Team USA 118, Spain 107: Instant Analysis
Dwyane Wade (photo. Mannion)Why Team USA won: One of sports’ all-time redundant saying rang true — Big-time players make big-time plays. Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade were HUGE in crunch time, from Kobe’s four-point play that fouled out Rudy Fernandez with about three minutes left, to Wade’s corner three at the two-minute mark, to Kobe’s floater that put the U.S. up by eight with one minute to go.
Why Spain lost: Defense. Team USA left the door wide open with some terrible defense in the first half that got only slightly better in the second half, and if Spain had been able to just get a few more stops, they could have been wearing the gold medals. We knew Spain, like every team, would have trouble keeping guys like Wade and Chris Paul and Kobe out of the lane, but leaving U.S. shooters wide open for some big threes in the fourth quarter was the ultimate downfall.
Key numbers: Dwyane Wade (27 pts), Kobe Bryant (20 pts), LeBron James (14 pts, 7 rebs), Rudy Fernandez (22 pts), Pau Gasol (21 pts), J.C. Navarro (18 pts).
August 24th, 2008 at 4:27 am
K Dizzle says:
that game was cash
August 24th, 2008 at 4:28 am
joe says:
1
August 24th, 2008 at 4:28 am
joe says:
nice game worth the medal
August 24th, 2008 at 4:30 am
sans says:
great game. better than ARG-GRC. The gold!
August 24th, 2008 at 4:31 am
Kayfah says:
daym, that was a crazy facial on howard…
August 24th, 2008 at 4:32 am
young fed says:
how damn good will ricky rubio and rudy fernadez will be come 2012?????…
August 24th, 2008 at 4:33 am
j from la says:
kobe was the difference even tho he was GUNNIN he didnt back down from big moments. dwade is back n jkidd should stayed n dallas. where is this pau gasol been hidin at? this muhafucka has been playin like a real grown man. can we see this at staples? spain is gonna b scary 4 years to come tho. cant wait for 2012 kobe bron dwade melo dhoward cp3 dwill stat beasley oj mayo josh n jr smith n rudy gay can get another gold 4 us.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:33 am
mapletown says:
The Gold is coming home!! The USA invented this game. Yall aint taking it away from us. Kobe and Wade were cash money in the 4th. Damn it feels good to be an American!!
August 24th, 2008 at 4:33 am
K Dizzle says:
“but leaving U.S. shooters wide open for some big threes in the fourth quarter was the ultimate downfall”
c’mon now. Ain’t like the US was up on the Spanish shooters. How many open looks did Rudy and that bald dude get? If dude coulda hit that last wide open three, it’s a three point game with just under 2 minutes to play, but I understand the analysis.
Spain lost cuz Kobe decided that enough was enough: fouled Rudy out on a triple, hit the pull ups, found D Howard for an easy dunk and just generally took over crunchtime.
Lakers represented. Damn, now we got no ball till november
August 24th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Allan says:
Finally Gold !!! Even though Kobe really never got into the rythm of the games he still came up in the clutch solidifying the reason why he was the lone player to take USA to the top. Nonetheless, Lebron and D-wade should both be considered MVPs of the tournament . . .USA has regain its rightful spot in the world of Basketball, now we can finally say that the mmission has been accomplished and the world order restored . . .
August 24th, 2008 at 4:33 am
young fed says:
jerry colangelo and all usa basketball need to answer that…
August 24th, 2008 at 4:34 am
j from la says:
o yea dwight got shitted on bad
August 24th, 2008 at 4:34 am
mapletown says:
@Kayfan:
Dwight getting the business was funny as hell. Funnier even that it was Kobe that left him hanging, gambling like that. Lol!!
August 24th, 2008 at 4:35 am
young fed says:
how damn good will ricky rubio and rudy fernadez will be come 2012?????…jerry colangelo and all usa basketball need to answer that…
August 24th, 2008 at 4:38 am
A-Slam says:
who facialized howard????
August 24th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Chainfire says:
An american did not invent Basketball. Dr.Naismith was a Canadian who worked in the U.S. and invented it on American soil. You can claim that the USA invented basketball but it was Canadian blood that dreamed the game up.
Rudy Fernandex nasty crown dunk on D12 was the highlight of the game possibly. Just dirty.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:39 am
K Dizzle says:
How good will Bron, CP,Wade, DWill, Howard, Beasley, Mayo, Stephon Curry(in the Redd role), John Wall, and Lance be in 2012 now that they know they gotta come in focussed? The World needs to get at that question
August 24th, 2008 at 4:40 am
Justin says:
Once Ricky Rubio gets more used to playing with the size/speed of NBA ballers, the kid is gonna be money.
And all this talk about Kobe being the defensive stopper ends with Fernandez and Navarro taking turns giving him the business. If he didn’t go nuts on offense in the last 4 minutes, would’ve been a terrible game for Kobe.
Damn the Blazers are gonna be filthy next season.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:40 am
furuta says:
CONGRATULATIONS TEAM USA!
Spain should change their posters that mimic chinese eyes and instead use their hands in wiping their tears!
August 24th, 2008 at 4:41 am
P..just hand over the GOLD says:
GReat Game…got to give Spain credit for their fight…..but its time to bring the Gold back where it belongs……
August 24th, 2008 at 4:41 am
the_don_mega says:
pretty good game…
August 24th, 2008 at 4:42 am
Blue says:
@ chainfire
if your daddy was canadian, but you were born and raised in the us, doesn’t that make you an american?
August 24th, 2008 at 4:42 am
A-Slam says:
rudy fernandez posterized D12? damn that kid sounds like a nasty baller i wish i got to see the game
August 24th, 2008 at 4:44 am
A-Slam says:
@ blue, naismith was born and raised in canada then later invented ball in the u.s. therefore, the man who invented ball was canadian you fucktard
August 24th, 2008 at 4:45 am
USA might not win says:
“K Dizzle says:
How good will Bron, CP,Wade, DWill, Howard, Beasley, Mayo, Stephon Curry(in the Redd role), John Wall, and Lance be in 2012 now that they know they gotta come in focussed? The World needs to get at that question”
Did you steal your computer? Be honest
August 24th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Chainfire says:
A born Canadian invented the game of basketball, who cares if he invented it while working abroad in the USA for some university. Canada has as much claim to basketball as does the USA. We just don`t give a damn about a game not played on ice ( hockey).
August 24th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Xavier Garcia says:
GREAT GAME, CONGRATS TEAM USA!
As a Spaniard, I couldn’t feel more proud of this team, we fought HARD and did not back down. Amazing games from the Gasol brothers, Rudy (facial on Howard!), Rubio and Navarro, and of course Kobe, CP3 and Wade on the US squad. Most of all I’m proud because we showed that yeah, we can hang with these guys, and we got their respect.
This was definitely the best Olympic basketball game I’ve ever watched and truly represented the spirit of the Olympics, both teams really killed themselves out there and gave everything they had. Its hard to see a game of this intensity in today’s NBA and man, it was totally worth staying up for.
Once again, congratulations to Team USA, you guys were great.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:45 am
Borgs says:
With a name like ‘maple’ -town, one would think he’d be aware that a Canadian invented basketball, albeit while he was in the USA.
Congrats to the USA and its fans. Clearly the best team in this tourney. Deserved winners.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:45 am
C says:
That’s BS- Fernandez and Navarro went off BEFORE Kobe got switched on them
August 24th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Blue says:
@A-Slam
i’ll break it down for you since you seem to suffer from down syndrome…
if your daddy (naismith) was canadian, but you (basketball) were born and raised in the us, wouldn’t that make you (basketball) american?
it’s kinda like…even though your parents are of normal intelligence…you’re still retarded.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I’m still waiting for US might not win and acidmamma to tell where they’re from. Are you guys ashamed?
August 24th, 2008 at 4:48 am
AB_40 says:
Wow great game. If you enjoy offensive bball haha it was like watching 2 guys going at it on nba live at rookie level.
Man if usa used more of a drive and kick aproach to that zone they would have busted spain up and show they are the undisputed number 1. ah well I know this 2010 the world championships are gonna be fun, usa hasn’t won that tournament since 1994 so 2010 will be a 16 year draught haha.
Nice way to bring home the gold, usa usa usa ah hahahahahahaha
August 24th, 2008 at 4:49 am
rlf says:
and that’s why kobe is the BEST, and the LEADER, he doesn’t go away in the 4th quarter.
wade was great in the first half 21 points in the first half,only 6 in the second, is all good tho. kobe is there to save the day.
no kobe, no gold.
where was the leader? the chosen one?
August 24th, 2008 at 4:49 am
K Dizzle says:
Chainfire’s killin you, Blue. Let it go…or at least wikipedia Dr James Naismith
@ post 25 - I paid for the laptop on my visa…platinum avion. You might wanna change your name now tho.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:50 am
sans says:
Navarro really took control of Deron. He scored eight straight on him in the third.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:50 am
A-Slam says:
no sir it wouldnt, were not thinkin hypothetical here, a canadian used his mind to create basketball, not an american, so suck it bitch
August 24th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Allan says:
USA will never let it’s guard down again and USA basketball will make sure of that. How good will Spain, Argentina and Greece be in 2010 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics is anybody’s guess, but in case you have not noticed that question was made completely irrelevant by the new program instilled by Colangelo and Coach K. The US has finally grasp what FIBA basketball is all about and the success of this program will simply trickle down to all basketball dimensions and levels in the US. American kids will now emulate how D-wade, LEbron, Carmelo, Kobe and the rest was able to beat good teams with team work, defense, talent, and speed. This is the future of USA basketball. Now how good will the world be in the next round of world championship basketball ? Hmmmm better rephrase that to, how can the Americans be stopped from hereon. The world will again only dream of Silver . . . .Think about Greg Oden, Durant, Beasely and others who will simply bring talent and teamwork to each competition . . .USA pride has been restored tonight by the Awesome Redeem Team !!
August 24th, 2008 at 4:51 am
x0t says:
highlight #1: rudy puts dhoward on a poster
highlight #2: kobe douses coach k and then laughs in his face
August 24th, 2008 at 4:51 am
sans says:
I’m waitng for Lebron to throw the ROC on the podium…
August 24th, 2008 at 4:52 am
Blue says:
haha…
@k-dizzle
i’m just tryin’ to say that the us has the right to claim basketball as it’s own. canada hasn’t done anything with it.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:53 am
A-Slam says:
umm okay blue well, lets say naismith was aborted or some shit, then would anyone come up with the sport? i rest my case ass face
August 24th, 2008 at 4:53 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@Xavier Garcia
Finally somebody outside the US who is being real about it rather than just hating. Much respect to you, Spain, and the Spanish national team.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:53 am
sans says:
Argentina is really stoked to grab 3rd…bunch of smiling people I never saw play and Nocioni taping it like a tourist.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:54 am
sans says:
Everyone that played for Spain is pissed, but their scrubs are real smiley right meow.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Blue says:
@a-slam…
again…
it’s not a hypothetical situation i’m talking about. it’s called an analogy. comparing one thing to another to illustrate a point.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Austin Burton says:
Let’s just say Canada invented basketball, the United States perfected it. Fair enough?
August 24th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Allan says:
Kudos to Spain and Argentina . .truly worth the championship and Gold Medal !!
August 24th, 2008 at 4:55 am
Chainfire says:
Nah, Canada has as much claim to the invention of basketball as the U.S. I would argue moreso, since Canada raised Dr. Naismith, the man who invented the game. Canada is not good at basketball, it is not well supported by our government at all forms of competition. We put a lot of money in hockey though, that’s why we run shit in that sport.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:56 am
A-Slam says:
i agree with austin burton
August 24th, 2008 at 4:56 am
sans says:
i hate Manu most days, just not in the Olympics.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:56 am
Allan says:
With Today’s win, the US Team has officially joined the FIBA world powers . . . .and claimed the no.1 spot ! Really proud of the Team after a long and ardous road . . Hard work, perseverance and pride was part of the ingredient.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:57 am
x0t says:
I guess nobody’s going to point out the obvious: usa didnt deserve it, and showed the same arrogance and showboating that theyve been criticized for in the past. they get a little lead and then give it right back (EXACTLY what they did against ARG) because they’re playing for a blowout instead of respecting their opponent and playing solid D to protect the lead. too bad for spain they’re good enough to do that lol. but hey a couple missed threes and theyre crying themselves to sleep tonight
August 24th, 2008 at 4:58 am
A-Slam says:
and yeah the government does not put any money in basketball, there is no A.A.U circuit, no other level u can play besides high school (with the exception of a couple city leagues)
August 24th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Blue says:
Yo AB…
i agree!
does dime pay you OT for being up at 2 in the morning? hahaha
August 24th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Damon says:
great game, congrats to TEAM USA, deserved winner.
even though i was rooting for spain as an european.
who cares who invented this game, usa is number 1, no question.
but i really hope some guys here could admit that this was no ass whipping and there are not only “lame ass teams” in the world, as doc put it. you gotta admit the margin is smaller and spain really was in the game until the end.
so please show some respect to this great spanish team.
thx spain and usa for this game and congrats again
August 24th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Chainfire says:
I also agree with Austin B.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:01 am
sans says:
Spain had to shoot 60% to make this a close game. The D that the US used scraped up so many turnovers it was unbelievable. Spain gave this game away (that’s right, I said it!) with all the turnovers they coughed up.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:02 am
A-Slam says:
I heard that the next Olympics will only allow ammateur players to compete, is this true?
August 24th, 2008 at 5:03 am
sans says:
i am so proud of this squad. and every hater that made it possible.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:04 am
K Dizzle says:
More sh*t to throw on the fire:
James A. Naismith (November 6, 1861 – November 28, 1939) was a Canadian and naturalized American who invented the sport of basketball and was the first to introduce the use of a helmet in American football
Damn, this dude did everything.
That game was the best ball game I seen in a minute, but neutrally speakin: if Bron has an average game, it’s not that close and Kobe’s still the man for now. Also, ain’t nobody talkin bout the fact that Spain was in the game for 38 minutes with a 17 yr old point guard cuz their main point(JC) was out with injury and you know he don’t turn the rock over so it woulda just been better ball. That being said, that game was more than I expected. Cell just blowin up with texts every time Spain cut back in. Great game. Put basketball back into the Olympic top 3
1. Phelps
2. Bolt
3. Hoops
August 24th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@x0t
Unfortunately in sports deserving has nothing to do with winning. The best team wins. Its irrelevant whether they deserve to or not.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:07 am
sans says:
I am literally shocked that Lebron didn’t throw the roc yet…at least not televised.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:10 am
sans says:
@ damon…mass respect to all the ballers in the world. It’s great to be #1 again, but Spain could have taken us if not for the turnovers. The gap is narrow, and Spain played great. PEace.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Damon says:
@ k dizzle
i hope at least hoops is clean. hahaha
August 24th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Damon says:
@ sans
thx for showing class.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:17 am
x0t says:
yeah spliff. But I was a USA fan going in and by the end I was rooting against them. because they were more interested in showboating than winning the game
August 24th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Ian says:
rif
u sure no kobe no gold
please a team like that without kobe cant win get outta here with that
im a kobe hater ill admit it but u talking out your ass on that one
August 24th, 2008 at 5:19 am
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. And they both win with each side having a player that is undefeated in international play Lisa Leslie and Jason Kidd.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:21 am
daquest?on says:
@ c rudy fernandez was giving kobe the business
top 2 ppl i hate:
1. Kobe Bryant
2.charley rosen
August 24th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Ayo says:
Also in 1984 up 4 on Spain someone i.e Michael Jordan stepped in this one Kobe Byrant.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am
daquest?on says:
im glad team usa won, but sans is right, if spain had converted some of the us’s turnovers,spain might have been the one wearing gold… but o well too bad for them go team usaa!!!
August 24th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Ian says:
c
rudy was killing all game even with kobe on him
did u watch the game
August 24th, 2008 at 5:24 am
sans says:
for real, the white trash in me makes all illnesses curable with whiskey. Crazy.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@daquest?on
I was just checking the medal counts and Puerto Rico hasn’t won any or am I trippin? Damn the bad luck this summer continues for the puertorriquenos. You guys can’t catch a break.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:31 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
My cure all is tequila.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:32 am
sans says:
@Daques?on…I was in Puerto Rico this past month for a week, and wtf is with the rat tail? It is super popular on the island right now, and wrong by all means.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:33 am
sans says:
Spliff, and I don’t mean to be racist, but does that mean you’re Mexican? I like tequila too…
August 24th, 2008 at 5:33 am
daquest?on says:
@ spiff damn man u dont have to remind me lol…yea man we have had a horrible summer, we take sports and beauty pageants super serious in pr and all of them have been disapointing…maybe next olympics. who knows maybe ill be there one day lol
August 24th, 2008 at 5:35 am
daquest?on says:
@ sans man i hate those thing, only weird have those, i dont know why people would cut their hair like that but it also depends on the part where u went to. what part did u go to?
August 24th, 2008 at 5:36 am
daquest?on says:
weird ppl*
August 24th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Team U.S.A almost cried themselves to sleep tonight.... says:
I know people are going to be mad at this, but oh well…
I’m sorry, but I am 100% with ‘xot’ on this…if I took anything from this years Olympics (and the last 8 years)..its that the U.S.A Mens team is no longer as dominate as people want to say. Yes, they won against inferior teams by 30 pts, but at the end of the day…they won against Spain by the skin of their teeth. If Spain wasn’t throwing ally-oops like they were in an NBA All-Star game towards the end, it is a very strong possibility that team U.S.A would have lost the gold tonight.
So I just want to say that if anything for the next Olympic years to come…team U.S.A just needs to go with players that are not only some of the best…but players that are 100% committed to international play. People want to continuously talk bad about the 2004 team…but the fact of the matter is that was NOT the original team that was supposed to go..infact, the only players that committed 100% from the original Athens team was Duncan, Iverson and Richard Jefferson…the rest of the players were added on last minute as a result of all the other players backing out (but it doesn’t surprise me how easily fickle people forget). Which caused that final Athens team to not have enough time to gain chemistry, the original Athens team practiced and played together for 2 Summers. The original Athens team more then likely would have brought home the gold with no problems. Yet the media wants to continuously forget the facts about that team and act as if that final Athens team was the original team that was supposed to be there, and then turn around and ridicule the players that A.) were the only Stars that committed 100% from the original Athens team (Iverson, Duncan and Jefferson) and B.) the add-on players that gave up their Summer last minute to go a try and represent their country. The ridicule was so bad the Duncan, one of the classiest guys in the NBA, said he would not return to another Olympic team. Its ridiculous. Team U.S.A claimed this time that they were trying to “clean up their image” both on and off the court…yet I seen the same unorganized..show-boating nonsense during this game from years past. They snubbed certain star players from this team because they wanted to supposidly “clean up Team U.S.A’s image”, yet they have players on that team with DUI’s, one that has been accused of wife beating and a certain one accused of rape. I’m just saying, the hypocrisy is killing me. Lets keep it real.
The U.S (both fans and players) needs to stop being so cocky and thinking that everyother basketball player around the world are a bunch of scrubs, those international players lace up their sneakers just like NBA players do. Those days of the ‘Dream Team’ are long gone. Which is also more then apperent by the way the mens team took a back seat to Michael Phelps and swimming, the womans gymnastic team, also track and field. Please don’t take this the wrong way, i’m happy team U.S.A won…but at this point i’m even more proud of the U.S.A womans basketball team, because they continue to REALLY dominate with class and a ginuine respect and goal to want to bring the gold home for their country…not their egos.
The last thing I will take away from this that was good was D-Wade. I’m very happy to see him healthy and back in full form. He was a beast, now all the haters and bandwaggoners can shut up when he returns to the 08-09 season :)…also, while people are on here talking about Dwight Howard getting that facial, keep in mind that if Kobe (some of ya’lls hero) wasn’t gambling on the defense for a steal that “facial” would have never happened to Dwight. I’m out…like team U.S.A’s dominance.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:40 am
sans says:
all over man… luquillo, el yuenque, parangitas, anesco, old san juan, all over the paradise that is Puerto Rico.
and everybody had rat tails. I got to praise my mother for never letting me get one of those when I was young and thought they were the coolest…
August 24th, 2008 at 5:40 am
sans says:
the hipster rat tails were the worst.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:42 am
daquest?on says:
@ sans lmfao man the worst part is they think they look and are cool because they have them. man u went to the most beautiful parts puerto rico has to offer..quick fact for u did u know that el yunque is a military base?? only 25 percent is open to the public and ppl say weird stuff happens at el yunque, especially at the top.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:43 am
C says:
I was responding to this from Justin:
“And all this talk about Kobe being the defensive stopper ends with Fernandez and Navarro taking turns giving him the business. If he didn’t go nuts on offense in the last 4 minutes, would’ve been a terrible game for Kobe.”
Navarro sure didn’t get anything from Kobe, and Rudy only got him a few times. Check the play by play:
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer08/basketball/men/playbyplay?gameId=834
Rudy doesn’t score until sometime in the 2nd quarter, where he gets 5 on Kobe, Kobe sits down, and then he gets five more on Prince. 2nd half, Rudy doesnt even score until the 3rd quarter, and a lot of those are in transition or on switches. Yeah, he didn’t shut him down, but what Justin was saying was straight BS.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:47 am
daquest?on says:
@ team usa blah blah blah bro i said some of that like a week ago, like the part of the original athens team.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:48 am
sans says:
@xot
damn. I feel you for real, especially about 04. Wasn’t Ray Allen supposed to get married that summer? That was his excuse. Kobe had CO. But Shaq, Pierce, Baron, Tracy, Vince, Sheed, KG, Kidd, and everyone else that shirked the burden of competing at the Olympics had no excuse.
But this team gave mad props to the International game and dedicated themselves for years to get to the top of the podium. Hopefully this pride lasts.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:49 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@sans
I was born in the US but my fam is from Mexico.
@US might not win
You still running your mouth? Let it go. So where are you repping? A country or are you just anti-american?
August 24th, 2008 at 5:49 am
sans says:
did not know that quest.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:51 am
daquest?on says:
well im off to sleep….yo where is doc n e wayz??? probably hes still in the bathroom.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Maybe the US isn’t as dominant as they were in 1992 but what does that matter. Its about what has been done recently and most recently they are gold medal winners. Let’s move on. Olympics is done as far as I’m concerned so now my focus is on the Cubs breaking the curse, the Raiders improving and the Bulls returning to glory.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:59 am
sans says:
why aren’t you a Bears fan Spliff?
August 24th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
@sans
I just grew up liking the teams my pops liked. He liked all the Chicago teams but somewhere along the way I started liking the Raiders. It was mostly because of Bo Jackson and the way the Raider fans got all crazy dressed up. They always looked intimidating.
August 24th, 2008 at 6:09 am
Team U.S.A almost cried themselves to sleep tonight.... says:
@ ’sans’ #84
Actually, ‘xot’ and I are not the same person, LOL!! But its cool though, I am glad you got the point of my post and that it wasn’t meant to be negative, but just realistic. I love the game of b-ball, love the fact that the guys brought home the gold…but am tired of the hypocrisy of people over the years when it comes to these teams and players. Thank you for responding respectfully to my original post #79.
August 24th, 2008 at 6:12 am
chester says:
USA in the OLYMPICS MEANS:
U(usa) = GOLD
S(spain) = SILVBER
A(argentina)= BRONZE
ayt…!!!!
August 24th, 2008 at 6:13 am
chester says:
U(usa) = GOLD
S(spain) = SILVER
A(argentina)= BRONZE
ayt…!!!!
August 24th, 2008 at 6:18 am
heartbreaker85 says:
things we learned from the gold medal match:
1 rudy fernandez is legit (since roy’s out w/ the injury, maybe he’ll start for portland)
2 ricky rubio will be awfully good once he puts on some weight and decides to shoot
3 jc navarro’s teardrops are sick/ he owned deron williams
4 lebron was m.i.a. in the 4th
5 kobe showed why the media calls him the best player in the world
it was a great offensive-type of match, congrats to team USA
August 24th, 2008 at 6:34 am
P..just hand over the GOLD says:
Haters everywhere….They Got the Gold who cares about the point difference….They didn’t play to great and got it done…i’m happy Spain took their heart back the Game was a classic….Navarro has one of the most serious foaters i have ever seen…had to let that out..
August 24th, 2008 at 6:39 am
rickyrubio says:
It is funny to see how because people support another team, they are all of sudden, haters.
To quote one my favorite rappers(sorry):”If I don’t like it, I don’t like it, that don’t mean that I’m hatin’, I just want to innovate…”
Come on be happy, we saw a great game, maybe the best one on TV, and USA won, congratulations. Leave all the trash talk behind.
August 24th, 2008 at 8:16 am
Andy says:
thank you NBC for putting the games on CNBC
all other games have been on NBC or USA
So of course I didnt look for the games on CNBC
It’s not a great idea to change channels for the medal games
August 24th, 2008 at 10:35 am
blazerjunkie says:
DEFINITIN OF FUTURE DYNASTY: PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
August 24th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
weezy f says:
that game was great i was jumping out my seat most of the game…good thing nbc didnt tape delay it on the west coast i woulda been pissed!
August 24th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Austin Burton says:
What’s the point of fault-finding on a team that went unbeaten and won every game by double digits? The tournament’s over. Any “They didn’t deserve to win” and “Well, they’re lucky that so-and-so…” just sounds like childish hating and bitterness.
August 24th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Shage says:
I feel bad for Boozer and Redd. Both are arguably THE MAN on their respective NBA teams but, are reduced to the role of “Coach K’s human victory cigar” on Team USA. Sigh.
August 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Amar says:
Congrats to team USA. Great game to watch, exciting plays to the end. Spain had heart — if Jose wasn’t hurt it could have been an even closer game. JC Navarro was scoring on Deron like anything because at that point 2nd and 3rd quarter Deron already had 3 fouls. (But then again, JC was scoring like crazy all game long)
I’ve resisted for the longest time, the cognition that Rudy Fernandez is more than just an athletic and exciting swingman, but he looks like he has serious game. Could he be the starting SF in portland?
Raul Lopez played quite poorly, and the 1st quarter he picked up 3 fouls and was out of the game. He iddn’t look that bad at times, nice to see him still playing after all of those knee injuries. No mention from Doug Collins et al. that he was ever an NBA player.
Dwight needs to learn how to make some freethrows.
Ricky Rubio is playing against Jason Kidd, Kobe, Wade, CP3 and Deron as a 17 year old, and he’s breaking them down off the dribble and making some nice passes? At 17? That is impressive.
But it’s going to be hard to win any game when you’re playing against a motivated Kobe.
August 24th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
heartbreaker85 says:
how many teardrop/ floaters did navarro make?
he was throwing them from 10-12 ft, tony parker throws it from less than 10…
memphis should’ve kept him around a bit longer to pair him up with gasol, gay, that edahadi dude and mayo
August 24th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
au61458 says:
Yea, have to agree that the game was great an sometimes the Spanish team really showed the could win against the best US team (by far) they have had in the last eight years.
Kobe, Wade and Paul really made the difference to me. Only Paul didnt score much, but he certainly was much better than Kidd, who got a couple of times owned by Ricky Rubio.
Rudy, Navarro, the Gasol brothers and the rest of the Spanish team gets my congratulations for playing their hearts out and making this maybe the best Olympic final ive ever seen in basketball.
Also have to say that Im really disapointed that Koponen didnt get his place in the Portland team this year. Ok, theyr already stacked with young potential so there was no place for him. But Im from Finland and I thought this would be the opportunity for him to enter NBA and keep on improving. Now his in Italy and might never again get the chance.
Dwight getting blasted by Rudy was the highlight of the game by far. Rudys going to be at least good in the NBA if he still improves.
August 24th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Jay says:
No offense Austin, but you folks stay hating and bandwaggoning on this site when it comes to teams and players, so I don’t see why its wrong for people to voice their opinion about the situation. I am happy that team U.S.A won, but i’m not going to sit around being on their nuts about it.
August 24th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Jay — I understand where you’re coming from, I just don’t get why some people are like, “They didn’t deserve to win.” They just won the whole thing, and I’d say it was fairly convincing.
August 24th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
eyeused2b says:
If Spain wouldn’t have turned the ball over, they could have won. If Spain would have shot 100%, they could have won. If Calderon were healthy, they could have won. If Spain would have grabbed every rebound of the game, they could have…..
OH STOP!
Woulda, coulda, shoulda, but they didn’t. Sh*t happens. It’s called basketball. The USA turned the ball over, missed shots, Kobe has torn ligaments, and they didn’t get all the rebounds either. If both teams played perfect games, USA wins in a blowout. Fortunately for us, neither team was perfect and we got to watch a great, competitive game.
Congrats to Spain on their silver medals. Congrats to the USA on earning the gold medals and some much needed respect.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
doc says:
If Spain didnt turn it over they coulda won.If Spain hit some 3’s they coulda won.If Spain had Michael Jordan they coulda won.Spain got that ass bust.Yes Sir!
August 25th, 2008 at 12:06 am
bookkwormmaster says:
People should really stop trying to call LeBron James out for his supposed “4th quarter disappearance.” LBJ did not go MIA 1) he already had 4 fouls in the fourth and that limited his aggressiveness 2) he played a more defered game and did the little things like keeping possessions alive, grabbing rebounds, playing defense, etc 3) KOBE WAS CHUCKING!! At about close to the halfway point in the fourth when Spain had both the Gasols in the game LBJ kept camping in the middle of the lane while Marc Gasol (they were guarding each other) stood under the basket. LBJ was calling for the ball but Kobe, or anybody else for that matter, weren’t even passing him the ball
August 25th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
sososmom says:
Thank you bookkwormmaster! I was just thinking the same thing about James. Most of the writer and commentators prior to yesterdays game were discussing how USA beats the zone by putting James at the top of the key. He just didn’t get the touches. I’m not sure why having 8 very good games seems to be less that 1 great game.
Also, I want to know who was supposed to be covering Navarro. How could that guy get into the lane every time down the court?
August 25th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
bornagain says:
well the us players at the end showed the world how much class we have. was that a water buffalo mating call crotch grab at the ceremony? or maybe they wanted to make sure they still had one.
one thing that basketball will be remembered for was the death of amatuer olympics.