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RED2018

[14] EXALTED III
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    Best Nation In Basketball

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    The type of defense the Americans are playing in the World championships is the very reason why they dominate the opposition. It's not their dunks or their other highlight plays, but it's their all out defense. With the US team realizing that they are one of the smallest teams here, they utilized their athleticism and executed the Blitzkrieg almost to its perfection.

     

    The very weapon deemed questionable in the American game is the very weapon other teams launch with the nonchalance of a beach bum. It's almost comical. Whoever said the three-point shot is a low-percentage shot is clearly ignored in these games. Serbia shot 50% from three-point country in their stunning KO win over Spain. By the way, Serbia used a three to win by three over the Spaniards. Lithuania, during their conquest of Argentina in the quarterfinals, started 8-for-8 from three-point distance. Linas Kleiza and company eventually cooled off to finish at a still impressive 12 out of 24.

     

    Against Russia, Team USA didn't need impeccable three-point shooting to win. If players follow Coach K's game plan, they won’t need it in their next two games. Team officials never claimed to assemble the best outside shooting unit in USA Basketball history. While I marvel at how Lithuanian and Serbian shooters made long jumpers like lay-ups even at most crucial times, USA's defensive mindset is just as astounding. Eric Gordon (51% 3pts) and Kevin Durant (44% 3pts) have been lethal from rainbow country. Yet I'm willing to overlook that in favor of highlighting the Americans' defense.

     

    Russell Westrbook, Derrick Rose and Andre Iguodala have combined for 31 steals. They hound players like one-man double-teams. Granted that USA Basketball sent its Team B to Istanbul, the team's combo guards, however, have exhibited Grade A pressure defense. It's the kind of defense that wo'’t allow Delininkaitis and Kleiza to fire perfectly-arched three-point attempts. It's the kind of defense that disrupts the kind of ball movement that leads to the kind of dramatic 22-footers that win games.

     

    I suspect the three other teams in the FIBA Final Four care less about causing Team USA's spectacular downfall and more about winning the championship. Turkey has home-court advantage over Serbia, a team enjoying life without Darko Milicic. Lithuania will try to stop Durant the way they stopped Scola. I still expect Lithuania to launch 3-pointers as if the Americans aren't there. I expect Team USA, however, to play in-your-jersey defense so everyone else will take notice.

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