U.S. gets an “A” on their Big Test

• Well, so much for Spain being a real test. Yesterday’s game was never in doubt. The only real question mark before yesterday was the perimeter shooting of Team USA. The U.S. came out yesterday shooting the ball very well from the perimeter (7 – 10 from 3pt line early in the game) and what’s more, they shot it the right way. By that I mean that they shot stationary shots in rhythm, with their feet set, off of good ball movement, when rebounders were in position. That has really not happened much at all during the exhibition season or the during the first few Olympic games. The NBA is so much different from the college game or the international game and bad habits are tough to break. In the NBA most of the offensive sets involve one of two things; either isolating individuals who are given the ball and expected to create their own shot through a post move or a one on one move OR the individual ballhandler creates shot for himself off of the dribble or by waiting for a screen. In college and in international ball, most perimeter shots are created off of ball movement and you always have two to three shooters that are constantly spacing up outside the line with both feet set and hands ready to shoot the ball immediately off of the catch. Initially, the U.S. players were shooting 3’s off of individual dribble moves or after slight hesitations. Kobe is so used to holding the ball and taking his time to make a move when he is sure that he has space and isn’t facing a double team. He is so physically gifted that often times he will just rise up and shoot a 3 with a defender on him but it isn’t usually a shot in good rhythm. The same holds true with LeBron. He just takes a dribble with a defender on him and just jumps up and shoots it right over him. Even though he can get it off fine, it isn’t a shot in good rhythm.

With all of that being said, I think most basketball purists would agree that the NBA game is becoming more and more pleasing to watch lately. The system run by D’Antoni and Nash in Phoenix the past few years and the continued influence of foreign players along with the changing of NBA rules to allow more of a zone defense look has made the game more free flowing. Things go in cycles and the era of “clutch and grab and wrestle” defense and coaches calling every single set every single time down the floor is hopefully ending.

• Carmelo looked the best he has looked all Olympics and preseason. He has appeared at times to not being enjoying the experience as much as others. Taking a backseat to LeBron and Kobe and D-Wade looks like it has affected him a little. He isn’t used to not being the focal point on offense (although you might argue that A.I. has been making him get used to it for the last year and a half!) but yesterday he got going early and had a smile on his face and a bounce in his step.

• Breaking News…..J Kidd got on the board taking and making his first shot! It was a throw ahead – breakaway layup and there was no way he could have avoided taking the shot but his teammates still half-expected him to pass it But Kidd did shoot it even though LeBron said he thought he was going to go all backboard pass on him again.  I think Kidd learned his lesson last game on that one.

• It might seem a little ridiculous to count your chickens before they are hatched but if Team USA continues romping to the Gold and we assume that most of the stars are not looking to play in 2012, here are some early team possibilities for the team in London:

Greg Oden, Al Jefferson, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler

• Up to this point, I have been doing most of the Men’s games, while initially many of the Women’s games have been in the incredibly capable hands of Steve Alexander,  Senior Basketball  Editor for Rotoworold.com. The schedule is starting to be less hectic, and both Steve and I will be bringing you the Men’s and Women’s action all of this upcoming week as Group Play is ending and Medal Play starts up. Steve and I have been watching all of the games for both the Men and the Women and we have been very impressed by both of the U.S. teams so far. There are a lot of similarities between the 2 teams. I am excited to work some of the women’s games as they make their run at Gold.  I will be posting some analysis of the womens tournament as it gets down to the Quarterfinals and Semifinals.

• Last but definitely not least………I wanted to make all of you aware of a great event coming up tomorrow in New York City. Actor Tom Cavanagh and his lovely wife Maureen are hosting a celebrity basketball game at world famous Rucker Park to raise funds and awareness for a tremendous cause, the Nothing but Nets foundation. Nothing but Nets is an organization that purchases insecticide treated nets that are sent to Africa to save people from the deadly affects of Malaria. Here is the web address to the information for tomorrow’s event:

http://www.nothingbutnets.net/its-easy-to-help/mvps/tom-maureen-cavanagh.html

Please come out and join us for this event or at the very least take this opportunity to search the Nothing but Nets site to make the very small donation of $10.00 to purchase a net to save lives. The Cavanagh’s are awful good people and you might be surprised at the hoops-playing chops of this talented actor!