OT - USA Basketball

[CitySushi]

They just beat Tunisia by 83 points in a 156 - 73 demolishing. They were absolutely on point and couldn't miss a shot. I read a note where Hollinger said that if we only counted the US's points by way of 3 pointer, they would have beated Tunisia by 11. Yikes. Hopefully this shooting carries over to the Medal round play against the likes of Spain, Argentina, etc.

Side Notes:

Melo set the American Male Basketball scoring record with 37 points. He hit 10 3-pointers.

Kobe and Lebron didn't play a single minute in the second half.

Anthony Davis was set to go in, in the first half but realized he didn't have his jersey on, so he went back to the bench.

The US went to a zone in the 4th quarter and walked the ball up the court, no longer fast breaking. Most possessions they held the ball until there was only a handful of seconds left on the clock.

 

[EKmane]

They turn around and have a huge scare by Lithuania. That would've been the biggest upset in Olympic history (at least top 2).

I hope the Warriors take a note out of the Lithuania playbook with the pick and rolls, Europe style.

U.S. men escape Lithuania in Olympic basketball ? USATODAY.com

"Though the NBA players see pick-and-roll offense over and over in the NBA, there are significant differences in the way many European teams use it. Instead of one man setting the pick, Lithuania often brings two big men to the top of the key — called an "A" set. The ball handler has options, using either player as the screener or even both if the first screen is defended well.

Another difference is in the NBA the pick-and-roll often becomes a two-on-two game between the ball handler, screener and two defenders with the other three offensive players often stationary while waiting for a pass at the three-point line. Lithuania's players not involved in the direct pick-and-roll action are constantly on the move, and they love to drive to the basket and pass to shooters on the wing if there is nothing inside. And they don't mind making the extra pass."

 

[ChuckDurn]

They turn around and have a huge scare by Lithuania. That would've been the biggest upset in Olympic history (at least top 2).

I hope the Warriors take a note out of the Lithuania playbook with the pick and rolls, Europe style.

U.S. men escape Lithuania in Olympic basketball ? USATODAY.com

"Though the NBA players see pick-and-roll offense over and over in the NBA, there are significant differences in the way many European teams use it. Instead of one man setting the pick, Lithuania often brings two big men to the top of the key — called an "A" set. The ball handler has options, using either player as the screener or even both if the first screen is defended well.

Another difference is in the NBA the pick-and-roll often becomes a two-on-two game between the ball handler, screener and two defenders with the other three offensive players often stationary while waiting for a pass at the three-point line. Lithuania's players not involved in the direct pick-and-roll action are constantly on the move, and they love to drive to the basket and pass to shooters on the wing if there is nothing inside. And they don't mind making the extra pass."

Wow..... actual team basketball, instead of star-dominated isolation-type 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 games such as we see in the NBA? Who'd have thought....?

And I couldn't agree more, EK. I hope Malone and Jackson were watching the game. Our team could be deadly in the pick-and-roll game, given the quality of shooters all over the court, and it would be a great set for us to compensate for lack of individual ability to create.