBA or Olympic competition lived up to the hype.

And when it was over Parker and France had scored the first legitimate upset of this Olympic competition with a 71-64 win over Ginobili and Argentina Tuesday night at the Olympic Basketball Arena.

Parker was the catalyst for his team, finishing with 17 points, despite a 4-for-17 shooting effort, and five assists in the battle for bragging rights between these two NBA champions and All-Stars. Parker had plenty of help as France bounced back from Sunday’s 27-point loss to the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team.

Nicolas Batum was hot early and late, draining three of his six shots from beyond the 3-point line, and finishing his night with 14 points, seven rebounds and three assists. France finished the game without both Ronny Turiaf (13 points and six rebounds) and Boris Diaw, they fouled on in a six-second span in the fourth quarter when the game was still in the balance. Nando de Colo (13 points) and Kevin Seraphin (10 points and six rebounds) played huge minutes off of the bench for the winners as well.

France played the game at the pace they preferred for much of the night, hoisting 25 shots from beyond the 3-point line (and making nine) and led by as many as nine points.

Still, they had to hold off the relentless Ginobili and his crew. Ginobili led Argentina with 26 points and five rebounds. But Luis Scola was the only other player on the roster to score in double figures (16 points and eight rebounds).

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Posted in London 2012 / Comments (2) /

Coach K Locks In On The Performance

July 30, 2012  ·  9:32PM

LONDON – One set of eyes might gaze at the Olympic game schedule for Tuesday and see a hopeless underdog facing the age-old behemoth of international basketball and declare the matchup between Tunisia and the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team over before it starts.

U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski looks at the same schedule and sees no such thing. He has too much respect for the other competitors in the Summer Games and for the game to treat either one with that sort of disrespect.

Krzyzewski sees only opportunity in Tuesday’s night’s game against the African champions, another chance for his team to perform on a stage that demands their very best.

Clearly, Tunisia is not nearly as accomplished as many of the other teams here. But that doesn’t diminish the focus or preparation the U.S. Team uses to get ready for this game.

“It’s not awkward at all,” Krzyzewski said. “You have a performance to give, are you doing it on a Wednesday matinée or a Saturday night? It’s not who you are playing. You should never judge how you’re going to perform on who you’re potentially going to play against. You are a person performing, your team is performing. How do you do it? You never want to get in the habit of just getting by, because eventually, you don’t get by. So our goal is to make sure play hard, have good habits and we’re as sharp as we can be.”

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U.S. Unfazed By Weight Of Expectations

July 30, 2012  ·  6:47AM

LONDON – Based strictly on the tone of the questions lobbed their way in the aftermath of their blowout win over France in their Olympic opener Sunday, you’d have thought the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team squeezed out a win on a last second shot in overtime instead of rolling by 27 points.

Such is the weight of expectations, their own and everyone else’s, especially those who remember the men in the USA uniforms that came 20 years before them.

A 22-21 lead after one quarter was cause for concern by some, but not the U.S. Team.

“That’s not how we operate,” LeBron James said. “That’s what you all [the media] do.”

James said he will make sure his team remains unfazed by anyone else’s expectation of what this team can or should do. Instead, they will remain locked and loaded on whatever the task at hand is and not pay any attention to what comes beyond.

That attitude is what made it so easy for the U.S. to shift into another gear against France after struggling to pull away early.

“We can take it to another level,” Kevin Durant said. “I know we can. We were sloppy and probably a little too aggressive [against France], we got into silly foul trouble and that slowed us down a little bit. But we can play better than we did, much better.”

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Durant, U.S. Rout France 98-71 In Opener

July 29, 2012  ·  1:35PM

LONDON – Those post-game hugs they got from First Lady Michelle Obama were well-earned.

Those post-game embraces from the First Lady brought more excitement from the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team than anything France did here Sunday at the Olympic basketball stadium.

The opener for both teams was supposed to provide a test for the gold medal favorites, and for all of about 10 minutes that theory seemed to be intact. But the U.S. Team cranked up after taking a 22-21 first quarter lead and toyed with France before finishing off their rout 98-71 in Group A preliminary round matchup.

Kevin Durant led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes of action, topping or tying for the top spot all three categories. LeBron James dictated the action without pressing to score too much, finishing with nine points and a game-high eight of the U.S. Team’s 27 assists. And Kevin Love came off the bench and bettered that efficiency with 14 points (on 5-for-8 shooting) in his 14 minutes and 18 seconds of action.

As good as they were after shaking off an 0-for-6 shooting start from beyond the 3-point line and their own sloppy play, France clearly wasn’t capable of pressuring the U.S. the way some believed they would with Tony Parker leading a team with eight other players with NBA experience wearing blue.

“They are going to be very, very tough to beat,” Parker said afterwards, stopping short of calling the U.S. unbeatable one game into the competition despite watching the U.S. lead balloon to as many as 29 points during one stretch.

Durant said the goal was simply to establish themselves and get into a flow for what they know will be a tougher grind as the days go by. The U.S. returns to action Tuesday night against Tunisia.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to discuss and dissect from this game. For one, the U.S. let their aggressive tendencies on defense get them into foul trouble. They piled up all of those assists but also cost themselves at times by trying a little too hard to make the extra pass, if there is such a thing.

“Yes it is,” Durant said. “And sometimes we do that. But that’s the beauty of this team. Guys don’t mind passing the ball, don’t mind sacrificing minutes and shots. That’s what makes this whole thing work.”

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U.S. Vs France: Game Blog!

July 29, 2012  ·  8:32AM

LONDON – All that chatter about battling the original Dream Team will have to wait now that the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team has more pressing matters at hand.

France awaits this morning in the Olympic opener for both teams. And there is no shortage of confidence from that side, as they and every other team here goes into the competition with two things on the brain: earning a medal and springing the upset over the favored U.S. team.

“For us there is no fear factor because we play against them all the time,” Spurs All-Star and France captain Tony Parker said. “We know they are really, really good. But it’s not going to be like the other teams where they don’t see them and it’s like, ‘Oh, wow, I’m playing against Kobe [Bryant] and LeBron [James].’”

After winning gold in Beijing and seeing the development of some of the other teams in the field, there are 12 teams overall, this is exactly the sort of attitude U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski expected to see after the “Redeem Team” took home the top prize four years ago.

“The overall 12 teams are more talented, more seasoned. Spain is just in the prime of their — 28, 29 (years of age),” he said. “Brazil is in that wheelhouse. I think Russia’s really, really good. Obviously Argentina, everyone says they’re older but their heart and talent has not gotten older, It’s just gotten better. There’s just more teams that feel that they have a chance to win the gold medal – and medal – than they did in ’08.”

James is certain that will bring out the best in his crew.

“We’re here to win the gold,” he said. “Everybody expects us to win and that’s what we’re here to do.”

Let the games begin!

– FINAL –

USA 98, FRANCE 71

Well-earned hugs from the First Lady as the team exits the floor.

– FOURTH QUARTER –

0.0: 98-71 U.s. routs France in a game that was supposed to be much closer than this. The tone-setter the U.S. was looking for is complete. They played well basically everywhere and struggled in the two categories that always worry about, 3-point and free throw shooting. Yet, they made enough of them when it mattered and rang up 98 points in the process.

2:32: Not sure what else anyone needs to see from the U.S. right now. They’re cruising in this one (up 93-65) and never really had to sweat it. France has been the big disappointment. They’re talking about being a medal team … but I’ll need to see better than this effort to believe that one.

4:54: Davis catches the nice oop from D. Will for the 87-62 lead.

5:09: de Colo finally hits one, a deep and uncontested 3-pointer. The white shirts are up 85-62 and the U.S. really isn’t pushing as hard as they could.

6:24: Coach K is getting his Harry Potter on right now with these lineups. He’s got CP3 and D. will out there together with Davis, Harden and Igoudala. #getyourwizardon

7:06: Anthony Davis getting a little burn here. Great game to get him some work in. France isn’t great down there. But they have physical bigs that will give him a nice simulation of what’s to come.

8;42: This is the lineup that really makes the U.S. fun to watch. Harden and Westbrook in the backcourt, Love, Durant and Iguodala up front and de Colo still looks completely out of place. He’s gonna have to get some good junk time minutes in here to make me a believer.

– THIRD QUARTER –

0.0: Love with a putback on a D. Will miss finishess off the third at 78-51. I was expecting much more of a challenge from France. But they are clearly no math for the U.S. They just don’t have another gear.

1:49: Parker picks up his third foul with the U.S. up 71-51. Better get him a break right now and keep him away from that fourth or this thing gets super ugly in the fourth without him on the floor.

2:14: Love is having a nice game, even though he’s getting pushed around a bit on the defensive end.

3:55: France still chasing, down 66-48. Just don’t see an extra gear out of them right now. Seraphin has been a bit of a revelation, though. Don’t get to see a whole lot of him in the NBA. But he’s looking good today. Huge and showing a nice shooting touch and some post moves you might not have known he had.

4:41: LeBron goes airborne for the oop and the 64-43 lead. He’s putting on an all-around show. Durant has no doubt been the best scorer on the floor today. But LeBron is far and away the best all around player here. Seriously, it’s not even close.

5:22: We’ve been sitting here in the press area debating Diaw and what sort of venom he might get from U.S. fans if he was a homegrown product with all of his skills who is never in shape. He gets a huge free pass in that department.

7:23: Chandler really is the ideal big for the international game in that he’s a fantastic defender and shot blocker (two very different things) and he doesn’t need the ball to get going, but can also be lethal in the pick and roll if he’s finishing at or near the rim.

8:49: Kobe knocks down the ol’ “anythign you can do I can do better” 3-pointer to push the lead to 58-38.

9:21: Durant drains another 3-pointer for a 55-36 lead.

10:00: Not trying to be funny, but halftime felt like it lasted an hour. Finally, we get the game back.

– SECOND QUARTER –

0.0: Harden misses yet another 3 but the U.S. has firm control of this one up 52-36 at halftime.

45.8: Two FTs from Durant after he was fouled on a wicked behind-the-back pass on the break from D. Will. 52-36 and climbign since France can’t seem to hang on to the ball.

1:24: LeBron’s dunk on a sweet feed from Harden makes it 50-36. They’re making it look easy right now.

2:26: Another corner 3 for Durant off of a textbook screen from Lovemakes it 48-33. Durant is s such a versatile player. He can go of the dribble or he can spot up, can play inside and out (depending on the opponent) and shoots it as well as anyone in this competition.

3:40: Love does the same exact thing, park at the line and wait on a feed from LeBron, on the break and the leads stretches to 43-28.

4:21: Thank you, Durant knocks one down a nice feed from LeBron. Love follows that with a putback for a 40-28 USA lead.

4:50: The U.S. still can’t find the mark from deep, they’re just 3-for-13 after back-to-back misses from Harden on the same possession. Patience and they will get what they want. But they have to stop taking rushed 3s.

5:32: Durant gets the great block on Diaw as the shot clock winds down but Westbrook picks up his third foul chasing the rebound out to mid court, where he body blocked Batum to the floor. Batum sinks two of the three FTs.33-26 USA.

6:20: After praising the officials for allowing some really physical play in Brazil’s win over Australia before this game, they’ve into touch foul mode. Coach K is letting loose after Melo picks up his third foul on a weak call.

7:38: CP3 with another 3-pointer from the corner off of a nice feed from LeBron. All of a sudden the U.S. has the 3-ball working. 33-21 USA.

7:46: Entire crowd, including the First Lady, just serenaded some fan in the crowd with an ugly rendition of Happy Birthday.

7:46: Bokolo gets the ultimate lesson in reaching on defense … reach in on a crafty old PG like Paul and miss and you might catch an elbow on the come back that leaves a little blood in your mouth.

8:36: Five quick points from Kobe and just like that the U.S. lead is 30-21.

9:28: LeBron with the step back 3-pointer to give the U.S. their first make from distance. This is the time you would expect him to crank it up.

– FIRST QUARTER –

0.0: Big 3-pointer from Bokolo at the buzzer makes it a 22-21 U.S. lead in a game that is much more physical and much tighter than any of us expected. (Nate McMillan’s lean back and The U.S. is 0-for-6 from deep and just like Coach K said, unable to out-athlete France so far.

28.2: Some serious ahnd-to-hand combat under the basket from both sides as they battle for position on some of these rebounds.

41.9: Still waiting to see something from de Colo that would get Spurs fans excited. He’s the one guy on the floor that looks a bit out of place right now. Lots

55.0: Had a nice little clock glitch here that caused a two minute delay as Chandler drains two free throws for a 21-17 U.S. lead

1:39: Parker takes a nasty fall trying to go up with Melo for a rebound. But gets right up, with an assist from Melo.

2:42: France with the zone look now. The U.S. has stayed away from taking ill-advised 3-pointers in the early going here. This France team can’t push them around inside so there is no need to be anything but patient. They’ll get what they want when they want it.

3:16: Diaw just flattened D. Will on a screen, something you’ve never seen him do to anyone in the NBA. France hanging tough.

5:31: Any switch on Parker that leaves one of the bigs on him is an instant drive to the basket. But he’s gonna have to stay in attack mode for France to have a chance.

5:44: Gelabale picks up his third foul on a Bryant drive to the bucket. At this rate, he’ll beat Chandler and Turiaf to the penalty box.

6:42: Batum caught Duran’t first layup off the glass for a nice block. On the very next possession Durant catches a sweet pass from LeBron and smashes on Batum and gets the foul. 11-5 USA.

7:33: The First Lady, Michelle Obama, is in the house. And did you know that when “Crazy” (Gnarls Barkley) comes on in the arena the crowd starts clapping? Never knew they did it like that.

8:05: This game will be a test for both Chanlder and Turiaf to see who can stay in the game the longest. They’re both prone to crazy foul trouble.

9:39 on game clock: LeBron tosses an ally-oop to Chandler to kick things off for the U.S. Chandler missed the FT but all the work they did in pre-game warmups trying to perfect the oop toss makes sense now.

– PREGAME –

Kobe gets the loudest ovation of anyone during introductions. Say what you want, he’s still the international king of hoops to most folks!

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Posted in London 2012 / Comments (32) /

U.S. Focused On ‘Head Of Snake’ In Opener Against Parker And France

July 28, 2012  ·  1:37PM

LONDON – The game plan doesn’t change for any specific team or player for the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team.

They go into every game with the same mission, and that’s to “cut off the head of the snake,” meaning the opposing team’s point guard, according to their own superstar point guard Chris Paul.

So even if Sunday’s Olympic opener against France pits Paul and fellow All-Stars Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook against another NBA All-Star in Tony Parker, he could be one of two dozen point guards in this competition and the agenda would be exactly the same.

“To tell you the truth, our first priority going into every game is to limit the point guards, every game and every team,” Paul said. “That’s the head of the snake. And it’s that way with France probably more with any other team because we know how dangerous Tony can be. But when we played Spain our focus was on [Jose] Calderon. And when we played Argentina it was on [Pablo] Prigioni. So all of these different guys are running their teams and you have to worry about stopping them first.”

It’s like the focus they would use in the NBA. Point guard is arguably the deepest position in the league. And nowhere is exceptional point guard play more important than it will be in this competition.

On a team loaded with NBA talent of its own, the U.S. has to be careful about game planning for just one player, even one as accomplished as Parker, a three-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who led France to a runner-up finish to Spain at EuroBasket last summer.

“I think he’ll take up most of the conversation about how to prepare for their team,” U.S. assistant coach Mike D’Antoni said. “But everybody game plans for him and he’s still Tony Parker. So you have to be a little careful. What you try and do is make sure nobody else beats you and you keep him contained as best you can. Don’t put him on the foul line, don’t let him get in transition in the open floor and you try to cut that down. You know he’s going to score and do his thing and run his team. And you can’t forget the other guys, because every name we put up on the board our guys knew them. They are a dangerous team and Tony Parker is the head of the snake, so you have to do your best to contain him.”

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Posted in London 2012 / Comments (25) /

Spain Claims Repeat Gold

September 18, 2011  ·  8:06PM

HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS – In a competition filled with exquisite guard play, Spain got the most consistently brilliant effort from one of the world’s best in Juan Carlos Navarro on its way to repeat gold at EuroBasket 2011.

Navarro’s 27 points lifted Spain past France Sunday in Lithuania, punctuating their tournament-long dominance with a 98-85 win over Tony Parker and his crew.

Navarro’s perimeter game was complemented perfectly by the inside presence of Pau Gasol and his younger brother Marc Gasol, who took turns carrying the load for Spain throughout the competition. But it was Navarro’s relentlessness that marked Spain’s run throughout this tournament and throughout Sunday’s title game.

In a matchup with another one of the world’s most dynamic scoring guards in Parker, Navarro proved up to the task, as did his stellar ensemble cast. Pau Gasol had 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Marc Gasol added 11 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two assists. Navarro’s backcourt mate Jose Calderon finished with 17 points of his own. Serge Ibaka blocked five shots in his 21 minutes, showing during a five-minute stretch of the second quarter as Spain built a 10-point advantage that would not be surrendered.

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