USA Basketball Recap

With Kevin Durant's game winning block against Spain a few night ago, Team USA remained undefeated in International play. Team USA is in the pursuit for their first gold medal since 1994. Chicago's own Derrick Rose dominated down the stretch hitting clutch free throws and finishing strong with the left hand (and one).

Ricky Rubio impressed me the most as he showed why the Minnesota drafted him fifth in the 2009 NBA Draft Draft. Rubio reminds me of a taller version of Steve Nash minus the 3-point range. Spain and USA have become quite a rivalry the past five years and I can pretty much say these two teams will meet in the World Basketball Finals.

Without Howard, Boozer, Bosh, Team USA has to rely on Tyson Chandler, Brook Lopez, and Kevin Love as their big man. This current group is more athletic than the Redeem Team but not as talented. Kevin Durant is the new leader of this group according to the coaching staff and the media but Big Shot Chauncey Billups is the one these young ball players need to listen to.

Way too many slashers in this group and not enough big men and shooters. Therefore when the next cuts take place, Coach K should say goodbye to Russel Westbrook, Ruddy Gay, and Danny Grainger. Reasons being Curry, Gordan, Billups are the shooters. Rose, Rondo play the lead guard. Odom, Wallace, and Iggie are the athletic do everything forwards.

The group is good enough to win the gold along with the 2012 Olympics but they better not take Spain for granted.

Kobe #2 on Lakers Scoring List - Gasol Returns

Congratulations to Kobe Bryant for becoming #2 on the Lakers all-time scoring list passing up Kareem. It was not a great night for Chicago guards on TV last night. Jerome Randle, Evan Turner, and Derrick Rose all suffered defeats last night.

ATTENTION NBA TEAM....THE LAKERS ARE AT FULL STRENGTH

With the return of Gasol, I'm scarred of the Lakers. It doesn't matter that they're weak at the point guard position they have a healthy Bynum, Gasol, Bryant, Odom off the bench, and a bunch of roll players (mostly Shannon Brown) I don't see why Phil Jackson should collect ring #11 come June.

Last week the rich just got richer. When North Carolina loses players, they just reload. Last week they landed the #1 recruiting class in the country by landing Harrison Barnes, Reggie Bullock, and Kendall Marshall. That's the #1 point guard, small forward, and shooting guard for 2010. With the potential departure of Larry Drew II and Ed Davis after this season, John Henson will have the best recruiting class around him which should keep North Carolina Final 4 bound for 2010-2011.

Well there's plenty to watch this weekend, please take my poll and visit my homepage here.