When the US won the gold medal I took a deep breath and realized that this wasn’t about winning the gold medal and it bringing joy.  It only brought relief.  It was reassurance.  It was like when i was little and Ryne Sandberg would be in a slump and I’d wonder if he would ever get a hit again and when he did I felt relief inside.  I felt the same way here.  I watched that entire game, early in the morning or late at night depending how you look at it, and I was stunned that we couldn’t shake Spain.  It didn’t help the Rudy Fernandez was hitting 25 foot shots with guys all over him but I was into the game with that feeling of ‘please don’t lose’.  I was proud the US didn’t fold and play scared but more relieved that they won.

On a side note, I don’t think Carmelo belongs on this team.  I love his size and strength and ability to guard multiple positions but he shoots the ball way way too much for my liking.  These guys are so good that they can get any shot they want at almost any time and the stuff he throws up there with guys on him is ridiculous.  I know that for their teams they have to take those shots because you’d rather have Carmelo shoot the ball than Eduardo Najera, but on this team get some more role players and play off DWade, Kobe, CP3 and Dwill and we’d be better off. 

I’m just glad we won the gold.  Thanks guys.

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I know Greece beat Germany into submission the other night but I also saw Greece get beat by Spain rather easily.  I’m much more concerned about Spain than i am Greece.  In fact, I think the US will beat the Greeks by 20 plus points and take this one easily.  I see a different mentality this year with the team and I’m happy with the intensity and direction they are going.  They are a team that hasn’t played their best game yet and I think that is coming.  They haven’t shot well yet but they are about to and this team is unstoppable on any fast break.  The Greeks will play tough ‘cheating’ defense where they will foul every chance they can and that’s ok as long as the US realizes they can do the same thing.  Germany let everything Greece did effect them and it worked.  Germany looked unprepared from the start and Greece had a gameplan.  That won’t happen against us.  They won’t surprise us and we want revenge from the 2006 world championships.  Greece is about to experience defensive pressure that they have never seen before and we will make short work of them.  I can’t wait to watch.

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I’m a clueless geographic American and I have no clue where Angola is or what it is for that matter.  I honestly have no idea.  I know that they play the United States every olympics and get killed by 40 or so points.  This year is no different as the Angola Team brings their tallest player at 6*8.  Lebron is 6*8 and he could be our point guard.

The U.S crushed China after China expectedly hung close for a while there.  I thought they would hang with them for a while being the host country and having all that excitement around the game for months and months.  We didn’t shoot the ball well at all and it scares me a little.  We need to sit Jason Kidd.  Kidd can’t shoot and won’t shoot and teams, like China, aren’t even guarding him.  I was watching this thing and Kidd just doesn’t have it like Chris Paul or Deron Williams does.  Williams is a much more able and willing shooter than Kidd and Paul is one guy that we need to get guarding the ball as much as possible.  Paul was right there at the top of the leaders in the NBA in steals so it isn’t like most teams want to have Paul guard you.  Would you rather play against Paul or Kidd?  I’m picking Kidd because he’s my age and has to pick his spots and it is showing.  If we want to open up the middle then get Redd in the game and put Williams or Paul at point and let’s go. 

The game to watch will be Spain.  That will be a real test for us as they have a bunch of NBA guys who are used to playing this style of game and want to win.  Spain looked good over Greece and I really like Calderon at point guard.  He is known for his game control and he’ll do the same against us.  I was very impressed with Ricky Rubio also but I don’t think he wants Chris Paul in his shorts pressuring the ball because he struggled with that, at times, against the greeks.  Still, the kid is a top 3 pick in the draft and it was clear to see why.  I think he’ll be a great pro.

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If there is something that is most sought after among coaches it is practice material.  I felt that since Bill Self just signed his 30 million dollar 10 year deal that i should at least try to mention his DVD Bill Self’s Guide to Better Basketball Practice.  This DVD was made when he was the head coach of, my favorite school, Illinois.  Self takes you inside an actual practice and goes through warm up drills, passing, shooting as well as all the defensive training you would need to run a basic defense.  This isn’t a completely in depth full length practice but the drills that are showed will give you plenty to work off of.  If you are looking for something that is specific to offense or defense then this isn’t the DVD for you. If you want something that you can use to outline a practice or a week or practices then this is the correct tool. 

Bill Self is a winner and has been a winner at every program he’s been.  His secret has always been to have good players, but when you watch this tape you’ll clearly see why Self is deserving, if anyone is, of his new contract.

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I’m still not worried if I’m the NBA.  It isn’t going to hurt the overall product that is put out on the floor each game.  With the NBA losing Arroyo to Israel it just gives an American born player a chance to play in the NBA in front of fans that grew up watching him.  This is nothing to panic about at all. 

Carlos Arroyo is a decent second string point guard who shoots the ball too much.  He would’ve hung around a roster like Jacque Vaughn for 15 seasons and years later someone would’ve remembered him having a decent game once.  With him going to Israel it only makes that team better but doesn’t weaken the Orlando Magic.  I’m more than confident that the Magic can find a quality replacement for Carlos.

I touched on this topic a week or so ago and I’ll say it again, we only have to worry about it when the best players start to leave and at this point that isn’t going to happen.  I’m not saying it won’t because basketball is growing so much world wide that teams and owners are going to pony up one day and go for the superstar and one might go and pave the way for others.  In the end all it will do is make the NBA change their salary structure to compete so that the best players will always play here in the states.  I think we are years off for that and maybe that player who changed it all is Josh Childress or maybe he’s the guy that sours the Europeans on players from here.  We’ll find out in a few years, about the same time that we learn Brett Favre is coming back again for another season.

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I’m not a Coach K fan at all but I do have great respect for him as a coach.  He is doing a fabulous job with the US National team that is in Beijing.  These olympics will provide one decent scare for the United States but other than that this will be a blowout like we haven’t seen since the dream team.  Coach K has restored pride in the program and made it  a true program.  We were embarrassed 4 years ago and this team is ready to explode for the world to see.

I’ve been watching the tune up games for the US and this team is loaded with speed and talent.  They’ll face teams that will focus on taking care of the ball and getting back on defense and it will force the US to hit some outside shots and they’ll be able to do it.  But how do you stop a fast break with Lebron as the point and kobe and carmelo on a wing.  Good luck with that world.

Countries will once again take pride in getting the silver and bronze because that is all that is up in the air now.  The US will win the Gold again and I’ll actually be watching.  

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