The Starting Five

Yeah, so Manu and Andres Nocioni got their swerve on and beat The Answer, Duncan, LeBron and Flash up in 2004. In one fell swoop Argentina helped turn a nation of media against its own. It was a sentiment that has infiltrated the psyche of those who normally wouldn’t doubt the talent, drive and dedication of players USA Basketball has assembled. Even though the US is 6-0 and blowing everybody out this side of the New York Knicks (sorry Modi and Poet), there are those who still doubt. They hear the names of Ginobli, Nocioni and Oberto and they think, “Oh my God! Those foreign cats have been dominating the league! There’s no way we could beat them right? Aren’t Dirk and Nash on this team too?”

Uh…no.

Even if they were they wouldn’t stand a chance against this squad. Don’t believe the hype people. You’re smarter than that.

Argentina lost to Lithuania in the Olympic opener and aren’t as deep as teams past. Manu is also banged up–there’s a reason why he comes off the bench during the season because he plays so hard.

The fact will remain that his team has no shot today.

I don’t want to hear they don’t have the shooters.

I don’t want to hear they don’t make free throws.

I don’t want to see you smile when the US goes down 5-10 points early.

109-86 USA.

Game time is 10:15 est, so come back and check us out. Good times.

Here we go. Little late Breen says the USA is 0-4 from beyond the arc to start.

Ginobli strong to the bucket but can’t get the two.

LeBron does the same but scores.

Manu picks up an offensive foul.

Flash in early.

Damn Kobe with the pretty hanger off glass.

Delfino misses a deep three.

Ginobli picks up another foul…that’s two early.

Time out USA with the lead 9-4.

We look strong early and like GN said, this is the game we wanted to play. Spain in the gold medal game is an afterthought.

Kobe hits a three out of the timeout. Nine straight by the USA.

Manu pulls down CP3 to give him the actual two I thought he had. Paul with some words.

The Argentinian coach is cussing everyone out on his bench.

Looks like the same play, but the foul is called on LeBron.

Flash gets a steal, Bosh gets a shot, Chis is fouled.

Like I said in the intro, Manu is banged up and sits at the scorers table injured and then goes to the bench. Can’t do it alone bruh.

Bosh hits the first, then the second.

Nocioni in with a banged up knee himself.

Kobe tight with the back court defense, picks up the loose ball and bangs it with two,.

16-4 US.

Oberto looks like he’s missing Timmay and leaves it short.

Paul hits a baseline three.

19-4 US.

Paul gets another steal and tries to bang it, but sike nah…gets the lay.

USA 21, Argentina 4. USA on an 18-0 run.

Sup now Okori?

This anti US sentiment was caused by Dirk winning a bogus MVP…the same with Nash. Yeah I said it.

Dude makes a deep fadeaway three, but DWill comes back with his own.

24-7 USA.

Andres is fouled.

Nocioni’s leg is ginger as hell. He makes the first and the second.

AG you ever talk to Andres? He’s got this crazy ego. Intense but chill.

Melo hits a three.

Sciola misses a nice base line drive.

Bosh makes one plus the bang. He completes the three point play.

Nocioni makes a nice driving three at the buzzer as Manu goes to the locker room. The refs rule it was a two and the US leads 30 to 11 after 1.

Breen and Collins act like this is such a shock. Nocioni makes a basket out of the break. Flash called for the offensive foul. That’s his second.

It’s all one on one by Argentina. Melo draws the offensive.

CP3 scores his seventh off a little bunny jumper in the lane.

Nocioni picks up an offensive himself and the crowd boos his coach.

Paul again with a full extension lay up.

Scola gets a bucket and the harm.

Howard in for Bosh.

Scola makes the free throw. 34-16 USA.

Delfino draws a foul on Howard with a drive to the basket.

He makes two free throws.

34-18.

Argentina to the zone and Melo hits another three.

37-18 USA.

Dwight with a man bound but Melo misses the three.

Steal, Kobe goes for the reverse slam but Nocioni gets the block.

Here come the competitor remarks regarding Nocioni.

Argentina makes a three.

Howard throws Andres to the floor–with an academy award reaction by Nocioni.

He makes both free throws.

Sustain this run and it’s over.

USA leads by 14 with a little under 6 in the second.

Coach K with the Son of a Bush lip read.

11 turnovers by the Argentinians.

JKidd in.

Kidd fouls Guttierez, who falls all over the floor like his daddy hit him.

Man up!

He makes two. The lead down to ten.

Melo with a hesitant three miss.

Gutierez makes a layup. Argentina on a 16-3 run.

Lead down to 8. 37-29 USA.

Redd in to bust the 2-3 zone. Heat up Mike, heat up!

Relax people. Check the score after the second half

Gutierez makes another one. Lead back down to eight.

Kobe with a three.

Delfino with a brickety brickster.

Nocioni with a strong rebound. Melo with the steal, goes to Kobe who pats between his legs a couple of times. Inside to Bosh, out to Melo who takes the shot, but is fouled. He makes two. Lead back up to thirteen.

Michael Redd with a nice inside rebound, but Paul gets called with an offensive.

Yo anyone see the bruiser dude on Argentina’s bench?

Scola makes a spin over Bosh, gets fouled and makes the free throw.

“He’s just a smart, skilled basketball player.” Give me a break!

Argentina gets a steal and a basket. Down to single digits again as Paul goes to the line and makes two.

Up to ten. 1:29 left in the half.

Scola big boys it in the lane. Under a minute.

Delfino drops it off to Scola to the delight of Mike Breen. Lead down to six. Argentina holds for one shot. Delfino bricks a three that Mike Breen wanted to go in. Kobe goes to the hole, gets hacked but no call.

2.9 left. Time out.

Anthony takes an off balance three but gets fouled. Collins correctly states that 20 of the United States shots have been threes. Melo makes two and then the third. Delfino almost banks a 300 footer at the buzzer.

United States 49, Argentina 40.

Some comments:

1. rapster Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm man I’m so thankful for that first half play-by-play.. been over here in USA hatin europe for far too long.. wanting to see our team so bad but won’t have TV till monday.. please destroy argentina squad.. and please post the 2nd half P-B-P mizza.. much appreciated bro.. 1..
2. GrandNubian Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 3:07 pm Someone other then Kobe needs to step up and help carry the load since Wade and Lebron has 2 fouls each.
3. michelle Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm I can’t believe this, Now only a 6pt game and no Manu on the floor
4. GrandNubian Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm They’re shooting too many outside shots. Take the ball inside with Bosh.

I agree with what everyone is saying. Argentina gets big ups for staying in it, but just check the second half folks.

Yo Rapster! Welcome to the fam bruh. Keep doing what you do across the spit brothaman. No problem on the play by play. We do this for cats like you.

An observation: This is the first time–besides China obviously–the US has been rooted against. They’ll go into the locker room and regain that us against the world mean mug and come out strong. Argentina better hold off a run or this will get ugly.

Let me clarify something. When I said all this anti US basketball sentiment was caused by Nash and Dirk, what I should have said is that all three MVP awards have been rendered irrelevant by the amazing performances by Kobe, Howard, LeBron and CP3. When you look back on this time and see that Nash went back to back and then Dirk won his you are definitely going to be scratching your head. So you have this wave of indifference around the world–and in this country to be specific–and here we are.

Second half starts…

Howard follows a Melo miss for the tip in.

Argentina with the turnover.

Damn they are still talking about Andres being a competitor. Stop swinging on his peeknuckles Doug.

Howard can’t be stopped that deep. He scores again. lead to thirteen.

LeBron picks up his third guarding against the aggressive drive by Andres.

Nocioni makes both.

LeBron scores inside. Scola makes another.

USA leads by 11 with 7 and a half left in the third.

Bron Bron hits a deep three. Scola throws up a brick caused by good Kidd defense.

I wanna see Flash. It’s that time Mike. Put him in.

Ginobli is out for the duration folks.

Howard gets hacked, Melo has his back and gets in Oberto’s face. Howard misses the first, hits the second. Kidd pushed Melo away like he was his Pop. Here comes the run folks. the lead his up to 15.

Oberto makes a foul line jumper. Anthony hits from the baseline. George Gervin evolution right there.

Here comes Flash Elaine!

The lead is 63-46, USA.

Delfino hits a three.

Kobe nice inside pass to Carmelo, who misses the bunny, but is fouled.

Nocioni picks up a dumbass tech–which is his fourth foul. Melo makes two free throws. Three free throws and the fourth.

The tech gives the US an 18 point lead. 67-49.

Scola makes another.

5:15 left in the third after the Kidd turnover.

Nocioni gets blocked by Bean, Kidd goes behind his back on the break, James throws the extra pass and it gets stolen.

Flash gets fouled inside. Makes one free throw. Misses the second. Bosh big hustle play to save an out of bounds, but the US misses the subsequent shot.

Scola nice baseline drive for two.

The big bruiser Argentinian dude gets off the bench.

Scola is feeling it. Wade goes baseline, passes to Deron Williams for the three. USA leads by 18 with 3:13.

After 20 of 33 first half shots were threes, the US has settled down, just like we thought they would, and gone back to the game plan.

Flash goes baseline and gets bumped by Scola. It’s Scola’s third. Scola has been impressive picking up the slack for Manu.

Damn Chris Paul! Pretty play off the break, makes the basket and gets fouled. Flash gets up for the two handed tip bang that doesn’t count to the delight of the crowd. Chris makes the free throw.

Melo gets hacked, hits the first…then the second.

USA up 21 with 2:08 left in the third.

Delfino hits a three.

DAMN DWYANE WADE!!! He’s ballin’ inside. Gets a big boy rebound, goes up, gets fouled. Makes the first and the second. Lead is 20…78-58.

Delfino hits another. DWill travels.

The big bruiser dude Gonzalez draws a foul inside from Melo off the rebound. Big Larry Kristoooobiak type cat. He makes one of two. Delfino hits a three of the back to back US turnovers. Melo hard to the basket but misses the shot.

Tayshaun in.

USA with 13 turnovers. USA up 78-64 after three.

Who wants to guess the final score?

Sing it Marvin…

Kidd fakes a three, passes into Howard, who is called for the three seconds.

Bron Bron with a deep three.

81-64 US.

Scola makes a bucket after a US block.

Bron Bron hits another three. He’s going for the jugular.

Argentina hits a baseline three.

84-69 USA with 8:13 left.

Man…get off Manu’s nuts please!

Bang it on them Dwight!

86-69 USA.

LeBron with the pretty Doc like left where he palms the ball to the cup.

Nocioni is done as well.

Grand Nubian with a prediction:

1. GrandNubian Says:
   August 22nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm Final score prediction:

   Team USA – 113
   Argentina – 89

Argentina hits a jumper.

Delfino boofs it with two hands on the baseline.

Kobe a drive in the lane. Scola big rebound.

Why is Breen and Collins criticizing a team up by 15 with five minutes left?

Kidd with a nice oop but Bosh misses. Scola with a follow.

Anthony pass from Kidd, misses, Bosh with the tip bang follow.

90-75 with 4:42 left. Timeout.

Scola scores again off the in the net goal tend.

90-77 4:20 left. Scola scores.

Mike Breen still criticizing as Flash gets a fast break dunk.

Delfino hits a baseline jumper. Lead down to thirteen.

Bosh with the inside hang. Gets fouled. Hits the first…then the second.

USA 94, Argentina 79. 3 remaining.

Wade gets inside again. 96, 79 USA.

Scola scores again inside. The young fella is a beast. Looking for big things from him this year with Houston.

USA goes to the slow down, but Wade looks like a video game and misses a high rising two handed bang. 2 minutes left. Here comes Kobe. Oberto fouls out hacking Wade.

That’s right Mike. Win and advance. That’s all that counts. This is still a blow out though. Don’t get it twisted. The wold might think they have caught up, but this team doesn’t. That’s fo sho!

99-81 USA as Wade goes pretty to the basket. They are up 20. Scola with the out of control drive and throws it out of bounds.

101-81 USA 51.7 seconds left.

Michael Redd dribbles it out and the US is in the gold medal match.

USA 101, Argentina 81 Final.

USA goes on to play Spain 2:30 in the morning here (EST). I’ll be blogging the game if anyone wants to stay up.

Final Box:

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
L James, F	26	6-11	3-6	0-2	2	3	5	2	0	0	4	3	15
C Anthony, F	30	3-14	2-8	13-13	0	4	4	0	1	1	1	2	21
D Howard, C	16	4-6	0-0	2-4	3	6	9	0	1	2	1	3	10
J Kidd, G	16	1-2	0-1	0-0	1	1	2	7	0	0	3	2	2
K Bryant, G	32	5-14	2-9	0-0	1	1	2	1	2	0	0	2	12
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
C Boozer	2	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
D Williams	13	2-4	2-4	0-0	0	1	1	2	0	0	2	2	6
M Redd	5	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
D Wade	15	4-7	0-1	4-8	4	0	4	1	1	0	2	2	12
C Bosh	20	3-4	0-0	5-5	4	6	10	0	0	1	0	4	11
C Paul	21	4-5	1-2	3-4	1	2	3	2	3	0	2	1	12
T Prince	4	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		32-68	10-31	27-36	16	27	43	15	8	4	15	21	101
		47.1%	32.3%	75.0%	Team TO (pts off): 15 (0)
ARGENTINA
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
L Scola, F	34	13-21	0-0	2-2	4	7	11	0	2	2	2	4	28
F Oberto, C	19	1-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	5	2
M Ginobili, G	6	1-4	0-2	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	2
P Prigioni, 3G	33	1-3	1-3	0-0	0	3	3	3	0	0	4	4	3
C Delfino, G	35	6-18	3-10	2-2	3	5	8	1	2	0	2	3	17
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
R Gonzalez	6	0-1	0-0	1-2	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	2	1
A Porta	3	0-1	0-1	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
P Quinteros	19	4-9	2-3	2-2	1	2	3	0	1	0	2	0	12
L Gutierrez	19	0-3	0-3	0-0	0	2	2	2	0	0	0	3	0
A Nocioni	18	2-4	0-1	6-6	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	4	10
J Gutierrez	8	2-2	0-0	2-2	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	2	6
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		30-68	6-23	15-16	9	23	32	7	7	3	16	29	81
		44.1%	26.1%	93.8%	Team TO (pts off): 16 (0)

Thanks for all the new readers. Yo Joe! Keep spittin’ fire bruh. Send me some of your work to masdalunkin@aol.com. Be Peace my brotha.

Again. Thanks folks. Keep commenting.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 am and is filed under Blogroll, Ernie Johnson. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.