USA vs. Brazil Game Diary

1:30: Brazil is starting Tiago Splitter, and will bring Varejao off of the bench. Lamar Odom doesn’t sound like a good starting center for Team USA to me. USA needs to play a lot of Kevin Love at center, maybe a little Chandler. Let’s see how badly Splitter dominates USA’s “big men”.

1:33: Violation on the tip off, followed by a re-jump, Splitter gets it easily.

1:34: Brazil scores first, no defense.

1:35: Brazil scores again, still no USA defense.

1:36: Both teams are playing at a fast pace, but the pace is too fast for both teams. The game is very sloppy.

1:37: Durant hit an open three.

1:39: Tie game, 10-10, a little over 6 minutes left in the 1st.

1:40: Brazil hits a three. They haven’t missed a shot. As I typed that, Barbosa missed.

1:41: Another three from Durant. It looks like Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook will be coming in the game soon. It looks like a pretty even game with the starters. Let’s see how things go when both teams start using their bench.

1:43: Huge block from Rudy Gay. That might have been a goaltend in the NBA, but it was clearly a block under FIBA rules. USA 18, Brazil 17.

1:46: Alex Garcia hits a three, Brazil is up by 1. Brazil’s lead didn’t last long, Kevin Love just hit a three. Now Barbosa hits a three. This thing is starting to look more like a fast paced three point contest than a real game. Not much defense from either team.

1:48: Huge dunk from Splitter. Brazil is up 28-22. Splitter gets a block at the other end. End of the first quarter. The frantic pace of the game is making both teams look a little haphazard, but it seems like the chaos is clearly in favor of Brazil. If Brazil keeps hitting three point shots, I don’t think team USA can win this.

1:51: Beginning of the second quarter. 3 second violation by Odom.

1:52: Team USA finally scores again, but it was on a really ugly fade away shot by Durant.

1:54: Timeout. A US Army commercial, Peyton Manning pushing his latest shoe, and a Verizon Wireless commercial. We’re also reminded about a baseball game that will be on ESPN tonight. I hate baseball. I had to add that, in case you haven’t read my earlier posts, or maybe you just forgot.

1:58: Rose gets a steal, fouled on the layup attempt by Barbosa. Rose hits one of two, Brazil is up 33-30. The commentators remind us about how different the ball is from the one used in the NBA.

2:00: USA turnover leads to another easy basket for Brazil. Team USA can’t play defense, and they’re not protecting the ball on offense.

2:01: Time out. There’s something about the way Fran Fraschilla calls a game that detracts from it. I’m really glad ESPN doesn’t put him on NBA games.

2:05: Durant is playing pretty well. He has 14. But team USA isn’t really playing very well, but a reverse up and under layup from Rose brought team USA to within 1.

2:06: Brazil banks in a three, Brazil 43, USA 38.

2:07: Kevin Love checks back in. Rudy Gay mauls Splitter under the basket to stop an easy bucket. Varejao hasn’t played at all in the first half. The commentators speculate that his ankle injury is worse than originally thought.

2:10: Beautiful pick and roll basketball leads to a pretty impressive dunk by Splitter. Love gets an offensive rebound on the other end, but misses the putback.

2:12: Brazil lead 46-43 at the half. Even though Brazil is only up by three, USA really looks to be in trouble. Brazil is clearly setting the pace of this game. They’ve hit a lot of threes, and they’re playing a lot of pick and roll basketball which team USA can’t seem to defend. As I’ve already mentioned, Varejao hasn’t even played due to a hurt ankle. If Varejao was healthy, I don’t think team USA would have a chance in this one. As it is, Coach K is going to have to do something to motivate these guys if they want to win. Durant has 19.

Half time show update: Australia destroyed Germany. Argentina is beating Angola at half time, but they’re not dominating. Serbia is without Nenad Krstic (suspended for three games due to fighting), but they still blew out Jordan 112-69. Apparently they’re going to talk about Roger Clemens after the commercial break. Yawn.

2:26: We’re coming back from half time.

2:28: Odom hits a shot, and brings USA to within 1. ESPN is having technical difficulties, so we can’t see the clock unless the camera angle shows the clock above the backboard.

2:30: Splitter just picked up his third foul. Team USA needed that. A lot.

2:31: Billups hits a pair of free throws, and USA is back to within 1 with about 7:30 left in the 3rd quarter.

2:32: Rudy Gay just spun around on his pivot foot about five times. I wonder if he got dizzy. Tyson Chandler just checked in for the first time.

2:33: Barbosa just airballed a fallaway three. Durant just hit a three to tie things up at 50.

2:34: Rose just hit a jump hook over Splitter (yeah, you read that right, a point guard just took a jump hook over one of the best international centers in the game) to put the US up 52-50.

2:36: One of the commentators just made a dumb crack saying “There’s no such thing as a 10 point play.” All he really wanted to say was that USA has to play defense if it wants to build a lead.

2:37: Barbosa clanks another three. After hitting everything from downtown early, Brazil has gone cold from the three point line. At this point USA’s lead is due more to Brazil’s cold shooting than anything else.

2:40: Billups free throw shooting saves the day again. USA is up 55-50. Surprisingly enough, Chandler is playing OK defense against Splitter.

2:41: Brazil finally knocks down a three.

2:42: Durant just got called for a travel. I didn’t see a travel, but whatever. Durant makes up for it on the next play with a dunk.

2:43: Barbosa has gone completely cold. He just missed an open three. USA 59, Brazil 55 with under 2 minutes left in the third.

2:44: Durant again. Splitter picks up an offensive foul by lowering a shoulder into Odom. This is USA’s chance to really break things open. Remember, that you only have five fouls in FIBA play.

2:46: Brazil isn’t moving the ball very well, but Barbosa just bailed them out with a deep three with the shot clock winding down.

2:49: USA 61, Brazil 59 at the end of the 3rd. Team USA hasn’t taken advantage of Splitter being out of the game yet.

2:53: The game is being delayed due to a scoreboard malfunction. The commentators brought up a potential conspiracy theory that Spain intentionally threw their game against France in order to avoid playing USA until later in tournament play. They’re now showing us the differences between NBA and FIBA basketball, such as the length of the game, size of the court, and goaltending rules. They also mentioned that FIBA will be getting rid of their characteristic trapezoidal lane starting Oct. 1.

2:56: The scoreboard is still malfunctioning.

2:58: The fourth quarter is finally getting started.

2:59: Billups just took a straight ahead three early in the shot clock. It bounced off the back of the rim.

3:01: Brazil hits a three, tie game at 62.

3:03: We’re going to a commercial break with USA up 66-62 after an incredible layup by Rose. He got fouled and will be heading to the free throw line when we come back. ESPN breaks in again to remind us about baseball. Ugh.

3:05: Rose misses the freebie. Splitter is back in the game. ESPN’s clock still isn’t working. It’s really annoying when you don’t know how much time is left.

3:06: Durant just got blocked. The score is still 66-62. Time out. I think I’ve seen enough Army recruitment commercials to last me a life time. It doesn’t matter how many times you show that stupid commercial. I’m not enlisting. Give up already.

3:09: Team USA’s offense looks really stagnant. Odom drove to the basket, but stepped out of bounds. USA is up 66-64.

3:12: Offensive foul on a Billups drive. Brazil has three players with four fouls.

3:13: Durant just got called for another travel. Once again, I didn’t see any travel. If you think that NBA officiating can be bad, watch some international ball.

3:14: Brazil is shooting 2 for 15 in the fourth. Brazil’s cold shooting is the only reason that USA is up 4 right now. Durant just got called for basket interference. Even though you can hit the ball after it’s hit the rim in international play, you can’t put your hand through the basket like Durant just did. That mistake just let Brazil pull within two with 1:04 left in the game.

3:17: Billups drove right into Splitter and hit the shot, but Barbosa hit on the other end. USA is still up by 2.

3:18: Huertas just got fouled, and is heading to the free throw line with 3.5 seconds left. If he hits both, we’re probably heading to overtime. He missed the first shot. He missed the second intentionally, Brazil got the rebound, but Barbosa missed the shot. USA wins, 70-68.

Somehow the USA pulled off the win today, but it certainly wasn’t pretty. Their defense was horrible in the first half, and just OK in the second half. In my opinion USA didn’t win this game. Brazil lost it. They missed a lot of open shots in the second half.

Assorted Thoughts

There are several things I could write about, but I don't feel like turning any of them into full length posts right now. Here are some of my thoughts on the world championships, the upcoming NBA season, and video games.

I watched the USA vs. France exhibition game on Sunday. Team USA won, and they did it fairly easily, but it wasn't pretty. If Team USA expects to make a noise against the real heavy hitters like Spain and Greece, they have to play A LOT better. France was without Tony Parker, Roddy Beaubois, Mickael Pietrus, and Joakim Noah. The USA should have pulverized France. Yet they didn't. They have no big men, most of the team is very inexperienced, and unless some drastic changes are made, Spain is going to stomp a mudhole in their a**es and walk it dry.

The season hasn't even started yet, and reports are already stating that Chris Paul wants out of New Orleans, and Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver. Chris Paul isn't going anywhere, whether he likes it or not. He won't be a free agent next summer, so New Orleans can hold onto him even if he throws a fit. They can deal him next year. Carmelo is an idiot for not immediately signing the extension that the Nuggets offered him. No one knows what the new collective bargaining agreement will look like, but it's probably not going to be as player friendly as the one they're under now. Take the money Melo!

I recently dusted off my copy of NBA 2K7 for my PS2. I'm playing in association mode, which basically lets you be the GM of a team, as well as play all of the games. Of course I had to create myself as a 7'2" 280 lb. center with a 99 rating. Making enough trades to get the Mavs below the salary cap so I could sign myself took a long time. But I pulled it off.

Well there's my excuse for a blog post. Maybe I'll have more coherent thoughts next time.

Worst Month in Sports: The NBA-Centric Version

ESPN.com recently published an article declaring August to be the worst month in sports. Before reading any more of my post, go read the ESPN article in the link below, but don't forget to come back.

ESPN - Worst Month For Sports

I can't disagree with their choice of August as the worst month in sports. In fact, I'd say they are dead on. But from a die-hard NBA fan who hates baseball and doesn't really care about football, the rest of the list needs a lot of work. So here's my take on the topic from an NBA-centric viewpoint.


1. August: The ESPN article nailed it. Let's be honest, the only thing going on sports wise in August is baseball, and I hate baseball. Let's move on.

2. September: The article says December belongs here, but they're dead wrong. The second worst month is September, and it's only marginally better than August. At least we're closing in on the NBA season, and speculation is picking up on who the contenders will be, which means that the professional sports writers and amateur hacks like me are starting to produce more NBA related content. NBA training camp for some teams also begins in late September, and this can add a little bit of excitement for the basketball starved fan.

3. October: You might think I'd agree with ESPN's choice of July, since it's the last month that never contains any NBA regular season or playoff games. But then you'd be wrong. While October often contains the start of the NBA season, it's only the last three or four days of the month at best. Some years the regular season doesn't even start until early November. Pre-season basketball just isn't that exciting, although the outdoor game that they've televised the last couple of years has been worth watching, especially when you haven't seen a real NBA game since June. Plus October loses points for mucking up the airwaves with the World Series. Did I mention that I hate baseball?

4. July: July beats out October because of NBA free agency. While we were submitted to "The Decision" this year, July is when we find out what the NBA landscape is going to look like for the first few months of the season. The next big roster shakeups don't usually happen until right before the trade deadline (see February).

5. March: Bad teams are tanking to improve their chances in the draft lottery and teams who have solidified their playoff positions are resting their stars. This makes for some boring TV games, and it will kill you if your fantasy basketball season goes deep into March. On the plus side you get to see what happens when Brian Scalabrine tries out his iso moves on the rookie from Wheretheheckisthatastan. As much as it makes sense for me to pay attention to NCAA basketball to see who the up and coming players are, I just can't get that into college hoops. March Madness does not make up for low quality NBA games.

6. November: The NBA season is in full swing and there's no more baseball. EJ, Kenny, and Charles are on Thursday nights on TNT for the next few months. That's some good TV right there.

7. December: NBA rosters have had time to gel. We're starting to see which teams have chemistry and which don't. By this point in the season we're starting to see who the surprise pseudo-contenders are (usually young talented teams we didn't think were ready yet) and which teams aren't as good as we thought (usually due to injuries and/or washed up former all stars). The big negatives to December are the early no name college football bowl games which are played on Friday nights, because ESPN will air them instead of their usual Friday night double-header.

8. January: January is pretty similar to December, and also tends to suffer from the Friday night bowl game issue. I'll give January a slight edge over December because the NBA games generally seem to be a little bit higher in quality.

9. April: The NBA playoffs get under way. The first round has eight seven game series going on at the same time. That's a lot of basketball to watch, so I'm usually pretty happy. But it is only the first round, which is how a non-playoff month squeaks in at a better position.

10: February: February is all about All-Star Weekend and the NBA trade deadline. I love NBA All-Star Weekend. For whatever reason, I know it leaves a lot of fans somewhat cold, but I just can't help but love it. The dunk contest isn't as good as it used to be, but it's still entertaining. The skills competition is great, and I also like the three point contest. The game play of the Rookie-Sophomore game is usually pretty sloppy, but I like it because it lets us get a good look at the young players who will be the future of the league. I probably like this game more than some because I don't watch college basketball on any kind of regularity, so I'm not very familiar yet with some of these guys. Then there's the All-Star game itself. Yes, the play is often sloppy, but every once in a while a few players on each team decide that winning is important, that attitude becomes contagious, and the yearly East vs. West game becomes a thing of beauty. Then there's the trade deadline. This is the last chance for contender's to add an extra piece for that playoff run, and for the also rans to shed a little salary. Now we basically know what the rosters will look like for the playoffs.

I guess there's also some little football game that happens during February. I hear the commercials are good.

11: June: You probably thought I'd leave June for last because of the NBA Finals. Well you'd be wrong. I love the NBA Finals. I really do. But the problem is that there are only two teams left. One of those teams is probably the Lakers. I hate it when the Lakers win. The Lakers winning really takes something out of the Finals for me. Of course when the Lakers make the Finals and lose (2004 - Pistons, 2008 - Celtics), it's one of the best feelings in sports. There's also a bit of a let down when the season is finally over that keeps me from calling June the best.

12: May: I think that May is a better sports month than June. May has the later rounds of the NBA playoffs, so there are a lot of high quality games going on. For some reason, it often seems like the best games of the year happen during the Eastern or Western Conference Finals and not during the NBA Finals. During May I often still have that hope that someone out West will beat the Lakers, and that we'll have a great non-Lakers Finals, and that I'll really be able to enjoy the Finals when June rolls around.

So there's my stance on how the year shakes out sports wise from an NBA-centric point of view. I agree with the ESPN article that August is the worst, but other than that I don't agree with them at all.

Too bad it's August.

The Chicago Bulls: The Unmentioned Contender

The Lakers won the 2010 NBA Championship. Since they haven't lost any major pieces to that title team, they are still the team to beat. In the East, Pat Riley may have created a juggernaut. The Heat not only managed to add Bosh and LeBron without losing Wade, but they also have added some real help in Mike Miller, and they got Haslem to re-sign.

But there's another team out there that could be serious contenders next year, yet the hype has remained low. No, not the Magic, and I'm not talking about the possibility of the Celtics cryogenically freezing Garnett, Allen, and Pierce every moment they're not playing in order to keep them from progressing any further towards becoming the geriatric all-star team.

I'm talking about the Chicago Bulls. A starting five of Derek Rose, Kyle Korver, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah sounds pretty good to me.

Rose can handle the ball as well as any other current point guard not named Steve Nash, and if he so chooses, with an inside scorer like Boozer and a long range bomber like Korver, his assist totals should jump significantly. Rose must change his offensive mentality from a score first point guard to a pass first point guard. Rose has the talent to run an offense instead of being the offense, but he has to make an active decision to do so.

You could make the argument the Kyle Korver should come off the bench as a backup to both the SG and SF positions, but I'm going to put him in the starting lineup over Ronnie Brewer, who wouldn't be a bad option for this position. His weakness is that he will probably lose the quickness battle against most other starting shooting guards. But I'm going to put him in the starting line-up because of his three point shooting ability. With a scoring big man like Boozer and our hypothetical pass first Derek Rose, we can play some real inside-outside basketball. There should be plenty of open threes for Korver when Boozer passes out of the double team.

Luol Deng has had more than his share of injuries the last couple of years. If Deng is healthy, he's as good as any other NBA small forward with the exception of Carmelo and LeBron. A healthy Deng is a must, and that just might make him this team's weakest link.

Carlos Boozer is the scoring power forward this team has been looking for for the past few years. He's had his share of injuries in the past as well, but if he's healthy you're getting a 20 and 10 out of him every night.

If you're playing against him, you hate Joakim Noah. He's all over the place, he's up in your face, and he never gives up on a rebound or lose ball. That's probably enough to frustrate opposing centers. Add in his ridiculously quirky personality and one of the worst hair-dos in the league, and he's annoying as well. But if you're playing with him, you'll be glad that he's on your team getting double digit rebounds and playing excellent post defense.

The bench may be a little thin, but there are some valuable pieces. Ronnie Brewer may end up with the starting shooting guard position, but for now I have him pegged as the sixth man. Taj Gibson made a name for himself last year in a starting position, and makes for a very capable backup PF. Kurt Thomas has been around a long time, but he should have enough left in the tank to back up Noah.

The 2010-11 NBA season is still about three months away, and a lot can still happen between now and then, and even more can happen between now and next June. But if you hear "Chicago Bulls, 2010-11 Eastern Conference Champions," or maybe even "Chicago Bulls, 2010-2011 NBA Champions," don't be surprised.