Cavaliers Coach Mike Brown isn’t in Las Vegas for the FIBA Americas Championship, which ended pool play on Sunday night. But the defensive guru is probably enjoying what he’s seen through four games.Team USA has done what it was expected to do – steamroll over their international competition. With America’s 113-76 drubbing of Brazil on Sunday night in Sin City, the U.S. is now beating their opponents by an average of 48.4 points per game. This trend is more like the Dream Team’s dominance – (they won by an average of 43.8 ppg in the nine-game Olympic tournament in 1992) – than Team USA’s recent disappointments on the international stage.
It might seem like the U.S. is just running past teams; scoring 115 points a game through their first four. But what’s triggering that run-and-stun offense is their defensive intensity – they haven’t let a team breathe.
On Sunday night, Team USA faced a Brazilian team that was supposed to offer them at least a challenge. Despite the absence of Anderson Varejao – who has yet to ink a deal this summer – Brazil does sport two NBA players, including the 2006-07 Sixth Man Award winner, Leandro Barbosa, as well as Denver’s Nene. Tiago Splitter – who was the best player on the floor for Brazil on Sunday – will be a San Antonio Spur when they’re ready for him. (How does R.C. Buford always manage to get these guys?!)
Defensively, Coach K’s group of young Americans completely locked down on Brazil – aside from a brief lapse or two by the U.S.’s best player, Carmelo Anthony – holding the tournament’s leading scorer (Barbosa) to a scant four points. Kobe Bryant dominated his Western Conference adversary on both ends of the floor.
Kobe’s first foray into international play has been a huge boon for Team USA. Some wondered whether Kobe could sacrifice his individual excellence for the team concept. He’s done that and more. And Bryant brings one thing to the U.S. team that they’ve lacked in their lackluster performances in Greece and last summer in Japan – his cold-blooded killer attitude. Any man who scores 82 points in a game doesn’t believe in a “mercy rule.”
“When you see Kobe Bryant diving for loose balls," said USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, "and you see LeBron and Carmelo giving it the kind of work that they're putting into this, that commitment and passion, that's a message."
Granted, the competition hasn’t been exactly top notch in Vegas. Brazil was without Varejao, Canada without Nash, and Argentina without Manu Ginobili. But that hasn’t diminished how impressive the U.S. has been. And having a solid, experienced point guard in Jason Kidd has made all the difference.
As far as LeBron James’ performance in the FIBA tournament – his style is suited to any form of hoops as long as the ball is round. LeBron has been massive in the paint, on the perimeter and – based on Sunday night’s halftime buzzer-beater – from half-court. He’s been menacing on defense and unstoppable offensively.
The second round begins on Monday night when Team USA takes on the Mexican squad, coached by former Arkansas’ top man, Nolan Richardson.
If the past two international tournaments have taught us anything, it’s to not be overconfident that America will prevail. But if the current tourney has taught us something this summer, it’s that this is a very different U.S. team.
