I’m a hoops fan, and keep hearing about this “new-look, team-oriented, defensive focused” Team USA basketball squad. I finally got to see them play Italy today, and to be honest I don’t see the difference between them and the team that got dumped on at the 2004 Olympics. The offense is still about one guy playing one-on-one while the other four guys watch. I guess their idea of team offense is to take turns playing one-on-five. No perimeter ball movement at all. More often than not they drive the lane, get the ball stripped and off Italy goes in the other direction. Physically Italy looked like a US Division II college team next to the USA players, but they were killing the US on the boards. T-USA can’t defend in the half court, and relies on steals and blocked shots to cover up that weakness. Italy went up by 12 very early in the second before the US caught up and passed them. Will it be Athens all over again? Stay tuned.
I’d cheer for Team Ireland, but I don’t think there is one. How about recruiting these guys: Shaquille O’Neal, Jermaine O’Neal, Tracy McGrady (or is he a Scotsman?) Kenyon Máirtín, Jason Collins, Stephen Graham, Walter McCarty, Antonio McDyess, Jeff McInnis, Adam Morrison, and Troy Murphy. They can get Nate McMillan to coach. Bet you didn’t know there were so many great Irish players in the NBA. 😉
