Amidst the overwhelming nature of sports right now, basketball and basketball fans have a lot to cheer about.
It’s been 16 years since team USA won gold in the FIBA World Championships, but this year’s team is hungry for the Golden Ticket, and I’m not talking Willy Wonka.
Team USA looks very different from the gold medal-winning Dream Team: Part Duex featured at the 2008 Olympic games in Bejing. You won’t see the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, or Dwayne Wade on Team USA.
But, so what?
These fresh young faces come with fresh young talent. A lot of talent. Guys like Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, and Kevin Durant are making the type of ankle-breaking crossovers and rim-rattling dunks that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
Team USA is playing like it has something to prove and they’ve been smacking opponents like a watermelon to the face.
From Day one, there have been doubters and naysayers about Team USA’s chances in this year’s FIBA World Championships.
“They’re too young.”
“They don’t have Kobe.”
“They don’t have enough talent.”
Now, the “young” and “inexperienced” players of USA have used those remarks as fuel to their fire.
Team USA beat its mot recent opponent, Russia, 89-79 to advance to the semifinals of the FIBA World Championships. Kevin Durant, of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, lead the red, white, and blue in scoring with a silky smooth 33 points and a nickel’s worth of rebounds. Team USA improved to 7-0 in the World Championships after the win. Durant and Co. ensured no deja vu. The win came 38 years to the day after Russia upset team USA in the gold medal game of the 1972 Olympics.
Durant has been stellar throughout the World Championships, over the course of seven games he’s averaged 19.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg and shot 55-percent from the floor. Although Durant has been paramount to Team USA’s success, he isn’t the end all be all.
The heart and soul of Team USA is lead by the veteran leadership of Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom.
Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons is second behind Durant in scoring, averaging 11.6 ppg, while dishing out 3.2 apg. And, Odom, one of the reigning NBA World Champions L.A. Lakers, has been holding it down for Team USA in the post. He’s averaging 6.4 boards per game grabbing for rebounds like they were a package sour patch kids.
But really, it’s The Young And The Restless on the court. Players like Westbrook, Rose, Eric Gordon, Rudy Gay, and Kevin Love are showing why basketball fans should be excited for the future. The talent on Team USA is overwhelming.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Team USA has a challenging opponent up next in Lithuania. The Lithuania squad is 7-0, too, and is coming off a cool 104-85 win over Argentina in the quarterfinals. Team USA is at risk of overlooking Lithuania since they beat the Lithuanians in an exhibition game back on August 21st, 77-61.
It’s important for Team USA to stay focused and continue to play as the cohesive-all-for-one-one-for-all-Mike-Krzyzewski-coached team. Like they have been. It could be problematic for Team USA if they deviate from the norm, like one Florida pastor who shall not be named.
So, right now is the opportunity for a very young and talented USA team to win their first gold medal in the World championships since 1994. Getting their Golden Ticket. No Kobe, No LeBron, No problem.
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