8/22 Team USA vs. Venezuela - Predictions and Comments

Weezy wrote:I can't believe they actualy took time out from this game to slurp Dwyane Wade, like I seriously can't believe it. They start talking about Kobe and how it's gonna be hard for him to be a team player and will other guys have to defer to him and then they talk about how Wade is a different dynamic and that he's with school kids buying them school supplies right now in Florlida. I wasn't even thinking about Wade, I'd forgotten about him, because quite frankly with Kobe this team doesn't need him. We have a guy that can shoot from anywhere, plays better D than him and is made for international style of play, whereas Wade struggles. Only ESPN could turn something this positive into a Wade slurp fest and a Kobe controversy.

Daloyalfan18 wrote:Melo leads the team in scoring again with 17 points.

scheven wrote:

Daloyalfan18 wrote:Melo leads the team in scoring again with 17 points.

he got blocked 1000000x times tho...

kroublees wrote:

scheven wrote:

Daloyalfan18 wrote:Melo leads the team in scoring again with 17 points.

he got blocked 1000000x times tho...

BDG wrote:I'll say it again, the commentary for this game was among the worst I've ever heard.

The main commentator absolutely was clueless on what the referees were calling . . . and Bill Walton went on a 10 minute rant on Hugo Chavez . . . not even an attempt to stop.

It's really going to be painful to stomach ESPN/ABC for 8 more years or whatever was stipulated in that extension.

BDG wrote:I'll say it again, the commentary for this game was among the worst I've ever heard.

The main commentator absolutely was clueless on what the referees were calling . . . and Bill Walton went on a 10 minute rant on Hugo Chavez . . . not even an attempt to stop.

It's really going to be painful to stomach ESPN/ABC for 8 more years or whatever was stipulated in that extension.

Showtime is Magic wrote:

BDG wrote:I'll say it again, the commentary for this game was among the worst I've ever heard.

The main commentator absolutely was clueless on what the referees were calling . . . and Bill Walton went on a 10 minute rant on Hugo Chavez . . . not even an attempt to stop.

It's really going to be painful to stomach ESPN/ABC for 8 more years or whatever was stipulated in that extension.

I liked the facts about Venezuela that Bill gave. Gave me some info on the country but the other guy was CLUELESS. He didnt even know about the Marbury interview or ANYTHING. He was confused about rules and news around the NBA. Very annoying

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Once Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant warmed up, there was no way Venezuela could keep up.

Anthony scored 17 points, Bryant added 14, and the United States rolled to a 112-69 victory Wednesday night in its opening game of the FIBA Americas tournament.

Michael Redd also had 17 points, Amare Stoudemire scored 16 and Dwight Howard 12 for the Americans, who improved to 27-0 in the regional Olympic qualifier. The Americans face the U.S. Virgin Islands in the final game Thursday night.

Bryant was making his long-awaited international debut, while Anthony was the leading American scorer last year at the world championships. They needed a little more than a quarter to show they could be a formidable duo.

Jason Kidd and Howard started along with LeBron James, Bryant and Anthony, the three starters coach Mike Krzyzewski had already named. All 12 players saw action in the first quarter, which ended with the Americans up 21-8 after some shaky shooting.

Bryant was scoreless and Anthony had only four points in the opening period, but they didn't stay quiet for long. Both scored seven points in a 16-6 spurt early in the second quarter that broke open the game and extended the lead to 39-16 on Bryant's 3-pointer with 5:23 left in the first half.

Both players were involved in the highlight play of the game. Kidd leaped to keep a high pass from going out of bounds along the sideline, quickly tossing it back to Anthony. He fired it to a cutting James, who passed behind his back to Bryant for a dunk, drawing a roar from what was otherwise a fairly quiet crowd in a Thomas & Mack Center that appeared less than half full.

The Americans led 54-34 at halftime, and the advantage ballooned into the 30s after the starters outscored Venezuela 14-2 to open the third quarter. James' steal and breakaway dunk made it 68-36.

Greivis Vasquez scored 12 points for Venezuela, which will face Canada on Thursday.

The Americans were forced to play in the qualifier after failing to win the world championships last year. They returned this year with a stronger roster, particularly in the backcourt, where Chauncey Billups and Redd joined Bryant and Kidd.

All the U.S. problems haven't gone away, though. The Americans missed seven of their first nine 3-point attempts and were only 20-for-29 from the free throw line, two of their biggest weaknesses in recent years.

Those may not matter much over the next 11 days. The United States has hardly been challenged in three previous appearances, with only one game being decided by single digits, and isn't expected to have any trouble earning one of the tournament's two spots for the 2008 Olympics.

James scored 11 points and Mike Miller, who limped off the floor after committing an offensive foul in the closing minutes, had 10 for the Americans. Kidd, who didn't attempt a shot in 15 minutes, and rebounding and shot blocking specialist Tyson Chandler were the only players not to score.