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you beat me to creating a thread by two minutes.
Anyone else up to watch this with me?
you beat me to creating a thread by two minutes.
Gotcha!!
I am going to do a quarter to quarter analysis.
Game on, Kobe already to the FT line.
Ak47 with the wild shot.
kobe has to stop forcing shots.
Nice to know I'm not the only one not sleeping. This may be the first game I see all of.
Who are the commentators?
AK47 with some wild shots, good blocks and almost picking up the T.
First Quarter:
Team USA started the 1st quarter with a trip to the free throw line from Kobe. He then forces a turn over on the other end. He is quite the tenacious defender. They have done a good job at getting to the line in most every game. Seems like the USA, true to form, is trying to pound the ball inside to Dwight early when they can. Another forced turnover from team USA leads to a thunderous Lebron dunk. Team USA's defense is much improved today; forcing turnovers, nice rotations and rebounding.
First basket from Russia comes 3 minutes into the first off of a nice shake and bake. The half court offense for the USA is breaking down a little. They are resorting to the NBA one-on-one a little too much and not moving the ball. AK-47 goes inside off a half court play and ties it 9-9. The energy has dropped a little and the USA is not running as much as they should. Russia is hanging in there, playing better defense now and not turning the ball over as much.
Chris Paul has entered the game at the 4:30 mark of the quarter. Russia is doing a nice job in the half court now. AK-47 is the focal point right now and just got to the line on Lebron. Wade is playing with the best energy right now; he is shooting well, rebounding and getting to the rim. Deron Williams entered the game at the 3:40 mark of the quarter. Deron Williams with a nice full court pressure steal and assist to a steaking Paul.
Team USA is still gambling a lot on defense. They have great energy when pressuring and trapping, but often look disorganized when the trap is broken. AK-47 with a monster block on Melo inside that leads to the Russians getting to the free throw line at the other end (hit both, score 20-14 USA in the lead). Bosh since entering has done a nice job of getting inside and to the line. Good entry passes and good hands by the USA bigs.
Pressure from the guards has been the story for team USA in this first quarter. They have caused a lot of turnovers and then run out on the break to get easy buckets. Plenty of free throws for team USA in the first. One of the better defensive quarters for the USA. Solid offense that got a little stagnant for a while, but the constant getting inside by both the bigs and guards have helped.
AK-47 is already getting upset. The end of the 1st is near and he is getting animated over some calls/non-calls. He then gets to the line with 22 seconds left and misses the first, hits the second. Paul to Williams for 3 to end the 1st: 29-17 for the USA.
I think it is Rick Kamla and ??
Thanks. I thought it sounded like Kamla but he hasn't said freaks yet.
I don't know who the other one is either.
the commentators are dead s
Fran Frashilla (sp?)
Russians hanging around.
Lebron to Kobe was bad ass!
Lebronz looking to take over.
Deron Williams is a stud.
For you commentator fans Mike Breen and Doug Collins for the Olympic games.
Pashootin? , more like Pabrickin.
The camera is on the wrong side of the court. The sponsors logo's on the hardwood face the other way.
Kobe with the ridiculously long 3 ball, brick.
Pabrikin sticks it between the rim and the backboard, where is the box for this game, this guy sucks.
Quarter 2:
Prince is in to start the 2nd. Russia starts out with a basket and then Wade turns it over on the other end. AK-47 hits a jumper on the turnover. Prince comes down and hits a baseline jumper. Better defense with USA, and Russia uses another intentional foul off the turnover. Lebron and Kobe enter the game off the foul and Lebron gets into the lane so effortlessly for the lay in immediately. So smooth and powerful. Great ball movement by the USA, inside out with Lebron. Then perimeter passes do not lead to the basket, but good offense on the possesion. AK-47 is showing a nice array of offensive moves: jumper, inside post. USA leads 33-25.
Russia is really playing nice team defense. More man-to-man than zone, but a little zone tossed in. Forced some turnovers on team USA. The offense has stalled for USA, they have the movement but are a little sloppy and shots are not falling; give credit to Russia's defense. Very even game so far, if Russia would just cut the turnovers out they would be closer than 8 points.
Still struggling on offense is USA. Good example of what is going on was this last play. Quazi zone from Russia and the USA just spreads and leaves Lebron 1 on 1 and he is forced into a tough shot. Kobe with a sick jam to possibly kick start the offense. USA's defense has been consistent. High pressure, forcing turnovers and rebounding well. They have only allowed 8 points halfway through the quarter. Just as a side note, it is funny to watch Kobe defend. He seems to be using the same move Battier used when he guarded Kobe so well (the hand in the face on the jump shot).
Williams with a nice entry pass to Boozer for the reverse. AK-47 is playing well, just chased down an offensive rebound and the next possession he makes a sweet pass to a back door cutter. Then he draws the foul on Boozer the next possession to get to the free throw line. I have always like AK, and thought he would make a perfect Spur! Williams is really energizing the team. Wade continues to shoot well as he gets the bounce off a tear drop. He then forces a steal and Kobe flies out of bounds to save it. Williams to Boozer gets another quality look, but it does not fall. Just as I was about to write that Russia has done a better job of taking care of the ball, Wade with another steal and flush.
It is now an 12 point game (43-31) and turnovers have been the reason. Kobe is fierce on defense. He really has a great at ude and sets the tone for the "up in your grill" style of "d" that team USA is playing. Williams has made some nice passes and has really been the most consistent in running the offense. Nice entry passes and perimeter passing as well. He made a tough pass to Melo that led to free throws with a minute left in the quarter. USA gets another stop (thank god, because from the latter half of the 1st until now the offense has not looked sharp. Credit Russia's defense for some of that). Wade with an absolute monster offensive rebound and gets fouled with 8 seconds left.
Story of the 1st half: Both teams defense and turnovers. Kind of an ugly, grind it out game except for the breaks off of the turnovers. Wade had a monster half and Williams looked sharp. AK-47 had a very nice half as well. Half time score: 46-31 in favor of team USA.
Last edited by DPG21920; 08-03-2008 at 03:09 AM.
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