USA vs. Canada

Last night's game against Canada was the first of five pre-Olympic exhibition games for Team USA. These games don't count for anything except helping Coach K settle on a rotation and to work out any last kinks.

Team Canada sucks, and the final score (120-65) was impressive. However, the Team USA's ability to crush bad teams has never been in doubt. The question is how able they are to avoid losing against the good teams. While the Canadas of the world are easily overrun by the superior athleticism of the Americans and eventually beat themselves with turnovers and bad offensive and defensive possessions, the Argentinas and Spains and Greeces don't get rattled, they don't make terrible mistakes on defense, and they don't waste offensive possessions. They have a plan and execute. In order to beat the good teams, Team USA will have to out-execute them. No relying on Anthony getting one-on-zero fast break dunks when opponents fail to get back in transition, no relying on opposing point guards to get flustered and turn the ball over when pressured. What will be required are solid defense that takes opponents out of their preferred offense, protecting the rim and the defensive glass, and patient and efficient offense.

How did Team USA do in these areas against Team Canada?
Solid defense: B. Canada got a lot of open looks, especially in the first quarter. However, after that, they didn't get a lot of good looks. Team USA's quick hands and quick feet are going to create turnovers, even against the best teams, but I wish K would cut out the 3/4 court pressure stuff. That's never ever going to work against NBA-quality point guards, which all of the good teams happen to have. I understand Coach K likes pressure defense, and that a team as athletic as this one should pressure opponents, but maybe the team would be better served shutting down the last 1/3 of the court, instead of kinda shutting down half or more.

Protecting the rim and the defensive glass: B. They outrebounded Canada 38-24, but then again, Canada sucks. This will probably be an issue for USA. I can see Team USA struggling against teams with good frontlines, not just with rebounding but with the prevention of layups and putbacks. Dwight Howard is the only natural shotblocking big man on the roster. Like a lot of people, I would like have liked to see Tyson Chandler on the roster instead of Tayshaun Prince. While having Tyson Chandler on the court lowers the team's offensive ceiling, it raises the team's defensive floor even more. Of course Tyson Chandler injured himself a little after Prince's selection, so it's a moot point.

Patient and efficient offense: A-. First of all, this team not only has zero problems with selfishness, shooting, rattleability, but there is not a trace of evidence that any of these things may manifest themselves. No one overdribbled, underpassed, exhibited a hero's complex, etc. In fact, no one's done that at all for the last 11 games, going back to the Olympic qualifier last year. USA was a little sloppy at times, committing 19 turnovers, hence the A-.

Overall: A. If they play every game like they did last night, they will win gold.