U.S. 117, Puerto Rico 78 . . . Nice game by Deron Williams
The Americans were so three-point happy in the first half of Tuesday's FIBA Americas game that center Amare Stoudemire felt the need to let one fly from the wing. Just so you know, Stoudemire has taken all of seven three-pointers in his NBA career.
He did connect from beyond the shorter international three-point arc (20 feet, 6 inches), but Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, working as a USA Basketball assistant, had to shudder on the bench. How often does Stoudemire plan on taking that shot this season?
Anyway, the U.S. buried Puerto Rico 117-78, avenging their 19-point loss in the 2004 Athens Olympics. The Americans remain on track for a showdown against undefeated Argentina on Thursday night and possibly again Sunday in the championship game.
The U.S. took advantage of an awful shooting night by Puerto Rico (7 of 33 three-pointers) and played arguably its best stretch with Jazz guard Deron Williams on the court in the second quarter.
It was a 39-19 blowout when Williams checked in with 5:23 left in the half, but the U.S. had yet to truly open up the game. Instead of settling for jumpers, Williams forced his way to the elbow against Puerto Rico's zone and fed Dwight Howard for a dunk inside.
That play probably won't show up on the highlights, but its importance was magnified by what followed for the Americans. Williams pushed the ball after a long miss by Puerto Rico and drove all the way for a layup. The shots then seemed to come easier for everyone.
Wiliams assisted on two LeBron James' three-pointers, recognizing he was in rhythm. James and Bryant then hooked up for an alley-oop dunk that left them bumping chests at midcourt. That officially ended the competitive portion of the game.
The U.S. went into halftime ahead 59-27 after leading just 24-15 after the first quarter. Williams. The Americans cranked it up defensively - - even finishing the first half in a zone defense - - and held Puerto Rico to 12 points in the second quarter.
Williams finished with eight points, seven assists and three fouls in 13 minutes, making all four shots he took. The U.S. outscored Puerto Rico by 21 points in the short time that Williams played, which has to say something about his game.
The U.S. was already up 94-64 when Williams returned for the final 7:12. He picked up three assists off the bat on a Michael Redd jumper, Tayshaun Prince three-pointer and a Redd layup after the Bucks guard made a nice baseline cut.
Williams hit a runner in the lane, connected with Tyson Chandler on an alley-oop dun and fed Mike Miller in transition for a layup. The ball also wound up in Williams' hands in the last minute with the Americans trying to burn the clock and not embarrass Puerto Rico further.
The problem was, Williams also had to take a shot before the 24-second clock expired. He started to drive the lane, encountered zero resistance and elevated for a dunk. It capped a pretty nice game out of the U.S.'s No. 3 point guard.
Bill Walton also was more tolerable Tuesday than the night before in sharing his knowledge of Puerto Rico, which he described a couple of times as the "Isle of Enchantment."
He did read aloud an extended passage from Phil Jackson's "Sacred Hoops" - - dealing with Jackson's coaching baptism in a Puerto Rican league where the owners all carried guns. Kobe Bryant could have broken his leg on the court and Walton would have just keep reading from the book.
Then Walton asked what was wrong with America when there are 90 guns for every 100 people. John Saunders, who immediately described himself as Canadian, deftly steered the conversation away from that topic and back to the game. Can't wait to see what Walton comes up with next for Uruguay.
--Ross Siler
He did connect from beyond the shorter international three-point arc (20 feet, 6 inches), but Suns coach Mike D'Antoni, working as a USA Basketball assistant, had to shudder on the bench. How often does Stoudemire plan on taking that shot this season?
Anyway, the U.S. buried Puerto Rico 117-78, avenging their 19-point loss in the 2004 Athens Olympics. The Americans remain on track for a showdown against undefeated Argentina on Thursday night and possibly again Sunday in the championship game.
The U.S. took advantage of an awful shooting night by Puerto Rico (7 of 33 three-pointers) and played arguably its best stretch with Jazz guard Deron Williams on the court in the second quarter.
It was a 39-19 blowout when Williams checked in with 5:23 left in the half, but the U.S. had yet to truly open up the game. Instead of settling for jumpers, Williams forced his way to the elbow against Puerto Rico's zone and fed Dwight Howard for a dunk inside.
That play probably won't show up on the highlights, but its importance was magnified by what followed for the Americans. Williams pushed the ball after a long miss by Puerto Rico and drove all the way for a layup. The shots then seemed to come easier for everyone.
Wiliams assisted on two LeBron James' three-pointers, recognizing he was in rhythm. James and Bryant then hooked up for an alley-oop dunk that left them bumping chests at midcourt. That officially ended the competitive portion of the game.
The U.S. went into halftime ahead 59-27 after leading just 24-15 after the first quarter. Williams. The Americans cranked it up defensively - - even finishing the first half in a zone defense - - and held Puerto Rico to 12 points in the second quarter.
Williams finished with eight points, seven assists and three fouls in 13 minutes, making all four shots he took. The U.S. outscored Puerto Rico by 21 points in the short time that Williams played, which has to say something about his game.
The U.S. was already up 94-64 when Williams returned for the final 7:12. He picked up three assists off the bat on a Michael Redd jumper, Tayshaun Prince three-pointer and a Redd layup after the Bucks guard made a nice baseline cut.
Williams hit a runner in the lane, connected with Tyson Chandler on an alley-oop dun and fed Mike Miller in transition for a layup. The ball also wound up in Williams' hands in the last minute with the Americans trying to burn the clock and not embarrass Puerto Rico further.
The problem was, Williams also had to take a shot before the 24-second clock expired. He started to drive the lane, encountered zero resistance and elevated for a dunk. It capped a pretty nice game out of the U.S.'s No. 3 point guard.
Bill Walton also was more tolerable Tuesday than the night before in sharing his knowledge of Puerto Rico, which he described a couple of times as the "Isle of Enchantment."
He did read aloud an extended passage from Phil Jackson's "Sacred Hoops" - - dealing with Jackson's coaching baptism in a Puerto Rican league where the owners all carried guns. Kobe Bryant could have broken his leg on the court and Walton would have just keep reading from the book.
Then Walton asked what was wrong with America when there are 90 guns for every 100 people. John Saunders, who immediately described himself as Canadian, deftly steered the conversation away from that topic and back to the game. Can't wait to see what Walton comes up with next for Uruguay.
--Ross Siler
12:10 AM
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