2012 Olympic Fever!!

[Athos131]

Team USA beat Spain for gold, and that's all that should matter

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/blog/eye-on-basketball/19783786/team-usa-beat-spain-for-gold-and-thats-all-that-should-matter



Could this 2012 team beat the 1992 Dream Team? I don't know that but we do know this: It could beat Spain.

With that fairly ridiculous argument hovering over virtually everything Team USA did, whether it was beating Nigeria by 83 or cutting it close against Lithuania, the end result was really all that mattered. A hypothetical matchup between the 1992 and 2012 was fun to play on paper, but the only game that counted was the one that was played Sunday against a stout Spanish side.

Because lose that one, and you lose gold, along with the Dream Team debate. The only way that silly discussion could ever continue on and remain unsettled would be if LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and the rest of this stacked team finished the job.

The path to gold in 2012 was far more difficult than it was in 1992 and Spain proved it as they remained resilient throughout. Each U.S. run was met with a Spanish counter. Pau Gasol played big, Serge Ibaka setpped up as Marc Gasol found foul trouble and Juan Carlos Navarro dropped huge 3-pointers to keep it close. Spain held a second half lead, holding strong until Marc Gasol was able to return in the fourth quarter. It looked like the United States could be a tough spot.

But in the end, it kind of went to script. Kevin Durant hit some massive shots, scoring a game-high 30. Chris Paul controlled crunch time, hitting a big 3 and dicing to the rim to a clutch layup. And LeBron capped off some kind of incredible year by knocking down an in-your-face 3 over Pau Gasol to seal the game.

What makes the American team so tough is that there are so many different weapons, so many different places to look for a big bucket. Spain was searching and while Pau Gasol and Navarro were able to provide some, there just weren't enough options. Team USA had plenty and it was enough.

All this U.S. team cared about was being one point better than Spain on Sunday. The Dream Team debate was for us -- media and fans. But the gold medal was for them. That was the prize, and that's what they wanted.

We can continue to argue the merits of either side, but it doesn't matter to the 2012 guys. They got their championship. They have gold around their necks. The 2012 Olympic basketball debate is settled: The United States remains the best in the world.

[Athos131]

Spain pushes USA, but too much LeBron, CP3, Durant makes USA golden



http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/12/spain-pushes-usa-but-too-much-lebron-cp3-durant-makes-usa-golden/

Spain had what they needed — spark plug Juan Carlos-Navarro couldn’t miss early and would not let the USA run away with the game. Pau Gasol took it right to the USA’s weakness in the second half and had 15 points in the third quarter to put his team ahead at one point.

But the USA had what they needed. They had 30 points from Kevin Durant who was so hot Spain was forced to go to a box-and-1 defense to shut him down. Chris Paul pressured on defense and controlled the tempo, then made key buckets late. Then LeBron James capped off as great a year as a basketball player could have — NBA MVP, NBA champion, gold medal — with key baskets to help the USA seal the game in the fourth quarter.

It ended 107-100 and the USA didn’t just win the gold medal, they had to earn it.

It was a fun, entertaining game for fans from the start — both teams started out shooting well. For Spain it was former Grizzlies guard Juan Carlos Navarro knocking down threes (12 of first 16 points for Spain). On the other side Kobe Bryant (who finished with 17) and Durant were knocking down buckets. Both teams were working the ball inside-out. Spain played a zone but early the USA drove down the lane and shot over the top of it.

So when Spain started to miss a little the USA went on a 10-2 run and they were up nine quickly. The USA hit 7-of-10 threes in the first quarter and they cannot be beat by anyone when those shots are falling. Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 30 points and 156 for the entire Olympics — the most any single player has scored in an Olympic tournament. Ever. Durant has cemented himself as the best pure scorer on the planet right now.

But when the USA’s threes don’t fall, the USA can be caught. Especially when they don’t defend well. Spain answer on a 14-2 run early in the second quarter and Spain kept it a one-point play at the half because their guards hung with the USA’s guards. Some overzealous officiating helped Spain as well as there were 22 fouls called in the second half, destroying any flow to the game. The USA needs that flow.

In the third, Pau Gasol showed all of us why he is so deadly in the post (Lakers fans should hope Mike Brown was watching and realizes he needs to get Gasol post touches, not have him live at the elbow). Gasol hit a running hook over Tyson Chandler, he spun and dunked around Kevin Love. Gasol had 15 points in the third quarter and finished with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.

It was 83-82 USA after three quarters. But Spain rested Pau and the USA went on a 12-4 run to stretch out their lead, a lead they never relinquished.

In part because Chris Paul was probably the best player on the floor in the second half. (Even with all the additions he may well be the best player in Los Angeles next year.) He pressured the Spanish guards up high on defense — Spain hit no threes in the second half after 7 in the first half. CP3 controlled the tempo of the game and late hit a three and had a nifty little drive for a bucket. But he controlled the flow, he was the floor general.

Then when Spain would make a push, LeBron pushed back. He hit a three, he played a two-man handoff game with Durant that led to a dunk (their two man handoff pick-and-roll was the USA’s best play through the Olympics). Durant didn’t have a big fourth quarter but because he had been so key earlier Spain focused their defense on him and that opened things up. Then there were good plays by Kobe and others.

It was too much. Spain played well but their problem was they were not the better, deeper, more talented team. They needed the USA’s help to win and the USA’s best players wouldn’t give it to them. They stepped up.

And so for the 14th time since Olympic basketball started, the USA is golden.

[Athos131]

[Athos131]

[Gina Marie]

American women rule the London Olympics - now what?

http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/57016306?fb_action_ids=4421179814719

[joan1984]

Woo!

American women rule the London Olympics - now what?

http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/57016306?fb_action_ids=4421179814719

[Gina Marie]

FOR ALL MY BRITS -

[Gina Marie]

Colbert has 5 new interns:

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/417966/august-15-2012/fierce-five-interns