Tag Archives: USA Basketball

KYRIE CONTINUES TO MAKE HIS CASE TO MAKE TEAM USA

Posted: Aug 17, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 37 Comments

 

Kyrie Irving USA Photo

Kyrie Irving played 14 minutes for Team USA Saturday night in an exhibition game Anderson Varejao and Brazil and scored 6 points, handed out 4 assists and collected 3 steals as USA Basketball won the contest 95-78. Irving finished 3 of 5 from the floor and just like in the recent Team USA scrimmage looked to be more of a facilitator than a scorer. He had this sweet crossover move that set up teammate Kenneth Faried –

Kyrie Irving breaking Brazilian ankles and then the dish for an “And 1” 

Irving was happy with the way the win, “I think we played really. For our first exhibition game, I think we came out aggressive. Obviously, there are things that we can do better on both ends of the floor, and I’m looking forward to the next exhibition game in New York.”

Anderson Varejao photoIrving’s Cavalier teammate Anderson Varejao played 21 minutes for the Brazilian national team and totaled 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

However the thing that the Cavs organization has to be happiest with is that both players came away from the game without an injury.

Anthony Davis led the U.S. with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocked shots, while James Harden added 18 points and a team high 5 assists.

Derrick Rose, who played in his first game since tearing the meniscus in his right knee back on November 22, 2013, finished with 7 points and 2 assists in 24 minutes in front of his home crowd.

Next up for Team USA, a trip to New York for exhibition games against the Dominican Republic (Aug. 20) and Puerto Rico (Aug. 22).

The first official game for the United States in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is set for August 30th as they open up pool play against Finland.

RIPPLE EFFECT IN THE EAST FROM PAUL GEORGE INJURY

Posted: Aug 2, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 38 Comments

First of all, some good news on Pacers small forward Paul George who was seriously hurt in the Team USA scrimmage on Friday night in Las Vegas. George, who suffered a gruesome right tibia-fibula fracture in the 4th quarter of the scrimmage, had successful surgery and reportedly will remain in the hospital for up to three days. His recovery time is estimated between 9-12 months.

While George was a shoe-in to make Team USA, and as bad as his injury is for him, it doesn’t hurt the chances of Team USA too much. Yes he would have played and contributed to the team, but there’s enough depth on the roster to overcome his injury and Team USA will still be considered the favorites to win the FIBA World Cup in Spain that tips off August 30th.

However the same can’t be said for the Indiana Pacers. This is an insurmountable blow to the Frank Vogel’s squad in the Eastern Conference. Losing your best player, an ALL-NBA 3rd team performer, who impacts the game at both ends of the floor, is a devastating to blow. The Pacers have nowhere near the depth that Team USA has and thus scratch them off the list of teams who had a chance to play for an NBA Championship during the 2014-15 season.

Right now the back-up to Paul George on the Pacers depth chart is a 30 year old, 2 year NBA player by the name of Chris Copeland who averaged 3.7 points per game last year. Add to that the Pacers didn’t resign Lance Stephenson or Evan Turner and Paul George is no longer there, and you can forget about the Pacers as a viable contender to win the East, let alone an NBA Championship.

No true competitor likes to gain an edge this way in sports, but injuries are part of the game and because of this serious leg injury to George and the Pacers, it elevates a number of team’s chances in the Eastern Conference. The two teams who benefit the most are Chicago and Cleveland.

With the Bulls getting back what looks to be a healthy Derrick Rose from what we saw early in that Team USA scrimmage and adding Pau Gasol to a playoff squad  from a year ago, to me the Bulls are the favorites right now to win the East.

However, should G.M. David Griffin and the Cavs find a way to pull off a trade for double-double machine and All-Star Kevin Love to team up with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, I believe the Cavaliers become the favorites in the Eastern Conference.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Paul George. Here’s hoping for a complete and speedy recovery so he can be back on the floor playing for the Pacers during the 2015-16 season and for many years after that.

USA BASKETBALL SHOWCASE SCRIMMAGE THOUGHTS

Posted: Aug 1, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 33 Comments

Kyrie Irving started for “Team White” with Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, James Harden and DeMarcus Cousins.

Kyrie Irving USA 2

Kyrie Irving started opposite Derrick Rose at point guard and held his own in the first quarter with a bucket and a couple of assists.

Kyrie Irving with a sweet dribble- drive through a number of defenders in the 2nd quarter for a lay-up and he also played some defense tying up Steph Curry for a jump ball.

Love Tom Thibodeau screaming on the sideline, “Dead, dead, dead” and “Deny, deny, deny”  as he’s trying to get these guys to play defense.  Hopefully Kyrie Irving is listening.

Derrick Rose looks like he’s 100% healthy. He blew by a number of players for a lay-up early and then exploded for a serious two handed throw down off a nice pass from Kenneth Faried.

Kevin Durant is indeed the “Baddest” scorer on the planet with unmeasurable range and he the ability to throw down on Anthony Davis like he did in the scrimmage.

Hard to believe that Kevin Durant and James Harden were on the same team in the NBA and Oklahoma City broke that tandem up.  Harden, like KD, can score the ball from almost anywhere.

Team USA’s “Bigs” are the team’s biggest question mark after Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant. Finding a 3rd and a 4th big from Andre Drummond, DeMarcus Cousins, Kenneth Faried and Mason Plumlee will be interesting. Remember this, even though Kevin Love isn’t with the team now doesn’t mean he still can’t make this team as one of the bigs.

Almost didn’t recognize Jazz small forward Gordon Hayward as he has hit the weights and go all swolled up.

Gotta love that Kyrie is getting more coaching from his old college coach Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Thibodeau as he gets ready to play for David Blatt and with LeBron James.

Irving looked like he was trying to be more of a facilitator for his team, which is a smart move since that’s the team is probably looking for as they decide on who their final point guard will be.

The scrimmage ended early because of a worst case scenario happening, as Indiana’s Paul George was seriously hurt attempting to block a shot and landing awkwardly on his right leg and it bent in a way that it shouldn’t. Thoughts and prayers go out to George as he recovers from this horrible injury.