USA @ AUS Warmup game report

I just got back from the Goodwill Games basketball warmup game between the USA and Australia played in Melbourne. Here's my report...

I got there early, and realised my tickets were in the ideal position- about 6 rows from the sideline, and right outside Team USA's entrance onto the court. As they came out, I reached over and gave most of them 'five' as well as some encouraging words ("good luck" etc...). All seemed nice.

The warmups were excellent. Lots of dunks, alley-oops, and crazy shots. Matrix, Davis, and O'Neal did a few memorable ones, and if I can remember correctly, Mike Miller did a 360.

Once the game started, it was obvious that the Aussies were outdone. USA has the most athletic players I've ever seen. Especially there big guys (O'Neal, Matrix, Lewis etc...). Paul Rogers (Australian starting centre) looked like a big frump out there. It was really embarrasing.

The first half plodded along, the USA was just warming up for a big second half. There were a few good dunks and alley oops. In the first quarter alone, I counted at least 4 blocks to team USA.

Onto the second half, and two of the most specatular quarters of bball I've ever seen. Lots of dunks- one that stands out was when Davis drove baseline and kicked it out to Booth, who was standing at the top of the key. He then faked his man out of his shoes, and jammed it home. Very cool. Matrix and Davis had some good run away dunks as well.

The funniest play of the night was when Paul Rogers recieved the ball directly under the hoop. O'Neal moved away, as to say "I'll give you the basket", and so Rogers shot the ball, and it BARELY touched the front of the ring. He had that kind of night.

On a positive note from the Australian camp, point guard Darryl McDonald (D-Mac) looked like the only one trying. His drive in the third quarter was fantastic. Oh, and our old friend Axel Dench was on the Aussie team, he got about 5 or 6 boards, and nailed a 3. But he plays slower than a wet week.

The worst part of the night was when I tried to get some autographs of the players. The security guards waived the fans away, saying some sh*t like "No autographs". P*ssed me of totally. But at the end of the night, as the players were leaving, Baron Davis (I think!?) pretended to take of his singlet, the fans went nuts (including me)- thinking that he was going to take it off and throw it into the crowd. He just casually pulled it back on, and went to the locker rooms. A player did throw his shoes into the crowd (insert player name here).
Overall, it was an enjoyable night.

NOTES:The final score was 109-72. Lewis scored a game high 21 points (correct me if I'm wrong). Fizer didn't see any court time, I don't know why. Mike Miller showed some nice range. Jason Terry and Baron Davis are ultra fast, and have smooth cross-overs. Matrix is just cool. O'Neal is nice to watch, and very athletic. Booth runs like he has a pole up his arse, but is a decent player. That kid from Minnesota with the weird name (Szscrbiak....??) also showed good range. Martin showed he can play (someone yelled out "Break a leg" when he was at the FT Line). Lewis had a quiet 21 points. And Battier showed some nice skills.


It was a pretty good game, and amazingly there wasn't a fight or argument between the teams (cough, cough, Shane Heal, Charles Barkley, Andrew Vlahov, Karl Malone, Vince Carter, Shane Heal AGAIN, Andrew Gaze).

Feel free to add your comments on the game.

 

"Slower than a wet week" just means he is really, really slow.



The Aussie team has changed alot. Our veterans (Gaze, 5 Olympics; Bradtke, 4 Olympics; Heal, 3 Olympics) have retired from international basketball. Barry Barnes (Head Coach) a.k.a "The Worst Coach in the World", was booted out (although he won't admit it).
The Aussies seemed to be trying, but the Americans look like they are going to win every game by about 20-30 points. Their athleticsm is second to none.

 

Stats are as follows:

USA:

A.Miller 8pts, 5ast, 2rb, 4-6fg, 20mins
Davis 4pts, 6ast, 0rb, 2-5fg, 23mins
Terry 7pts, 1ast, 1rb, 3-8fg, 18mins
Lewis 16pts, 0ast, 3rb, 4-7fg, 17mins
O'Neal 20pts, 1ast, 10rb, 8-9fg, 22mins
Martin 7pts, 0ast, 5rb, 2-5fg, 14mins
Szczerbiak 11pts, 2ast, 2rb, 4-8fg, 20mins
Marion 12pts, 1ast, 9rb, 4-11fg, 24mins
M.Miller 15pts, 1ast, 2rb, 6-9fg, 3-5 3p, 21mins
Battier 5pts, 1ast, 3rb, 3stl, 2-3fg, 10mins
Booth 4pts, 0ast, 3rb, 2-2fg, 10mins

USA Totals: 109pts, 18ast, 44rb, 41-73fg.



Boomers:

Nash 3pts, 0ast, 2rb, 1-3fg, 5mins
Maher 11pts, 0ast, 1rb, 4-9fg, 22mins
McGregor 0pts, 0ast, 0rb, 0-2fg, 5mins
Saville 9pts, 2ast, 5rb, 2-8fg, 21mins
Egan 2pts, 1ast, 0rb, 1-5fg, 9mins
Rogers 3pts, 0ast, 5rb, 1-8fg, 23mins
McDonald 6pts, 2ast, 6rb, 2-9fg, 27mins
Nielson 11pts, 0ast, 2rb, 4-8fg, 21mins
Melmeth 12pts, 0ast, 6rb, 4-7fg, 24mins
Dench 5pts, 1ast, 4rb, 2-8fg, 14mins
Moore 14pts, 2ast, 4rb, 3-6fg, 23mins
Knight 0pts, 2ast, 4rb, 0-1fg, 6mins

Boomer Totals: 76pts, 10ast, 48rb, 24-74fg.

 

I'm not actually going to the Goodwill Games, but I'll watch the basketball games. That is if the Nine Network put on anything other than swimming and gymnastics.

 

I was watching the Australia v New Zealand game last night, and to my surprise, Kenny Smith was commentating (with Andrew Gaze, some American guy, and Cheryl Miller.

Kenny isn't a bad commentator, although his jokes need a little more work. Oh, and the Aussies won!! NZ hasn't defeated Australia in a basketball game since 1978.