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U.S. not great, but better

Random thoughts after watching Team USA’s 102-94 win over Spain:

1. Well, the Americans still can’t guard anyone -- but for the first time since the NBA season ended two months ago, they were able to hit a perimeter shot. That’s especially true of point guard Stephon Marbury (31 points), who rediscovered his touch to the tune of 6-of-9 shooting on 3-pointers. Almost as miraculously, the U.S. made its free throws down the stretch.

2. U.S. forward Lamar Odom told reporters, “Stephon shot the ball like Stephon today.” Oh, no, Lamar -- he was much better than that. Marbury looked a lot more like Reggie Miller, knocking down a long-range shot every time it appeared Spain would go on a run.

3. No doubt, the offense of Marbury and Allen Iverson (16 points) were the two biggest reasons the U.S. won this game. At the same time, their shoddy defense almost lost it again, as Marbury and Iverson continued to allow slower players to drive around them for easy shots in the key. The fault doesn’t entirely belong to Marbury and Iverson, though. This is a team that still has yet to grasp the concept of sliding over to offer help.

4. I also wonder how many more games the U.S. can win when Tim Duncan compiles the numbers of a mere mortal (nine points, four rebounds). Granted, Duncan was in foul trouble and Marbury was hot -- but Duncan still didn’t get the ball nearly enough, or close enough to the basket, for my liking.

5. I knew Spain was in trouble before the game when someone told me, “They play more like the Americans than anyone in the Olympics.” And Spain did, as it actually had some natural athletes who liked to get up and down the court. As usual, Pau Gasol was awesome, scoring 29 points. He just didn’t receive help from his teammates in the fourth quarter.

6. And despite the loss, Spain did the right thing. Namely, it packed the defense tight around Duncan and dared the Americans to shoot. Smart plan, considering the U.S. was hitting a wretched 24 percent of its 3-pointers entering the game. Unfortunately for Spain, the Americans were 12-of-22 from beyond the arc on this day.

7. That said, I enjoyed watching Spain more than anyone else in the Olympics. Thanks for the great stuff, guys. It was basketball at its finest.

8. Of course, Spain wasn’t nearly as efficient from the perimeter as other non-American teams, which is why Team USA actually won. The bad news? The U.S. has been awful at defending the outside shot -- and every team it will play from now on is loaded with outside shooters.

9. As you probably know, U.S. coach Larry Brown and Spain coach Mario Pesquera got into a heated argument after the game regarding Brown’s timeout with 11 seconds left and the outcome decided. All I have to say is thank goodness neither got mad enough to take off his shirt.

10. Here is what Pesquera told reporters: “It was said that the public supports the weaker team. I think in this case the public was solidly behind the stronger team because we were the stronger team.” He also complained about the Americans getting away with numerous traveling violations. “I think this game was played under NBA rules, not FIBA rules,” he said.

11. By the way, have you noticed how almost everyone in Athens is booing the American basketball players? As much as I love the NBA and the guys representing this country, I can’t help but laugh. I mean, can you imagine that ever happening to the Dream Team of 1992?

12. I’m proud to say I woke up in time for the 7:30 a.m. tip-off, marking the first time ever I’ve gotten out of bed before my two-month old son, Brady. This despite getting home from work at midnight and not getting to bed until sometime after 2 a.m.!

13. Of course, when Brady did wake up, he made me pay for taunting him. Let’s just say he got revenge while I changed his diaper at halftime, and leave it at that. If you’re a parent, you probably have a good idea what I’m talking about.

14. OK, back to the Olympics. The bottom line on the Americans is no one can beat them if they continue to shoot well from the perimeter. But I admit, I’m skeptical.

Daring to Dream

Reader George Thompson (Indianapolis) e-mailed an idea that probably wouldn‘t work, but is lots of fun to think about anyway.

“The U.S. should have just rounded up the original Dream Team members last August, had them practice for an entire year, then sent them to Athens,“ he wrote. “Who cares how old they are? I’m convinced they’d win the gold and show the entire world how basketball is SUPPOSED to be played!”

Well, George, let’s take a look at your team:

Michael Jordan is 41, and proved he can still play. John Stockton and Karl Malone are 42 and 41, respectively, and the same holds true for them. Charles Barkley is 40, and it would take him the entire year to get back into shape -- but if his knees held up, why not?

Centers David Robinson and Patrick Ewing are both approaching 40, and … well, each of their games really deteriorated toward the end of their careers. They’d be risky.

Meanwhile, Larry Bird is 47, has a heart condition and a back that won’t bend. He’s out.

But I’m guessing Magic Johnson (45) can still be a pretty good point guard, and that Chris Mullin (41) can still really shoot. But Scottie Pippen (38) has scrambled eggs for knees, and it’s doubtful that Clyde Drexler (42) can still glide.

As for Christian Laettner (35), what was he doing on the team in the first place? Oh, yeah. Wasn’t he a pretty good college player?

Anyway, with that lineup, the Americans probably still would win two games in the preliminary round and have a shot at the gold medal. That is, provided the practice court has lots of painkillers, not to mention a few good doctors.

Reader Feedback

Eric Fontana (Australia) wrote: “As an Australian, I was proud of my team’s effort against the United States. It displayed courage and played structured team basketball. And I can’t help but wonder why Americans are so obsessed with all the junk that cheapens the game. The AND1 tours, streetball tourneys and NBA no longer resemble basketball. They are merely a PARODY of the greatest game in the world.”

Jon Palmer (Roseville, Minn.) wrote: “The success of Team USA's Olympic experience is all about effort or, should we say (for now), a lack of it. It's obvious that the U.S. is far more talented and athletic than any of its competition. All one has to do is take a look at the fantastic athletes and purely talented players we're sending overseas. We've got a 6-foot-9 swingman (Lamar Odom) who moves like opposing point guards. We've got a 7-0 post presence (Tim Duncan) who no international team can handle with only one defender. We've got small forwards who can do everything, and are better at any one facet of the game than most teams' specialists in those areas. With the advantage of talent Team USA has over eve ry team it faces, it should not lose a single game -- yet it’s already embarrassed itself more than once. The effort just isn’t there.”

Jerry Mittleman (Israel) wrote: “I am a basketball journalist who has been living overseas for almost 30 years -- I've also been submitting to Inside Hoops for four years -- so I get to see a steady dose of European as well as NBA basketball. And there is no doubt American basketball has gone south and it's not only because ‘the world is catching up.’ The one point that I do disagree with you about is the negative effect of high school players jumping to the NBA. The problem isn't Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady or LeBron James -- but the influence the great high schoolers have had on the 40-50 other guys who forego college or leave much too early. It's basically gutted the whole development system and there is nothing similar in its place.”

Questions & Answers

Q: From Daniel Stevens (Louisville, Ky.): “Are the Miami Heat trying to orchestrate any trades to help out Shaquille O’Neal?”

A: Dear Daniel, actually yes. One rumored trade has the Heaters sending veteran guard Eddie Jones and backup Damon Jones to Memphis for Jason Williams and one of my favorites, swingman James Posey (a fellow Northeast Ohioan). I’m not sold on this deal for either team, though. Particularly when it comes to Williams. Yes, he’s toned down his game the past few seasons, but you have to wonder if he wouldn’t revert to his old out-of-control ways with someone other than Memphis coach Hubie Bro wn guiding his every move. But no doubt, Posey and Eddie Jones are unselfish and underrated.

Q: From Matt Neer (Berkeley Springs, W.Va.): “What do you think of ESPN’s on-going series about the NBA and its hip-hop culture?”

A: Dear Matt, thankfully, I have no idea what you’re talking about. But someone can check it out and let me know if it‘s any good.

Q: From Greg Slater (Wichita, Kan): “What do you think of the Mavericks-Warriors trade that delivered Erick Dampier to Dallas?”

A: Dear Greg, I think it’s a good trade for the Mavs in that they desperately needed a rugged center who doesn‘t mind getting physical. That‘s Dampier. But as is usually the case with Dallas owner Mark Cuban, he went a little overboard with all of the offseason shuffling -- and I expect the Mavs to struggle because of it. As for the Warriors, I actually like what they’ve done to the lineup by adding hustle players such as Derek Fisher and Eduardo Najera. Those two are the type of players you want to have in the locker room -- and on the court.

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