5 reasons why Australia pushed Kobe, LeBron & Team USA
August 05 08
On Tuesday, Team USA got tested. While it wasn’t pretty, they passed.
Playing its final exhibition tune-up before Beijing, stars-and-stripes got through a resilient Australian team 87-76 in Shanghai, China.
Well, why was the score so close? After all, ‘the Aussies’ were missing Andrew Bogut. Below is your answer.
- Team USA couldn’t buy a basket. Coach K’s crew went 3-for-15 from three-point land and converted only 20-of-33 free throws.
- At times, the Americans lacked focus. For example, the Australians rattled off a 13-2 run to start the second-half, which kept things close.
- Team USA is still experimenting. The starting unit continues to change and the coaches are searching out the best combinations. The line-up of Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Deron Williams looked effective in a second quarter cameo.
- They forgot about the middle. Too often, Team USA played without a center or simply went away from Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard even though the duo shot a combined 7-for-7 from the floor.
- The Australians lack Team USA’s individual talent, but they have excellent national development programs with the country’s Institute of Sports known as AIS. Elite teenage athletes are sent to AIS to hone their craft and train. Their senior national team would’ve balled together for years and, as a result, had on-court chemistry to burn.
Despite a mediocre showing, Team USA’s defence helped them prevail. Getting tested and passing is positive. After all, further challenges lie on the road to gold.
Should Team USA be concerned after getting pushed by Australia? get at us in the comment box below and come back to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of 3 Musketeers’ Corner.
