FIBA Americas Tournament

[FArting]

How much did we beat Uruguay by?

 

[azirish]

How much did we beat Uruguay by?

118-79

Amare was especially impressive scoring 19 points in 20 minutes: 7 of 10 overall including 1 of 2 for three and 4 of 5 from the line. He had 7 rebounds, 3 steals and an assist. His three pointer was right at the end of the first half.

Early on it seemed like Dwight Howard and Amare were playing at the same level, but while Amare keeps getting better Howard's not that impressive (other than the Mexico game). Tonight, Howard took no field goal attempts in 12 minutes He did have 3 rebounds. In seven games, he's been in double figures only twice while Amare has been in double figures every game. I'm not sure he's responding well to the D'Antoni offense.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

howard has been a beast - but also servicing his role - he's often on the court with bryant, james & carmello - his primary role isn't really to score

when amare is on the court it's usually with a couple outside shooters and his ability to take higher percentage shots is very much needed

both guys have been doing very well - howard is physically intimidating everyone out there

right now I only see two guys who need to step it up or get replaced - that would be billups and chandler - i don't think tyson has the honed ability to play with this team right now and I don't think billups gets it, he forces too many shots early in the set and really isn't running offense out there

lebron was sick last night - the guy has the total package, he just needs to put on that scowl night in and night out and dominate people - if he gets consistency to his approach he's going to go down as the all time everything

 

[Russ Smith]

For those of you not watching, Amare is having another amazing game. I can't believe how complete his offensive game is now. In addition to his extended range, he also just made a bank shot (intentional) at the elbow, ala Duncan and made a nice head-fake on a 3, drove by his man and finished a difficult layup in traffic. He also got a rebound, had his head up immediately and threw it down the lenght of the court for an assist to Deron Williams. Amare looks fantastic. He has somelike like 18 points in probably 10-12 minutes or so. Of course he's doing this against inferior competition, but a three is a three and he's showing new things.

He was getting torched on defense in the first half by the Uraguayan bigman though. To be fair so was Howard, Dwight got in foul trouble never even scored.

But yes Amare's offense looks much expanded that jumper looks like money out to 18 feet now.

Really impressed with Deron Williams last night too. I can't for the life of me figure out why they picked Tyson Chandler?

 

[mribnik]

He was getting torched on defense in the first half by the Uraguayan bigman though. To be fair so was Howard, Dwight got in foul trouble never even scored.

But yes Amare's offense looks much expanded that jumper looks like money out to 18 feet now.

Really impressed with Deron Williams last night too. I can't for the life of me figure out why they picked Tyson Chandler?

From what I recall, he was getting torched mostly by cuts to the basket, especially when he was playing zone. At first his man-to-man defense wasn't very good, but I thought he really stepped it up at the end of the second quarter and in the second half. He still needs a lot of work, but he did play some excellent defense at times. Like you said though, he did play some poor defense, but mostly at the beginning of the game.

 

[azirish]

One odd thing about Amare's defense was that he tends to leave the paint on defense, almost like he thinks he's in the NBA.

My read on Billips is that he is simply not exerienced in up tempo basketball. Williams at least played that style in college, but Billips plays in a very grind it out system.

The stat sheets make Chandler look better than his playing suggests. I've seen him fumble passes several times and he looks very awkward on offense. I can't comment on his defense since he's usually in during garbage time, but I haven't seen anything to suggest he's in Dwight and Amare's class.

 

[Errntknght]

Chandler looked better in the Mexico game - he actually caught the ball while moving a couple of times. I think he's on the team as a defensive specialist and rebounder - and he's doing all right at those.

 

[azirish]

Chandler looked better in the Mexico game - he actually caught the ball while moving a couple of times. I think he's on the team as a defensive specialist and rebounder - and he's doing all right at those.

I missed the Mexico game, but that stats back you up on that. I have to say my view of Chandler's play is colored by the number of fumbled passes I've seen. I get spoiled watching Amare catch the ball where he can turn bad passes into scores.

 

[cly2tw]

I missed the Mexico game, but that stats back you up on that. I have to say my view of Chandler's play is colored by the number of fumbled passes I've seen. I get spoiled watching Amare catch the ball where he can turn bad passes into scores.

That ability was exactly the reason we even had a chance against the Spurs. When they harassed Nash, passes became more difficult than most on the Suns were used to, too.

 

[Folster]

Watching the U.S./Argentina game. We are up by 21 at the end of the 3rd. Argentina is out hustling us. Amare is horrible on the boards. I don't understand how he continually gets out positioned. He is more interested in making the play on the offensive side of the court. Unfortunately, he has looked awkward by forcing shots and mowing defenders over. He still doesn't get it.

On a side note, off topic. Argentina has the worst uniforms I have ever seen.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Watching the U.S./Argentina game. We are up by 21 at the end of the 3rd. Argentina is out hustling us. Amare is horrible on the boards. I don't understand how he continually gets out positioned. He is more interested in making the play on the offensive side of the court. Unfortunately, he has looked awkward by forcing shots and mowing defenders over. He still doesn't get it.

On a side note, off topic. Argentina has the worst uniforms I have ever seen.

yeah, not Amare's finest hour tonight - picked up some lazy fouls (seeing that a lot in his limited action) and was pretty out of control. I just don't see that same level of quickness/explosion out of him like I do Kobe, Bron, Melo and Howard. Those guys are athletic freaks out there... like what Amare used to be. don't get me wrong, Amare's gonna be fine, but he doesn't have that ridiculous gear those guys do and it's my fear that he probably won't ever again.

 

[SunsTzu]

Fans at these games need to get together and beat the hell out of those Argentenian fans that keep using that air horn. They blow that crap every time the opposition takes a shot, gets annoying after awhile. Tirico actually confused it with the shot clock horn at one point.

 

[The_Matrix]

Fans at these games need to get together and beat the hell out of those Argentenian fans that keep using that air horn. They blow that crap every time the opposition takes a shot, gets annoying after awhile. Tirico actually confused it with the shot clock horn at one point.

Foriegn fans at NBA games need to get together and beat the hell out of those American fans that keep waving thunder sticks. They wave that crap every time the opposition takes a shot, gets annoying after awhile. Tirico acutally confused it with ethnocentrism at one point.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

The thunderstick things are league approved. Air horns definitely surpass the decibel level that fans should be emitting.

 

[The_Matrix]

I wonder if the six games in a row has taken a toll on Amare. He hasn't played too many minutes per game but he looked a bit worn out tonight. Amare relies on athleticism as much as Kobe, Lebron, Melo, Dwight, but he's gone though that surgery and may not be able to recover as well between games. I saw him grimacing a lot on the defensive end.

Amare's been working on that long-range shot. It could be one way for him to reduce the amount of pain and contact he has to endure to score a basket. He could also do that by focusing on a true post up game, a la Tim Duncan. Could we ever see Amare backing down his man, and scoring with easy hook shots?

 

[Folster]

I wonder if the six games in a row has taken a toll on Amare. He hasn't played too many minutes per game but he looked a bit worn out tonight. Amare relies on athleticism as much as Kobe, Lebron, Melo, Dwight, but he's gone though that surgery and may not be able to recover as well between games. I saw him grimacing a lot on the defensive end.

Amare's been working on that long-range shot. It could be one way for him to reduce the amount of pain and contact he has to endure to score a basket. He could also do that by focusing on a true post up game, a la Tim Duncan. Could we ever see Amare backing down his man, and scoring with easy hook shots?

Agreed, or maybe he could try to rebound. Watching him let some scrub Argentinian player out position him every time a shot goes up is maddening. He seems to think that his athleticism will allow him to jump high enough over his opponent to secure the rebound. Fundamentals beats out athleticism every time(see Tim Duncan). Hence, the reason USA has been losing in international play. He just looks lazy out there.

Furthermore, he should realize that his offensive output is not needed whatsoever with the likes of Kobe, Lebron, and Melo on the team. Most of his teammates are better scorers than him. He needs to buy into the team concept and fill the role that the team needs. If I were him, my goal would be to secure every rebound I could and play intense defense. If he is given scoring opportunities on offense then by all means he should take it, but offense should be an afterthought for him on team USA.

 

[SunsTzu]

Foriegn fans at NBA games need to get together and beat the hell out of those American fans that keep waving thunder sticks. They wave that crap every time the opposition takes a shot, gets annoying after awhile. Tirico acutally confused it with ethnocentrism at one point.

Thunder sticks are not permitted in the NBA or MLB(not sure if they're allowed in the NFL or NHL though). I guess you're referring to the baloons the home team gives the fans on each end of the court. Personally I think there is a pretty big difference between waving a baloon and blasting an air horn a few dozen times durning the game.

Are you in favor of shining laser pointers in the eyes of players shooting free throws as well?

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

Amare's been working on that long-range shot. It could be one way for him to reduce the amount of pain and contact he has to endure to score a basket. He could also do that by focusing on a true post up game, a la Tim Duncan. Could we ever see Amare backing down his man, and scoring with easy hook shots?

I think the long range game indicates that the pick and roll will be used even more now. With Amare not having to bolt into the paint or trail nash after the pick, he can now pull his defender further out while bringing another threat to the pick and roll game.

 

[azirish]

Amare still does not anticipate the ball very well on rebounds. Against Argentina he was worse than before at least partly due to playing zone, but he still waits unti the ball hits the rim before getting into position.

IMHO, Rodman was the greatest rebounder of the last two decades. While there were a vast munber of guys who were taller, stronger, and quicker; no one had better anticipation based on where the guy was taking the shot from and how the guy generally shot the ball. I don't see any of that from Amare yet.