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raven
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Joined: 9/2/2002
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Canada
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Team USA earns passing grades ... barely
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Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 16 hours ago
http://msn.foxsports.com/story/2686774
As Team USA girds for the medal round, let's take a close look at how each participant has fared so far, and at what each needs to do to win the gold.
TIM DUNCAN: B+
Except for some horrendous defensive lapses in the home stretch against Lithuania, TD has been the team's most reliable player. Since he's not a catch-and-shoot type of player, he needs time and space for one-dribble before he's comfortable enough to launch his jumpers, duck-unders, and jump hooks. Against zones, this is a terrific handicap that can only be resolved with quicker and more purposeful ball and player movement. Positioning Duncan at the high post, or flaring him from the lane to either baseline (the left is his favorite) might get him more touches and shot opportunities.
TO WIN: Duncan must stay out of foul trouble (which translates into abandoning any attempts to snatch offensive rebounds when he's even partially boxed out). And, despite the traffic jams in the paint, he must also find a way to take over critical possessions.
ALLEN IVERSON: B
AI gets strokes for courage and for trying to look for the pass before the shot. Although he's made some clutch buckets (particularly late in the game against Lithuania), his perimeter shooting has been erratic. On defense, he's gambling too often and is not battling his way through enough picks. Instead of being the dominant presence he is in the NBA, he's been mostly a hooper ordinaire.
TO WIN: Iverson must step up and deliver. On defense, he should pressure the ball and be satisfied in turning his opponent rather than always looking for the rip. On offense, he must show no hesitation in penetrating the seams in the zone, and he must trust his athleticism and court-vision to create shots for himself and his teammates.
LEBRON JAMES: C+
LeBron James may have been the NBA Rookie of the Year, but he's struggling in Athens. (Dusan Vranic / AP)
Whatever troubles James ran into in the NBA (mostly turnovers and clanged jumpers) resulted from the sheer speed of the game. NBA players react so quickly that passing lanes and open shots are usually shut down in a hurry. The slower pace of the international game has increased LeBron's comfort level, and he's been very effective hawking passes and finding operating space in transition. On the other hand, he's mostly useless when forced to play station-to-station offense.
TO WIN: He needs to exhibit more self-control when the air is taken out of the ball. James should take outside shots only when the horn/beep/chime is about to sound.
LAMAR ODOM: C+
Odom sometimes dominates a sequence, but more often he's invisible. His inconsistency is more of an issue than the routine inconsistency of so many of his teammates because Odom is the squad's only mobile big man. Being chumped for that devastating four-point play against Lithuania only highlights the fact that Odom habitually flies too much on defense.
TO WIN: Consistency is a function of concentration. On defense, Odom must play heads-up and feet-down, and must also rotate more efficiently. On offense, he has to make more shots.
STEPHON MARBURY: C-
After getting toasted by Carlos Arroyo, Marbury showed flashes of relentless defense — even fighting through several picks. He's also bought into Larry Brown's point-guards-are-facilitators game plan. Still, he occasionally just lowers his head and plunges to the hoop, i.e., a crucial 1-on-4 late fourth quarter misadventure against Lithuania. And he sometimes gets too horny to launch an outside jumper.
TO WIN: Play uniformly aggressive defense. Take better shots and MAKE THEM!!
DWAYNE WADE: D+
At this stage in his career, the young man is strictly a baseline player. He's had some spectacular moments on defense and in transition, but his offense is generally unsuited for international competition. From 15 feet away and beyond, Wade can't score with a pencil.
TO WIN: Play better off-ball defense.
CARLOS BOOZER: D+
What else has he accomplished besides nabbing a few mildly contested rebounds, and knocking down most of his layups and put-backs? Okay, he does move well without the ball, but this skill is useless in a rush-hour crowd. As a consequence of his pitiful performances at the free throw line, Boozer should also be forced to join the bricklayers union.
TO WIN: Make his free throws and rotate better on defense.
SHAWN MARION: D+
So far, Marion has hit half of his 3-point attempts (that is, half of them have at least hit the rim). As expected, he's shown great quickness when moving toward and around the hoop. In his younger NBA-days, Marion was an outstanding defender — smart and unyielding — but in Athens his passion is to recklessly chase the ball.
TO WIN: Play solid position defense. Lose any idea of launching a 3-pointer. And jump all over both boards.
RICHARD JEFFERSON: D+
Played well against Lithuania, so hopefully Jefferson is getting his game together. His defense has been good but not outstanding. Prior to the Lithuania game, he couldn't shoot himself in the foot. In one aspect, however, Jefferson does show a strong resemblance to Oscar Robertson — like the Big O, RJ loudly bitches about every foul that an official has the temerity to call against him.
TO WIN: Shut up, amp up on defense, and bag more 3's
AMARE STOUDEMIRE: D
He's too young to make the necessary adjustments and simply cannot deal with lane-clogged zones. Stoudemire is as lost as a big sneeze in a hurricane,
TO WIN: Hope that Duncan doesn't get into foul trouble.
CARMELO ANTHONY: F+
Doesn't get the full red flag only because he's bagged a couple of jumpers. Otherwise, he forces passes, takes quick shots and plays swivel-headed defense. The youngster has no idea of what's going on out there and no idea of what's demanded of him. From what he's demonstrated with the whole world watching, Anthony is emblematic of all that's wrong with the NBA.
TO WIN: Lose the smirk.
EMEKA OKAFOR: INC.
What's he doing over there in the first place?
TO WIN: Transform himself into Michael Redd, Ray Allen, or Mike Bibby.
LARRY BROWN: B-
Okay, so it's a tough job. But hey, if it was easy then anybody could do it. Brown has misspent too much time and energy bellyaching about everything and blaming everybody else but himself for the team's failures. Herbie's little brother has to realize that he won't be evicted from the Hall of Fame if Team USA doesn't win the gold.
TO WIN: Find ways to spring Duncan loose. Go to top-heavy pressure zones to counter the lethal 3-pointers.
Charley Rosen, former CBA coach, author of 12 books about hoops, the next one being A PIVOTAL SEASON — HOW THE 1971-72 LA LAKERS CHANGED THE NBA, is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.
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8/25/2004 7:37 AM