It can be tough to compare teams based on nothing but dominant victories. Danny Ainge’s scouting method is often cited: the best game, the worst game, and somewhere in between. At their best, Team USA demolished Finland, winning by a ridiculous margin and throwing down ridiculous dunks. At their worst, they struggled to get anything going against Turkey’s slow-it-down strategy. At Spain’s best, they have two of the world’s best bigs in the Gasol brothers, and an ultra-canny backcourt led by Ricky Rubio,
World Cup Day 8: Spain, Team USA Remain on Collision Course
When the FIBA World Cup’s group stage ended Thursday, eight of the 24 teams went home. Four more went home Saturday, the first day of the knockout stage. One of them was Mexico, which put up little resistance in a loss to Team USA. Chris Sheridan is in Barcelona and was not overly impressed. As the games get tougher, the rotation needs to get shorter. Here’s a roundup of Saturday’s round of 16 games. BARCELONA GAMES Team USA 86, Mexico 63 In a rare mornng EST
FIBA World Cup Day 5: Faried helps Team USA dominate Dominicans
In a day where all 24 teams played in the FIBA World Cup leading up to Thursday’s frenetic first round finish, it was The Manimal who again stood out in another Team USA victory. After a closely contested first quarter, Kenneth Faried helped the Americans (4-0), once again propelled by their big men, take the second and third quarters by a combined 26 points and defeat the Dominican Republic (2-2) 106-71 to advance to 4-0 and clinch the best record in
Bernucca: Clippers Captain is Back, But the Ship Ran Just Fine Without CP3
Chris Paul returned to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. We don’t want to be party-poopers, but it probably should be pointed out that the Clippers were better without him. This does not mean that GM Gary Sacks should start exploring trade possibilities for a top-five player. And it doesn’t mean that coach Doc Rivers should go with the hot hand at point guard at the end of games. But it does mean that if the Clippers want to win a championship this
Gambling on the Eastern Conference: Long odds on everyone not named Pacers or Heat
Brain-twister for you today, folks. Go back to the start of the 2005-06 regular season, and try to name a superstar player who has represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. Your answer cannot include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo or Ray Allen. It’s OK. Keep thinking … [Read more…]
Mexico Wins Tournament of the Americas
Strange things happen in international basketball. If there is one rule of thumb concerning FIBA tournaments, that is it. And as of last night, we have a new regional champion that absolutely no one would have picked to win the Tournament of the Americas. Mexico. Yes, Mexico. They can’t seem to get their act together in soccer, but in basketball they took home the gold medal by defeating Puerto Rico 91-89 to qualify for the World Cup (formerly known as the World Championship)
2013 FIBA Americas Championship Preview
The 2013 FIBA Americas Championship is set to kick off tonight in Caracas, Venezuela, with 10 teams vying for four spots in the Basketball World Cup (formerly known as the World Championship) next summer in Spain. Who is going to win? Who are the players to keep an eye on? We’ve got you covered on both fronts. [Read more…]
SH Blog: Oden impresses at workout; is Irving primed for a breakout?
I’ve gone over it before, but Greg Oden is probably my single favorite basketball player of all time. That face, that ESPN commercial, and above all, that game. I’m a sucker for a dominant defensive center who can also score around the rim, and oh man was Oden going to be that. We all know what happened after he went first overall to the Blazers, of course, but this summer he’s ready to make a return, and I’m getting to