This is a running commentary focusing on Team USA's exhibition game with Argentina! Bill Simmons and Sekou Smith usually does something similar, but I think this will be fun. I watched with the DVR and was rewinding and such, so naturally it's a little late. But here are my thoughts on the game and other things as they unfold.
FIRST QUARTER
- NBATV throws the starting lineups on the screen, and immediately you have to notice Argentina is starting NBA guys from top to bottom. Ginobili and Scola are the ringers on the squad and they're going to be the most responsible for this being an actual competition. Andres Nocioni and Carlos Delfino are solid role players for their teams, both of them taller guys with a three point stroke. Rounding out the lineup is their point guard Pablo Prigioni, who will sign a contract with the Knicks for next season.
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| Prigionisanity: Coming to NY in 2012 |
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see our boys cruising through their exhibition sched. But I always felt like this year we were going to have some real fights on our hands. The only real deficit I remember thus far is our match with Brazil in Washington, but Lebron turned that one into a blowout by the end. That game shows how difficult it could be for us to contend with size down in the post. I think some close games could be good for this squad to keep them hungry and motivated. And Argentina could be one of those teams to push us.
- USA starts off with a bang. Two quick threes by Kevin Durant got the scoring started, and between him and Kobe Bryant we're off to a 16-1 start. It's not even halfway through the first and it already looks like this one is in hand.
- We're starting to fall in love with the long jumper. Our ballooned lead has lead to lazy offensive decisions.
- It seems like Argentina is getting frustrated. After a shot clock violation (which was announced by three loud sirens, it sounded like a Mack truck) Ginobili looks like he's ready to crush the ball. They're getting plenty of offensive boards to make up for it.
- I've decided these guys should be called the Arghs. Short for Argentina, of course.
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| This is Scola's Argh face. |
- Carmelo finally gets on the scoreboard after what seemed like a blatant no call. On the return trip, Scola takes out Iguodala under the basket going for a rebound and then starts complaining to the ref when he calls an obvious foul. Scola looks like he's getting hot. He follows it up with a tip in slam off an Andres Nocioni miss. That's how you channel your anger!
- Steve Smith mentions how great it would be to have guys like Dwight Howard or Derrick Rose in the fold for this tournament. It's crazy to think how many of those great guys we're missing this year. At the same time, don't we have their alter egos on this team?
Russell Westbrook and D Rose have comparable stats, and similar play styles, though Rose's resume is padded with his MVP award. Dwight Howard and Tyson Chandler are both athletic centers with a focus on defense, and neither are exactly skilled offensively. Chandler is the newly crowned defensive player of the year, and is a much better chemistry guy. Not to mention he can actually a hit a free throw. It's true we may be missing some good pieces, but we still have guys on the team to fill those roles.
- Westbrook screws up the pass for an alley oop to Kevin Love. I guess the UCLA connection is getting a little corroded. Our offense has stagnated a bit, and Argentina has had efficient scoring down low from Scola to set up a 12 point lead heading into the final minute. Durant responds with another three, then Deron Williams finds the range at the buzzer to send it to the second quarter with a score of
31-16.
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| No caption necessary. |
SECOND QUARTER
- Chalk up 15 points on five three point shots for Durant. He destroyed the competition at the FIBA tournament two summers ago, and he's not afraid to do it again. Of course, as soon as I write it he gets a close out block on the perimeter, then gallops down the court for a missed three.
- Our athleticism and versatility is on display. Every steal becomes a track meet, and it's exciting as hell to have a guy like Lebron James on the court to set up fantastic plays. In this case, a lob to Durant finished the break with a bang. This will be one of the enduring highlights from this one.
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| Hops: Get Some |
- We're starting to get to the line more often, which is a godsend to our "chucking it" offense we've been running. Right now, I'm not sure if we're playing that good of defense, or if the Arghs just can't put the shots down.
- Durant's length is on display again, as he chased down Nocioni on a fast break and sent the ball flying past the baseline. He's dominating this game for us on both ends of the floor.
- On the other side, Scola is trying to right the ship. His offense has been consistent, but it's his passing thats been the most impressive.
- Fight! Fight! Fight! Durant and Scola start getting into after a hard foul. Lebron steps in to break it up, so Scola starts going after him! It's not even halftime and this game is getting heated. For the record, I don't know who I'd pick in that fight. Both KD and Scola have similar height, but the Argentinian certainly has the weight advantage. Durant's wingspan would certainly help, but his wiry thin frame doesn't inspire much confidence in what kind of punch he would be packing.
- After seeing the foul, two things stand out: a.) Chris Paul fouled the crap out of that dude and b.) whoever that was, he flopped like a Shyamalan film.
- I'm pretty sure Charles Barkley would have taken Scola to town if he got in his face. 1992 Charles Barkley, not the Weight Watchers for Men Charles Barkley.
- They're already giving out assist of the night? We haven't even gotten to the second half yet!
- Lebron finally hits his first shot. He gets it in the post and just hangs in the air, yet he's so strong the defender can't alter the shot. USA takes a
41-29 lead into the last four minutes in the half.
- All of a sudden the game has become a track meet. The back and forth results in the Arghs chipping away at the deficit. Only an eight point lead with two minutes left.
- Why I love Russell Westbrook: after a botched Durant lay up, the Arghs start to fastbreak with only two defenders back. Two quick passes get the ball to their center, with a wide open dunk opportunity. Who is it that knocks the shot away? 6'3 Russell Freakin' Westbrook! Unbelievable speed and elevation from a guard.
- Several mistakes from the US team contributes to a big time Argentina rally. An Iguodala block sets up Westbrook for another layup, but the damage had been done. The lead has dwindled to a
47-40 score going into the half.
THIRD QUARTER
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| Certified |
- And we're back! Some quick offense pushes the lead back to double digits, especially after a circus shot by Lebron. Of course, he missed the free throw. The charity stripe has not been his friend in this game.
- One thing different about these games will be the conversion to the NBA lane. International basketball has recently used a trapezoid style lane instead, which really put an emphasis on European bigs to develop a mid range game. The other big differences are things like the goaltending rule, which allows players to play the ball while its on the rim, and the three point line being moved closer to the basket.
- The chippy play continues, as Lebron gets horse collared on a fast break. The tension is mounting in this one, between the hard fouls and the Kobe/Ginobili duel the announcers keep talking about. These guys want to beat each other, and maybe not just on the court.
- When things start slowing down on offense, who are you gonna call? None other than the champ. Scoring champ, that is. After moving the ball around, Deron finds KD on the perimeter for what has to be his sixth or seventh long ball in this game. We're gonna need that consistency, and he's bringing it here.
- Durant should be called Bomberman, because at this rate he's looking like a video game. Six of ten from deep, and it's nothing but catch and shoot. The computer always falls for the pump fake, Kevin, never forget that!
- Steve Smith praises Carmelo for getting rebounds, and he responds by throwing a bad pass to Chris Paul and turn the ball over. The quarter finishes after some sloppy play, USA still on top with a score of
72-61.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Two Lebron jams get the scoring started, the second on a beautiful lob from Chris Paul. When they show this game on Sportscenter tonight, they'll show that oop for sure. For the record, that would NEVER EVER WORK in NBA 2K11.
- Carmelo has been thisclose on so many of these shots, but they just aren't falling. The guy is a beast, no doubt, but if he can't get his shot then his usefulness is sorely limited. He is surely an above average rebounder for his size, but for what we give up having him on the floor on defense, we need to have that made up with some scoring. Simmons said that he would leave him off the team while he was in his funk playing for the Knicks, and I don't know that I'd disagree.
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| Panda, bitches! |
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- Team USA completely disregards transition defense, and some Argh center winds up getting the entire side of the court to himself. What does he do? Lay up, baby. With five minutes left, the score sits at
78-68.
- Sloppy play abound. Steve Smith comments how US players are starting to stand around, which doesn't bode well with a surmountable advantage like we have. The aforementioned Prigioni, mostly quiet in this game, hits a big three to shrink the deficit to seven. Hopefully Durant will have something to say about it in the end.
- Ginobili drops in a layup and gets fouled, free throw is good and all of a sudden it's a four point game. Just like that, KD drops his seventh three of the game. Back to a seven point game.
- After two more Ginobili free throws, Chris Paul knocks down a dagger from three. Just under two minutes with a score of
84-78.
- Lebron is fouled to the basket, and naturally leaves one on the table from the line. Seven point lead with just a minute left!
- Scola misses some crucial free throws, and it doesn't look like this lead will be overcome. Our perfect exhibition record continues, and we get Spain on Tuesday. Durant really showed his stroke in this game, standing out like he did so many times in Turkey two summers ago. He paced the team with 27 points including 21 of those coming from deep. A masterful performance by this young superstar.
- They dribble out the clock, and that's the game. No Anthony Davis sighting tonight.
FINAL: USA 86 Argentina 80
- Argentina really established themselves as a legitimate contender in these games. Ginobili and Scola were giving our guys fits on both ends, and the supporting cast of solid NBA guys like Delfino and Nocioni will be a great help against some of the weaker teams in pool play.
- The main grief with this game is how in love we were with the long jumpers and one on one offense. The feast or famine style of trusting those long shots can put us in some sticky situations, especially with it seeming like everyone wants to get theirs instead of set up an offense. It worked itself out in this game, and eventually Durant's scoring surge set us ahead with enough of a cushion to make it through the mistakes with a W.
- Kevin Love was mostly absent from this game, and Davis was completely absent from the game (they showed him siting on the bench, he looked happy just to be around all those guys) but those are two guys I really want to see do well in this Olympic run. Davis had been nursing an injury, but if he wasn't with Team USA, he'd be playing in the summer league in Vegas. Love was a part of the squad that won gold in Turkey, along with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Tyson Chandler.
- Looking ahead, Spain should be our toughest game yet. In terms of the FIBA basketball rankings, they're our closest competitor (Spain is second, Argentina third) and is the favorite to meet our boys in the gold medal game. Another NBA loaded team, Spain will rely heavily on the Gasol brothers and we won't see size like they have anywhere else. Solid veterans like Jose Calderon and Juan Carlos Navarro will shore up their back courts, although they will be missing young phenom Ricky Rubio as he recovers from his knee injury. This will be our last exhibition game before we face the real thing. Perfection will only come by defeating our strongest competitor. We'll see if we can attain it on Tuesday.
