Bronze is not gold, a post mortem

Given the highly touted NBA cagers as the "best in the planet", no less, the bronze medal for third place in the 2006 World Basketball Championship in Japan doesn't do them honors.

The 1992 "Dream Team" of Michael Jordan-Larry Bird-Magic Johnson which steamrolled other world quintets by 40 points difference per game, is now just a legend in cagedom. So far, an impossible dream… The NBA had its worst in the 2002 World games right in their homecourt in Indianapolis when the cage millionaires kissed the dust at sixth, perhaps rattling the bones of James Naismith who originated the U.S. game.

NBA ego was also pricked in the 2004 Olympics when its superstars barely eked out with the bronze at third. To other world quintets the bronze is a juicy plum. But for NBA gods who proudly strut as second to none, or Nowhere Better Anywhere (NBA), bronze is definitely not gold.

In the 2006 World tourney, the core of Lebron James-Dwayne Wade-Carmelo Anthony raised few doubting Thomases if they could improve their 2004 Olympics setback. After all, the trio were members of 2004 USA team. Well, the doubters got lemons with a repeat 3rd placer.

Basketball pundits are silent why Uncle Sam's hooplah elite had to eat crap for the third time in a row. Co-captains James-Wade-Anthony, however, still came out with ego-tripping promises to make good in 2007, repeating their 2004 vow.

These factors brought Team USA down… Firstly, their free throws were horrendous. Against Greece, USA only made 20 out of 34 (58.8%). If, say, 27 out of 34, it would have been a 102 to 101 win. After 5 minutes in the third quarter, USA only made 8 out of 20 foul throws, which worsened to 36% at quarter's end; whereas, Greece put them to shame with 90%. In the 2006 World tourney and in pre-games, the muffed foul shots of Team USA put them no better than Shaq O'Neal, and stuck out like sore thumbs, against all other teams' 90% level. A shame and disgrace for the NBA elite! And for their dismal foul throw stats in this game, they missed their chance for the finals and the gold. Their Greek tragedy.

Secondly, the NBA "assets" turned into zilch with untimely electrifying "showtime" plays, or showboating. Wade had the knack for thundering dunks that sometimes clanked in iron, or for fancy passes that his receiver missed. Lebron James was often whistled for offensive fouls for his ramrod thrust into a tight zone defense, or for traveling turnovers.

The saving face of USA was Chris Paul's brainy plays. Time and again, he broke into a tight or switching zone defense with his deft moves and timely feeds to receivers. His rare perimeter jump shots were almost impeccable. The NBA "Rookie of the Year" was a revelation. Owing to his playmaker role, his minus factor was his tendency to pass more, instead of shoot that he seldom missed with his uncanny skill for an open look at the hoop.

Thirdly, Team USA stuck to man-to-man defense even when actual play situations called for floating zone defense, say, a two-three zone to clog up the shaded lane, or three-two zone to shut out perimeter and 3-point jumpers, but with quick adjustment to shag inward in case of offensive penetration. You see, even a tight man defense is vulnerable to fine-tuned pick-and-roll that often leaves a mismatch, or an open lane to the hoop. Incidentally, Team USA ought to take lessons in how Spain's floating zone defense shut out Greece in the final game.

Fourthly, except for rare "streak" shooting, like, Anthony's 35 points versus Puerto Rico, or Wade's last quarter heroics vs Argentina in the anti-climactic setto for the bronze, USA had no consistent perimeter and beyond the arc shooters in the likes of Hamilton and Billups of the Detroit Pistons or Steve Nash of Phoenix. Next to foul throws, this is the forte of other teams.

Lastly, Team USA didn't have a legitimate center, especially that 7-footer Brad Miller was fixedly nailed to the bench. Ideally, there be two "usable" centers, but not Shaq or Ben Wallace who are blind foul throw shooters, unless pinch-hitting be allowed as in baseball.

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