USA Beats Australia.....Badly....Really bad......I mean like, they kicked their asses.....I mean that OWNED THEM!....yeah, it was really that bad...

The White T-mac · 08-27-2006, 11:14 PM

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) -- Look out, world.

The United States routed Australia 113-73 Sunday, sending an unmistakable message to the FIBA world championships. This isn't the team that proved an embarrassment in recent international competitions.

"We wanted to make a statement coming into the round of 16," said forward Chris Bosh, who grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

On a day that every American scored, Carmelo Anthony led the U.S. with 20 points while Joe Johnson added 18 and Dwyane Wade 15.

Granted, the Australians weren't much of a test. They went 2-3 in group play and have few weapons beside Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut, who scored 20 points.

But the Americans made it look almost too easy, turning a tight game into a laugher by outscoring the Australians 32-6 in the second quarter.

Now the U.S. can look forward to its quarterfinal -up Wednesday night against Germany, another team with a star NBA center and a mostly anonymous supporting cast. Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas is third in tournament scoring, averaging 24.5 points.'

Given the way the U.S. is playing, it might be more fair to make them face Bogut and Nowitzki together.

"I think our biggest opponent is ourselves right now," Johnson said. "We've just got to keep our intensity up."

Asked if the U.S. is unbeatable when its shots are falling, Johnson replied, "No doubt. When our shots are falling and when they're not falling."

If Johnson sounds confident it's because the U.S. has outscored its last two opponents, Senegal and Australia, by a combined 216-131.

Of course, neither Senegal nor Australia is in the same hoops universe as Spain or Argentina, which are mowing down the opposition on the other side of the bracket.

That's why Elton Brand said he hopes his teammates aren't taking anyone for granted. Brand played on the 2002 U.S. world championship team that finished sixth in Indianapolis.

"We're not going to be cocky about it," Brand said. "There are some teams that can give us competition."

Australia wasn't one of them, at least not for 40 minutes. The Aussies led 15-14 after five minutes and trailed by only 27-23 at the end of the first period. But then the U.S., which has been plagued by slow starts throughout the tourney, began to knock down shots on offense and crack down on defense.

The Americans outscored Australia 32-6 in the second quarter, and it wasn't that close.

"The second quarter, we kind of took off and had the game in hand from that point," Wade said.

"Today was the best we played as a unit, with everyone making the extra pass, getting the guys the best shot possible," Wade said. "When you do that, it makes your team play that much better because everyone feels good, everyone's involved, one through 12. That's what we're looking for."

Offense hasn't been an issue for the Americans, the highest-scoring team in the tournament. But the defense was inconsistent during group play, and that's why Sunday's game was so encouraging.

The U.S. limited the Australians to 41 percent shooting, including 24 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Australia committed 24 turnovers, many the result of pressure.

"We know that if we play defense, we'll be pretty good," Bosh said. "We know we can score the ball. We know we play with anybody offensively. But we know it's our defense that's going to help us out."

Defense may help the U.S. win the championship. But the Australians couldn't help but be dazzled by the Americans' attack.

Australian point guard C.J. Bruton likened this team to Dream Teams I and II.

"It's a squad compared to them because they move the ball like those teams did," Bruton said. "The teams that have won the gold medal for U.S.A. definitely move the ball as well as this team."

They move it well. And on Sunday they shot it even better.

The Americans shot 54 percent from the floor. And after shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc in group play, the U.S. made 14-of-27 (52 percent) Sunday.

Even Bosh and Brad Miller hit their first international 3-pointers. Three-point shooting was supposed to be one of the Americans' flaws. If the U.S. starts knocking down long-range shots, it will be difficult to beat.

The U.S. has trailed after halftime in one game, against Italy, which it beat 94-85. Wade was asked if the Americans were tempted to look toward the finals and a possible showdown with Argentina or Spain, both also 6-0.

"You don't really think about it," Wade said. "You just win or go home. We just need to get better as a team."

Better? Look out, world.

DTP · 08-27-2006, 11:18 PM

KirkHinrich12 · 08-27-2006, 11:22 PM

I got to see part of the game. From what I saw, I think Team America has done the right thing by building an actual team, and not a collection of superstars.

AAUBall08 · 08-28-2006, 01:09 AM

It was close during the beginning and I thought it had the makings of a good game but then USA started to pull away. CP3 also broke the assists record for the olympics. Congrats :thumbsup:

Andrew Bogut was ballin' for Australia. He had about 20 points (even though they lost).

bball4life · 08-28-2006, 08:55 PM

At the beginning it was close but thats how all of usa's games are

Yugioffmahproperty · 08-28-2006, 09:10 PM

Nice game. And yes, it was close at first till the US team broke away.

It was a little bit sloppy at first and the US team could've passed the ball around more but with the talent that they have, they can shoot from almost anywhere anyway.

I'm really impressed with Bogut. There were times they tried to steal the ball from him but he's a good ball handler for his size.

TheFamily24 · 08-28-2006, 09:55 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bball4life @ Aug 28 2006, 07:55 PM) [snapback]19394[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

At the beginning it was close but thats how all of usa's games are
[/b]

I agree.

AAUBall08 · 08-28-2006, 09:56 PM

I was suprised to see Bogut knock down a three pointer.

The White T-mac · 08-29-2006, 12:10 AM

how many assists did CP3 get?

AAUBall08 · 08-29-2006, 10:56 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(The White T-Mac @ Aug 28 2006, 10:10 PM) [snapback]19476[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

how many assists did CP3 get?
[/b]

CP3 had 4 assists.

zfromkc · 08-29-2006, 12:56 PM

Did anyone notice that LeBron had at least 7 assists at halftime? Well they only credited him with 4 for the ENTIRE FUCKIN GAME! Those scorekeepers should be fired and then promptly executed for their ignorance.

AAUBall08 · 08-29-2006, 01:07 PM

Its not that serious.

KirkHinrich12 · 08-29-2006, 01:30 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AAUBall08 @ Aug 28 2006, 07:56 PM) [snapback]19437[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I was suprised to see Bogut knock down a three pointer.
[/b]

Remember now, in international competition, the 3 is a 20-foot jumper like it is in college. In the NBA, it's a 23-foot shot.

AAUBall08 · 08-29-2006, 01:34 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KirkHinrich12 @ Aug 29 2006, 11:30 AM) [snapback]19587[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Remember now, in international competition, the 3 is a 20-foot jumper like it is in college. In the NBA, it's a 23-foot shot.
[/b]

I still think he can hit threes from NBA range too. He is an underrated shooter for his size.

marklar mm · 08-29-2006, 01:51 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(zfromkc @ Aug 29 2006, 11:56 AM) [snapback]19574[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Did anyone notice that LeBron had at least 7 assists at halftime? Well they only credited him with 4 for the ENTIRE FUCKIN GAME! Those scorekeepers should be fired and then promptly executed for their ignorance.
[/b]

FIBA rules are not like NBA rules. Assists are credited differently than in the NBA.

08-27-2006, 11:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
DTP All Star Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Flint, Michigan Posts: 2,410	rofl __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. HT San Antonio Spurs (0-0) 9 Parker 12 Wilkins 13 Palacios 21 Duncan 3 Wallace Year 1- 47-35 Loss in WCF 1-4 to Phx Year 2- 40-42 Loss in 1st Round 1-4 to Phx Aim-YoungDtop

08-28-2006, 01:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
AAUBall08 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 372	It was close during the beginning and I thought it had the makings of a good game but then USA started to pull away. CP3 also broke the assists record for the olympics. Congrats :thumbsup: Andrew Bogut was ballin' for Australia. He had about 20 points (even though they lost). __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-28-2006, 08:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
bball4life Rookie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 329	At the beginning it was close but thats how all of usa's games are __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-28-2006, 09:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yugioffmahproperty Star Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1,352	Nice game. And yes, it was close at first till the US team broke away. It was a little bit sloppy at first and the US team could've passed the ball around more but with the talent that they have, they can shoot from almost anywhere anyway. I'm really impressed with Bogut. There were times they tried to steal the ball from him but he's a good ball handler for his size. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-28-2006, 09:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
AAUBall08 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 372	I was suprised to see Bogut knock down a three pointer. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-27-2006, 11:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
The White T-mac Star Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rockwood, Michigan Posts: 1,175	SAITAMA, Japan (AP) -- Look out, world. The United States routed Australia 113-73 Sunday, sending an unmistakable message to the FIBA world championships. This isn't the team that proved an embarrassment in recent international competitions. "We wanted to make a statement coming into the round of 16," said forward Chris Bosh, who grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. On a day that every American scored, Carmelo Anthony led the U.S. with 20 points while Joe Johnson added 18 and Dwyane Wade 15. Granted, the Australians weren't much of a test. They went 2-3 in group play and have few weapons beside Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut, who scored 20 points. But the Americans made it look almost too easy, turning a tight game into a laugher by outscoring the Australians 32-6 in the second quarter. Now the U.S. can look forward to its quarterfinal -up Wednesday night against Germany, another team with a star NBA center and a mostly anonymous supporting cast. Dirk Nowitzki of Dallas is third in tournament scoring, averaging 24.5 points.' Given the way the U.S. is playing, it might be more fair to make them face Bogut and Nowitzki together. "I think our biggest opponent is ourselves right now," Johnson said. "We've just got to keep our intensity up." Asked if the U.S. is unbeatable when its shots are falling, Johnson replied, "No doubt. When our shots are falling and when they're not falling." If Johnson sounds confident it's because the U.S. has outscored its last two opponents, Senegal and Australia, by a combined 216-131. Of course, neither Senegal nor Australia is in the same hoops universe as Spain or Argentina, which are mowing down the opposition on the other side of the bracket. That's why Elton Brand said he hopes his teammates aren't taking anyone for granted. Brand played on the 2002 U.S. world championship team that finished sixth in Indianapolis. "We're not going to be cocky about it," Brand said. "There are some teams that can give us competition." Australia wasn't one of them, at least not for 40 minutes. The Aussies led 15-14 after five minutes and trailed by only 27-23 at the end of the first period. But then the U.S., which has been plagued by slow starts throughout the tourney, began to knock down shots on offense and crack down on defense. The Americans outscored Australia 32-6 in the second quarter, and it wasn't that close. "The second quarter, we kind of took off and had the game in hand from that point," Wade said. "Today was the best we played as a unit, with everyone making the extra pass, getting the guys the best shot possible," Wade said. "When you do that, it makes your team play that much better because everyone feels good, everyone's involved, one through 12. That's what we're looking for." Offense hasn't been an issue for the Americans, the highest-scoring team in the tournament. But the defense was inconsistent during group play, and that's why Sunday's game was so encouraging. The U.S. limited the Australians to 41 percent shooting, including 24 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Australia committed 24 turnovers, many the result of pressure. "We know that if we play defense, we'll be pretty good," Bosh said. "We know we can score the ball. We know we play with anybody offensively. But we know it's our defense that's going to help us out." Defense may help the U.S. win the championship. But the Australians couldn't help but be dazzled by the Americans' attack. Australian point guard C.J. Bruton likened this team to Dream Teams I and II. "It's a squad compared to them because they move the ball like those teams did," Bruton said. "The teams that have won the gold medal for U.S.A. definitely move the ball as well as this team." They move it well. And on Sunday they shot it even better. The Americans shot 54 percent from the floor. And after shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc in group play, the U.S. made 14-of-27 (52 percent) Sunday. Even Bosh and Brad Miller hit their first international 3-pointers. Three-point shooting was supposed to be one of the Americans' flaws. If the U.S. starts knocking down long-range shots, it will be difficult to beat. The U.S. has trailed after halftime in one game, against Italy, which it beat 94-85. Wade was asked if the Americans were tempted to look toward the finals and a possible showdown with Argentina or Spain, both also 6-0. "You don't really think about it," Wade said. "You just win or go home. We just need to get better as a team." Better? Look out, world.

08-27-2006, 11:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
KirkHinrich12 All Star Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,665	I got to see part of the game. From what I saw, I think Team America has done the right thing by building an actual team, and not a collection of superstars.

08-29-2006, 12:10 AM	#9 (permalink)
The White T-mac Star Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rockwood, Michigan Posts: 1,175	how many assists did CP3 get?

08-29-2006, 12:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
zfromkc Draft Prospect Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 31	Did anyone notice that LeBron had at least 7 assists at halftime? Well they only credited him with 4 for the ENTIRE FUCKIN GAME! Those scorekeepers should be fired and then promptly executed for their ignorance. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-29-2006, 01:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
AAUBall08 Rookie Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 372	Its not that serious. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.