Olympics: Germany vs. Spain

UPDATED: 10:38am local time Beijing

Just got home from dinner and am lucky to follow my fellow Germans against Spain. NBC has a nice LIVE picture on their website which looks great.

1. Quarter notes:

Spain was missing nearly every shot, while Germany made most of their shots. This explains why Spain has over 8 offensive rebounds right now, with Germany - zero.

2. Quarter notes:

This is when I actually tuned in. Germany is up 19:14 with 7:40 to play. Spain keeps missing their shots - especially Calderon misses every shot badly - like three point airballs. On the other side, Jan Hendrik Jagla makes his threes and adds nice drives to his game. Even Steffen Hamann, Germany’s point guard adds some nice plays. It is so quiet in the arena that you even can here Chris Kaman complain to the referee, while Marc Gasol misses another free throw.

Two quick turnovers by Germany and a nice lay up by Ricky Rubio bring back Spain to 31-29. They even had the chance to tie the game with free throws, but miss both. Finally Pau Gasol ties the game with a dunk.

Halftime: Despite a horrible shooting percentage from Spain, Pau Gasol and his team hold a close 36-29 lead against Dirk and Germany. Spain outscored Germany 21-27 in the second, while only scoring 12 points in the first quarter.

3.Quarter notes:

New Spanish team - one minute played and they are up 11! Four quick points by Ricky Rubio put Spain ahead. 36-50 Spain with 8 minutes to play in the third. Germany’s first point thanks to a Drik three makes it 39-50. Spain actually takes Germany serious now and plays defense + makes their big shots - 15 point lead for Spain with 4:30 to go in the third.

End of the third: Spain still up by as much as 11 points. Let’s just hope - as Spanish fans - that they will not start against Team USA like they did start against Germany today. Spain wins the third quarter 12-20.

4. Quarter notes:

Spain is shooting 10/20 from the free throw line - at least in this category they are already close to Team USA. Dirk cuts it down to a ten point lead for Spain and Mumbru answers with another three: 50-63. 

Let’s do sme scouting for Team USA: Spain loves these two high screens on top of the zone and finishes with a pick and roll pass or alley hoop. I am sure no American player will want one of the Gasols dunking within the US paint!

Sven Schultze just fouled out with with almost five minutes to go and a 9 point lead for Spain. The refs start to fall for the “flop team Number one - Spain”. It should be interesting to see the US reacting to these obvious flops/acting class on Saturday.

Dirk misses the three to cut it down to six while Calderon makes the three to extend the lead to 12 - game over.. 50 seconds to play - 56-70.

End of game: Germany now is 1:2 after this 59-72 defeat by Spain - Spain stays clean and faces the US on Saturday.

Ademola Okulaja and Germany in shock

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Monday’s cigarettes

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The token American responds: Be afraid

My main man Tobias is, as we’d say in the ‘States, fighting the good fight this morning with his “US national team announced - are you scared?” Mr. T. engaged in some positive cheerleading for Europe in stating that teams like Lithuania, Spain and Russia need not be scared at all of Team USA.

Do European national teams play at Team USA’s level? Absolutely. Should the Europeans be afraid of the American Dirty Dozen? Well, a little creeped out, to be sure; just look at the arsenal one more time. Will Team USA take the gold in Beijing? Yes.

While only now in the ‘States is the mainstream willing to admit that national-level European ball has “caught up with” that of the US, this writer believes the world will learn a valuable lesson about the new Team USA: Namely, that the red, white and blue can in fact play the best team ball in the world.

Blinded by the star power in 1992, people forget that the Dream Team of lore was an incredible team, always making the extra pass, sharing the ball and playing tight D. Along the way to bottoming out in 2004, the Team USA roster had become polluted by the showboating Vince Carters of the world; great leaders like George Karl were at the helm; and USA Basketball the organization just didn’t seem to get it.

It’s different now, though, I’m telling y’all here on The Continent.

Wrote Tobias:

You still need to have a team and really take pride in representing your nation. I do know guys like Dirk Nowitzki are busting their a** off right now, with three or four training sessions a day, just to qualify for the Olympics. Do you really think one of the guys above does care that much?

Yes, I do. Kobe Bryant. On whom do you think Kobe is going to take out his frustrations at barely competing in the NBA Finals? Um, Lithuania, Russia and especially Spain. Today, Kobe reckons that Pau Gasol is soft, and Bryant will be taking it to the hole against the Gasol Brothers all day long in a semifinal matchup.

And please, world in general, make a note of the attitudinal change reflected in some of these post-announcement quotes as well:

“I’ve always seen greatness in the Olympics, but that was never one of my dreams. I never really expected to be on the Olympic team, especially in my first year. I didn’t have a clue what I was getting into. … Now, we respect the game so much. We respect the team basketball that they play internationally so much.” – Dwayne Wade

“Going through that experience [at the 2004 Olympic debacle] really helped me to learn the international game.” – Carmelo Anthony

“We’re a team already. The thing that this program has done is … provide continuity and relationships. … We’ll hit the ground running.” – coach Mike Krzyzewski

Assuming that Team USA can play the team game, here’s how the Continental competition looks on the other side of the Atlantic:

• Germany is Nowitski’s one-man show and German basketball is at an ebb in general. When was the last time a German team placed in the Euroleague Final Four? Or final eight? The 1980s? And how many Germans are playing in the NBA right now?

• Spain lacks stamina. Here’s what the NBA Finals and EuroBasket 2007 taught me: Spanish ballers have a problem with a long grind of games. Check out the Russia-Spain final again. The fresh-looking Team Russia runs rings around haggard and possibly hungover Team Espana while shutting down a much better (and home!) team to eke out the win. This level of slightly less than 100 percent energy doesn’t increase your longevity in the Olympic tournament.

• Russia can’t play Team USA’s game, but Team USA can play Russia’s. In terms of T-E-A-M, Russia has a nice advantage on most teams in the tourney, as many of these guys run with two or three pro teams in the big country; plus, Andrei Kirilenko almost always shows that latent virtuoso ability typically repressed in Salt Lake City on the international stage. But Russia may be the most “American” of all the Euro teams in style, playing a (relative) power game favoring lots of action in post down low. The strongman Russian style has been in effect since the CCCP days, though, and it didn’t work against Team USA back then, either.

• Lithuania … well, they’re a bit of an enigma. But, um, the USA is not afraid.

Tell you what, though, Tobias and I see 100% eye-to-eye on two things:

You might be the best guy in the world, but if somebody wants it more than you do - you will lose…

and

As excited as I am about the start of the Euroleague season, I’m excited about this year’s Olympics…

This American’s pumped as well; can’t wait to see Team USA on the court…

Cheers!