USA Basketball Challenge vs. Puerto Rico (Aug. 3)

[angel_luv]

Jim Durham


ty... I didn't recogize the voice.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

What number is Bruce wearing?

[timvp]

This is the coolest US team since the original dream team.

In two years they are going to be devastating.

[angel_luv]

What number is Bruce wearing?

11

[T-Pain]

What number is Bruce wearing?
11

[Spurologist]

What number is Bruce wearing?

http://www.spurschick.com/bruce_02.jpg

courtesy of Spurschick

[T-Pain]

damn bruce better bounce back otherwise his ass is gone :(

[Kori Ellis]

damn bruce better bounce back otherwise his ass is gone :(

:lmao

What the hell are you talking about ... he barely played.

[angel_luv]

http://www.spurschick.com/bruce_02.jpg

courtesy of Spurschick

Well done M!

Awesome pic. :)

[T-Pain]

wow bruce is the only one who has yet to score?????

:(

[ShoogarBear]

I don't see Battier getting cut based on what I saw this game. He hit a couple of threes, hustled, and tried to draw some charges.

[Spurologist]

Bowen needs to at least get a bucket here

[Kori Ellis]

wow bruce is the only one who has yet to score?????

:(

Don't get too upset. He's not likely to score often in these games. Especially playing limited minutes in blowouts.

[Kori Ellis]

I don't see Battier getting cut based on what I saw this game. He hit a couple of threes, hustled, and tried to draw some charges.

I only mentioned him because I was told last week the three players on the bubble were Jamison, Battier, and Miller.

[2centsworth]

Of course I haven't seen any of the practices and there are 3 games left. However,
based on what I've seen tonight the potential cut list is as follows:

Melo, Jamison, Bruce and Miller.

[Kori Ellis]

Of course I haven't seen any of the practices and there are 3 games left. However,
based on what I've seen tonight the potential cut list is as follows:

Melo, Jamison, & Bruce.

Carmelo???

Do you just hate him?

He's the biggest lock to make the team. The coaching staff is higher on him than anyone else.

[Spurologist]

Miller is a definate out.

Jameson has impressed with his outside shot. Battier also has. It's a mystery to me know. I wonder if Kobe is definately out or will a spot be left for him

[Kori Ellis]

I wonder if Kobe is definately out or will a spot be left for him

He's out for the WC. Any of the original 25 can be back for the Olympic team.

[2centsworth]

Carmelo???

Do you just hate him?

He's the biggest lock on the team.
I just said based on this game. I haven't a clue who will actually get cut.

[T-Pain]

Don't get too upset. He's not likely to score often in these games. Especially playing limited minutes in blowouts.
true, im just a little dissapointed. he airballed one shot and rimmed off the other. thats his shot!!!

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Of course I haven't seen any of the practices and there are 3 games left. However,
based on what I've seen tonight the potential cut list is as follows:

Melo, Jamison, Bruce and Miller.

yeh, what the hell? :drunk

Melo should start or be first off the bench, he has taken his play to a new level this summer

[Kori Ellis]

yeh, what the hell? :drunk

Melo should start or be first off the bench, he has taken his play to a new level this summer

All indications are that he will start.

[LaMarcus Bryant]

puerto rico just got bukkaked

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

All indications are that he will start.


:elephant way to go!

man i wish i had ESPN2 at the moment :depressed

[ShoogarBear]

Kobe is out for the World Championships.

When the Olympic cycle comes around, he will be back in the mix along with Billups, Amare, etc.

[Spurologist]

I just said based on this game. I haven't a clue who will actually get cut.

he has been selfish as usual but he has played very well in other areas like rebouding/points/fg%

[2centsworth]

he has been selfish as usual but he has played very well in other areas like rebouding/points/fg%
that's exactly what I saw, a lot of selfishness on O and not much created on D.

[ShoogarBear]

Holy crap, what an outlet by Paul.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

ill just ignore the Melo haters :smokin

Wade and Lebron can be selfish as hell and yet people ride their jocks all day long :lol

[Horry For 3!]

USA won pretty easily

[ShoogarBear]

Uh, no. Whatever else you want to say about Wade and LBJ, they are not selfish players. Carmelo definitely tends to be one. He's playing well, though.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Uh, no. Whatever else you want to say about Wade and LBJ, they are not selfish players. Carmelo definitely tends to be one. He's playing well, though.


He used to be selfish and got heaps better but unfortunately be HAD to be a little selfish last season coz noone would hit a shot on the Nuggets :lol maybe its carried over a little from him forgetting that he now has teammates who can shoot :smokin

either way, he is showing great signs for next season

:elephant

[Spurologist]

ill just ignore the Melo haters :smokin

Wade and Lebron can be selfish as hell and yet people ride their jocks all day long :lol

You are just as blind as Melo. I could count at least ten times when dribbled in the lane and either shot the ball, turned it over or miss a shot when he has WIDE WIDE open players around him.

Wade and LeBron repeatedly passed the ball in the flow of the offense and got theirs later on. Melo doesn't quite understand that.

Melo is a great player but when he isn't making shot, he's basically useless because he doesn't pass well and can't play D.

It's that simple.

[timvp]

Melo is probably the clutchest player in the NBA. Over the last couple years, he's hit more game winners than anyone.

[2centsworth]

He used to be selfish and got heaps better but unfortunately be HAD to be a little selfish last season coz noone would hit a shot on the Nuggets :lol maybe its carried over a little from him forgetting that he now has teammates who can shoot :smokin

either way, he is showing great signs for next season

:elephant
I just want to see hustle on D. Get some steals and blocks.

[ShoogarBear]

Melo is probably the clutchest player in the NBA. Over the last couple years, he's hit more game winners than anyone.I'd still take Kobe or Wade over him in terms of clutchness.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Team USA Flattens Puerto Rico in Exhibition
Anthony Leads Domination With 18 Points

Coming soon: a chance to reclaim its old spot on top of the basketball world.

Using a sensational defensive effort to overcome a slow start, the Americans overwhelmed the Puerto Ricans 114-69 on Thursday night in their lone exhibition game on home soil before the world championships.

Carmelo Anthony scored 18 points, Antawn Jamison added 16 and Dwyane Wade had 14 for the Americans, who will meet Puerto Rico again on Aug. 19, in the opening game of the world championships in Sapporo, Japan.

Hours before departing for Asia to continue training for that event, the Americans showed their defense seems at championship level already.

A 31-2 run spanning halftime blew open the game and sent the U.S. on its way to avenging a 92-73 loss to Puerto Rico at the 2004 Olympics - perhaps the most embarrassing moment in U.S. basketball history.

The Americans ended Puerto Rico's hopes for another upset with a suffocating defensive effort, continuing to contest shots long after the outcome had been decided.

LeBron James and Joe Johnson each added 10 points for the U.S. while teaming for one of the game's highlight plays.

It was a mostly impressive effort from the U.S. team, put together by a revamped USA Basketball after disappointing performances in the last two international competitions: a third-place finish in '04 following a sixth-place showing in the 2002 worlds.

Cheered on by a group of flag-waving fans at the Thomas & Mack Center, Puerto Rico pulled ahead 33-29 while the Americans went scoreless for more than 3 minutes to open the second quarter. But the U.S. held Puerto Rico to one field goal over the final 7 minutes, closing the half with a 19-2 surge to take a 48-35 lead.

The Americans had a whopping 21-1 advantage in points off turnovers at halftime over the Puerto Ricans, whose jerseys featured the Burger King logo.

Getting easy baskets after turnovers, the Americans opened the second half with a 12-0 run, highlighted when James dunked and drew a foul after a steal by Johnson, to open a 60-35 bulge with 8:12 remaining in the third quarter.

Wade added his own dunk after a steal a few minutes later - then saluted a group of troops sitting in the front row along the sideline.

Getting mostly dunks, the U.S. shot 70 percent (14-of-20) in the third quarter to build an 83-48 lead. After allowing 26 points in the first quarter, the Americans gave up a total of 22 in the middle two.

The U.S. started James, Wade and Anthony - who all played in Athens - along with Chris Bosh and Chris Paul. Anthony sparked the Americans to a quick start, scoring seven points as the U.S. opened a 9-2 lead. But Puerto Rico regrouped and was down only 29-26 after Rick Apodaca's 3-pointer with under 3 seconds left in the period.

The Puerto Ricans have slipped since their upset in Athens, splitting their eight regional qualifying games last year and needing a wild-card invitation from FIBA just to make it to Japan.

But they came out seriously Thursday. Coach Julio Toro was hit with a technical foul barely 1 1/2 minutes into the game after arguing a carrying violation.

The game closed the second of two training camp sessions for the U.S. team on the campus of UNLV. The Americans were scheduled to depart Friday for China, where they will play exhibitions next week against China and Brazil, followed by additional training and two more games in South Korea.

The U.S. team is bringing 14 players to Asia after Amare Stoudemire was sent home earlier Thursday to continue rehabbing his knee and attend to the impending birth of a child. The roster must be reduced to 12 before the start of the world championships.

Notes: The teams scrimmaged on Tuesday night. Scores were reset at the end of each period, otherwise the Americans would have won 116-82. ... Among the sellout crowd of 18,218 were Julius Erving, Pat Riley and Olympic gold medalists Scottie Pippen and Clyde Drexler. ... Perhaps stemming from Duke's upset victory over undefeated UNLV in the 1991 Final Four, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski drew quite a few boos during pregame introductions.

http://sports.aol.com/nba/story/_a/team-usa-flattens-puerto-rico-in/20060804012909990001

[timvp]

I'd still take Kobe or Wade over him in terms of clutchness.

I probably would too.

But with less than 24 seconds to go in a game and the score either tied, down 1 or down 2, Melo has by far the best record in the league.

Melo - 11-17
Kobe - 7-32
Wade - 6-17

[T Park]

were baaaaaaccckkkkkk :smokin

[adidas11]

I'm watching the game right now...recorded it via DVR.

Quick question. What is that white thing on the basketball? Does anyone know?

[MannyIsGod]

I want a Bowen USA Jesey.

[E20]

Can anybody find a boxscore?

[Kori Ellis]

USA 114, PUERTO RICO 69

PUERTO RICO (69)

Ramos 2-5 3-6 7, Reyes 0-0 0-0 0, Hatton 3-6 6-7 12, Arroyo 4-10 7-8 16, Apodaca 3-7 4-4 12, Dalmau 1-4 1-1 3, Ayuso 2-5 0-0 4, Latimer 0-1 0-0 0, Figueroa 0-2 0-0 0, Narvaez 0-0 3-4 3, Lee 0-5 0-0 0, Santiago 4-8 4-7 12. Totals 19-53 28-37 69.

USA (114)

James 4-6 2-3 10, Anthony 6-9 4-5 18, Bosh 0-3 3-4 3, Wade 6-10 1-2 14, Paul 1-3 3-3 5, Johnson 4-7 1-1 10, Hinrich 3-7 0-0 7, Jamison 6-11 1-2 16, Battier 1-2 0-0 3, Arenas 2-6 3-3 9, Bowen 0-2 0-0 0, Miller 3-4 2-2 8, Brand 3-8 0-0 6, Howard 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 41-81 21-27 114.

Puerto Rico 26 9 13 21_ 69

USA 29 19 35 31_110

3-Point Goals_Puerto Rico 3-14 (Apodaca 2-4, Arroyo 1-4, Dalmau 0-1, Ayuso 0-1, Figueroa 0-2, Lee 0-2), USA 11-31 (Jamison 3-7, Anthony 2-3, Arenas 2-4, Battier 1-1, Wade 1-2, Johnson 1-4, Hinrich 1-4, James 0-1, Miller 0-1, Bosh 0-1, Paul 0-1, Bowen 0-2). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Puerto Rico 34 (Ramos 6), USA 48 (Howard 10). Assists_Puerto Rico 6 (Arroyo 2, Dalmau 2), USA 26 (Paul 8). Total Fouls_Puerto Rico 27, USA 32. Technical_Puerto Rico bench. A_18,218.

[MI21]

I take it they haven't started making the Team USA jerseys available for sale yet considering the team isn't set. I NEED a Bowen one.

As for the people saying Brad Miller should be cut... Big man with fantastic passing skills and great outside shooting. Very valuable in international basketball.

[Dre_7]

I probably would too.

But with less than 24 seconds to go in a game and the score either tied, down 1 or down 2, Melo has by far the best record in the league.

Melo - 11-17
Kobe - 7-32
Wade - 6-17

After watching the 2006 playoffs, with less than 24 seconds left tied or down 1 or 2, I'd take D Wade in a heartbeat.

[Mavs_man_41]

What was up with Bosh and Brand? Anyone else notice them dropping easy passes under the basket and missing alot of easy shots?

[Mavs_man_41]

^If i didn't know better I'd say they were nervous. I guess this is possible since it is the first time playing for team usa for both of them.

[ChumpDumper]

It might be possible for Brand had he not already been on like five national teams.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

After watching the 2006 playoffs, with less than 24 seconds left tied or down 1 or 2, I'd take D Wade in a heartbeat.


coz you know he will get a call 95% of the time? :lol

[1Parker1]

coz you know he will get a call 95% of the time? :lol

:lol

[Shaolin-Style]

Sorry if someone posted the espn recap, guy nearly singled out bowen

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&id=2539099




"LAS VEGAS -- Jerry Colangelo was checking his cell phone messages in the tunnel beneath the stands a few minutes after the final buzzer when I asked him for a report card on his own little Dream Team.

"The effort is there, and everybody is on the same page -- and I know you didn't see that in Athens," he said.

He's got a point there, and thus far everything seems to be going according to plan for the man in charge of restoring America's rightful place in the world of international basketball.

Colangelo keeps talking about being on a mission, and his players truly seem to have bought into his message. The evidence was right there on the court Thursday for all to see, the Americans playing selflessly and energetically and doing all of the little things that great teams are supposed to do.

After a sluggish first quarter in which they missed eight of nine 3-point attempts and led just 29-26 (so much for the idea of dominating every single quarter), the Americans got a boost from their second unit of Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier and Joe Johnson to close the first half with a 19-2 run that eventually became a 31-2 run once the third quarter began. The surge turned a 33-29 deficit into a 57-35 lead, and the rest of the night was showtime for the U.S. players who appear genuinely determined to start a new chapter in the evolution of Team USA.

Just listen to Carlos Arroyo, who was a centerpiece of the biggest humiliation the Americans have suffered over the past four years (a 19-point victory over the United States in the Athens opener) while losing six of their 17 games at the 2002 World Championship and 2004 Olympics.

"It's a team that has a lot of pride, and with what they went through the last couple years, there's nothing to expect but greatness from this team. It's a team that's hungry for a medal, that's hungry to show the world that they're not what they've shown for the last couple years," Arroyo said.

The Americans forced 25 turnovers in their 114-69 victory and got 18 points from Carmelo Anthony, 16 from Antawn Jamison and 14 points, five assists and four steals from Dwyane Wade, who stopped after one breathtaking breakaway dunk to salute a group of U.S. Air Force personnel seated in the front row in their desert fatigues.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski also singled out Shane Battier for praise, and it'll be interesting to see whether Battier will beat out Bruce Bowen for one of the final spots on the roster (The Americans are bringing 14 players to Asia, but only 12 will be on the active roster). Bowen was the only U.S. player who did not score Thursday night, and he also was the only American to shoot an airball.

The U.S. players have been staying at the fancy Wynn Hotel and Casino, running across Americans from all corners of the country.

"Every time you walk through the hotel lobby, there's people excited about USA Basketball and wanting to know how practice is going and how guys are doing. We understand that we represent more than the organizations we play for in the NBA, and we represent more than the name on the back. We represent the name on the front of our jersey, and that means a lot to every guy on this team," Wade said.

Said coach Mike Krzyzewski: "There was something about being here that has helped to create a national spirit for our team."

The next challenge for the Americans will be to keep their effort and enthusiasm at a peak through their exhibition tour of China and South Korea, with a side stop in Hong Kong, before arriving in Sapporo, Japan, for their first meaningful game Aug. 19.

The last version of Team USA also looked great in its first exhibition game, also against Puerto Rico, but things quickly changed after they boarded a plane and made the long journey overseas. They got stomped by Italy and barely defeated Germany in their second and third exhibitions, then had a great tuneup against Serbia-Montenegro in Belgrade before taking a step backward in a tight game against Turkey in Istanbul. By the time that team arrived in Athens it was still figuring itself out, and we all remember what happened in Athens.

And so while I am left every bit as impressed as Colangelo, I'm not ready to concede the gold medal to this team just yet. There's a long way to go, and strange things happen in international basketball games. Let's see how they look two weeks from now when the comforts of Vegas will be long behind them. Better yet, let's see how they look a month from now when they're bound to be road-weary right when they need to be at their peak. That's when the medal round will be held, and there's no guarantee that they'll be playing as well then as they are right now."

[SequSpur]

Bowen is coming home.

[Solid D]

Bowen is coming home.

Not so fast, grasshopper. 'must learn the ways of team defense game, first.

[Solid D]

I'm watching the game right now...recorded it via DVR.

Quick question. What is that white thing on the basketball? Does anyone know?

Are you are talking about the off-white bands on the ball? That's the FIBA ball. Here is a link to the description of the ball designed by Molten.

http://www.fiba.com/asp_includes/download.asp?file_id=434

[TheSanityAnnex]

I'd still take Kobe or Wade over him in terms of clutchness.
Kobe is not clutch. The stats don't lie. He is 7-32 in clutch situations if I remember correctly, and.........................he has 0 assists clutch situations, the only player to have such a stat with that many attempts.

[mabber]

I'm sure this was mentioned in one of the 12 pages of this thread (but I'm too lazy to read them all) but that was a SICK crossover move and reverse layup w/foul by Joe Johnson in the 1st half.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

You think Bowen has to get big numbers next game so he can still have a chance to be in the team?

[1Parker1]

Kobe is not clutch. The stats don't lie. He is 7-32 in clutch situations if I remember correctly, and.........................he has 0 assists clutch situations, the only player to have such a stat with that many attempts.

:lol Shoot, if I had Smush Parker and Kwame Brown to pass to....I'd have 0 assists too.

[Kori Ellis]

You think Bowen has to get big numbers next game so he can still have a chance to be in the team?

No. I don't think anyone that matters is expecting Bowen to put up numbers. I think he is making it automatically because of his leadership, experience and defense. It probably doesn't matter if he scores at all. We'll see what happens.

[mabber]

No. I don't think anyone that matters is expecting Bowen to put up numbers. I think he is making it automatically because of his leadership, experience and defense. It probably doesn't matter if he scores at all. We'll see what happens.

I agree, I think he'll make it.

[infinite styles]

I guess its a good thing that Sheridan isn't deciding who stays on the team if he's going to base it on who shot the only airball in an exhibition game. I think that the US needs both Bowen and Battier because they seem to work well together on the perimeter especially on switching off on screens and what not. My thoughts though when Bowen was about to take that shot was that it was going to be an airball and the main reason was because its a shorter distance. He'll make the team though.

[mavsfan1000]

I expect Jamison and Miller to be cut. Neither are good on defense while not being quite as good as some of the others on offense.

[Mavs_man_41]

I expect Jamison and Miller to be cut. Neither are good on defense while not being quite as good as some of the others on offense.

Yea but Jamison is a great locker room presence and very versitaile, he clan play both SF and PF, hes a good rebounder, athletic, etc. I can see Brad Miller getting cut but i would hate to see Jamison go.

[Doug Collins]

I'm about to piss my own people off, but I'd rather see Jamison stay over...wait for it...Bruce Bowen. I love Bruce but Jamison fits in better with the style of play they are looking for plus he can create his own shot. Then again it was only one game so we'll see what happens.