Gold Medal time for Team USA, the Celtics take a big risk, and the Elite 24 comes to Rucker Park
Carmelo Anthony (photo. Mannion)One more win. That’s all Team USA needs to complete this mission that started four years ago, the day after the bronze medals were handed out in Athens and everyone in and around USA Basketball knew some things had to change. Carmelo Anthony scored 21 to lead the U.S. past Argentina in yesterday’s 101-81 semifinal win that got them into the gold medal game against Spain. It wasn’t the same kind of easy blowout Team USA has been accustomed to in Beijing — you could even say they played badly by their standards (too many turnovers, too many threes, too many defensive lapses) — but at this stage no one’s nit-picking so long as you get the W … It looked like the U.S. was gonna win by 40 at the beginning, as they went on an 18-0 run in the second quarter and Manu Ginobili‘s ankle flared up and took him out (he didn’t return and won’t play in the bronze medal game against Lithuania). But then Luis Scola started getting buckets and Argentina’s D became real stingy all of a sudden, and next thing you know it was a six-point game headed into halftime. That’s when ‘Melo basically did what Deron Williams did at the end of the first half against Australia, getting fouled on a three and making all of his free throws to make it a nine-point lead at the break. Dwight Howard got a tip-in to start the second half and push the lead back to double digits, LeBron (15 pts, 5 rebs) made a couple of threes, and ‘Melo kept willing his way to the line (13-for-13 FT’s) to keep Argentina out of reach … Like we said in our immediate post-game analysis, this win was about poise for the U.S. team. Guys like D-Wade, Kobe, Kidd, ‘Melo, Tayshaun and ‘Bron have been through championship games and in do-or-die situations on the biggest stages and succeeded, and yesterday it was a credit to that poise that Team USA didn’t freak out when Argentina stole the momentum for a while … There were stretches where Scola (28 pts, 11 rebs) was gutting Chris Bosh and Tayshaun Prince. If Rick Adelman was watching, he should at least think about that when the Raptors and Pistons pop up on Houston’s schedule this season … You know those fundamentals everyone talks about teams like Argentina being so skilled at? Andres Nocioni and Scola both showed they can hit that Tim Duncan angle bank shot that every NBA big man wants to add to their game — Doug Collins has suggested that Dwight try to develop it — but obviously not everyone can. Part of the reason Argentina’s been so good on this stage is that they know how to play the game, they play together, and they’re more athletic than almost every team in the world. With one obvious exception … As an example of that athleticism, Nocioni got sky-high and blocked Kobe’s reverse dunk. We can’t remember the last time anyone’s stuffed Kobe at the rim like that. Even Dwight has been subject to the Lipton treatment … Who knew ‘Melo talked so much on the court? If you watched the game on NBC’s online feed with no announcers you heard him yapping all game long; one time when Nocioni was shooting a free throw after a call ‘Melo didn’t like, he yelled, “Ball don’t lie — GET OUTTA THERE!” as Noce’s shot spun out … Funny how everyone talks about how LeBron, ‘Melo and D-Wade hardly got any playing time on the ’04 Olympic team, but no one’s mentioning that poor Carlos Boozer STILL can’t get any PT on Team USA. But assuming everything goes as planned, Boozer is setting himself up to possibly get an NCAA championship, Olympic gold medal and an NBA championship in his career … Last night at Rucker Park, the Dime crew was part of the standing-room only crowd for the third annual Elite 24 Classic, where two dozen of the nation’s best high schoolers come together for a run at the world’s most famous playground court. Lance Stephenson (29 pts), Maalik Wayns (10 pts), John Wall (10 pts) and Dominic Cheek (23 pts) were the four co-MVPs as Wall and Cheek’s “Skip To My Lou” squad got the W over the “Goat” team … The Stephenson/Wall matchup was one that everyone was hyping all week, and while Lance obviously put up the bigger numbers, Wall wowed the crowd plenty of times himself. Maybe the highlight of the game was when Wall skated past a defender with a stutter-step in transition, elevated and threw down a LeBron-like tomahawk dunk in traffic that damn near cleared the bleachers. Lance, meanwhile, was just giving buckets to anyone who stepped in front of him. At one point some fans (including Lance’s dad) were yelling “Somebody take him off Lance!” after Lance dusted Wall again … Dexter Strickland won the Elite 24 dunk contest, highlighted by one where he hurdled a kid and finished a two-hand windmill. Keep in mind Dex is only like 6-3. It was nasty. We’ll have more recaps and content of the Elite 24 early next week on Dime and HighSchoolHoop.com … Friday was High Risk/Potentially High Reward Day around the NBA: the Nuggets re-signed J.R. Smith to a multi-year deal, while Boston surprised everyone by signing Darius Miles. Did the Celtics just make a huge mistake by bringing in a guy who seems to carry that Lottery team aura with him everywhere he goes? … We’re out like Manu …
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August 23rd, 2008 at 4:35 am
Fab says:
2nd!
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:39 am
nola says:
1st
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:45 am
fLaVa says:
I’ve been watching all the games Scola has played, and dude is straight killing in FIBA.. i dont understand why he cant do this for the Houston Rockets.
Adelman give Scola the ball!!
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:04 am
Luigi says:
well to tell u the truth flava…Scola wont get the ball as much…hes like the teams 4th.5th scoring option now..its T-Mac.Yao.Ron. as the 3. any random PG at 4 or u could put scola there..but he needs the rock wayy more in H-Town
Team USA…i feel a screw up coming…but i doubt it..Spain has NBA Caliber talent..but srysly. Team USA has HoF Caliber Talent going.
Boston might be getting a JR Smith w/o a 3pt shot. dude was the MAN in cleveland even before LeBron came there. well ill even go this far..in 2003.[LBJ rookie yr] Darius Miles n Ricky Davis were the MEN there. they would give them the ball in crunch time situations..kinda scary 5 years later. to go back n relive….
now if Darius Miles gets a contract n Patrick O’Bryant get a contract…why cant Livingston get one???. i mean ppl gotta give 2nd chances.
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:28 am
j from la says:
usa wins by 30 i love kobe wit a gold to match the rings. jr smith will b denvers second option after denver ships out ai. dmiles i hope he has somethin left hella talented no heart r desire kinda sad. i guess lance is really the truth he might as well sign his contract in europe now for a couple of mil and he will b a top 3 pick asap. preseason football sucks they need to start the regular season now. scola is nice too bad he plays in the west.
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:38 am
heartbreaker85 says:
houston has to get over the fact that yao ming is just another tall, skilled big man- much like ilgauskas. the only difference is, they keep insisting on feeding yao with the ball as their number 1 option.
which is silly because the nba (for the last three years since they started calling ticky tacky fouls) has become a ‘guard’s league.’
scola is arguably one of the best throwback power forwards around who can bang, rebound and post-up. kg, boozer, amare and bosh all prefer to face the rim, z-bo doesn’t like to pass the rock out, and dirk is well, dirk.
imagine how insane san antonio would’ve been had they not traded scola to the rockets! they’d automatically have a back-up plan for timmy.
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:44 am
JC says:
Soooo, no one is going to be a douche and try to place an asterisk on Team USA’s run this round due to rampant opponent injuries, right? RIGHT??? Ok, thanks.
Can’t wait to see what’s left of Darius Miles. He might play with his head screwed on properly now that he’s older and plays for a championship contender.
Glad JR Smith didn’t go over to Moscow.
Out like American sprinters.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 am
josh tha roc says:
No way Jose. Spain no chance. Once a knuckle head always a knuckle head…see JR Rider when he joined the Lake show….plus he had more game than Darius ever will.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:12 am
miamiVIS3 says:
U guys need to stop hating on Carlos Boozer in 30 years he’s gonna be team USA’s starting PF
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 am
Ashlov says:
Don’t cry for me Argentina, the truth is you got bent. Next time the Nuggets play the Bulls, Rockets, or Spurs, Melo should put on a blonde wig and make his teammates call him Evita.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
josh tha roc says:
which makes me think if you combined the DNA of JR Smith and Darius Miles would you get JR Rider?
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 am
Coop says:
If you combine the DNA of Pat Riley and Larry Brown you get a rat!
(apparently)
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
sans says:
Gee–how’s your team looking? Scola’s a beast, Ron Ron is the strongest SF in the game, TMac played A LOT last year, Skip might always be drunk, but, like a lot of players I’ve known, he might be better when half-lit. Then you got Yao, whose forehead is bigger than most children. Nice.
The Cavs got Mo Williams. Yep. Zydrunas Ilguaskas’ impersonation of glaciers retreating from the rising heat of this world; but with a solid mid range j. Boobie, check. Lil’ Ben. A bunch of expiring contracts, Danny Ferry, and Mike Brown.
Hopefully, JJ Hickson works out enough to keep Lebon in town. Worse thing is, Cavs make the Conference Finals on Lebron’s back whether they sign Delonte or not. And they will trade Varejao.
I’m out like drinking to much on cold medicine..
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:14 am
Scottee says:
I like Darius signing with the Celts. There’s not a better team of guys to surround this dude with and you KNOW KG will look after him, or bust his ass. Miles has always had the ability, and now after he has seen how quickly he can be forgotten, I hope he’s not taken his talent and this contract for granted.
Also heard Bill Walker signed with the Celts. Another VERY athletic wing that will hopefully learn from quality vets. Lots of potential, no doubt, just hope being around good guys will bring it out.
Lastly, I hope Carmello is set for a big season this year. He got married, has a kid and is POSSIBLY maturing, which is all the dude really needed. He’s one of the most talented, all-around players in the league, bar none, and if he can just stay focused and play is ass off for the entire season he could be in consideration with the best…
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:45 am
OGN says:
Married? Got a kid? WTF?
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Dagomar says:
Heard a lot of mixed things about Miles. People say “adversity” has matured him (I use the term loosely because he’s still a multi multi millionaire). But apparently some of his explosiveness is gone too, and he was always too lazy to add more skill to his game. All the same, if he’s feeling decent then he can still be a really versatile player coming off the bench, especially in the right situation. When KG is on your team, are you really going to fuck up the chemistry anyway? Doubt it. Good signing by the Celts in my opinion.
The Boozer situation is a little weird. Guy is a bulldozer in the NBA, and it seems like he’d just be able to maul the lanky FIBA dudes. But he’s not getting any burn, and when he does he’s clearly inferior to Chris Bosh. I guess if you look at Lebron and maybe Melo as bigs, then Booz is only the fourth or fifth big on the depth chart, and that won’t give you much PT. Speaks to how good this team is though that a 20/10 beast is basically their human victory cigar . . . .
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Steve Nasty says:
Whats up with Tina “I’m a blow up doll” Thompsons look? Funny shit
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
Young Lebron 23 says:
Funny about JR Smith not going to Moscow.
Just give us the gold medal. We scoring so good even jason kidd made 2 shots back to back!
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
sans says:
anyone else hear about the restraining order on Shaq, by some rapper named Mary Jane?
She musta been like, “seriously, stop trying to battle me…”
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
BALLZ says:
20th!
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 am
Big Sneezy says:
Do the Spurs feel more stupid for:
a. Trading the rights to Scola (28 and 11 yesterday) while keeping the rights to Oberto (2 and 0 yesterday)?
b. Not making a serious move for J.R. Smith while re-signing Finley?
c. Not kidnapping Manu to keep him out of the games?
August 23rd, 2008 at 11:58 am
Coop says:
A is the only one they should be fussed about, and Scola isn’t close to being as effective in the NBA as he is for Argentina.
Smith is a loon. You think Pop wants that then YOU’RE crazy haha.
Manu will be fine.
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Ayo says:
Funny how the story for U.S.A basketball men and women program is similar. They both lose in the world championships in 06 have to face the team they lost to in the semis of the 06 torny in the olympics and they are both in the finals facing the world champions from the 06 torny in Australia and Spain.
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
doc says:
Now Scola is a beast because he scored 28 in an ass whipping.He backed down skinny ass Bosh and Tayshoun.Will Tay even be a pF in a Detroit uniform for Houston to try to exploit that.Dudes is funny.Every USA win I hear how bad we looked but Scola would’ve been the man on the Spurs after Tim left because he scored 28 on a team where him and Manu are the only scorers.Manu got hurt,he had good numbers.Nothing more nothing less.
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Kermit The Washington says:
….no mention of Shaq’s restraining order??
HAHAHAHA!!!
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Ian says:
coop
A hurts
that trades sucks
doc
scola can ball anywhere the game vs the us isnt the only game he has monster numbers
he has been a monster everywhere
u mentioned bosh but whos guarding him in the nba PFs and other than timmy he can abuse anyone
u give him yaos touches and hes a 20 10 guy in the nba i hope that adelman gives scola a chance to see how he does
the reason the spurs traded scola and keept fab is cuz scolas game wouldnt mesh with timmys (whatthe spurs said not my opinion)
August 23rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
doc says:
@Ian-I know he’s a player but I dont know about 20 and 10 averages in the league.If he can do that my hats off to him.He abused Bosh a couple times but I always called him soft for the Raptors so it dosen’t prove much to me.I mean its a reason he dont get Yao touches,because he’s not as good.Im sure no team would not give a 20 and 10 guy the ball.He’s not a NBA All Star and thats what 20 and 10 gets you.Above average player is all I can go with Ian.Saying other than Timmy he can abuse anyone is bullshit.You know it and I know it.
August 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Coop says:
I thought they traded him for cap reasons.
Anyway, why would you give him Yao’s touches? Check the %s.
August 23rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
doc says:
Im tired of these overseas players being hyped up.They get so much hype it makes you not like them when they come and become an average player because you heard so much bullshit about them being the best ever.Not coming at Ian but lines like Scola would abuse any PF not named Duncan is the type shit Im talking about.People were actually on here saying this USA team was gonna lose to one of these scrub ass teams(compared to them) and calling anybody who thought otherwise a fool.Dudes still be on here talking about what about 04 or 06-what about it.In 07 it was the best players aint there.In 08 it was if they played like that against Spain.We gonna win this gold medal and the articles are gonna say if we dont make free throws and play the pick and roll better and dont make 3′s we gonna lose in 2012.Please enough of the bullshit because with all our so called weaknesses we average the most points scored and give up the less points in the whole damn tourney.I thought that meant you have the BEST O and D in the world but i guess Im wrong.Argentina was supposed to win before the ass whipping commenced now its oh Scolas a beast.Please.If he such a beast he should’ve kept his team in the game.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Doc — I have to disagree with you on the “If Scola is a beast, he should’ve kept his team in the game.” Let’s say Team USA’s roster consisted of Dwight Howard (a beast, right?), Dwyane Wade, a few other NBA role players who may or may not be starters in the League (the equivalent of Delfino, Nocioni and Oberto), and the rest are Americans who play pro ball overseas and don’t really have any interest from NBA GM’s. Now if this version of Team USA went up against a group of NBA All-Stars and MVP’s, and then D-Wade got hurt, do you REALLY think Dwight would be able to carry them and keep the game close?
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Austin Burton says:
I’m not saying Scola is a beast — I was tired of everyone hyping him up going into the ’07 FIBA Americas tourney — but I don’t down him for not keeping Argentina in the game against the U.S. yesterday.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
rickyrubio says:
It is so funny to read your two-faced comments. 4 years ago you were all mesmerized by the way AI and Duncan had things locked up until they finally lost against better teams. And now with a little preparation you all go back to the “whoa, this is the new dream team” stuff not even mentionning how you won those games. I mean, against argentina, only scola was playing, the dude rubbin’ floors for Yao and T-Mac, yes, and you are already claiming the gold medal?
Not mentionning that those 3 FT did not exist Melo had, be kind rewind your tapes. The only dream team was the ’92 team. This supposed to be redeem team has only 2 good players, Kobe and Lebron.
So stop crying againt those supposed overrated international and take it for granted. Match the ten best players in US and from FIBA, enough said. Have a nice game.
Oh, and Ricky Rubio is only 17, he deserve his hype.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Austin Burton says:
About Darius Miles … Are we all assuming he’ll even accept KG basically being his babysitter? Will KG even have the desire to take on that role? It’s not like Miles is a 19/20-year-old kid out of college. He’s a grown-ass man. And KG’s not being paid to babysit grown-ass men.
August 23rd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Austin Burton says:
@rickyrubio — You lost me when you said the ’08 team only has two good players.
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:10 pm
doc says:
AB- I know Scola didnt have a snowballs chance in hell with that team but I had to give him some negative words.His numbers are boosted because that team stinks so he gets his 28 and our players got 12 a piece and its he horsed us around in all the articles and comments.Rickey Rubio what the fuck are you talking about?Not mentioning how we won the games?Only Scola was playing?When Manu was out there it was already a 20 piece.Why am I claiming the gold medal?If you read this site I been claiming the gold medal since before this shit started.Them FT’s Melo had didnt exist?What you want us to have 98 instead of 101 who cares.Supposed to be redeem team?They running through all your heros.Only 2 good players?You are either retarded or just being a asshole with that statement.This is a basketball site so saying only 2 people good on that team will lose you your credibility on here.You probaly know that already which is why you posted that BS under Rubio’s name.Match the top 10 from Fiba and the US and yall still will get smashed.And thats what yall better try to keep up,become one nation so everybody can get a silver medal.Oh and I didnt say shit about Ricky Poopio.You just said Chris Paul suck and Rubio dont.I didnt know yall had crack over the water but you was contaminated with something in the womb.
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:03 pm
dagwaller says:
I don’t know which I think is worse – “all the hype” that international players get, or that Sebastian Telfair got his own movie. In other words, there’s hype everywhere; don’t discriminate on which hype you want to believe and which hype you want to decry.
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
shanghaibabyfacekiller says:
@doc i wish it was 98 instead of 101 man…argentina didnt cover the spread mang!
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Ian says:
doc
what i meant other than duncan would be abused
was because of body type
most pfs in the league arent like duncan they are built more like bosh
20 points was with yaos touches scola in the playoffs avged 15 and 9 comon and in the regular season 10 and 6.5
withpout having plays called for him thats him only taking 8 shots a game
and almost 7 rebs in less than 25 mns pg thats good also
and comon how can he keep them in the game by himself am not really talking about this game but he always has good games against everyone hes the second best player on that team.
he might not be an allstar but hes more than just above avg( well i really think he can do all that crap im talking about)
now doc i understand what u say about being on a bad team u get good numbers (thats one of my arguments when i say garnett isnt as good as duncan) but hes done it in every league hes played in not just fridays game
coop
u wouldnt give him his touches cuz u have yao but comon scola can be more or less jefferson type if he were alone in the team
and the trade thing i heard that crap in a pop interview
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Ian says:
a us vs world would be a hell of a game
btw the world team gets duncan
howard
kg
lebron
kobe
kidd
vs
duncan
dirk
peja
manu
parker
or
yao
duncan
dirk
manu
parker
August 23rd, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Coop says:
Ian,
You mean Al Jefferson I guess. Hmm…perhaps in terms of scoring (bear in mind Jefferson has had little in the way of 2nd options) but Jefferson is a superior rebounder and all-around defender imo.
August 23rd, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Ian says:
yeah bro i meant scoring
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Coop says:
hmm it’s possible. but i dont think anyone’s saying Jefferson (or anyone on his level) is an elite scorer, or elite player. there are loads of guys in the NBA who could fill it up given enough touches but there’s a reason scola will never be a no1 option like Jefferson or Yao or Timmy.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Bankshot says:
What the hell ???
“There were stretches where Scola (28 pts, 11 rebs) was GUTTING Chris Bosh and Tayshaun Prince. If Rick Adelman was watching, he should at least think about that when the Raptors and Pistons POP UP on Houston’s schedule this season”
I read the same thing on another website with a couple of words changed around (the ones in capital letters)
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Ian says:
coop
well yao and timmy are number 1 options but jefferson well i think he would fall on the same situation scola is if he played in houston
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
iain. says:
doc
you didn’t know that theres crack in europe?
damn son..
August 24th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Scottee says:
@ Austin Burton
I agree, KG is a grown ass man and doesn’t owe anyone babysitting hours…but the little things, like takin the dude out to lunch after practice, helpin him out during practice, seeing little things that he see’s can all add up. If Darius knows that the team is counting on him and if he does his thing the right way, it could be a good situation.
Could also be a huge mistake by the Celts and maybe they will need to pay him and get rid of him early on…we’ll all see.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:10 am
rodnets says:
Argentina is mopping the floor with Lituania.
Best team in the world: USA.
Best team in the rest of the world: Argentina.
Scola is for real, maybe not an All-Star, but a heck of a bruiser, a PF ready to bang with the best, a second line PF such as Carlos Boozer, Al Jefferson, or Chris Bosh.
He could easily be a 2nd option in Houston behind T-Mac. Yao and Dirk are too soft.
My pick for a World team, that, with a three year of playing eachother would face Redeem:
parker, manu, peja, scola, bogut
bench: dirk, yahoo ming, chapu nocioni, calderon,jasikevicius, garbajosa, delfino.
Prediction Redeem by 30 over Spain. USA Team had to get serious about international competition after years of loosing with the stars.
Peace
August 24th, 2008 at 2:47 am
rickyrubio says:
@ Doc:
You don’t have to be agressive to prove that you are the truth. Allright, maybe I did exagerate saying that USA Team has only 2 good players but as a fan, I was disappointed by the way all the rest of the team played, except Melo. But that statement was not a resume of my basketball knowledge, that was more a fed-up line. I mean where are all the alley-hoops CP3 kept sending all year long in New Orleans? The connection should be the same with Howard. But let’s se the game.
And Top 10 US vs FIBA? Smashed? Are you serious?
August 24th, 2008 at 2:56 am
daquest?on says:
The fact Tayshaun Prince scored in the first quarter is an indication that foul trouble is a concern
that comment was hilarious!
August 24th, 2008 at 3:06 am
daquest?on says:
pau gasol just gave the death stare to a referee..something he never does in the nba
August 24th, 2008 at 3:15 am
daquest?on says:
damnnn it looks as if michael jordan has gotten in to wade
August 24th, 2008 at 3:21 am
daquest?on says:
finally a great game!