Posted on 08/10/2008 10:58:24 AM PDT by libh8er
In a basketball game which featured approximately 600 dunks, including several worthy All-Star Weekend, it might come as some surprise that the most significant aspect of America’s 101-70 win against China was the play of its defense.
In the shock and awe of the final score, it would be easy to forget that after 15 minutes of the 40, the score was 31-29. That will give a more honest picture of where the US is in relation to basketball powers like Spain and Argentina.
For those first 15 minutes, China played as perfect a basketball game is it could ever have hoped to, hitting almost every 3-pointer and hinting a Miracle on Hardwood turned against the US.
What changed the game was the Americans’ recognition of their limitations and stifling, bungee-on-the-trashcan-lid defense.
The fact is, the team that the US has brought to Beijing cannot play the world game. The international style is based on driving to the basket to collapse defenses inward, then passing the ball back out to the perimeter for 3-pointers.
(Excerpt) Read more at features.csmonitor.com ...
“Trying desperately to figure out his point?”
Let me help. ‘It’s Bush’s fault.’
A lot of people want to be the first to say “i told you so” in case America drops a game ... it’s just a loser attitude. ... I think any team where Kobe Bryant isn’t the best player is going to be pretty good. Jason Kidd is showing the doubters that he can run the point... I want America to play clean and fair and crush the competition in any sport
PS - Would have preferred a picture of a non-rapist member of the team, though.
I think that's what the writer was hinting at.
“International” style? lol we invented it, the international style is apparently not the right way to play!
There’s nothing wrong with “not being able to play the world game”, basketball (like all direct contest sports) is about forcing the other guy to play your game. So not being able to play their game only becomes a problem if we can’t enforce our will. And if the team defense stays that solid that’s not going to happen.
My guess is the USA team should play like the "international league" instead of a bunch of thugs
The final score should reflect the nuances of how the rest of the world plays B-Ball
Still have the mindset that it was all Kobe’s doing I see.
I guess this is what you get when you turn to the CSM for sports coverage. Weird artilce about a team that just beat the home team by 31 points, but his point is that team USA does not seem to have completely solved the issues the prior team that won the Bronze had.
But as you probably recognize, there is more than one style of basketball. The inside game generally beats an outside game, so I am certainly fine with the makeup of this team.
Because some of us are able to follow two news events at the same time.
Yeah, inside trumps outside, but perhaps not with that baby-toss international 3-pt line.
Hahahaha chicom basketball. LOL! USA USA!
the LA Times called it “A Red White and Blue Track Meet with Dunks”
That is what I interpreted to. Americans don’t play “fair”.
Oh, please. Kobe's own statement following the negotiated settlement was practically a de facto admission of his guilt. First, Kobe apologized to the young woman and then said, "I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter". Sexual intercourse with a woman against her will is usually called rape... Kobe's doing, indeed.
"Peking". I like that. "2008 Peking Olympics" sounds much better.
After we’ve vented about the Russians behaving like Russians, then what? It’s OK to come up for air and talk about other things in life.
See post #20. Kobe's stunningly self-incriminating statement speaks for itself.
There’s always more to the story. If he actually physically restrained or tied her up he would be doing time right now. She put herself in that position for a reason.
Crush the competition. Drive them before us. Hear the lamentations of their fans.
I see you elect to ignore that the woman who filed the claim admitted it was false.
There are no laws preventing you from holding a Nifong-like opinion, however.
Did the US coaches not realize that the 3 point play is important in international play, and pick players accordingly? I find that hard to believe.
That’s a mighty high horse you have there.
Funny how so many “world game” players would give up life and limb to play the American Game. Wonder why?
Can I say “DIE COMMIE SCUM” or is that out of line?
Can I say “DIE COMMIE SCUM” or is that out of line?
The writer clearly did not watch the game, nor has he seen previous games played by the 2008 team.
They play great defense (finally) and will win the gold easily.
“Trying desperately to figure out his point?”
The US can’t shoot from outside. They can run like deer though, and play defense like junk yard dogs. That’s enough to win internationally. It’s the difference between a half court game (international) and a running game. The running game almost always wins. See the Boston Celtics, LA Lakers, and Chicago Bulls teams.
After the first three minutes of the game, when I saw how poor the Chinese ball handling was against the US defense, I knew it would be a blow out.
Ironically, despite the 3 pt line, outside shooting seems to have declined in the NBA. There are good shooters, but it doesn’t seem to be a major part of the offense. Defense rules.
I'm not aware of any such admission. Please point me to a link to that fact. She did, as I recall, admit to at least one misstatement but did not recant her charge that the sex was against her will.
On another note the sports fanatics seem to have taken some umbrage at my little poke at them. For people who venerate toughing up they appear to be mightily thin-skined.
While I am not in a position to post a link, he is correct. The woman recanted. It was adultery, but not rape.
Kobe is no better or worse than a former Senator or President.
Wasn’t it something like Beiping for a while?
One would think that such an admission would be big news, easily revealed by a cursory Google search. However, a search of the accuser's name ("Kate Farber") and the word "recant" brings up only six responses, none of which supports the story that she recanted the rape allegation.
I believe your right, for a short time the MSM used Beiping then the ChiComs took them to task and they conforned. To have them self conform is much cheaper than sending them to re-education camps and they come to believe much quicker that way (Orwell again).
I guess you might be correct....the case was dropped because she was more interested in money than justice. I recant my statement of her recantment (if that is a word.)
In my mind, going for the cash indicates an admission that something happened that cannot be proved, but that she felt she could convince a majority of the members of a jury to be disgusted enough to give her some money.
The term Peking originated with French missionaries four hundred years ago. But the city has changed names several times during it’s long history. Many of the names changes occurred as the capitol of China moved between Nanking and Beijing.
Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way that I did.
"After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even hearing her testify in person, I now understand how she sincerely feels that she did not consent to the encounter.
600 dunks = 1200pts. 60 Dunks maybe?
Fair enough...
I stopped looking at these guys as role models about the time I turned seven and Carl Yaz was nasty on a visit to town. Yaz, nasty? Hard to imagine, huh?
I respect his ability to play a game. I respect that he’s made an effort to stay with his wife. He appears to care for his kids, who are beautiful.
Otherwise, he really doesn’t impact my life too much. Although it was nice to see the Celtics whip his butt this past spring.
The statement has to be judged in the context of the overall case. Kobe claimed he was an innocent man falsely accused (by a woman his attorneys charged was a deviant, a nut, a liar, and a slanderer)and vowed to prove his innocence in court. Instead he settles out of court and agrees to a statment of abject apology to the woman and admits to understaninding why she thought the sex wasn't consensual .
Non-consensual sex is rape. What Kobe admitted to was really, "I understand why she thought she was raped." ... Yes, self incriminating.
I was trying to figure out his point as well because the score at the end is indicative of how well we (USA) are playing. A lot of teams stay close after one quarter but then lose big.
If I may say so, it is a dumb article.
First of all, let me say that Kobe is no angel. Most likely, he's used to getting whatever he wants, and used to people bending over backwards to provide him with whatever.
Next, IMHO, the girl was a tease,star struck and likely was looking to bend over backwards for Kobe. But as things progressed, she found herself in over her head.
Having said that, it's my opinion that neither party was completely honest or innocent.
But what Kobe said was that he thought it was consensual (arrogant jerk that he is) and that months later, after hearing her side, he could understand why she thought how she did. He didn't agree with her, only that he understood why she said what she did.
And I looked at your link. A lot of the stories have disappeared. Curious.
[If I may say so, it is a dumb article.]
I guess the tone is that its ok as long as the US loses, right?
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