Kobe Leads Defensive Effort

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant tied for the game-high in scoring with in 18 points in the United States’ victory over Greece this morning.  Bryant connected on seven of his 14 attempts from the field as the team cruised to a 92-69 victory.  The defensive effort was led by Bryant’s smothering of Greece’s best player, Vassilis Spanoulis, holding him to 14 points on just four of 13 shooting.  The U.S. players had revenge on their minds after Greece defeated them in the 2006 World Championships in Japan.  But in Beijing, the Americans are looking strong and capable of winning the gold.  Greece was the first true test for the U.S. team, but bigger challenges are still to come.

This was the first sign that this U.S. team is truly ready to win gold.  After yielding more than 100 points to the same squad in Japan, the Americans held them to less than 70.  Defense is a big part of these games.  Even though the U.S. team is supremely offensively talented, they can’t just try to run and gun and outscore everyone.  This team really has a sense of purpose and a sense of pride.  At this point, the only team that this blogger could see giving the U.S. a run is Spain.

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Permalink - Posted in General on August 14, 2008 - Post a comment