Win-or-walk for Team USA, Spain advances, and Carmelo and Kobe playing together in L.A.?
LeBron (photo. Mannion)Not that it will change their level of focus — which has been at a level close to something you’d see in the NBA playoffs — but Team USA moves into the one-and-done phase of the Olympics today with the beginning of the medal round. If they beat Australia this morning (8 a.m. EST), the U.S. faces the winner of Argentina/Greece, and if they get past that opponent, will face either Spain, Lithuania or China for the biggest prize in the sport. There exists a not-so-crazy scenario where China could get to the big game. Their quarterfinal opponent, Lithuania, looked real soft against Australia the last time we saw them, and China was destroying potential semifinal opponent Spain for 30 minutes last week before a fourth-quarter/overtime collapse … First things first, though: The Aussies gave Team USA a battle in an exhibition game not too long ago, and since then have added a healthy Andrew Bogut to the mix along with college sophomore sensation Patty Mills and grizzled vet PG C.J. Bruton. Two immediate keys in this one will be LeBron and Carmelo. The Boomers aren’t as strong at the 3-4 position, so if ‘Bron and ‘Melo get off to a fast start, the U.S. could build a lead similar to how they did against Germany and keep Australia in comeback mode the rest of the way. We’re going to keep a running live blog of the Australia/USA game as it happens, so stay on DimeMag.com and post your observations along with our constantly-updating analysis … ‘Melo has already said he’s thinking of coming back for the 2012 Olympics in London. “I’ll be 27 years old,” he told the Rocky Mountain News. “Depending on what the process is, I am open to 2012. We shall see what the process is.” That brings up a good question: What is the process going to be? Is there going to be another three-year program set in place leading to 2012, or will a gold medal in Beijing bring back that cockiness that American can slap together a roster of All-Stars like you would a pickup squad and go beat the crap out of everyone again? … Yesterday on DimeMag.com we asked if a team of U.S. college players could win a medal at these Olympics, and one of our writers put together his hypothetical college version of Team USA, including Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, Mario Chalmers and Anthony Randolph … In that same ‘Melo article, Kobe was quoted, “He’s probably my favorite person on the team. He’s funny as hell. That’s my guy. That’s my dude. He’s just funny, and he and I, we get along extremely well.” Start the ‘Melo-to-L.A. trade rumors next time things start getting rough with the Nuggets. Wonder if Lamar Odom likes Denver … Spain beat Croatia, 72-59, behind Pau Gasol’s 20 points and 11 boards. Interesting development as Ricky Rubio got the start over Jose Calderon. It actually looked like Calderon was walking out onto the court for the tip-off when he got called back and replaced by Rubio. Is the vet Calderon insulted by not only a move like that, but how it was executed if in fact he didn’t know beforehand? … China/Lithuania was underway at the time we posted this edition of Smack. Maybe the funniest thing we’ve heard all Olympics long is Snapper Jones trying to pronounce the names of the Lithuanian players … A debate broke out on the site yesterday over whether the original Dream Team would beat the Redeem Team. That, of course, turned into another Kobe versus Jordan thing … Iran’s Hamed Ehadadi told reporters he will “undoubtedly” sign with the Grizzlies sooner rather than later. Can’t you see a 2013 Seattle SuperGrizzlies starting lineup of Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Tristan Spurlock (since Rudy Gay will have left for the Wizards in free agency by then), Marc Gasol and Hamed Ehadadi? That team might win 10 games, maybe 12 if they’re lucky … Staying in the Northwest, the Blazers are reportedly set to go with Steve Blake as their opening night starter at point guard. If you were Nate McMillan, would you be setting the table to eventually move Brandon Roy to PG and have Rudy Fernandez at the two, or leave B-Roy at SG, bring Rudy off the bench, and transition Jerryd Bayless to the starting PG spot? … After putting together perhaps the best offseason of any team in the League, the Sixers added another piece yesterday by signing Theo Ratliff. They had to do something following Jason Smith’s ACL injury, and Ratliff, 35, can still play a little. Maybe he can be the teacher who gets things to finally click for The Dalembeast … The Sixers’ big men had better get their ship in order, because apparently Jermaine O’Neal is coming for their heads in the Atlantic Division. “You hear people say that you slowed down, that you don’t have it anymore — but you know that you still have it,” J.O. said in a recent interview. “All the naysayers who are saying that I lost a step, they’ll get a full dosage of me next year.” Do you think Jermaine can return to All-Star form? He says he’s basically been playing on one leg for the last couple of years, and now he’s back at full strength. Is he going to be anything more than a nice complimentary piece to Chris Bosh in Toronto, or is J.O. going to be a certified beast again? … Well, the Suns are finished. Gordan Giricek has signed with Fenerbahce (Turkey), whose past alumni includes Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Tyson Wheeler and Conrad “McNasty” McRae … We’re out like Croatia …
August 20th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Toan says:
Haha, Suns are finished…that´s a good one
August 20th, 2008 at 5:22 am
shanghaibabyfacekiller says:
first!
USA all da way…but CHINA over Lithuania BITCHES!!!!!!!
August 20th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Toan says:
carmelo for lamar doesn`t make sense make in my opinion. neither team would improve or get worse. hope for a good game today..
August 20th, 2008 at 5:25 am
eric says:
First
August 20th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Johnson says:
I guess it’s possible that JO is really healthy but his words don’t mean a whole lot. He said the exact same thing before last year and everyone knows how that turned out–he looked as unhealthy as he ever looked. But if he is healthy, enough that he can play 70 or so unhampered games, then I could see Toronto being pretty good. I’m not going out on a limb with that prediction but I like how they’ve improved their rebounding. I think they’ve gone from a team that was outrebounded overall last year to a team that should outrebound the opposition, which most good teams do, and anytime you can do that and also score, you’re a formidable team.
They have a lot of necessary areas covered. Rebounding. A guy who gets to the free throw line a ton in Bosh. Three point shooting. Big men who can effectively challenge shots near the basket. A good point guard. I think they’re definitely a top 5 team in the east, if JO is healthy.
August 20th, 2008 at 6:09 am
Flying-Aussie-Dutchman says:
lets go AUSSSSSIE’s
August 20th, 2008 at 6:53 am
sans says:
@ Toan…you don’t think that the Lakers would be improved by adding Melo over Odom? I agree the trade won’t happen but Carmello is a huge improvement.
You gotta take Bayless at the point, even though BRoy will end up doing the distribution. Steve Blake is a one note wonder who will always be in the L because he can pass so well.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:04 am
Toan says:
@ sans…well, i don’t think the Lakers need more scorers on their team. With Kobe, Gasol and Bynum healthy they have enough firepower. Adding ‘Melo does not improve their defense at all and would take touches away from Gasol and Bynum. Maybe they are a little tougher with Melo but i don’t see a huge improvement in this trade…and yes, it won’t happen anyway
August 20th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Austin Burton says:
If Melo will step up and not be afraid to shoot in big games, he’s an automatic improvement over Odom. While his rebounding isn’t on par with Odom’s, that’s what Bynum is supposed to make up for.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:13 am
solomon says:
that’s a good one, dime… suns finished… ROFL…
bayless won’t start… it’d be blake, webster, outlaw, LMA & pryz in opening night… blake would probably do the royal ivey thingy and let bayless to the ben gordon supersub act…
well, i hope rudy doesn’t go giricek (read: lame) so dime won’t write in the near future that “the blazers are finished. rudy fernandez signed with real madrid…”
we’re out like croatia… and toni kukoc…
August 20th, 2008 at 7:15 am
solomon says:
by the way, pryz will do that, uhm, dan gadzuric role, start some and man the post while oden gets himself into nba-game shape…
August 20th, 2008 at 7:23 am
sans says:
then pryzbilla will go back to his job of “practice nightmare” for Greg Oden. There’s a reason that Oden’s been balling exclusively against Channing Frye, and that reason is the beast in Joel Pryzbilla.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Austin Burton says:
There’s no way Greg Oden doesn’t start opening night, especially if their opener is at home. It’s too big a deal for the Blazers not to. Maybe he starts and only plays 20 minutes for a while as he gets back in shape, but he’ll be there when the game begins.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:33 am
solomon says:
well, maybe… but point is, the minutes will be very limited…
August 20th, 2008 at 7:36 am
Steve Nash says:
Plenty of dope for Carmelo in LA too
August 20th, 2008 at 7:39 am
solomon says:
well, i haven’t seen joel beasting anyone since he was a gopher…
August 20th, 2008 at 8:07 am
FK in T-Oh says:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l05R9BuyIug&feature=dir
Gotta love CB4
August 20th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Foges says:
Go Aussies !!
August 20th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Tha Boddy says:
People don’t give Carmelo enough credit. He is a shooter who if needed can power his way to the basket. His inside game might not look as strong as his peers (D-Wade, LeBron) but he gets it done. He was not needed to rebound because he had the inside duo Camby, Martin. Why get your hands dirty when it’s not needed. A Carmelo for Odom trade would be a complete “idiot” move for Denver and would ruin that whole team for a long time.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Jules says:
yall really thought China could beat Lithuania?
ahahaha
Lugen’d
August 20th, 2008 at 9:33 am
schoops says:
Denver’s been giving sh*t away this summer, so you never know.
While a 92 vs 08 dream team matchup would be sick I have to give the advantage to the original because their front line is far superior.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Steve Nash says:
Damm Kobe finally got used to the FIBA ball…
August 20th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Brown says:
J.O. can talk all he wants. He’s gotta show and prove on the court. If he can back up that statement though, the Raps will be good and much improved over last year. Hopefully Bargnani does something this year. If him and J.O. can produce like people think they can, they’ll have one of the best frontcourts in the league.
They still need is a swingman who can put the ball on the floor though.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:49 am
speedcat says:
it’s sad that the dream team debate narrowed down to kobe versus jordan. u take jordan out of the equation and the dream team is still a billion times better at every position.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:25 am
doc says:
Another day another ass whipping.@Sans-Prz start over Oden,I doubt it.And I know we respect our elders and Mullin was nice but Melo will put his ass in the torture chamber.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Luigi says:
lmfaooooo whered u get…rudy gay to Washington stuff from?. that would be realllyyyy nice. but by then Twan will retire or still be playing at the age of 39…Gilbert will be 33..n caron will be….35…[hes 28 rite now..n his contract xpires in 2010 or 2009. i dont remember] but that would be nice
but as for Rubio…the guy is sick. good choice. haha.
n Portland should start Joel…because when oden gets in the game…he’ll have a standing ovation..
n Team Redeem is so sick. but they dont compare to the depth n star power the Dream Team had. i mean can dwight howard control Barkley n the Admiral?..i dont think so
August 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
that's whats up says:
imagine if the Lakers had Melo’, Gasol and The Machine???
That would have to be the worst defensive trio in the L.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
that's whats up says:
I got a question……..????????
Which team is going to be worst in the League this year, and how many total wins will they get???
August 20th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
CAMOWED says:
J.O is going to revert back to beast form…too bad T.O didn’t draft Rudy Gay like they should have, They would be the best team in the East.
If Andrea gets it together..(12-14 ppg) they will be a top 4 squad forsure..He’s gotta get it though…
August 20th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Coldchain says:
Too bad T.O. didn’t draft Iggy over Raphael Araujo or however you spell it.
August 24th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Bryce says:
melo isnt gonna be traded to the lakers…. LA just got some chemistry and they arent gonna ruin that, they dont need what melo has, they basically got the whole package when bynum is one hundred percent, walton and vuajic or w/e will do their thing coming off the bench…. i think they’ll be top 3 in the west and prolly make the finals if all goes well……MIAMI HEAT ARE COMING BACK, hahahah id love to say that, but with zo coming off an injury, and having blount as a center, seriously, give zo a break, suuure hes a beast in the paint on defense, but cmon heat, we neeeda trade for a big man, now that we got beasley i wouldnt mind trading shawn marion for a big post threat… who, im not sure, im just creating a topic for yall to argue about! lol
pce out yall
August 24th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Bryce says:
i totally agree with speedcat…. sure the redeem team is more athletic, but they dont compare to the dream team, admiral, jordan, clyde the glyde, stockton, malone, barkley, mullin, laettener, cmonnnn now, they we’re beasting back then!! hahaha
and melo would get his ish beat by mullin, melo aint the reason the redeem team is winning, sure he was 13-13 ft line against argentina, but we’re winning cuz of the surprise of bosh, and the big time game from wade, bron, and kobe in pool play, nuff said.
i think melo is over rated, his j is sick, ill give him that, but hes slow… and hes deff not as athletic as…. everyone else on the team hahaha. im looking to see j kidd drop 30 points in the gold medal game, HAHAHA NOTTTT, maybe 3 points, and some dimes, but yeaaa
im out now, pce