By Sean Connolly
For 19 minutes and 59 seconds in the first half, Australia’s game plan was perfect. Nearly everything went like it was drawn up. But a demoralizing buzzer beater from Deron Williams ended that perfect gameplan and launched the US to a 116-85 win.

The plan was simple for Australia. Defend the paint, make open shots, hope that the US shoot poorly from the line and from behind the arc. Australia stayed back, defended the paint well, allowed the US to shoot and it seemed like it was working. They made a couple of big threes and nailed open shots. The US shot horribly from the line in the first half, and the threes just didn’t seem to be falling. Things looked positive for the Australian side that were rumored to be capable of upsetting the dominant US. So, with all this going Australia’s way, how did they lose?

How did Australia lose, or better yet how did the US win? Offensive rebounding. In the first half the US had more offensive rebounds,13, than Australia had for a total,12. When playing a team that includes Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Carmello Anthony, the last thing you want to do is give them second chances. Kobe and company cleaned up the boards, picking up second and even third chances that kept them ahead in the first half.

In a game like this, Australia just wanted to keep their head above water. And, towards the end of the 2nd quarter it seemed like the Aussies were doing so. They were until Deron Williams pushed their heads underneath the water with a buzzer beating 3 pointer at the end of the 1st half. With the US holding on to a 9 point lead, a lead that they didn’t deserve with the way they were shooting from the line, Williams put all that Australia upset talk to rest. Williams broke free with the clock running out and tossed up a three with the clock running out. He drained it and drained whatever hopes Australia had in beating the USA.

The buzzer beater by Williams catapulted the US to a 17-0 run in which they scored 14 straight to start the 3rd quarter. What at one point was a managable 9 point deficit with seconds left in the first half had turned into a 26 point deficit before the Aussies could get warmed up for the second half.

This win puts the US one step closer to the top level of the podium, which now seems inevitable. Redemption is imminent for this US squad and their no nonsense aproach instilled by coach Mike Krzyzewski is the main reason.
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Tags: 2008 Olympics LeBron James, Australia Basketball, Australia Basketball Olympics, Australia vs. USA, Carmello Anthony, Defense US Mens Basketball, Deron Williams, Deron Williams 3 point shot at end of half, Deron Williams buzzer beater Australia, Deron Williams Olympic Buzzer Beater, Deron Williams Olympics, Deron Williams Olympics Three Pointer Buzzer Beater, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant Olympics, LeBron James, LeBron James Olympics, Mike Krzyzewski, Mike Krzyzewski USA Olympics Basketball, Mike Sheshevski, Mike Sheshevski Basketball Coach, Offensive Rebounding US Mens Team Olympics, Olympic Basketball, Olympic Mens Basketball, Olympics Stats Basketball, Rebounds Mens Olympics USA, Sean Connolly, Sean Connolly Basketball, Sean Connolly Sports, Sean Connolly Writer, Shooting Basketball US Mens, Team USA, Team USA Basketball, Team USA Beats Australia, Team USA Carmello Anthony, Team USA Gold Medal Beijing, Team USA Kobe Bryant, Team USA Lebron James, Team USA Victory, Team USA Victory Over Australia, US Basketball, US Mens Basketball, US Mens Basketball Australia, US Mens Basketball Olympics Stats, US Mens Basketball Results, USA beats Australia, USA wins Gold Medal Olympics 2008 Beijing
Josh Howard on National Anthem: “I don’t even celebrate that $@!*”
Sep 16
Posted by kit in Josh Howard, Josh Howard Comments, Josh Howard quotes, Mavs, NBA, Sean Connolly, Sean Connolly Basketball, Sean Connolly Sports, Sean Connolly Sports Writer | No Comments
By Sean Connolly
To Do List To Ruin My Reputation
By Josh Howard
Surely that’s the end of the list. Right? Well before Josh Howard does anything else to make himself look worse, let’s talk about his most recent moronic move in which he tells everyone that he doesn’t ‘celebrate’ the national anthem(who celebrates the national anthem? I usually just sing along or acknowledge it, I leave the pinatas out of it).
At a celebrity flag football event hosted by Allen Iverson, rapper Los attended the event unfortunately for Howard, with a camera. While the Star Spangled Banner is going on, Howard is seen ignoring the song and then comes up to the camera and says the following…
What a fool. How disrespectful can you get? I guess Josh took the phrase bad publicity is better than no publicity. Here’s some advice, lay low ’till the season starts and shut your mouth.
Here’s the link to the video…http://youbeenblinded.com/video-josh-howard-doesnt-celebrate-the-national-anthem/2001
Technorati Tags: Allen Iverson, Allen Iverson Flag Football event, Celebrate National Anthem, Celebrity Flag Football Event, Dallas Mavericks, Josh Howard, josh Howard bad press, Josh Howard because im black, Josh Howard comments on national anthem, Josh Howard Olympics, Josh Howard Party before playoff game, Josh Howard quote national anthem, Josh Howard quotes, Josh Howard Speeding, Josh Howard Star Spangled Banner, Josh Howard USA comments, Josh Howard Weed, Josh Howard Weed Quotes, Los, NBA, Rapper Los
Tags: Allen Iverson, Allen Iverson Flag Football event, Celebrate National Anthem, Celebrity Flag Football Event, Dallas Mavericks, Josh Howard, josh Howard bad press, Josh Howard because im black, Josh Howard comments on national anthem, Josh Howard Olympics, Josh Howard Party before playoff game, Josh Howard quote national anthem, Josh Howard quotes, Josh Howard Speeding, Josh Howard Star Spangled Banner, Josh Howard USA comments, Josh Howard Weed, Josh Howard Weed Quotes, Los, NBA, Rapper Los