FIBA USA vs Brazil

[jdpapa3]

Billups is a ball hog.

[Snakehead]

The defense has been impressive but the offense has been dreadful. Lack of ball movement.

I think this is where you miss Rondo. He moves the ball much better than anyone on the team, and that includes Billups at this stage.  Eric Gordon should be playing more.

[Assassin70]

Gold medal is going to be tough for this team. 

[Who]

The fourth quarter was tied 9-9. Both teams were pathetic offensively in the final period.

[xmuscularghandix]

Derrick Rose drives me insane, he makes so many bad decision.

[fairweatherfan]

Gold medal is going to be tough for this team. 

I think we knew that going in.   

Weak finish there, especially on O, but they all count the same.  Greece will be an interesting test as well.

[Witch-King]

Another close victory for the USA. I was concerned with our perimeter shooting; however we played great defense during the final quarter (both teams only scored 9 points each in the 4th) and that was enough to get the win.

Team USA's main fault, in my opinion anyway is the lack of ball movement - too many iso's and not enough passes before a shot attempt. We also blew quite a few easy looks in the paint, however there were plenty of other times where we were able to convert free throws off of fouls. According to Bill Simmons Rondo's free throw shooting could have possibly been a detriment to team USA's chances of doing well in this tournament.

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

Derrick Rose drives me insane, he makes so many bad decision.

Derrick Rose is a certifiable idiot.  He'll be stuck on the Iverson/McGrady level of 'superstar' for that reason alone--he has the BBIQ of a high school freshman. 

Billups is a ball hog.

You don't become Mr. Big Shot by deferring to others.

***

Today's game was the kind of game Rondo could have helped.  Instead of running 40 minutes of isolation basketball and contested jump shots, we would have been able to run some offense and get easier shots.  And I'm pretty sure Rondo can defend the pick-and-roll better than DRose.

And before somebody says it: Rondo's shooting problems don't matter if you surround him with shooters.  AI and Chandler don't defend well enough to warrant the spots they were given on this team, and it was their inability to shoot that doomed the Rondo/Billups/Durant/AI/Chandler lineup.  Coach K was right about not playing two non-shooters at the same time, but Rondo was the wrong scapegoat.

[dpaps]

I love Kevin Durant...he is going to be one of the 50 best before he is done...he is defending well now too

50 best? I'd guess more like 10 best. Maybe 5. Maybe 1

[thirstyboots18]

I love Kevin Durant...he is going to be one of the 50 best before he is done...he is defending well now too

50 best? I'd guess more like 10 best. Maybe 5. Maybe 1

Better than Russell?  Better than MJ?  Better than Magic or Bird?  Shaq?    I'd say, given room for personal opinion and prejudice, 50 best all time is a good place to aim for...and he is still young and hasn't "won anything" yet.  50 best also means longevity, to me...

[fairweatherfan]

I love Kevin Durant...he is going to be one of the 50 best before he is done...he is defending well now too

50 best? I'd guess more like 10 best. Maybe 5. Maybe 1

Durant's got a shot at Top 10 to be sure, but he's got a heck of a lot of absolute legends to leapfrog to get there.  He won't even be in the discussion for Top 10 til he's got at least a ring or two.  Kid's good but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

[thirstyboots18]

Derrick Rose drives me insane, he makes so many bad decision.

Derrick Rose is a certifiable idiot.  He'll be stuck on the Iverson/McGrady level of 'superstar' for that reason alone--he has the BBIQ of a high school freshman. 

Billups is a ball hog.

You don't become Mr. Big Shot by deferring to others.

***

Today's game was the kind of game Rondo could have helped.  Instead of running 40 minutes of isolation basketball and contested jump shots, we would have been able to run some offense and get easier shots.  And I'm pretty sure Rondo can defend the pick-and-roll better than DRose.

And before somebody says it: Rondo's shooting problems don't matter if you surround him with shooters.  AI and Chandler don't defend well enough to warrant the spots they were given on this team, and it was their inability to shoot that doomed the Rondo/Billups/Durant/AI/Chandler lineup.  Coach K was right about not playing two non-shooters at the same time, but Rondo was the wrong scapegoat.

TP, SalmonsandMashed, Good points!  I still wish Rondo would become proficient at the charity stripe...in close games one or two free throws can make the difference.  It may have been the deciding factor today....

[gar]

Chandler totally unimpressive.

[Who]

Chandler totally unimpressive.

Tyson Chandler has been very poor during most of the Team USA action I've seen.

I don't know why he's struggling so much. This should be a simple role for him to fill.

[Assassin70]

I love Kevin Durant...he is going to be one of the 50 best before he is done...he is defending well now too

50 best? I'd guess more like 10 best. Maybe 5. Maybe 1

Durant's got a shot at Top 10 to be sure, but he's got a heck of a lot of absolute legends to leapfrog to get there.  He won't even be in the discussion for Top 10 til he's got at least a ring or two.  Kid's good but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Exactly he is one injury away from bing the next Grant Hill for all we know.

Potential is off the charts no doubt, but slow down guys...