Live Look-In: Team USA Faces Lithuania
Wade could be the greatest 6th man everThere’s one big difference between the Lithuanians and Team USA’s two previous opponents, Canada and Turkey: Lithuania is going to be playing in Beijing. And with that, the Americans came out gunning for them, demoralizing the Lithuanians with a heavy dose of Dwight Howard on the block and vicious perimeter pressure en route to a 24-5 lead in the early going.
Like an old head who sits in the stands of a ball game with headphones on to listen to the radio broadcast, we’ve got this game on mute and have Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” rightfully ringing in the background.
* There are ten better ball handlers in Rucker park right now than any of the guys on the Lithuanian squad.
* Sarunas Jasikevicius was hyped as the Lithuanian who would give Team USA problems. Nuh-uh. Whether it’s Kobe or Chris Paul tormenting him every time he puts the ball on the floor, he’s looking around like he’s stranded on an island. Somebody please help me!
* Dwight Howard finished the first quarter with 10 points and 4 boards. If he wanted to, he could score 50 in this game easily.
* The only member of Team USA who doesn’t look fantastic is Coach K. In addition to the monstrous bags under his eyes, he’s almost as red as Tom Coughlin was during the NFC Championship in Green Bay last season.
* Sure Dwyane Wade‘s windmill against Canada was enough to dispel any worries about his knee, but he got up even higher to punch a shot on the weakside into the second row late in the first quarter.
* We love Fran Fraschilla, but how do you call him “Brian James”? How is that even possible?
* Yesterday’s win over Turkey was fantastic, but Team USA still looked like they needed to work on their half court offense – not to be better than any one of these lesser opponents, but to be the best they can be. With Michael Redd dropping a couple treys and Dwight’s sheer dominance inside, the half court system is clicking much better this morning.
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August 1st, 2008 at 8:56 am
that's whats up says:
this one is too easy.
We’re just toying with those dudes
August 1st, 2008 at 8:57 am
sans says:
Amurica–F–k Yeah!! Here to save the mother f–king day!
August 1st, 2008 at 9:06 am
Logan Light says:
Wow Sans, thanks for being so excited this morning…
USA wants to run, run, run… but I do worry about the half court O when other teams do their best to stop the transition game. Example? Chris Pauls pass to Bosh at the end of the half. They’re still learning each other. The big names have the chemistry of course, but the connection with others is still slow going.
They won’t lose. But they might make it too close for comfort.
LL
August 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
Bruce says:
You don’t need two point guards on the same floor at the same time. Bring in a zone-buster or the shooter. It will be more effective.
My humble opinion…………
August 1st, 2008 at 9:13 am
that's whats up says:
seriously, Coach k looks like he was abducted by the Lithuanian Republic Army and tortured for his basketball secrets.
he looks god-awful
August 1st, 2008 at 9:18 am
Logan Light says:
^^^ yep. He looks really rough.
Also, this pick and roll Defense is killing us! How do you play in the NBA and not know how to stop it?
August 1st, 2008 at 9:43 am
Damon says:
howard could score 50 EASILY? wow…
there might be 10 better ballhandlers in rucker park, so what? at least lithuania can shoot. and you could say the same thing about some nba teams.
they play as bad as they can. it would look different against the lithuanian team from 04.
usa would still win by at least 10-15, but lithuania wouldn’t look that bad.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:44 am
Logan Light says:
Sorry for another comment… but did you just see D Wade dunk that oop?? It’s official.
Dwayne is back.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am
Dime Magazine says:
Wade is definitely back. that oop was crazy.
We still are getting killed off that pick-and-roll though.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:50 am
Bruce says:
Wade — I like the weakside block better. Wade scored like 7 straight points.
Bring on the Soviets!
Coach K got some booty last night. I heard it is pretty cheap too, like $20. In Vietnam, it was $5.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:52 am
Bruce says:
Every players scored on Team USA. Too easy.
Kobe did not rotate on the pick and roll. You could see it on Howard face.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:54 am
G says:
can we please stop hearing about michael redd’s whole interview and changing into a suit. seriously not a cool anecdote.
August 1st, 2008 at 9:58 am
G says:
um great quote following a D-Wade finish:
“I bet Don Quixote liked that windmill”
August 1st, 2008 at 10:32 am
mighty says:
hey guyz, just wait until the real tournament starts…
August 1st, 2008 at 11:21 am
Allan says:
When the real tournament starts the USA Team will just get better
August 1st, 2008 at 11:48 am
doc says:
Ass whipping number 3.Where are the dickheads at.I thought that team was good.Last week they was talking about remember when Lithi whatever the fuck beat yall.Remember in 08 when we kicked they ass up and down the court.@Sans that should be this team theme song.I can imagine Wade and Bron saying that everytime they punch one on some hopeless defenders face.That Wade oop was the play of the whole ass whippings.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:59 am
Jules says:
“Last week they was talking about remember when Lithi whatever the fuck beat yall.Remember in 08 when we kicked they ass up and down the court.”
only difference is, that game counted. this was a meaningless exhibition game.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:32 pm
doc says:
@jules That game aint count to us that was the problem.We didnt give a rats ass about the Olympics,now that we do you better find a new sport.
August 1st, 2008 at 12:53 pm
bballinca says:
I bet we could send this US team to Iraq and Afghanistan and they could finish the war and find Osama.
August 1st, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Jules says:
Lithuania let the US blow them out so when they play in the playoffs, USA will think they don’t have to play hard
August 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
daquest?on says:
thats right go team usaaaa!! this is a very good sign man they are beating lithuania a team that was supposed to give them problemss
August 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Damon says:
lithuania lost to spain by 25, so lets see…
but still, usa beats argentina in the finals by 15.
August 1st, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Bruce says:
No mind games here, Team USA gonna bring it every minute of the game!
August 1st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
mitcht says:
I wish all these teams had more of their best players…
Songalia, arvydas maciauskas on lithi.
Hedo on turkey.
Not that we wouldnt still kill em, i just wanna see their very best.
Too bad the Cavs dont want big Z to do too well anywhere, US or China… and they wouldnt let him play
August 1st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
qq says:
D-wade looks like Nick Van Exel