Team USA Basketball – Congrats on the first victory!

I watched a great game this morning as the NBA superstar-filled USA men’s basketball team beat China 101-70. I was incredibly impressed with Team USA’s roster when I first checked it out. This team is truly comprised of the NBA’s best and brightest and reminds of the caliber of talent on the original Dream Team that won the gold in Barcelona in 1992. I know it’s hard to compare any team to one that had Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, AND Larry Bird among others on it, but Lebron James, Chris Paul, and Kobe Bryant are part of that next generation of all-time greats.

Based on the roster, I expected this game to be a blow-out, though I was aware that we hadn’t won a gold medal since 2000 despite our all-star rosters. China came out swinging in the beginning, hitting three’s from all angles and getting shots from inside as well. Yao Ming hit the first shot of the game, which was a three-pointer (from a guy who’s 7′6????). His teammates put up an excellent fight during the first and fourth quarters. However, they were worn down by Team USA enough during the second and third that the lead was insurmountable by the time their fourth quarter run rolled around.

Team USA threw some awful passes during the first quarter and started finally getting it together in the second. Lebron James blocked shots (snatching one from mid-air with both hands) like nobody’s business. Dwyane Wade had flashes of his pre-injuries, NBA Finals MVP days. Kobe and Chris Paul played with their usual excellence. Dwight Howard was a significant presence down low and had some great dunks. Everyone else did their thing and did it well.

I saw Yao Ming’s toughness shine through during this game. He had been rehabbing a foot injury which took him out for the entire second half of the NBA regular season. There were questions about whether or not he’d be able to play, and the announcers said that his foot was about 70% healed when he came out on the court. He hurt his ankle in the latter half of the game but kept on playing until he was pulled for good with about six minutes left in the fourth.

He wanted to play for his country so badly, especially on his home turf, and it showed.

My money is on Team USA to win the gold, even if I haven’t seen any of the other teams play yet. If my guys can bring their “A” game to every single game, keep up the pressure defense that won them this game, and not underestimate their competition, then the gold shall be ours.