More Hype

It's another dope video with some pretty decent interviews and some fun moments.

All this being said, I know I'm not drinking the Kool Aid when it comes to this team. There are some legitimate problems. I've watched two of the tune up games, but since Silverman moved and took his TV AND they're broadcast on local China time, I've missed the Russia game, as well as the too-close-for-comfort-Australia game. In no particular order:
The team defense can swarm the ball handler as he drives the lane. The problem is the internation game focuses on the outside in game. This means that when the ball handler drives the lane shooters are positioned on the perimeter. The ball handlers know to pass out for the open shot. This creates a TON of 3 point opportunities. Coupled with the fact that the 3-point line is shorter, the game can shift momentum in but a few possessions. Aside from the Australia game, none of USA's performances have highlighted this problem because the opposing teams have not been knocking down their shots. This will likely change in Olympic play.
The team likes to run isos. Two years ago when I watched the FIBA games (where we finished 2nd or 3rd, I don't recall specifically) the team was highly focused on Isolations. This means one guy dribbles the ball for an absurd lenght of time and tries to drive the lane or forces a contested jumper. Needless to say, these types of plays have a high result of missed shots. The international game focuses on jumpshooting and ball movement which leads to open jumpers. Forcing iso plays is a quick way for the US to lose. Those guilty thus far: Lebron and Kobe
We lack depth down low. Now a lot of people have highlighted this problem. But it's far more concerning than even all the attention indicates. NBA big men don't really have to deal with high-post centers. This style of play is much more European-esque. So guys like Zydrunis Ilgalskus, Yao Ming (sometimes), Mehemet Okur, and Brad Miller are really the very few that play at the high post position (I'm probably forgetting a few others). Thus, centers rarely get too far away from the hoop and are taught to protect the rim and not drift away. In the international game, however, big men drift from the hoop and can knock down an 18-20 foot jumper with ease. In addition, rebounding has been a problem. The bigs for USA? Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard. Howard is the only true center. Whereas Bosh and Booze are true power forwards. Rebounding will be a problem. Why we left Tyson Chandler at home is still a mystery to me.
International rules are different. The court is shorter in both length and width. The free throw lane is more of a trapezoid than a rectangle. This means that on free throws the players have to move much faster to box out opponents for rebounds. It also changes how you have to move around to avoid a "3 in the key" violation. You can also touch the ball while it's still on the rim. In the NBA this is goaltending. In the international game, this is a no-call everytime. The 3-point lane, as previously stated, is also significantly shorter. While all of this might not seem like such a big deal, we're dealing with players who have grown up playing the NBA version of basketball. So changing life-long instincts isn't always something that's easy to do.
The Zone. The international game is all about zone defense and not man to man. Again, this highlights the necessity of ball movement. I've faced a zone a few times and it is incredibly harder to play against if your opponent is running it. Quck ball movement around the perimeter is a must and penetration by a ball handler is insanely hard since the defense collapses on you so quickly. If I recall, the zone was not run in the league for many years because of the illegal defense rules. More importantly NBA teams don't run it quite as much as they run man-to-man defense. Passing and three point shooting is key. Problem? We don't have a lot of shooters on the team. Kobe, Carmello, and Michael Redd are the only guys who can knock down the 3-pointer with any type of consistency. Thus far, Deron Williams (who has improved his shooting) has been horrific. Chris Paul is alright sometimes....Everyone else is far less reliable. If Redd's shot isn't falling, we might be in trouble.

These are just the major problems with the team. I am hopeful, albeit skeptical. Come on GOLD MEDAL. And come on passing. And come on defense, and come on rebounding......