Reader comments
Utah Jazz: D-will trey helps ignite U.S. basketball victory

Dave | 12:39 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

They couldn't have picked a nicer player to make a hard foul on that Carmen Anthony. I am ashamed he is representing our country, but happy that he finally added something to the team by being the guy the other teams want to foul hard.

Has Boozer played any defense yet? Just kidding, we all know the answer to that.

Team USA | 3:41 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

I am happy to see the USA team blow out all these teams, especially the racist Spanish team.

Kevin Olson | 4:38 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

I hope Bogus is O.K. He should have a shot at being the NBA MVP this year.

Comments continue below

anom | 5:32 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

I think that the US team is Bogus. What ever happened to amatuers playing in the Olympics? It is a farce. It wasn't too long along when professionals were barred from the game, the whole lot is a joke

Simon | 5:47 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Your American team sure is good!! but their lack of sportsmanship is ugly!!!!

Basketballogy | 6:01 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Great write up, Scott. It was just what guys around here have been clamoring for: Olympic coverage with a local flavor.

D-will's trey was definitely the turning point of the game.

For some reason every American but Jason Kidd started off the game completely infatuated with dribbling.

With 2:51 left in the third quarter, NBC announcer Mike Breen mentioned that USA had only 1 assist the entire first half.

That was the real problem: USA ball movement was stagnant. USA got over themselves and tallied 15 assists in the 2nd half.

Also, this was USA's worst defensive performance.

Opponents have been averaging 70.8 points per game, but allowed Australia to score 85.

And opponents had been averaging just 36.7% from the field but Australia shot 43%, easily the highest shooting percentage allowed by USA.

And Australia was actually +2 in turnovers, and +2 on points off of turnovers!

USA's dip in defense was obscured by the fact that it was +29 in rebounds.

I'm glad USA is rebounding better, they were -4 in rebounds over their first four games, but I'd sure like to see them keep the defensive intensity up.

GoodGuyGary | 6:19 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Wait...what did Boozer talk about...defense...?

casual fan | 6:28 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Doggone. I was pulling for Australia.

No amateurs left | 6:43 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

The olympics have turned professional. Don't complain about it. The US team was one of the last to do so.

IowaJazzFan2 | 8:57 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Ironic to hear Boozer talking about defense being the key to victory . . . .

sbc | 11:40 p.m. Aug. 20, 2008

Actually, in the pool play, Boozer came in for his 2 minutes and immediately had three steals. Not too bad for defense.

Sick of it... | 12:02 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

I'm sick of people complaining about how the "Olympics have gone professional". The fact is USA was forced into doing so after all the other countries where thumbing their collective noses at us and taking whomever they wanted to the Games. The US wasn't going to stand idly by. The world asked for it. They're to blame.

Please, stop belly-aching about 'why can't we have just amateurs play'. I for one have enjoyed watching these guys play who represent the best bball players in the US and the world (although their egos get a little old), which is what the Olympics are supposed to do. But if your not happy, keep it to yourself. Some of us are sick and tired hearing about it.

AL | 12:53 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

To: Kevin Olson, it is wishful thinking to think Bogut will get the MYP while Kobe and Lebron are around. It has been awhile since we have had non-professionals playing basketball in the Olympics. To: Simon. They would probably be better off is the Chinese wouldn't treat them like Movie/Rock Stars, maybe they should treat them like regular people, and stop all of the "HYPE" After all it's only a game.....

re: sick of it | 1:26 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

couldn't agree more - how many countries have their government fund ALL their athlete's training, living expenses, etc. - athletes from many countries are essentially government employees whose job it is to compete in international events as "amateurs" - these guys are professional athletes, not amateurs. Look at the "manufacturing" of athletes that China is doing - you can't say with a straight face that these athletes are amateurs.

Matty.g | 1:35 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

Why is Boozer apologizing for talking about defense.. we want him to talk about it more.. actually, we want to SEE him do it more.

My Aussie team did well for the first half but the last couple min of the 2nd hurt us after we missed a couple of easy ones then took 4 3's in a row and then allowed the 3 at the buzzer. Although, if a usa player had to hit the 3 at the half im glad it was d-will.
Bogut playing a full game would've been nice.

Gold | 11:04 a.m. Aug. 21, 2008

Great US team. Kobe and James are the best. Good luck guys and go D-Will. Anyone who wants to bring up the amatuer issue hasn't ever heard of Cuba, China, East Germany, Russia, etc. Get over it.

lenn | 8:49 p.m. Aug. 21, 2008

Probably not to many of you remember 'Jim thorp' he was the native american that won all those tropheys at the Olympics, but it was later found out the he played for some team in north carolina, an got paid 50 dollars for it and becaues of that, He had to give up those medals that He won. it was a sad thing for him, but that made Him a pro when he accepted the money and no pro's could play in the olympics. thats the way it was back then. in those days there was no exceptions to the rules

Beijing!!! Earn some Bling Bling | 1:18 a.m. Aug. 22, 2008

I think this was the motto for the Chinese team. I am amazed listening to the announcers talk about how this athlete's entire family is supported by the Chinese government. Like the top Chinese woman gymnist! Unlike Shawn Johnsons family who mortgaged their home twice to keep their daughter in gymnastics. Besides isn't the olympic about watching the BEST athletes in the world compete,reguardless! Listen I am sorry "old timers," I know it's hard for you to watch all your world records get obliterated. Give it a rest GO D WILL!

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.