Dr. Gonzo Reporting,
Here’s the deal, I was up at 8 o’clock this morning with nothing to do but watch my niece. Then like finding an onion ring at the bottom of the french fry container, I stumbled upon the USA v. Australia.
I watched intently, hoping to get a glimpse of the mighty US as they stomped the helpless and Bogut-less Aussies.
Team USA pulled out a 87-76 victory, making them a perfect 5-0 in their pre-Olympic tune up.
The score however did nothing to tell the actual story.
The Aussies play the same kind of style as a Greece, Spain or Argentina, teams the USA will have to beat to capture gold. The Aussies do not have the talent of the aforementioned teams, and they still gave the US a tough time.
The Aussies packed it in on the defensive side, forcing the US to pass it’s way out of trouble. The US had other plans it seemed, and instead of passing the ball settled for isolation plays and when it seemed they were passing it well, someone would take a wild shot and miss.
The Aussies kept the game within 6 with 2 minutes to go, and then Dwayne Wade decide enough was enough. Wade began to dribble in to the defense and make them commit to he and he only. It worked for Wade because of his uncanny ability to drive to the hoop. Chris Paul followed Wade’s lead and drove to the hoop, with the defense collapsing, Paul found a cutting Dwight Howard for the jam.
It took the US a while to figure out the Aussies, they wont have that kind of time against the more talented and experienced European and South American teams. Coach K needs to get his team to play like a team, plain and simple. We know how individually talented these guys are, and in 92 that’s all you needed, but it aint 92 anymore. The international level has changed so much, they have more intelligent defensive schemes and way more talent. It’s time for the US to adapt similar to the way the European’s have adapted their games to a style the dumfounds the US.
If the US hopes to win gold, the formula is simple: Pass+Defending+Patience+Respect=Dominance
One more note, Coach K took his first time out in 5 games in the second half. In 92 coach Chuck Daily took zero timeouts in the entire Olympics, simply amazing.
