Film Session: USA vs. Argentina, 8/30/07

The members of Team USA may be on a break before pre-Olympic training camp, but rest assured that I'm not. I'll be going through game tape of last summer's FIBA Tournament of the Americas, which is the closest thing we have to a precedent for Team USA's play in Beijing.

Not surprisingly, this game was the highlight of the preliminary rounds. Both teams entered the game undefeated, and the United States won 91-76 (it sounds closer than it really was). However, this game means practically nothing in the grand scheme of the US-Argentina match-up; Argentina was without Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Andres Nocioni, Ruben Wolkowyski, and Walter Hermann (not to mention the departure of national team mainstay Pepe Sanchez). So while we can do our best to take something away from this game, remind yourself that this is a team without its best player and without some notable starters and rotation players.

I guess I'm going to do this in bullet point form, just because I'm not sure how to split it into paragraphs. So let's look at the Argentines first:

• From the outset of this game it's very clear how redonkulous Luis Scola is in the international game. I thought last year for the Rockets he was rock steady after he began logging consistent minutes, but when he puts on that bizarre Argentine jersey he becomes a different kind of weapon entirely. Imagining some more NBA level talent on this squad is a thought that should be frightening, because while this game wasn't very close, you really do get a vibe that there's more to this team than we saw in this particular outing.


• I know I should have some variety, but Scola really is the sole bright spot for the Argentines. He frequently took advantage of whichever American was guarding him, using his superior footwork against Dwight Howard or using his hook shot against the likes of Tayshaun Prince. But damn, are those Argentina jerseys ugly. How do Euroleaguers stand uniforms like that?


• Delfino is going to be a big assett for this team in the Olympics. He's hustling on defense and although he's been scored on a bit, his efforts and intensity are noticeable. You can't expect individual players to completely shut down Kobe Bryant or LeBron James, so the fact that he's hanging in there and then doing his own thing on offense should be a positive sign for Argentina. But those fadeaway jumpshots? Come on, man.


• As I said before, Scola is playing well enough on offense that you feel that this team is only a Ginobili a way from being competitive on that end. But where this team really misses their true lineup is on defense. In this game the Argentines seem completely unable to defend the pick and roll (oddly enough, the problem isn't the roll -- it's the pick. The ballhandler often just goes around the pick and curls at the basket, getting a layup, dunk, or easy jumper), and their transition defense isn't exactly great. The Americans have had their share of turnovers on the break, but most of them are attributed to bad decision-making and poor passes.


• On the flip side of that however, Argentina could make a living off the pick and roll/pick and pop game. Players like Scola who can play both are invaluable in games like these, and Scola proves it by running both plays with incredible efficiency.


• Another Achilles’ heel of the American defense is a pass off from the high post. One of the Argentine bigs gets the ball in the high post of the lane, and the Americans don't necessarily double team but they're delayed just enough to be rendered helpless against the dump to a wide open man under the hoop. It’s not an easy thing to guard, but it is an international staple; expect Team USA to be ready for it next time.


• Like most teams, Argentina is struggling when they stop moving the ball. This incarnation of the national team (sans Ginobili) just isn’t good enough to bleed the shot clock dry and then throw something up. When the bigs get involved in the passing game, their offense thrives. It’s not always a kick-out to the three point line either; this team is great at off –ball movement and hitting open cutters.


• It looks like the American defense has really rattled this team, or else they just don’t know how to take care of the ball without some of the big names. Too often they’re throwing passes away, passing on bad angles, getting picked off in the passing lanes, or just plain losing the ball. It’s not what you’d expect from a team as polished as Argentina, but it really goes to show what a few great players can do for your team’s overall mentality. They’re being aggressive, but Kidd and Kobe have noticeably gotten inside their heads.


• One of the best things Argentina did in this game was contain Dwight Howard. Roman Gonzalez did a great job denying him the ball all game, and when Howard did finally get some touches he was pushed out of position, turned it over, or missed. Athleticism at the 5 is supposedly a huge strength for the United States, but this game makes it seem as though this team is going to live and die through Kobe, LeBron, and Carmelo.
  

Which is a good segue to the Americans:

• Coach K and D’Antoni are doing great work getting this team out in transition (was going to put together some clips from the game, but to be honest I’m feeling kind of lazy). Team USA is running after misses and makes alike, but the most important aspect of their transition game is defense. The American guards are gambling on steals, and it’s paying off. There will be games where other teams take advantage of those gambles, but for now it makes for some excellent pressure defense.
  
• But while Phoenix might be the first team to come to mind because of D’Antoni’s presence, defensively this team reminds me a lot of Golden State. The aggressive swarming style, the active hands, the quick transition afterwards – it’s almost like they studied game tape of what the Warriors did to the Mavs in 2007. Kidd is Baron Davis, who isn’t afraid to go for a big play, even on defense. Kobe is Stephen Jackson, swarming opponents with his athleticism and timing. LeBron, defensively at least, reminds of Mickael Pietrus and his shot blocking at the 4. He’s not the tallest guy out there, but he’s strong, and boy can he get up. Carmelo is more like Monta Ellis. He gets steals, but his job on defense is to deny and then leak out for a fast break slam. Howard is obviously Biedrins, shot blocking and rebounding, but usually staying back on the fast breaks. Kind of weird comparisons, I know, but if you watch the game you’ll see what I mean.


• Anyone who thinks that this team is going to have trouble shooting should watch this game. Kobe is hitting from three, LeBron and Carmelo are hitting…and Michael Redd is just 1-4 for what is his purpose on this team. Even if the U.S. didn’t add the “designated shooters” outside of Redd, they’ll still be quite good from deep.


• Kobe is forcing things at times, but he’s playing incredibly. Pull up threes, aggressive drives, smothering D. Team USA has been missing shooting, and they’ve been missing leadership, but they’ve also been missing Kobe.


• A lot of noise is being made over not having enough big men in Beijing, and to some extent, I agree. But what’s ignored is how the Americans can take advantage of bigger opponents. In this game, Scola is having to keep up with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, or Tayshaun Prince, and not doing a very good job chasing them out to the perimeter. Maybe the Argentine strategy is to let the Americans shoot and live with the consequences. And on the other side, although Scola is scoring pretty well, the Americans are at least fighting him on the boards and in the post. The Americans can live with letting the Luis Scolas of the world go off, but can the competition live with letting LeBron James go off?


• One of the great things about this team is the passing. While Kidd controls the ball in most fast break situations, in the half court the Americans have three willing and able passers on the floor at the same time in Kidd, Kobe, and LeBron, and four great finishers in Kobe, LeBron, Carmelo, and Howard.


• The backdoor lob is going to be a valuable weapon for Team USA, especially as they establish their three point shooting. The more teams begin fearing that shot, the easier it will be to get that lob. Not that they even need to do that; Jason Kidd made a sweet backdoor lob to Carmelo on a fake post-up.


• The biggest problem on offense for Team USA (at least in this game) is getting overexcited on fast breaks. Sometimes they pass when they should take it themselves, sometimes a full court pass is way off, and the Argentines are picking off a lot of passes up-court. You have to love how this team wants to embarrass the Argentines, but they’ll need to settle down when they play the first-class teams in Beijing.


• One of the most popular stories about the 1992 Dream Team is that after the U.S. would rout teams by 40 or 50 points, opposing players would be asking them for their autographs. They were undoubtedly the best in the world, and no one could even touch them. While this Argentina team isn’t doing anything resembling that, they seem just as awestruck by LeBron. Sure at times they’re playing some good defense against his drives, but at other times he just coasts past defenders to the basket. I don’t know if it’s because LeBron is so impressive or because he’s using those very skills that make him impressive, but this defense looked hopeless against James. Most of his turnovers and errors were of his own fault, not due to good defensive scheming.


• The point guard rotation in this game makes you wonder how the rotation is going to work for the “new and improved” Team USA. Chauncey is the first point off the bench. Will that be Paul or Williams in Beijing? Paul, who although very impressive in the NBA, struggled against international competition? Or Williams, though around Paul’s level, is the assumed inferior point guard? I haven’t heard anything regarding how the rotation is going to work, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Deron reprises his role as third string filler. Plus, where does Dwyane Wade come in? The roles on this team are not easy to fill, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Coach K manages minutes with all of his key players healthy.

That's all for Team USA v. Argentina Round 1, but I'll be reviewing the FIBA ToA Finals as well as some other Team USA games very soon.