Greece Next for Team USA

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team will face off against Greece in their first true test of the Beijing Olympic Games tomorrow morning.  The Greek team is one of the most cohesive units in the games, though they lack the NBA star power that some other countries possess.  Greece defeated the Unites States in the 2006 World Championship and the U.S. squad is seeking revenge.  U.S. point guard Jason Kidd said he expects the Greek team to target Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony, two of the youngest and most emotional players on the U.S. team.  Greece defeated Dirk Nowitzki and Germany already, shutting down Nowitzki to the point where he lost his cool.

Don’t expect the Greeks to be able to shut down all the U.S. players the way they hounded Dirk.  Do expect Bryant to do a defensive number on Vassilis Spanoulis, Greece’s best offensive player.  A primary goal of the United States has to be to stop the pick and roll.  In ’06, Greece ran 42 pick and roll plays and the Americans were unable to contain it.  The U.S. is favored by more than 20, but this is no gimmie.

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Posted in General on August 13, 2008

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