USA's NBA stars get in groove with victory over Aussies
Aug. 19, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
ATHENS, Greece -- LeBron James eyed Shawn Marion's pass coming
toward him and made a split-second decision to redirect the ball.
One nifty touch pass later, Dwyane Wade converted it into a layup.
The basket broke the last tie and began a game-changing 10-point run
at the start of the fourth quarter, leading United States to a 89-79
victory over Australia on Thursday.
The victory might have been a big step toward reversing the fortunes
of a U.S. team that struggled to beat Greece and was embarrassed by
Puerto Rico in a 19-point loss.
"Everything's not clicking yet, but we're heading that way," Tim
Duncan said. "It was a great learning experience today being able to
fight back and staying with each other."
After a defensively inept first half and a so-so third quarter, the
Americans increased their defensive intensity, moved the ball with
aplomb and put together a few of the showtime moments their Olympic
predecessors took for granted.
On Day 6 of the games, perhaps they finally arrived.
"This young kid (James) and Dwayne Wade started throwing the ball
inside, and all of the sudden everybody on our team got better,"
coach Larry Brown said. "Hopefully we've got to remember that. But
we're not dealing with Michael Jordans and Larry Birds and Magic
Johnsons that have done that from the beginning, and it's going to
take time for some of these young people."
Duncan scored 18 points, Allen Iverson and Marion each added 16 and
Wade scored 12 for the U.S. team, which shot 57 percent from the
field -- 71 percent from 2-point range but only 3-for-17 on 3s.
The Americans kept their turnovers down, found better shots than in
their first two games and realized that the only way to fuel their
offense is through defense.
The United States forced four misses and a turnover on Australia's
first five possessions of the fourth quarter, and the ball movement
was fluid and flashy during the 10-0 run that put the Americans
ahead 75-67.
Australia, led by Shane Heal's 17 points, never threatened again.
"That's all our team is about," James said. "If we stop people,
we're the most athletic team in this whole tournament and we can get
out and get easy buckets."
From the start, the Americans looked to run their offense through
Duncan in the low post. But their defensive rotations were slow and
they repeatedly left players open at the 3-point line.
Brown could only shake his head as Glen Saville sank the Aussies'
fifth 3-pointer of the first quarter for a 24-18 lead, and the
United States was down by 12 before the period was over.
The Americans' reluctance to attempt a 3-pointer was clear late in
the second quarter when James hesitated so much before releasing the
shot that the ball never even made it to the rim.
"I think they continue to (improve), but they'd better make jump
shots to win the gold in this tournament," Heal said.
Wade and Iverson drove coast to coast for layups late in the half to
help the Americans pull within 51-47 at the break, and Brown went
with Marion instead of Richard Jefferson to start a second half that
began with Duncan's third foul.
Duncan remained on the court and played foul-free for the rest of
the quarter, and the Americans took their first lead since the early
going on an alley-oop dunk by Marion off a pass from Iverson that
made it 61-60 with 4:38 left.
A late 3-pointer by Brett Maher gave Australia a 67-65 lead entering
the fourth quarter.
"We're trying to get better, and we're not where we want to be --
but we've progressed," Iverson said. "If we stay consistent on
defense, we'll be fine. We'll get the easy baskets and then won't
have rely on jumpers."
Switching from Jefferson to Marion at the start of the second half
wasn't the only change Brown made. He also kept Carmelo Anthony on
the bench for all but 2 minutes.
"I don't need a guy who doesn't want to buy in," Brown said. "How
you play, how you practice and how you act determines how much you
play."
James seems to have received that message, accepting his role off
the bench and trying to provide the energy that the U.S. team has
been missing.
"We don't have them all, but their starting to care about each other
and understand the importance of representing our country the right
way," Brown said. "The biggest challenge coaches have today on all
levels is for guys to think of coaching as coaching and not
criticism.
"He has a hard time looking at me sometimes because of how he might
be perceived by certain people, but he listens to everything I say."
I like what brown is doing. Melo hasn't been showing that he's getting with the program, either on or off the court, so why should he get to play, when players like lebron are busting their hump.
And as for RJ, either bring it, or sit. Brown needs to start Marion next game. (Saturday ... finally, another game I can watch
)
8/19/2004 9:02 AM