M
Mohamed
Guest
Sunday July 27, 2008
NBA stars too strong for Canada in Olympic tune-up match
LAS VEGAS: Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd scored 20 points apiece on Friday as the United States dominated Canada 120-65 in a Beijing Olympic basketball tune-up.
Chris Paul handed out eight assists for the US, who will play two warm-up games in Macau and two more in Shanghai before their Olympic opener in Beijing against hosts China on Aug 10.
Team USA, stocked with National Basketball Association (NBA) stars, had been practising against a select team of NBA players in training camp here.
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James injured his right ankle in a scrimmage on Tuesday when he landed on the foot of reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant.
As a result, James did not play on Friday, but he wasn’t needed as the US outscored Canada 34-18, in the third quarter en route to taking a 95-56 advantage entering the final period.
Team USA also owned a 48-14 advantage in the paint.
“I thought for our fifth day of practice we showed a lot of energy,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “Guys are committed to playing defence. I liked the effort we had on the defensive end of the court.
“And after the first 10 minutes, we just seemed we were passing the ball more.
“We’re still developing this team. The more the game went along, the more comfortable they became. We got a commitment to protect each other’s back. We’re collectively responsible on defence.”
The US are vying to regain international basketball glory for the first time since claiming Olympic gold in 2000.
Team USA were embarrassed en route to winning bronze medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006 World Championships.
Since then, the team have been restructured. USA Basketball hired veteran NBA executive Jerry Colangelo to build the squad and appointed iconic Duke University coach Krzyzewski.
Players since have had to commit to Team USA for three years to foster the kind of continuity other international teams possess.
The move showed in the teamwork on display on Friday, including in a pair of fast breaks early in the fourth quarter.
Jason Kidd lobbed a looping lead pass to Anthony, who then shovelled another feed to set up a monster dunk by Chris Bosh.
On the next possession for the Americans, Wade – who is recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries – finished with a spectacular windmill dunk.
The US shot 66% from the field, including 11-of-22 from three-point range.
Jermaine Anderson scored 18 points for Canada.
“I think the thing that is special about this team is that it has been a three-year commitment,” Paul said. “It’s not just about this year, but it’s about what we’ve done in the past to get to this point.
“We’re hungry,” he added. “I think we have a team of guys who are hungry enough to satisfy Coach K’s code of basketball.”
Canada coach Leo Rautins said the US have to be considered the favourites in Beijing.
“In sheer talent, they’re the best team,” he said. “Whether they become the very best team on the floor, that remains to be seen. But they certainly have as good a shot, if not better, than anybody there.”
NBA stars too strong for Canada in Olympic tune-up match
LAS VEGAS: Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd scored 20 points apiece on Friday as the United States dominated Canada 120-65 in a Beijing Olympic basketball tune-up.
Chris Paul handed out eight assists for the US, who will play two warm-up games in Macau and two more in Shanghai before their Olympic opener in Beijing against hosts China on Aug 10.
Team USA, stocked with National Basketball Association (NBA) stars, had been practising against a select team of NBA players in training camp here.
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James injured his right ankle in a scrimmage on Tuesday when he landed on the foot of reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant.
As a result, James did not play on Friday, but he wasn’t needed as the US outscored Canada 34-18, in the third quarter en route to taking a 95-56 advantage entering the final period.
Team USA also owned a 48-14 advantage in the paint.
“I thought for our fifth day of practice we showed a lot of energy,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “Guys are committed to playing defence. I liked the effort we had on the defensive end of the court.
“And after the first 10 minutes, we just seemed we were passing the ball more.
“We’re still developing this team. The more the game went along, the more comfortable they became. We got a commitment to protect each other’s back. We’re collectively responsible on defence.”
The US are vying to regain international basketball glory for the first time since claiming Olympic gold in 2000.
Team USA were embarrassed en route to winning bronze medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006 World Championships.
Since then, the team have been restructured. USA Basketball hired veteran NBA executive Jerry Colangelo to build the squad and appointed iconic Duke University coach Krzyzewski.
Players since have had to commit to Team USA for three years to foster the kind of continuity other international teams possess.
The move showed in the teamwork on display on Friday, including in a pair of fast breaks early in the fourth quarter.
Jason Kidd lobbed a looping lead pass to Anthony, who then shovelled another feed to set up a monster dunk by Chris Bosh.
On the next possession for the Americans, Wade – who is recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries – finished with a spectacular windmill dunk.
The US shot 66% from the field, including 11-of-22 from three-point range.
Jermaine Anderson scored 18 points for Canada.
“I think the thing that is special about this team is that it has been a three-year commitment,” Paul said. “It’s not just about this year, but it’s about what we’ve done in the past to get to this point.
“We’re hungry,” he added. “I think we have a team of guys who are hungry enough to satisfy Coach K’s code of basketball.”
Canada coach Leo Rautins said the US have to be considered the favourites in Beijing.
“In sheer talent, they’re the best team,” he said. “Whether they become the very best team on the floor, that remains to be seen. But they certainly have as good a shot, if not better, than anybody there.”
