QUEENS, New York — The first thing that must be said about Team USA’s surprisingly close victory over Lithuania was how strongly LeBron James played over the final 5 minutes of the game, when the Americans turned a two-point deficit into a five-point victory. LeBron had never had a finishing kick like that in a FIBA game. Never. It was always someone else doing the heavy lifting in those rare instances when the Americans were in peril, with one case in point
With Brazil up 74-72 and six seconds remaining, it seemed as though Russia wouldn’t waltz into their meeting with Spain undefeated after all. Then Vitaly Fridzon took a pass from Alexey Shved in the corner and heaved up a prayer. Russia: still perfect. All Spain had to was dispose of the fledgling hosts and our heavyweights would meet in the ring as planned. But threes from Dan Clark, Nate Reinking and Luol Deng in the final 28 seconds cut the Spanish lead
London Cabs >>>>>> NYC Cabs #Legroominstagr.am/p/N4Iz7uIjj5/ — Deron Williams (@DeronWilliams) August 3, 2012 Team USA was given the day off Thursday by coach Mike Krzyzewski so they could take in a few Olympic sports from the stands. At the Olympics, there is special seating reserved for athletes from different competitions. Kobe Bryant went to see Roger Federer play tennis, and LeBron James watched Michael Phelps win the 100 meter butterfly. It appears we can discern the means of transportation Deron Williams used to
I do not usually write our blog, leaving that task in the capable hands of our bloggers, Jim Park and Dan Malone. But I also do not usually watch the Olympics on TV, especially not on NBC. I haven’t been on by sofa watching the Olympics since 1992, and back then I believe my sofa might have been a futon. But here I am back in New York after ditching the idea of going to London as uncredentialed media in the
NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2012 — Being that I was 38,000 feet in the air, enjoying the comforts of the business class cabin of a KLM 747 when the United States was rewriting the record book against Nigeria, I set out to watch the streaming replay before dawn this morning on NBCSports online. Black screen. Nothing would play. Nothing. Tried it four times, logging out, logging in, changing my Internet provider password, etc. Can I have the last 45 minutes of my
// Mike Krzyzewski has won 927 college basketball games, made 11 Final Fours, won four NCAA Championships and earned an Olympic gold medal since landing his first head coaching gig at Army in 1975. In those 37 years, he’d never sat courtside for anything this ludicrous. “Well, obviously, we just shot better than any team in a game that I have ever coached,” Kryzewski said after Team USA’s 156-73 dismantling of Nigeria. When the buzzer sounded, finally and mercifully, Team USA had
After examining the biggest losers among NBA players this summer, it’s only right that we examine those that have cashed in. Centers always have and always will be hot commodities in the NBA, but some of the players below have found themselves in new situations with excellent opportunities. Sometimes, winning as a free agent is a result of being in the right place at the right time. And sometimes, it requires falling down before dusting yourself off and finding a new beginning.
After beating Tunisia, Team USA has another tuneup coming up against Nigeria. For a recap of all the Olympic action, check out Nick Gibson’s columns. The first wraps up what we’ve seen through two games, and the second predicts today’s winners. And, with the offseason winding down, check out who Moke Hamilton thinks were the biggest losers among NBA players during free agency. Moke will have a winners column later today. And for all the latest news from around the NBA, start