Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Unusual sports bar to be sold at auction
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
Family found dead in Ohio home
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Man gets 3 years in prison for having sex with horse
Bank helps more save their homes
Circle K on Brown Street robbed
Woman says clinic refused to help her get pregnant because she's not married
Blogs:
Pets:
Cats are trainable — and that's not a punchline
The Heldenfiles:
Monday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
Time for Kokinis, Browns to agree and part ways
Akron Zips:
Zips tip off tomorrow
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – November 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Weekly ‘B’ Deck Report – New Mexico St.
Varsity Letters:
Walsh Jesuit’s Caponi commits to Duquesne
All Da King's Men:
If It Looks Like Islamic Terrorism…
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Dems Message To Women: Don't Enjoy The Sex
Akron Law Café:
Abortion Analogies
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
The Black Keys to perform benefit concert at Musica on November 27
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
New 'Call of Duty' could set entertainment record
Basketball players beat Australia in Shanghai but game was sloppy
By Brian Mahoney
Associated Press
Published on Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008
SHANGHAI, CHINA: They couldn't shoot and occasionally didn't defend. Definitely a performance the Americans should be relieved came before they got to Beijing.
Undefeated, but no longer unchallenged, the U.S. Olympic basketball team wrapped up its exhibition schedule with its toughest test, pulling away to beat Australia 87-76 Tuesday night.
The United States led by only four points nearly halfway through the third quarter and was ahead by seven midway through the fourth against an Australian team that was resting its best player, Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut.
The U.S. players still feel like gold medal favorites, but they hardly looked like gold medal locks during this shaky outing.
''Nothing alarming for us. It's alarming when you lose,'' Dwyane Wade said.
''We're still growing. We're still going to get better as each game goes on, but I think tonight we learned something.''
The Americans relied on an aggressive defensive effort to overcome a horrendous night from 3-point range and the free-throw line, the same areas that proved costly in their semifinal loss to Greece in the world championships two years ago.
Wade scored 22 points and LeBron James had 16 for the Americans, who finished 3-of-18 from behind the arc and 20-of-33 (61 percent) at the foul line.
The U.S. team won two blowouts in Macau but found things much more difficult in Shanghai, starting with an 89-68 victory over Russia on Sunday.
Patrick Mills and Chris Anstey, who had a first-half altercation with Wade, each scored 13 points for Australia.
''In the third quarter they knocked down some big shots and I think that got them back in the ballgame,'' Kobe Bryant said. ''And for us, we have to understand that that's going to happen from time to time and it's important to keep our poise, keep our composure and buckle down.''
The U.S. team seemed in control after allowing one basket in the final 51/2 minutes of the first half to open a 44-29 lead.
The Americans left that defensive intensity in the locker room, however, allowing a number of open 3-pointers and uncontested drives to the basket.
''We came out lazy,'' Wade said.
The Australians outscored the Americans 13-2 to open the third quarter, pulling to 46-42 on David Barlow's layup with 6:52 remaining in the period.
''We just broke down. We gambled a couple of times and allowed them to make the extra pass,'' James said. ''We can't have those types of mental breakdowns because these teams can really shoot the ball.''
Bryant scored 13 points and Carmelo Anthony had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the United States, which faces host China on Sunday in its Olympic opener.
SHANGHAI, CHINA: They couldn't shoot and occasionally didn't defend. Definitely a performance the Americans should be relieved came before they got to Beijing.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
