- Turkey lost because it was not only unable, but apparently also unwilling to capitalize on their significant size advantage. With Coach K repeatedly sending very small lineups out there, Turkey’s enormous frontline insisted on trying to drive the lane instead of posting up hard and either drawing fouls or scoring underneath.
- Team USA didn’t play a good game either, but Kevin Durant’s performance lived up to his now customary stellar billing. The flow of the offense was often chaotic and Team USA’s scoring relied more on Turkey’s mistakes than on the Americans’ own proficiency. I know most of this team won’t be making the trip to London, but USA basketball needs to find an efficient way to attack the zone unless they want to see a consistent diet of tall lineups and spread-out zones.
- I cannot commend Russell Westbrook and Lamar Odom enough for their role in Team USA’s title run. Westbrook’s energy disrupted the tidy flow of many FIBA gameplans and his athleticism led to several game-turning plays. Mr. Khloe Kardashian was also excellent in his role as a workhorse, pulling down rebounds and holding down the paint while also providing timely scoring.
- It saddens me to see another FIBA title game marred by a star player going through a mental breakdown. After Linas Kleiza went nuts in the Euroleague Finals, today Hedo Turkoglu blew up on Coach Tanjevic and was sent to the end of the bench for the entire 3rd quarter during which Team USA made its definitive run.
- After a fantastic Tournament, Ersan Ilyasova pulled a disappearing act in the Final Four. Coach Tanjevic’s failure to get the Bucks’ forward involved may have been his most crucial mistake.
- If you want to see what a good basketball crowd is, go right ahead and watch the entire arena on its feet for the last three minutes of the game despite their team being down by double digits. This is what national team basketball is all about.
