USA v. CHINA - Contains SPOILER info

billwrtr

billwrtr

Prospect
#1
#1
http://sports.myway.com/news/08072006/v4599.html

[FONT=verdana,sans-serif]GUANGZHOU, China (AP) - LeBron James scored 23 points and Carmelo Anthony added 18 to lead the United States to a 119-73 win over China on Monday in a game Yao Ming missed because of injury. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] Playing without the Yao, who is nursing an injured foot, and NBA veteran Wang Zhizhi, Chinese players were repeatedly stripped of the ball by the tough U.S. defense and were left slipping and falling trying to keep up with their faster opponents. The Americans led by 23 at halftime and by 40 after three quarters. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] "We are one of the best teams," said James, who thrilled the capacity crowd in the southern Chinese city with several dunks on the fast break. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] Brad Miller went 6-for-6 from behind the 3-point line for the Americans, who are preparing for the world championships in Japan starting Aug. 19. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] "We are always going to be ready to play. The guys are bringing a lot of energy off the bench," James said. "We are producing on the court and taking care of business. We just had our stuff." [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif](AP) USA's Dwyane Wade of Miami Heat jumps for the ball against China's Gong Songlin, left, during a...
Full Image[/FONT][FONT=verdana,sans-serif] It's the second straight blowout between the teams. At the 2002 World Championships, the U.S. beat China 84-65 in Yao's first official appearance for the national team. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] Monday's victory was the second consecutive drubbing of an opponent by the United States, coming on top of last week's 45-point victory against Puerto Rico. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] "I was happy in that we played very hard every second and we played unselfishly, and as long as we do those two things, we will continue to improve," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] "This team is not about individual performance, its about collective performance." [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] Yi Jianlian, a 6-foot-10 center considered China's next NBA prospect, had 14 points, while Du Feng led the scoring for China with 18. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Sans-serif](AP) USA's Dwyane Wade of Miami Heat, fights for the ball with China's Zhu Fangyu during a match of...
Full Image[/FONT][FONT=verdana,sans-serif] The Americans led by just four points in the first quarter, but began to open things up in the second, ending the half up 60-37. They built their lead to 93-53 by the end of the third. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] China coach Jonas Kazlauskas said the absence of Yao was too much for his team to overcome against a talented U.S. squad. [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] "Today we played against one of the best, maybe the best team in the world," said the Lithuanian-born coach. "It was really difficult for us, especially for those young boys on the court." [/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,sans-serif] The U.S. plays Brazil in Guangzhou on Tuesday before flying to South Korea, while China travels to the eastern city of Nanjing for more exhibition games. Yao and possibly Wang are expected to be ready to play in those games.[/FONT]
 
Circa_1985_Fan

Circa_1985_Fan

All-Star
#3
#3
Wow! Is Brad turning into the new Jack Sikma?? 6-6..thats rediculous!

edit: Here's the story on Yahoo. Brad was 5-5 from the field, and 3-3 from the land o' 3's.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...8BixW8vLYF?slug=ap-us-china&prov=ap&type=lgns
United States 119, China 73

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN, Associated Press Writer
August 7, 2006

GUANGZHOU, China (AP) -- With Yao Ming out with an injured left foot, China never had a chance against the powerful United States.

LeBron James scored 22 points and Carmelo Anthony added 18 to lead the Americans to a 119-73 win over China on Monday.

"We are always going to be ready to play. The guys are bringing a lot of energy off the bench," said James, who thrilled the capacity crowd in the southern Chinese city with several dunks on the fast break. "We are producing on the court and taking care of business. We just had our stuff."

Monday's victory was the second consecutive drubbing of an opponent by the United States, coming on top of last week's 45-point victory against Puerto Rico.

"I was happy in that we played very hard every second and we played unselfishly, and as long as we do those two things, we will continue to improve," coach Mike Krzyzewski said.

China held the U.S. lead to five points after the first quarter, but the margin increased to 23 at halftime and 40 after three quarters.

"We are one of the best teams," James said.

China didn't even have its best players.

Besides Yao, NBA veteran Wang Zhizhi sat out with a torn ligament in his right knee. The other Chinese players struggled against the physically superior Americans. Yi Jianlian, a 6-foot-10 center considered China's next NBA prospect, had 14 points, while Du Feng led the scoring for China with 18.

The U.S. defense repeatedly stole the ball, and the Chinese were slipping and falling as they attempted to keep up with their faster opponents.

"Today we played against one of the best, maybe the best team in the world," said China's Lithuanian-born coach, Jonas Kazlauskas. "It was really difficult for us, especially for those young boys on the court."

Brad Miller was 5-for-5, including 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point line for the Americans, who are preparing for the world championships in Japan starting Aug. 19.

It's the second straight blowout between the teams. At the 2002 World Championships, the U.S. beat China 84-65 in Yao's first official national team appearance.

The U.S. plays Brazil in Guangzhou on Tuesday before flying to South Korea, while China travels to the eastern city of Nanjing for more exhibition games.



Updated on Monday, Aug 7, 2006 3:55 pm ED
 
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Padrino

Padrino

All-Star
#8
#8
KingKong said:
Nice to know Brad has been working on his post play.
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at this point, i don't think we can expect that of brad. or, more to the point, i don't think we should. it's clear that brad is a jump shooting center. that's what he is. it'd be nice if he added some post moves to his repetoire, but he's hardly overpowering, so unless he mysteriously gains some footspeed, i don't know how much a post game would help him. my request would be that he work on that half hook that he shows on rare occasions. he really can develop into a vlade-like center who relies on his craftiness and finesse more than his strength or footspeed. he won't be backing guys in from 10 feet out all the way to the basket, but if he can move himself inside of 5 feet, he can bust drop steps and half hooks on opponents. maybe musselman will encourage that, cuz i think brad's capable of at least that much.
 
T

twocents

Bench
#11
#11
i am not sure whether he went 6 for 6 throughout the whole game, but there was a stream of offenses where he went 3 for 3. the chinese defense was pee-poor. and don't let the score fool you, the american team's interior defense and post offense is very poor. at least, in this game it was. what really broke open the game was the chinese players' "willingness" to share the ball with their opponents a little too much. i don't think the ball pressure strategy that seemed to work so far in the two exhibition games will work against more experienced players/teams like lithuania, argentina, spain, etc. the game tomorrow should be a much better gauge of the team america's status.
 
T

twocents

Bench
#12
#12
Padrino said:
at this point, i don't think we can expect that of brad. or, more to the point, i don't think we should. it's clear that brad is a jump shooting center. that's what he is. it'd be nice if he added some post moves to his repetoire, but he's hardly overpowering, so unless he mysteriously gains some footspeed, i don't know how much a post game would help him. my request would be that he work on that half hook that he shows on rare occasions. he really can develop into a vlade-like center who relies on his craftiness and finesse more than his strength or footspeed. he won't be backing guys in from 10 feet out all the way to the basket, but if he can move himself inside of 5 feet, he can bust drop steps and half hooks on opponents. maybe musselman will encourage that, cuz i think brad's capable of at least that much.
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well, that is setting the bar a bit too high. vlade was a very good low post player. and if i am not wrong, he was not always slow. he knew how to play the low post; as his conditioning deteriorated (despite his relentless work ethic ;)), he relied more and more on his cunning skills. brad will/can never develop such a game.
 
HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#13
#13
Well say what you want to about Brad, but the boy can shoot! Heck my bigest complaint about him (and I have MANY) is he does not shoot the ball ENOUGH!
 
sono

sono

Starter
#14
#14
Padrino said:
at this point, i don't think we can expect that of brad. or, more to the point, i don't think we should. it's clear that brad is a jump shooting center. that's what he is. it'd be nice if he added some post moves to his repetoire, but he's hardly overpowering, so unless he mysteriously gains some footspeed, i don't know how much a post game would help him. my request would be that he work on that half hook that he shows on rare occasions. he really can develop into a vlade-like center who relies on his craftiness and finesse more than his strength or footspeed. he won't be backing guys in from 10 feet out all the way to the basket, but if he can move himself inside of 5 feet, he can bust drop steps and half hooks on opponents. maybe musselman will encourage that, cuz i think brad's capable of at least that much.
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agree, besides playing with the young athletic star players gives him much needed confidience.
 
Padrino

Padrino

All-Star
#15
#15
twocents said:
well, that is setting the bar a bit too high. vlade was a very good low post player. and if i am not wrong, he was not always slow. he knew how to play the low post; as his conditioning deteriorated (despite his relentless work ethic ;)), he relied more and more on his cunning skills. brad will/can never develop such a game.
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vlade may not have always been slow, but he always relied on his finesse. and yes, i of course realize that vlade had a post game wheras brad does not. that's why i worded my statement carefully and did not say "brad miller can develop into a carbon copy of vlade divac." but brad does have the ability to work in closer to the basket. he won't dominate, but he can add some finesse moves that will create depth to his current one-dimensional offensive style.
 
T

Troy

Starter
#16
#16
HndsmCelt said:
Well say what you want to about Brad, but the boy can shoot! Heck my bigest complaint about him (and I have MANY) is he does not shoot the ball ENOUGH!
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Right, he is also not confident and passes up on open looks. I don't understand this either, he is a good shooter for a big guy.
 
HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#20
#20
GREAT movement, better timing on D and outright tenacious on the permiter! Dead eye shooting...Wow. Ok he was playing a mismatch with international rules but you really have to love what the big guy is bringing out there. This CANT be bad news for nest season so I will be cautiously optimistc about Brad now if we could just get him some help on the boards and inside...
 
K

Kings113

All-Star
#21
#21
I liked what I saw from Brad, played some d, set screens, scored well. Looked quite mobile again, but moreso this time becuase of more minutes.
 
hanchiho

hanchiho

Bench
#22
#22
miller is definitely quicker. And he was the guy who caused US's 3rd-quarter offense burst, making assists and scoring. He was all over the court. you guys must see the game.
 
chelle

chelle

Starter
#23
#23
I thought he looked really good. I'm cautiously optimistic about him, as well, for this season. It appears that he has spent some time working out.
 
And1

And1

G-League
#24
#24
Brad had a great game. Did you see that sweet pass that he made on a fast break? He looked like he was actually having fun out there. WTG Brad! :)
 
D

Dave McNulla

Bench
#26
#26
i didn't like what i saw from team usa. so many stupid turnovers, so many missed defensive assignments. it was starting to look like an all-star game in the fourth. this is not good for team usa. there are other teams that will not wilt like that in the wbc.
 
HndsmCelt

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
#28
#28
Dave McNulla said:
i didn't like what i saw from team usa. so many stupid turnovers, so many missed defensive assignments. it was starting to look like an all-star game in the fourth. this is not good for team usa. there are other teams that will not wilt like that in the wbc.
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This is essentially preseason play for the internationl teams. You don't expect seamless play and when a coach has a team rolling you let em play and critique it later. No doubt the better teams will not fold but I also don't see coach C. letting the team play so loose if the other team is holding em.
 
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