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Utah Jazz: U.S. men avenge 2006 loss with 92-69 win over Greece

The article doesn't mention it, but Wade also had 6 steals. Wade came into the game and first thing, failed to block out the free throw shooter, giving up 2 points for a missed free throw. That was pretty much the last mistake he made; he was a monster on both ends of the court.

Bosh was the other monster.

Greece added a twist to their pick and roll offense that befuddled TeamUSA in Japan: they ran picks off the ball at the same time as the pick and roll. The result was deep entry passes to bigs for easy scores, and mismatches in USA's man to man defense that Greece tried to exploit.

In the 2nd quarter, USA was finally able to increase the pace of the game and broke it open for a lead it held onto the rest of the game.

Kobe struggled with his outside shot again, then did something I wouldn't have done, but it worked for him. He quit shooting 3s at the International line, BACKED UP, and shot them about where the NBA arc would be. Sure enough, he started shooting better.

USA had 5 quick fouls before Greece had any.

It's Team "USA" not Utah Jazz, why is it titled "Utah Jazz: U.S. men avenge 2006...." The Redeem Team is a bunch of good guys, they better plan on a silver, they have the talent, not the heart. That is the problem with all these Professionals going to the Olympics!

you guys better good this year iam a big fan off guys so this year we can do it and no chokein up

I love that this is tagged as a Utah Jazz story, yet it doesn't even mention Boozer or D-Will. Way to go.

Greece was surprisingly physical, and allowed to move on screens, camp in the key, and shove USA players as they jumped for rebounds or shots.

In the 1st quarter, Coach K nearly got a technical foul. He went at the refs at a substitution with players pulling him back.

Back to Bosh, Greece kept forcing USA to switch on screens, then would isolate a big (Dwight Howard or Chris Bosh) against a guard at the top of the key. It looked like certain free throws or points for Greece, but Bosh has lightening fast hands (and his feet weren't bad either), and he kept thwarting the mismatch Greece was trying to exploit, with deflections, steals, blocks, or altering their shots.

Bosh and Wade have upped their stock in these Olympics.

Carlos had VERY limited minutes (6), but made 100% of his shots (2). He had no rebounds though, and 2 fouls.

Williams was brilliant. He played as many minutes as Kobe and is such a great team player. The world knows who he is now, that's for sure.

Both Lebron and Chris Paul missed all their 3 point attempts, but Kobe and Carmelo shot well from the arc.

Thanks for the novel/replay of the game. After reading that, I feel like I just watched the game for a 2nd time.

LOL! I can't believe the people whining about the article filed under "Jazz." If you look, the site doesn't have an NBA category, or Olympics, so Jazz is the closest they have. Give 'em a break and quit nitpicking for heaven's sake!

CougarKeith, what planet do you live on? Anyone who thinks LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, and Chris Bosh doesn't have heart must be living under a rock. There are 9 NBA Finals series just in that list.

If USA gets a silver, it won't be because of a lack of heart, or talent, it will be a lack of SIZE. Spain is HUGE.

Doggone. I was pulling for Greece.

One thing that Basketballwhatever failed to mention above, is the guy Boozer is guarding is scoring on him at a tremendous rate, China, Greece or whomever....I'm convinced that he can't play D. Which makes me wonder if he will ever be championship material......just a thought for those Boozer lovers.....

All you people saying the U.S. will not win the GOLD are a joke the times we did not win the GOLD we did not have the elite players of our country on the team Redick was on the team!!!! We still do not even have ALL of our nations best and we are dominating!!! So all you people sayin the U.S. wont win GOLD are embarrassing

I am not a Boozer fan, D-Will fan, nor do I want anything to do with the Jazz. But I have to call you out. Your quote: "the guy Boozer is guarding is scoring on him at a tremendous rate, China, Greece or whomever..." How can you throw that out there with no evidence to back it up. You probably can't even name one player Boozer has had to guard. I also have a hard time believing Boozer is getting scored on at a "tremendous rate" when he's playing less than ten minutes a game. We all know he's not a great defender and never will be, but please do some research before you make such a claim. Go Pacers.

There is an Olympic option. I like read up on the events there. But I agree with you about the complaints. Get over it people.

Looking forward to two bruising games with Spain, once in the preliminaries coming up next and probably again for the gold. Great article, but did not mention the tremendous defensive effort of Kobe Bryant who quarterbacked the defense along with Wade and Bosh. Coach K will need Boozer's best defensive effort to win against Spain.

Dwill was getting mugged on the high pick and roll.
Nice international officiating as always.

The Truth is absolutely right about Boozer, it was embarrasing watching big slow Greek guys blow past him. He is a great offensive player, but his defense is what will hurt the Jazz from winning a championship.

I didn't realize how many critical and negative people there are here.

Has anyone ever wondered WHY Carlos Boozer was drafted 6th in the SECOND round?

Hasn't anyone ever wondered why Boozer shoots with such a high arc?

The answer for both questions is Carlos Boozer is undersized at his position.

Carlos is a small forward size with a power forward's body, but he has a lot of heart and makes the best of it and has been overachieving his entire career.

However, against very tall teams, like the Lakers front line, and Greece's, Carlos really struggles.

Rather than lunge to block shots, Carlos usually uses his strength to position defenders further from the basket so they take more difficult shots.

But when there is more than one big to contend with, like with the Lakers' VERY big front line, Carlos gets called for pushing fouls trying to negate their advantage, then has to back off and play soft.

It would help if the Jazz had a true center, rather than a 7 foot perimeter jump shooter.

Too much talent for other squads to handle.
This team lacks the size of some of the former Dream Teams, but they have too many guys that can create their own shots, and that can handle the rock.
I see Gold in America's future, and there is nothing the rest of the world can do about it!
Basketball is as American as apple pie, so the Gold medal is rightfully ours!
With Chris Paul, D-Will, Lebron, Kobe, Wade, and the rest, who needs size? What for? To clean the offensive glass? There's nothing to clean, these guys are automatic!
And defense? They're too quick for international play. The only time I've seen more steals, was during the LA riots. Are you kidding me, this team is goona win silver?
Gold, Gold, and more Gold.
The Olympics ought to add 3 on 3, and 1 on 1. Maybe in 1 on 1, the rest of the world would have a shot at Gold, nahh we got Lebron and Kobe.

Go for the Gold!

5-21 from the 3 pt. line???

That was a sweet win. U.S. beat Greece at its own game, scrappiness, craftiness and defense. Wade saving a ball from out of bounds and throwing an 'oop to Kobe was an early exclamation point. Bosh was impressive, too. He's a likable guy and an ever-improving talent. Keep it up and the gold is yours.