The Redeem Team

[War Wagon]

Though I'm not a huge fan of the NBA, I have to say that watching team USA put on fast break/dunk/alley-oop exhibition today was quite entertaining, especially after the abortion that was the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Looks like these guys mean business now and a repeat of that performance is unthinkable. Sure, they'll face tougher competition than they did today, but I'd say it's virtually impossible for them to leave Beijing without reclaiming the gold medal.

Gotta' give it up for Lebron James, the fuck is an animal and a star on a team of stars.

GO USA!

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

That was glorified pick-up street ball today. They need to shoot better from behind the line if they wish to beat the more fundamentally sound teams like Spain. Playing some perimeter D would also be nice.

[War Wagon]

One thing that is especially nice is that on the team jerseys, the team and player names are in English. Rack that. I thought China's jerseys would have Chinese writing on them, especially since the Olympics are in China.

Being as how NBC paid like $270 mil for the broadcast rights, that's no surprise. The language of international commerce is English.

[RadioFan]

Playing some perimeter D would also be nice.

They picked up the defense in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, big-time, though not necessarily behind the 3-point line.

I know where Wags is coming from in the sense of this will probably be the only time I'll be cheering for Kobe Bryant.

The team had a good start today. Given that they've been playing together for months and seem to be on a mission to make up for four years ago, I'm hoping they kick every team's ass by double-digits.

Wade and James have looked great in the exhibition games leading up to the Olympics and they both looked great again today. Also, I like the combination of putting both Derron Williams and Chris Paul in the backcourt at the same time. Aside from their wicked distribution skills, if either one can hit from the outside, team USA is virtually unbeatable.

[War Wagon]

That was glorified pick-up street ball today.

Disagree.

To me "street ball" means lotsa' one on one drives to the basket, tossing up prayers They did anything but that and instead played some very disciplined and unselfish b-ball, almost always dishing off to the open man.

They need to shoot better from behind the line if they wish to beat the more fundamentally sound teams like Spain.

Not really. I think they win either way, just a question of by how many, but it would be nice to see them knock down more of the wide open looks created off the dribble drive into the lane and kick-out. It would seem that shorter 3-point line is hurting their shooting %. I have no doubt that they'll eventually find the range.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

To me "street ball" means lotsa' one on one drives to the basket, tossing up prayers They did anything but that and instead played some very disciplined and unselfish b-ball, almost always dishing off to the open man.

Alright, alright...disciplined streetball. Better?

Not really. I think they win either way, just a question of by how many

I wouldn't get too cocky considering recent history. Some of the upper echelon teams in this thing are so fundamentally sound it borders on robotic; plus their team chemistry is amazing.

but it would be nice to see them knock down more of the wide open looks created off the dribble drive into the lane and kick-out.

Especially because not everybody is going to cripple up and leave the lane wide open for all to pass thru like China. They'll need to knock down some 3s.

God, why the hell am I arguing this? I really just don't give a shit.

20 more days until college football...

[War Wagon]

I really just don't give a shit.

I didn't either, up until the time they started getting beat. Up until that time, everybody just figured that team USA would throw their jock straps out on the floor, and win by 50.

I believe that they now "get" what a priviledge and honor it is to represent the name on the front of the uniform, not the back.

20 more days until college football...

Yes, and this ain't a bad way to count down those days, and while away the time in between.

[War Wagon]

Well, Todd... you missed the American mens 4 x 100m relay swim team punk the smack talking French team by .008 seconds, shattering the world record in the process.

That was worth watching.

[RadioFan]

I saw that as well. Outfuckingstanding.

The fifth-place team broke the previous WR in that race.

[Goober McTuber]

That was worth watching.

Nah....I'm sort of put off by the visual of Men in bikini bottoms. Now, little boys, that’s a different story.

FTFY.

[Mikey]

Well, Todd... you missed the American mens 4 x 100m relay swim team punk the smack talking French team by .008 seconds, shattering the world record in the process.

That was worth watching.

It was 0.08 seconds.

Carry on...

[Screw_Michigan]

RACK women's beach volleyball and cereal at 7 am before leaving for work. The German squad was hot as hell and was defeating the US team before I left.

Countdown until MSUFAN comes back to remind us all how Kerry "Horseface Jr." Walsh is the hottest piece of ass this side of the Mississippi.

[PSUFAN]

I'm pretty sure Babs was female.

[Screw_Michigan]

It's almost BTPCFB season. You should unban him for the epic meltdowns we'll sure to endure.

[War Wagon]

It was 0.08 seconds.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

I knew some jackass would bust me with decimal point smack.

[warren]

I'm really enjoying the Olympics, LeBron did a great job today. And I didn't realize that the NBA was so big in China. Just a matter of time before their government converts to a more democratic form, like what happened with the Soviet Union.

One thing that is especially nice is that on the team jerseys, the team and player names are in English. Rack that. I thought China's jerseys would have Chinese writing on them, especially since the Olympics are in China.

Yeah, you are right dude. I hear the "former" Soviet Union is really big in the "former" Soviet state of Georgia.

Putin is the man dude.

[Goober McTuber]

Putin is the man dude.

Absolutely. After all, President Pinhead looked the man in the eye, and was able to get a sense of his soul.

[BSmack]

Putin is the man dude.

Absolutely. After all, President Pinhead looked the man in the eye, and was able to get a sense of his soul.

And he came to the conclusion that Putin might be the only fucker in the world more depraved than Cheney.

[Mikey]

Putin is the man dude.

Absolutely. After all, President Pinhead looked the man in the eye, and was able to get a sense of his soul.

I heard that Putin looked in Chimpy's left ear and was able to see out the other side.

[warren]

Putin is the man dude.

Absolutely. After all, President Pinhead looked the man in the eye, and was able to get a sense of his soul.

And he came to the conclusion that Putin might be the only fucker in the world more depraved than Cheney.

Hey man, you will get no argument with me about President Dumbass doing that bullshit. I really backed for some, what I believe to be, solid reasons. Yet he sucks.

I still dig the dude because I kid you not, he's really nice in person and I have the occasion to sit at the same table with him because my Grandmother pours bucks into the party however, he really kind of sucks.s

Having repeatedly said that, I think all of you Democrats should note that your controlled Congress has a lower approval rating than said Bush.

Pelosi, our esteemed Speaker of the Hizzouze, sold under 3 grand of her books offerings so there's blame to go everywhere and it's non-partisan. (sp?)

We've got to take back this country from morons both left and right. I'm telling you folks, as a person that get's a world view only because that's where my job takes me, we are in danger now.

cw. hink.

[Diogenes]

51-32 at the half. Lebron and Bosh are tearing it up.

Sorry for going off topic. Carry on with the political smack.

Douches.

[Diogenes]

Final USA 92 Greece 69 Bring on the Spain.

Sorry. Wrong thread.

Nevermind.

[War Wagon]

They need to shoot better from behind the line if they wish to beat the more fundamentally sound teams like Spain

119-82 beatdown says what?

I loved watching Spain trying to drive the ball to the basket only to have Lebron or Dwight Howard snatch it and then fire a full court pass for yet another lay-up or slam. It was like- "do NOT bring that weak shit in here."

This team is bad to the bone.

[MgoBlue-LightSpecial]

Yep. I'll come correct. This team certainly has a lot of chemistry that some of the past teams lacked. They realized that loading the entire roster with mega star primadonnas isn't necessarily the way to go. Watch out though...not playing for medals quite yet.

[Diogenes]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Nothing to do with whether Putin or Bush is the bigger tool.

But I love the way this team is playing (like a team).

They Could Go All The Way!

USA, Baby!.

[War Wagon]

This team certainly has a lot of chemistry that some of the past teams lacked. They realized that loading the entire roster with mega star primadonnas isn't necessarily the way to go. Watch out though...not playing for medals quite yet.

Amazing the difference when a team makes a committment, eh? No more tossing together an All-Star team at the last minute and hoping it works, because it didn't.

And yes, they're playing for the only medal that matters.

Excellent article here if you're inclined to read it.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijin ... &type=lgns" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

“What was it that the Japanese officer said after Pearl Harbor?” Russia coach David Blatt asked. “ ‘I think we just awoke the sleeping giant’? Well, that’s what Europe has done with the United States. And now, they’re all about to go under afoot of the U.S. again.”

[RadioFan]

I don't think any other team is gonna be able to touch team U.S.A. this time.

I love watching Chris Paul and Derron Williams on the floor at the same time ... err, watching the other teams shit bricks when they are both running plays, making the defense look like middle-school kids.

And Dwyane Wade is playing absolutely possessed. If you haven't seen the play of his falling-out-of-bounds pass to Kobe in the Greece game, watch it. Absolutely beautifully sick.

What's even better ... check out the hand slap between Bryant and Wade after that play.

If anything epitomizes this team in a nutshell, that does.

RACK it.

[RadioFan]

Btw, this is probably the only time I'm cheering for Kobe Bryant (sup Dio?). So far, dude has been a class act.

[smackaholic]

best thing that ever happened to US international bball was the beatdown the puerto ricans handed us a few years ago.

does PR have a separate olympic team? if so, bring them bitches on. time for the US to pay them back for that favor.

[Diogenes]

Btw, this is probably the only time I'm cheering for Kobe Bryant (sup Dio?). So far, dude has been a class act.

You may want to archive this for historical purposes...

Props to Kobe. He may have had some of the most horrifficly awful shots ever vs. the Aussies, but he had some of the best. Stick to going to the hoop or launching it from 30 feet. Midrange jumpers (international 3 pointers)- forget about it.And his D was outstanding.

BTW, Basketball at 5 in the AM is kinda cool. Especially if your still trashed from the night before.

Team USA has just too much depth in quality. And great coaching.

And LeBron.

Bring on the Argenwheteverthehellyoucallthems.

The Manus? Going down.

[RadioFan]

The Manus? Going down.

Absolutely. :twisted:

And Ginobili shouldn't even be playing in this tournament, damn it.


But hey, you know that if I can possibly cheer for Bryant, I can sure as hell cheer against Manu.

The end of the world is near, indeed, bro.

Go U.S.A.

By 100, as the day is long.

[RadioFan]

Never thought I'd say this in my life ...

RACK Kobe Bryant.

Spain played a hell of a game (despite the USA's horrid defense). Bryant pretty much took the game over in the last 5 mins or so.

Loved the 4-point play with Kobe making the "Shhhhh" sign to the Spanish fans. Now I know how Laker Fan feels. :twisted:

As a near-lifelong Duke hater, I'll also give huge props to Krzyzewski. He got these guys to buy into putting their star status aside for more than a year, with the end result being gold, back where it should be.

Even UNC Fan has to give dude his props.


Rack Team USA.

[Shoalzie]

The celebration after the game was pretty cool with the players all putting their medals around Coach K's neck. It's really hard not to respect and appreciate what that team did as a group. They were clearly the most talented group every time they stepped on the floor but they played like a team and represented us well. I have a new found respect for each and every one of those guys on that team.

[socal]

Now I know how Laker Fan feels. :twisted:

Riots on the streets of Tulsa.

[RadioFan]

Bwah!

I didn't just mention Laker Fan, did I?

Too bad, it wasn't actually in China, socal. :wink:

Then again, they probably stop serving beer, after the 2nd quarter.

[Nishlord]

That's the thing I like about the Olympics - the minor sports getting a bit of publicity.