Olympic Basketball: U.S. Men Win Their First Game

The first game for the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team was a 101 - 70 win, over China. The score belies the intensity of the game. At half time, the United States team only led by twelve point and was facing excellent long range shooting from the Chinese team. The following are five impressions from this game:

• There are three referees now for international competition. And the referees call palming the ball as a violation. It must be a constant reminder for the American ball handlers not to dribble the ball by NBA standards.
• There must be NBA team owners who cringe as their most valuable franchise assets are playing at this level. The game is very physical and it is a safe estimate that there are hundreds of millions of dollars of irreplaceable personnel who are being slammed about in Olympic play.
• This game is rough. A screen that is in motion is not called as a violation. It surprises some of these NBA professionals that they are cleared away from their defensive assignment in this manner. Instead of a stationary screen, there is a large moving player coming and thumping them.
• By comparison, the U.S. team has a small front line. This might be a real problem in close games when a rebound is an absolute necessity. The U.S. makes up for the lack of size with speed and athleticism. And LeBron James, when he is in motion toward the basket, simply is not bothered by the physical contact. When he is full motion, a defensive player would have to have temporary suicidal tendencies to stand and take an offensive charge.
• The major difference between the U.S. team and the other international teams may be the depth of the bench. A combination of accurate long distance shooting and rebounding intensity may keep a team close to the American professionals. However, it is difficult to maintain that level of intensity for the whole game. The advantage goes to the United States.

With the time difference between Beijing and North America, the basketball fans who want to catch the action, as it happens, will be a very tired group at the conclusion of these games. It will be exceptionally odd hours for basketball fans on the west coast… today it was early Sunday morning basketball for them.

Catherine Forsythe