Quick USA Basketball Thoughts

The USA Basketball Team is playing live as I speak vs. Russia. As I am watching it they lead 31-21 a little into the 2nd quarter.

Russia is playing a match-up zone on Team USA and it's working somewhat on the Americans. They're doing a great job of keeping Lebron and Kobe out of the lane and keeping Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh away from the hoop.

But it's not stopping the USA's outside shooting. Kobe, Dwyane Wade, and Michael Redd have been draining quite a few three's.

Watching these exhibition games is getting me excited for the Olympics. I really hope we will win the gold and I think we will.

Watching this team is a lot different then in years passed. This team has actual team chemistry; they share the ball and look for good and open shots. They don't force much and they play terrific defense, which wasn't the case the past several years.

In the end I think the United States will get it done and win it's first gold since 2000. This team is on a mission and Coach K is doing a terrific job keeping these guys focused and helping them win. Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul will be just too much for any other team too handle.

Team USA impressive vs. Canada

Friday I was very tuned and interested in watching basketball almost as much as March Madness.

When it comes to USA Basketball, I am a big fan. I am a fan of almost any national team. Whether it's basketball, soccer, or the whole Olympics in general. Maybe it's because I have a great sense of pride for my country, maybe not I don't know. But there's something about watching our countries teams.

The first quarter I was kinda not impressed with Team USA at all. They struggled a little bit with some stupid and mental turnovers and mistakes. They missed some rather easy and uncontested shots and gave up some offensive boards.

But maybe I was expecting too much too soon.

After watching the USA's dominance of the world in the sport of basketball when I was a little kid, I guess I just want to see that happen again.

With the way this team played last year in the Tournament of Americas, there's no doubt in my mind they will win the Olympics.

But the way they played in the first quarter it just seemed like another typical American basketball team.

It wasn't until after that first quarter, I was reassured we're going to win the Olympics. The way they played defense Friday in their 120-65 victory over Canada. This team since 2000 hasn't played any defense at all, which is why they've faltered in the past Olympics and World Championships.

They were impressive on both ends of the floor. They were defending the pick-and-roll for once, they were playing physical and making Canada earn their shots. This is what they need to do every game. Their defense stood out last night. They made the Canadians fights for their points and nothing came easy. The defensive was aggressive and feisty. Which was a site for sore eyes.

And because of this great defensive effort, the offense came a little easier. If they can play defense like this at the Olympics, they will have no problem putting up point after point.

Also, they finally looked like a team instead of a bunch of individual players put together. They shared the ball, they ran an offense, they took care of the ball, and they had tremendous shot selection. They had the chemistry and they actually looked like a real team.

This is America's time. Time for us to be back on top of the basketball world.

USA Basketball on a roll

The U.S. Mens Basketball team finally looks like a program once again, instead of a team just put together.

After three impressive wins, U.S. Basketball is starting to look like its old self again. Mike Krzyzewski has put together a team that knows how to play true fundamental basketball, which is the main reason why the U.S. has lost it's dominance in recent years, other than selfish, fancy basketball along with dunks and individual moves.

With a starting lineup composed of Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwight Howard there's no reason to believe the U.S. can't return to power like it did back in the 80's and 90's. Everybody on this team, at least during the FIBA America's Tournament at least, has shown they can share the ball, make the extra pass, and play hard-nosed defense. The team has held it's first three opponents to 30.9% shooting and have averaged 116 points per game thus far.

Over the past few seasons the American squad has not had its best players play. I would have loved to see Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, or Tim Duncan play. Maybe we could have won with a few more of our best of the best in the NBA. But now Coach K has put together a team that will win the Tournament of Americas and no doubt in my mind should win the Olympics.

As a basketball fan, especially an American one, it has been frustrating how the U.S. has lost its prestige over the world. With a team composed of NBA players such as Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo, Howard, Kidd, Michael Redd, and Amare Stoudemire, there's no way this team should come up short of an Olympic Gold Medal next summer; it's now or never, because if the U.S. doesn't win this time around, they may never regain their power ever again.