Kobe plays like the MVP, Team USA booms on Australia, and Chris Paul was given buckets
Kobe Bryant (photo. Mannion)Survive and advance. Team USA wasn’t perfect in their Olympic quarterfinal game against Australia — most glaring was a tense first quarter that ended with the Aussies down by just one point and licking their chops at a potential upset — but Kobe (25 pts) and LeBron (16 pts) helped put together a damn near perfect third-quarter run that was good enough to spark another blowout and set up a semifinal matchup with Argentina … After Patty Mills and Andrew Bogut tried their best Oscar/Kareem impersonation in the first quarter, ‘Bron and Kobe kicked off Team USA’s customary second-quarter run by driving for buckets that came with plenty of contact. You knew that if the U.S. ever got in trouble they — like any team– would have to lean on their big dogs, and LeBron and Kobe are the biggest in the pack … But the lead was at “only” nine in the closing seconds of the first half and Australia was probably still feeling pretty good before Deron Williams knocked down a three to beat the buzzer … And then the third quarter was just a classic beatdown. LeBron, Carmelo (15 pts), Kobe, Tayshaun Prince and D-Wade (off the glass) were knocking down threes and converting and-ones, Chris Bosh had about four or five dunks where he was doing chin-ups on the rim, the defense was tougher to penetrate than Tim Duncan during a sit-down interview, and Chris Paul polished it off with a few alley-oops. If it wasn’t for Mills (20 pts) playing like he had no idea what the score was, Australia might not have scored in the quarter … Finally, in the fourth quarter Kobe went ballistic and started raining 25-footers, LeBron hit a crazy pull-up J high off the glass that bounced around every part of the rim before dropping, Michael Redd and Carlos Boozer got off the bench and did their thing, and the U.S. basically treated the Boomers like Mike Tyson once publicly threatened to treat a reporter … Bogut embodies the down-then-up-then-down night for the Aussies. He opened the game getting beasted by Dwight Howard (letting The Centaur catch the ball WAY too close to the rim), then on Bogut’s first touch he pulled a ghastly post move right out of Dan Gadzuric‘s book and damn near air-balled a lefty hook. But a few minutes later, when Australia was playing its best ball, Bogut was gliding past Bosh for soft kisses off the glass where he actually looked coordinated. The big guy was looking OK until he got hurt in the second half and didn’t return … Forget Tony Parker; Patty Mills might have Chris Paul’s number as much as any guard in the world. At the end of the first quarter Mills flew past CP in the open court and hit a crazy and-one where he was almost horizontal to the ground and most of his body was out of bounds at the point of release … Of course, Captain Save ‘Em D-Wade got some get-back for CP by trucking Mills for his own and-one shortly after. And speaking of trucked, how about LeBron going all Christian Okoye on C.J. Bruton on that open-floor layup midway through the second? That was wrong, but LeBron couldn’t help but smile on his way back on D. LeBron had a bunch of buckets where he simply won the muscle game against whoever was guarding him. Seeing how good he is, it’s just astounding how the Cavs are wasting these years by giving him that supporting cast … Did Coach K really do what Craig Sager said he did and tell his players to “Stop being stupid” during the first quarter? That’s how P.J. Carlesimo incidents start … We haven’t had too many complaints about the TV production during Team USA’s games, but yesterday there was one gaffe: What seemed like two solid minutes where the camera was fixed on a close-up of Australia’s coach pacing the sidelines and scratching his nose while Doug Collins was rambling about something unrelated. That’s the kind of thing that makes people change the channel and forget to come back … If Patty Mills was his team’s star early, Joe Ingles was THE MAN late. The 20-year-old Aussie phenom checked in after the game was no longer in question and started slinging darts lefty from well beyond the NBA three-point line. He had 11 points in what seemed like two minutes. You knew Ingles was gonna be heard from when you saw those the cold, dead eyes of an assassin, much like Mark Price … That’s it. Doug Collins is clearly incapable of going 40 minutes without quoting Hank Iba, reminiscing on the ’72 Olympics, or mentioning that his son played at Duke … Argentina got past Greece in another quarterfinal, as Manu Ginobili (24 pts) and Vassilis Spanoulis (9 pts, 7 rebs) traded gut-check clutch shots: Manu made his while Spanoulis missed his … The other semifinal will be Spain vs. Lithuania, after Pau Gasol (20 pts, 11 rebs) lit up Croatia and Sarunas Jasikevicius (23 pts, 5 threes) torched China … In case you missed it yesterday with our site issues, somebody finally asked the question everyone has been thinking but has been afraid to ask … In non-Olympic NBA news, the Heat re-signed Dorell Wright to a two-year deal. Shawn Marion, Michael Beasley, James Jones, Udonis Haslem and Yakhouba Diawara being around could mean C.J. Miles-like minutes for Dorell, who will have to fight just to stay in the rotation … And what’s this about the Heat looking at Jamaal Magloire? The last thing a 30-year-old who moves like he’s 45 needs is to be rich and living in a city where everyone stays at the club until five in the morning … We’re out like Ingles …
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August 21st, 2008 at 5:14 am
H says:
please…kobe took terrible shots
he really needs to stop forcing his lame shots and also shoot a higher % of 33333333333s
lebron is the best in the world no question after these olympics
August 21st, 2008 at 5:28 am
Gangstalicious says:
i got that thuggin loveeeee..homies over skirts! u know wat im sayin thats what the team usa cats blasts on their speakers before every game. that ish motivates them mayn
August 21st, 2008 at 6:24 am
Milan says:
You shoulda seen Delfino yesterday, late in the game dude scored like 13 or 15 consecutive points for Argentina. Absolutely killing Greece with three pointers and fadeaways.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:28 am
that's whats up says:
man, GiNiblets busted 7 threes for Argentina.
Popovich needs to call Coach K and tell him how to shut GiNiblets down.
GiNiblets – because he feasts on everyone else’s dime
August 21st, 2008 at 6:44 am
josh tha roc says:
Mills is real good. Who would he compare to in the L?
August 21st, 2008 at 6:49 am
josh tha roc says:
Lotta love for Smokin Joe. He plays well in the NBL (used to be coached by Mark Price btw) just needs to be more aggressive…like he did against USA.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:04 am
A-Slam says:
Joe Ingles looks like an Aussie version of Chris Andersen, without the retarded hair of course
August 21st, 2008 at 7:09 am
P..just hand over the GOLD says:
Kobe first half was suspect but the 2nd made me forget about those shots he took….The little Aussie Pg is fast as hell…Ginobili was BALLIN but Delfino i always thought he had it in him i’m just wondering what brought it out….Nocioni is a warrior but i doubt the game will be close there inside game is weak…
August 21st, 2008 at 7:18 am
Soopa says:
Delfino shot the hell out of the ball vs greece. It was madness!
Mills played a very good game, he is fast as hell and can make baskets while taking contact. I dont think he did a very good job of creating for teammates and its not like he’s gonna make it to the L being an under sized scoring point guard. But he is only 19 and i think he’ll be very very good and when he learns to use his speed and handle to create, not just score, he’ll be even better.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:33 am
BALLZ says:
Yeah why would Doug Collins mention during the Olympics that he played in the most stunning/bullshit hoops upset in the history of the Olympics? Or that he was playing for a man from the original Naismith tree? Or how dare he mention his son being a part of USA’s coaching squad…you’re right Dime, what a douche. You guys would never mention if you were a former Olympian or number one overall pick…
August 21st, 2008 at 7:35 am
Steve Nasty says:
Mills has made a huge improvement in a short period of time…I would’nt bet against him makin it. Ingles on the other hand, that was a “flash in the pan”
August 21st, 2008 at 7:36 am
Steve Nasty says:
Bye the way did anyone see D-Wade try to flick Saville’s balls after he took a 3. Dog Act. Very dissapointing from my favourite player.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:38 am
Haslem says:
what thats it about Argentina Greece? did u watch it? Delfino was unstoppable his shots where nothing but net, it was an intense back to back game.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:39 am
atom says:
Mills reminded me a lot of Barbosa or maybe Monta Ellis. CRAZY speed, small, doesnt really create plays for his teamates. Everybody knows Paul isnt the best defender, but the kid was running by him like he was Jasikevicius.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:48 am
Luigi says:
the two studs on Aussies team r Patty Mills n Joe Ingles…they shuda been there to take the shots..n not the team capitan. or bogut…oh welll..i might be wrong but i think the coach believed xpierience would prevail. n my logic is wrong probalyyy haha.
Ingles will make the league in 2 yrs. n Mills will leave college when hes a senior..or about 2 years…n get drafted. Mills is like a mini AI. scary..or thats what i believe.
as for team USA. Kobe wuz gettin bucketzzz n shakin n bakin n poppin hibachi threes… big time. LeBron was gettin to the rim…ALOT!..n he was gettin there with the ferosity of Earl Campbell..
August 21st, 2008 at 8:24 am
sans says:
That Argentina game was tight. Is it okay to like Manu when he plays for his country, but still hate on him in the regular season? I got all inspired from watching all those threes and Manu’s crazy lay in to nail it shut that I couldn’t miss when I went out and played ball that day. I almost felt bad for the dudes, who are typically way better than me, catching threes from me. Sucks Greece had to go home, they looked way rawer than Spain. What the fuck is with the tank Schorsantis bullying in the paint, throwing high elbows, and THE REFS would call fouls on the defensive player getting thrown around. He never left the paint, pushing around legit NBA player after player.
If ARG can shoot the lights out again, Reedeem Team might catch a basketball game in these Olympics.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:30 am
shake&bake says:
A Nigerian Nightmare reference? Nice!
I’m more worried about Argentina than I ever was about Spain. I hate the guy, but Manu can get hot and be unstoppable. Noc and Delfino can get buckets too.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:48 am
bill says:
Yeah that was disappointing seeing Wade do the nut flick.
Saville wasn’t impressed and told him so. There’s just no explanation for it
August 21st, 2008 at 8:56 am
Celts Fan says:
“Did Coach K really do what Craig Sager said he did and tell his players to “Stop being stupid” during the first quarter? That’s how P.J. Carlesimo incidents start”
only true when you do that all the time. If you keep it in the holster for the right time and only use it once, it’s great motivation for a bunch of guys that haven’t really needed much to run ish…
Dime, what time’s the SemiFinal game on Fri.?
August 21st, 2008 at 8:59 am
Celts Fan says:
@Ballz, big difference between never mentioning it and ALWAYS mentioning it.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:14 am
ERIC says:
USA/Argentina is @ 10:15am
August 21st, 2008 at 9:25 am
Celts Fan says:
ugh, that’s what I was worried about…
August 21st, 2008 at 9:53 am
doc says:
Dont worry fellas.They gonna run Argentina out the fucking building.I mean Noci and Oberto and them dudes scary for China and Germany but what is Noci to Bron besides a human poster prop.They will get that ass handled tomorrow.And I aint sold on the kid Mills.Sure he fast but so is Bolt.That run fast up and down the court for layups shit wont fly in the league.To compare him to AI is blasphemy.He aint even fucking with D-Rose.
August 21st, 2008 at 10:39 am
CHI-C says:
What ever happened to Yinka Dare?
August 21st, 2008 at 10:59 am
doc says:
@CHI-C-Yinka Dare got infected with that Michael Jackson disease that makes your skin light while playing pro in Spain.He changed his name and is coming back to the states this year as Marc Gasol.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:02 am
Dagomar says:
I don’t get why they don’t show these games at night as well. Who doesn’t work at 10:15 AM??
August 21st, 2008 at 11:10 am
neckybliss says:
This is a great line… “the defense was tougher to penetrate than Tim Duncan during a sit-down interview”
LOVEDIME!
August 21st, 2008 at 11:14 am
BALLZ says:
LOL at Doc.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:38 am
Ernesto says:
atom says:
“Everybody knows Paul isnt the best defender”
Well, except for his knob-jockeys; the ones that voted him on to the NBA All-Defense team. What a joke that is.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:45 am
doc says:
Paul a good defender.Its hard to guard anybody fullcourt 1 on 1 especially if they’re fast.Mills is fast and ran by Paul a couple times.He didnt just put a 20 piece up on CP13.He got steals and was getting layups in the open court.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:17 pm
rodnets says:
Im from Argentina and “ReDream” Team will probably kick our butts tomorrow (I foresee a 20+ margin). But what you see in that game will be a bunch of guys playing team basketball and playing with heart like friends. USA has a real three year program and egos are adapted to coach K system. The only miracle that can help Argentina is an implosion of Dream Team and everybody jacking threes and missing.
A couple of years ago I warned Dime you about Manu and Co., once them Chapu Nocioni wasn’t even a Bull, Scola wasn’t a Rocket and Delfino wasn’t a Raptor (well he headed Russia now). Oberto is a good role player, and Paolo Quinteros is short but can score.
I believe this years edition lacks a true point guard. Prigioni is good but has nothing to do with former floor general Pepe Sanchez (he refused to participated). I believe the game would be tighter If he was at the games.
Peace
August 21st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
FK in T-Ohq says:
No word on it here, but Jose Calderon wet down injuring his groin. A big loss for Spain if he’s done.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
How about that game last night between Argentina and Greece. That has to be the best game of the tournament so far. Manu was giving the whole team buckets. I don’t see them beating the Redeam Team but if any one had the tools it would be Argentina. I’ve said it for years when Manu has it going he’s second only to Kobe Bryant. Go ahead and laugh but all that guy does is win. He has a gold medal and 3 championship rings. In fact I think they would have beaten Spain if they were to play.
August 21st, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Austin Burton says:
To quickly revisit the “College players in the Olympics” argument from the other day: Patty Mills is a college sophomore at a mid-major school. He was giving the best point guard in the NBA problems. But of course a team of U.S. college players (Rose, Beasley, etc.) would get waxed by China, definitely.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:42 pm
the mamba says:
Does kobe come out focused, make it his personal mission and shut manu down tmrw?
August 21st, 2008 at 2:58 pm
J says:
HA, back when magloire was with the blazers it was new years and he showed up to the club and wanted in ,but they said they were at capacity. he had a big fit, asking if they knew who he was. they told him they knew who he was but he still wasnt gettin in. so he left. if that happnes in portland just think of him out in miami
August 21st, 2008 at 6:08 pm
baron von faulk says:
Nice mention of the best game of the tournament –
ARGENTINA v GREECE
Maybe there is another article on the dime somewhere I have not seen…
Anyway, Delfino OWNED the fourth quarter (hit several threes and some mid-range j’s) until Manu took over down the stretch by getting the biggest BLOCK and hitting the biggest 3-pointer of the tournament, then hitting a wicked game-clinching runner between two Greek bigs.
The guy is just special, one of the best in the world as evidenced by his performance not only in the 2004 Olympics (tourney MVP, personally sank the USA) but here again in 2008.
I hope Argentina puts a good showing against the USA although they will surely lose, I just wanna see a competitive game where Ginobili does well. If Nocioni was healthy they would have more of a legitimate shot, but the USA is just too powerful with cyborgs like LeBron, Kobe, and Wade running the show.
I think Wade or James will win MVP of the tournament (probably LeBron) unless Argentina pulls an upset (Manu) or Spain somehow prevails (Pau).
August 21st, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Jim says:
Funny you guys mention Mark Price with Joe, as mentioned above Mark was breifly his coach until he was run out of the country by that dimwit Shane Heal who thought he was better than a future Hall of Famer, yep smart move that!
Bogurt should change his name to Yogurt, what a softy. No doubt he has talent but one look at those flabby arms shows he is not putting in the work, someone send him a David Robinson poster please! Either that or give him Michael Phelps’ nutrionist so he becomes the Aussie Shaq, or Oliver Miller….
August 21st, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Steve Nasty says:
LOL Jim…too true about Heal
August 21st, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Steve Nasty says:
Argentina has as much chance of beting the US as anyone watching Charles have an colonoscopy…..
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:35 am
MJ says:
@ Jim #37:
Bogut’s been playing on a bad wheel since the first warmup game against China. (About a month ago.) Dude went off for an MRI because they thought he had ligament damage. Smarten up.