Redemption

So call me stupid or crazy patriotic but I was up at 2:30am to watch the U.S. "Redeem Team" reclaim glory and take down Spain 118 to 107. In a game that I thought would be just another blowout, it ended up being a great game. I even told a friend that I would turn it of, once the U.S. got up by 20 or more. Well, that never happened.

Here are the major storylines to pick up from that game though, now that it is over.

1. The U.S. "Redeem Team" forgot how to play defense. I mean, props to Spain for scoring 107 points but they wouldn't have scored that much if the U.S. just would have played some D. All game, the weak side defense was horrendous. I've never seen more pick-n-rolls in my life. It was slightly embarrassing, considering we had people like Kobe and Tayshaun Prince on this team, people who can defend pretty darn well. Also, the Spain alley-oops were just thunderous. And that's a testament to how bad our defense was as well. We were rolling 10 deep of NBA caliber talent and they were rolling 10 deep but about 5-6 players that I would put in that NBA talent range. We should never see an alley-oop scored on us. No doubt that if we tightened our D, Spain gets blown out.

2. Olympics officiating is terrible, point blank. I'm one of the last people to talk bad about an official but man, they stunk. They were calling fouls early and often. Now, I don't mind calling it tight early and then loosening up later, but the tight calls in the first quarter just weren't there. Then, when they did loosen up a bit in the second half, they were just missing blatant calls. It was a sad sight. Thankfully, it did not determine the game because it was equally bad for both teams. 55 fouls calls, 7 players with 4 or more fouls, including Kobe and Lebron. I know they all come from different countries but here are two constants. 1. If a player gets mugged when driving the lane, it's a foul AND 2. If a player gets all ball or does not touch the offensive player, it is not a foul.

3. The Portland Trail Blazers are going to be really, really good. And that's because they are going to have Rudy Fernandez from Spain on their squad. The guy is amazing. All night, he was putting on a show for his new head coach, Nate McMillan, who was an assistant for the U.S. team. At one point, Kobe went for a steal of Fernandez. While Kobe went flying by, Fernandez spun away, turned his jet pack and flew down the lane, past Dwight Howard and dunked it with one hand and got fouled. It was just sick. He also made 5 3-pointers that kept Spain in reach all game. The guy is just a playmaker and sticking him in that young lineup just scares me. He led Spain with 22 points and if he didn't foul out with 3 minutes left, he may have had had enough to make this game even closer.

4. Kobe Bryant is unequivocally the best player in the NBA, if not the world. I've always been a big critic of Kobe. Besides being an unfaithful husband, I just always thought he had this big ego. Well, put all that aside and I am now more than comfortable to say that he is the most clutch and complete player in the world. What he did in this game versus Spain was just heroic. With the U.S. struggling to score, he hits a three, gets fouled, and it was Fernandez who fouled him, sending him to the bench with 5. He made the free throw to send the lead from 2 to 6 in just one trip down the foul. On the other end, he would get a steal and the offensive side, he would get an assist to balloon the lead to 8. Add in one more assist on the next play and there was no doubt who Coach K was counting on. Kobe's D is just suffocating, which is why he was in foul trouble. But it also why Spain lost by 11 and 3 or 5. Plus, his clutch shots were just enough to stop whatever run Spain may have had going. It simply took the wind out their sails. The stat line doesn't do his game justice: 7-14 FG, 3-8 3PT, 3-3 FT, 3 REB, 6 AST, 2 BLK, 20 PTS. The guy knows how to take over a game and in a game this big with a lot on the line, Kobe stepped up big.

5. This game is much different if Jose Calderon is healthy. Spain's best point guard was out due to a leg injury. Calderon is a playmaker as well as better ball-handler. Tons of credit goes to 17 year old Rubio, who did more than his part to keep Spain in it. Look out for him in a couple years as a lottery pick. But Calderon would have brought some experience playing on this stage to the game. He has been playing on the team for at least 4 years and has played for the Toronto Raptors the past two years so he would have been comfortable playing against the likes of Kidd, Kobe and such. I don't know if Spain wins but with Calderon, they have better depth and maybe less turnovers.

6. It sucks to be Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd. Nothing like being the stars of your respective teams in the NBA and probably your whole basketball career and then, having to sit the bench during the whole gold-medal game. Ouch. I mean, Coach K had Boozer at Duke and still gave him no love. Eh well, they got a gold medal.

7. U.S. better be ready in London in 2012. After seeing all these nations throw all they had into playing us, I just think we may be in some trouble in 4 years. Spain alone will probably be a team of NBA players. From the Gasol brothers, Rubio, Hernandez, Calderon and maybe a few more, this team will be stacked and seasoned. Plus, teams like Argentina, Germany and China will be getting better as well. I like where Olympics basketball is going. And hopefully with the games in London, we get more live games at times that are more reasonable than 2:30am.

All in all, a great game. If you missed it, I don't blame you but this was true end-to-end action that was would have kept you awake if you did stay up. Props to both teams for the games they played. It's just too bad you don't see this type of play in the NBA. You know, people giving it their all to win a game. Playing for the name in front of the jersey and not the one on the back. eh well. Just means I'll have to wait another 4 years before I watch pro basketball again.

GO USA!