An upstart Puerto Rico squad kept it interesting early against the USA Men’s National team Friday at Madison Square Garden, but the world's No. 1-ranked team soon found their rhythm and pulled away for an imposing 112-86 win.
Cohesiveness. Chemistry. Continuity. Over the past week, these are the words that keep getting bandied about when describing the USA National Team. There’s no disputing that they’re young, athletic and supremely talented, but are they (to use another oft-used term) gelling?
It was that magical moment this year when Portland’s Damian Lillard endeared himself to the nation. Game 6 against Houston. Inbounds pass to him standing a good two feet past the three-point line with less than a second on the clock. Swish at the buzzer. Then he grabs the public address microphone and yells “Rip City!” to the euphoric crowd. Pure gold.
Sue Bird is the oldest member of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team. Let me just say that again with emphasis. Sue Bird is now the eldest stateswoman on the U.S. squad.
When did this happen? Well chronologically she is 33, of course. But wasn’t it just yesterday that she was youngest? Coming in at age 22 for the 2002 FIBA World Championship with a perfect ponytail flying while she dished rocket passes to Lisa Leslie as Dawn Staley and Sheryl Swoopes took her under their wing?
It wasn’t much of a contest for the USA Men's National Team in an exhibition against the Dominican Republic at Madison Square Garden Wednesday, but more of an opportunity for coach Mike Krzyzewski to toy with his lineup.
With the need to trim the roster for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup from 16 to 12 in the next few days, a different combination of players saw the majority of the action as the U.S. drubbed the island nation, 105-62, in the FIBA World Cup tune-up.
That must have been quite the halftime speech. After starting off sluggish and leading Canada by only two buckets going into the locker room, the USA Basketball Women's National Team hit the floor in a whole different gear in the third quarter, going on a 13-0 rally to eventually roll to a 76-51 sendoff win.