Live Blog USA vs. Greece
This is the first true test for the US team. Greece runs crazy pick and rolls–42 in the 2006 World Championship upset. The US team has to play ball because the world would love us to lose.
Can’t be quick enough with the Greek names so this will have to do until a final box. My bad, I’m a good speller, but not like that my people 
Let’s Get It!
Kobe starts it off with a nice baseline jumper.
Vasileios Spanoulis with two jumpers.
Jason Kidd picks up three quick fouls and Chris Paul replaces Jason.
Looks like Kobe is fouled but no call. Kobe then gets a little frustrated and pushes the defender who flops like his name is Vlade.
This is where the US might get into trouble if the refs don’t call it consistently on both sides. Coach K is snapping because Greece is camping in the lane.
Dwight Howard a couple of nice blocks .
Greece is getting into the lane a lot with dribble drives and the US is in the penalty very early.
No block out and Greece scores in the lane.
Paul nice pass to Bosh who finishes inside.
Greece is playing the US very physically. This game might get out of hand. We ain’t gonna take too much of this.
Where the damn is Chuck?
Greece up 13-9.
Kobe nice feed to Bron Bron for the bang.
Paul nice lay off the fake.
Kobe breakaway dunk.
15-13 USA.
Schortsanitis is a big boy and is doing his thing early in the lane. Again, where’s Chuck? Amare Stoudemire would have been a nice addition to this team. They miss some serious roughness.
Wade dish to Bosh for the and one.
18-14 USA.
Melo looks like a kid against Schortsanitis.
Wade again gets into the lane for the dish.
The refs aren’t calling shit on this side.
Wade is doing it all–especially rebounding.
USA up 20-16 after one.
DAMN, thats African! Bean with the amazing athletic oop. I see you Kobe…sick pass from Wade.
Another ridiculous pass from Wade. He’s the MVP of the game so far. I wonder what the haters have to say now. Forgot about Flash huh?
The King on a breakaway. The defense is doing the damn thing.
Another steal.
Kobe misses the oop.
26-18 USA.
Wade back in for DWill. I want to see some fire from these cats.
There it is. Nice rebound for Bean and then the nice over the back pass to Flash for the and one. Flash looks like the best player in the world right now.
Greece scores two easy baskets inside.
Wade nice lay and then a three. He’s 17-20 from the field in these Olympics.
Damn I can’t wait until next year.
Kobe’s struggling with his shot.
Greece is getting to loose balls.
Damn Bron Bron climbs Melo’s back and puts it down with two hands.
38-28 USA.
Nice up and under by Greece. Greece plays a nice 2-3 zone.
Kobe from Africa for three.
LeBron block and looks off Kobe and slides it to Bosh for the and one. Pretty passes from the entire team.
44-30 USA.
Bron Bron steal for his signature double pump over the back bang. Folks shut up and dig the talent. This team is not losing if they continue to play defense like this.
This is about to get ugly…
46-30 USA.
Greece is a bunch of hack master Jakes…bang Bosh but he still scores and completes the three point play.
Nineteen point lead before Greece scores down low.
49-32 USA.
Bosh another board but DWill turns it over.
DWill sits and gets some advice for Jason Kidd.
LeBron looks like Curly Neal and scores on the lay. 14-2 off turnovers.
Bosh block at the buzzer…51-32 at the half. Co Co where you at?
Bosh with 12 pts., 4 rips. Kobe with 11 and 4 boards, Wade 10 and 3 caroms.
I can’t call this team the Redeem Team…eff that…I said it Sunday night on Chuck D’s show–and he laughed–so no haps on that.
I know the world–and especially the US–is on the wait and see hater vibe, but somebody please put some money up…please?
2nd half…
I gotta say that Flash has some serious Vince Carter strength in his hops. When does the season start again?
USA looks intense at the start defensively.
Kidd nice dish to LeBron for two.
Another nice pass from JKidd to Melo who is fouled. He makes two.
USA up 21.
Greece hits their first three pointer at the shot clock buzzer.
Kobe comes right back for the Mike like fade away but misses the free throw.
The US finally looks like they are taking this seriously–and personal.
Back to back threes for Greece.
57-40 USA.
Kobe with a ferocious block. Melo for three…back up to 20.
LeBron throws Howard a lob that he doesn’t look for. Kidd and Superman for the double block that smacks Kidd in his face.
Kobe Bryant for three. 63-40 USA.
Kobe is 6-12 for 16. He looks like a different player and is beginning to get a sense of how he fits into the USA Basketball team dynamic.
Howard with foul number 4 so he sits…Bosh in. Kidd nice steal and better bounce pass to Kobe for the flush.
OOOOOOh. Kidd throws it off the glass to no one…damn that would have been sick!
Like I told CP3 and DWil in Vegas…the US is taking no prisoners.
Still a 18 point lead Doug Collins…zip it.
The US with a block party. One from LeBron, another from Bosh.
LeBron looks like a superhero out there…seriously. I asked him (4:52 mark. He was a little confused) what he could take back to the Cavs, and it looks like defense is the answer.
Another nasty block from LeBron.
DWill pass to Wade on the break for two.
Wade steal and subsequent lay by Bosh…who is also ballin’. 20 point lead.
69-49. LeBron sits, Melo in.
Greece hits open three after Melo gets stuffed by the rim.
Wade with the step back fake behind the line and gets three free throws.
Greece gets inside for two. US up 16.
Wade is missing some free throws. US 12-19 up to this point.
71-54 inside of 30 seconds in the third.
Nasty rebound by Melo…US holds for one…..
Good Gosh!!!!
Wade is ridiculous. Follows CP3 in the lane for the lay down scoop plus one. Makes free throw.
Up 20, 74-54 after three.
Bosh starts it off right with a inside layup.
76-54 US.
Paul with floater.
78-54.
Wade fouls Greek player for and one.
King pass to Bosh for the bang.
Start up the bus bruh…
Just like Elaineflash says in the comments…Where the haters at?
Wade with 5th steal. He looks like a young Mike–but stronger.
Prince and Redd in finally. Sup with that?
The USA will get no calls from here on into the medal round. They better keep their composure.
80-57 USA.
Boozer with the layup.
Flash sits. 17 points, 6 steals, three rebounds, 5 assists. Nice line bruh.
Greece with 24 turnovers. This defensive effort will galvanize this team.
3:53 remaining. Ricky Rubio (17 yrs. old and a beast) and Pau Gasol better get their Tims on ’cause Daddy’s home…
84-62 USA, 2:40 left.
Offensive foul CP3.
Evander in the crowd. Looks like the Real Deal has to come all the way over to China to get away from all those damn kids.
Greece three.
86-67 USA.
Michael Redd with the get back.
89-67 USA with a minute left.
DWill with another three. 25 point lead.
Greek layup.
92-69 Final.
Bosh and Bryant with 18 apiece. Wade finishes with 17.
I hope folks start getting on board with out all the “This team doesn’t have enough shooters” and “They have to play the international game now” haterisms [sic].
Seriously, how is a team with LeBron, Kobe, Chris Paul and Flash going to lose to anyone?
Get off it people and follow the legend as it’s made or…
(original and the Swizzy remix)
Final Box:
| GREECE | |||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| P Vasilopoulos, F | 7 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| A Fotsis, F | 24 | 4-9 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| A Glyniadakis, C | 6 | 1-4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| V Spanoulis, G | 33 | 4-13 | 0-5 | 6-7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| D Diamantidis, G | 27 | 0-4 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| T Papaloukas | 28 | 6-9 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 15 |
| I Bourousis | 13 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| N Zisis | 22 | 1-7 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| G Printezis | 3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| K Tsartsaris | 13 | 3-4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| S Schortsanitis | 12 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| M Pelekanos | 12 | 2-5 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |
| 26-63 | 4-18 | 13-18 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 22 | 69 | ||
| 41.3% | 22.2% | 72.2% | Team TO (pts off): 25 (0) | ||||||||||
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA | |||||||||||||
| STARTERS | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| L James, F | 27 | 6-12 | 0-3 | 1-2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| C Anthony, F | 22 | 2-6 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| D Howard, C | 12 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| J Kidd, G | 7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| K Bryant, G | 24 | 7-14 | 2-5 | 2-3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 18 |
| BENCH | MIN | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS |
| C Boozer | 6 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| D Williams | 24 | 2-5 | 1-3 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| M Redd | 6 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| D Wade | 20 | 6-10 | 1-2 | 4-9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| C Bosh | 21 | 7-8 | 0-0 | 4-5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| C Paul | 26 | 2-6 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| T Prince | 5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | FGM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OREB | DREB | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO | PF | PTS | |
| 36-67 | 7-20 | 13-23 | 11 | 27 | 38 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 24 | 92 | ||
| 53.7% | 35.0% | 56.5% | Team TO (pts off): 16 (0) | ||||||||||
August 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
dwaaaaaaade! im proud of him. he’s definitely back,, where the haters at???
August 14th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Great post brotha.
Next up them bigots from spain!!!
Sorry I had to go there.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Yeah I called Dwil yesterday and told him about the women’s team doing the same. I just couldn’t speak on it because the shit was ridiculous and so juvenile.
All the Spain players in the NBA should know better because they knew what it was. Spain just seems like one of those countries where everything goes.
Shame on the Chinese sponsor as well. Wth?
August 14th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
“All the Spain players in the NBA should know better because they knew what it was.”
Exactly brotha Mizzo thats what I said. No excuse.
Yet I have read and heard folks overseas say that team USA isn’t cultured or are arrogant.
Remember how folks said that by brandon Jennings going overseas would be more cultured and be able to respect other folks upbringing more?? If thats what europe has to offer intellectually. Maybe Jennings should have stayed in compton.
Yet here is spain a european team and yet they show their @sses off (once again) and seem as cultured and as backwards as a good ole boy from alabama.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
My thing is how are those fine asian fans in LA and toronto going to greet Gasol and Calderon next year. I might get the NBA league pass just to see.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Yeah that’s gonna be something. We’ll see if this conspicuously washes over or is properly dealt with.
Whoever gave the OK on this is Pierre Delacroix.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
This team is great. I don’t see any country beating them.
August 15th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Dang….TayShaun only played 5 mins? Redd only 6 mins? What’s up with that? Is Coach K saving them for the medal rounds?
August 15th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
GN:
We had the SAME convo yesterday. Them cats better get some run before it’s too late. This isn’t about the “Stars.”
August 16th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Spanish fans have been demeaning black soccer players in European soccer cups for years. Not proud of this (as a European) but unfortunately it’s the case. The Spanish soccer coach, in an infamous case you guys might well have heard of, called Thierry Henry, maybe the best player in the world over the last 10-12 years a primate some time ago. Just Google Champion’s League abuse black players or some variation thereof and you’ll find numerous examples. It’s not a pretty example. It’s unfathomable to me how the Spanish players have not, not one of them issued even the most basic of apologies for that sort of racism. And to me, really, how did not one of the PR staff in charge of promotions, advertising, etc. not think……..you know….this is not a great idea. I know the answer, but still, it blows my mind.