Daily Fix: The Lockdown Continues in Beijing

(Photo Credit: NICOLAS ASFOURI/AFP/Getty Images)

If the US is going to play defense like they have so far this Olympic hoops tournament, they may not need to make another three-pointer the entire tournament to claim the Gold medal.

This morning’s 92-69 thrashing of Greece was the product of another suffocating effort by Kobe, LeBron, and Company on the defensive end. What differentiates the 2008 Team USA hoopsters from the group that lost to Greece in the 2006 World Championships is the commitment to play NBA playoff-style D each and every game. Thus far, that’s been more than enough to compensate for any lack of nuance when it comes to FIBA rules, and a poor performance from beyond the arc.

It may very well be that US hoops regains it’s luster not for doing anything spectacular or jaw-dropping, but for respecting their opponents enough to contest shots, box out, and move their feet on defense. In other words, playing basic fundamental defense.

If nothing else, the one thing we learn from the NBA playoffs is that when NBA players play defense like it matters, scoring becomes tougher than finding a good Neapolitan pizza in Beijing.

Greece learned that this morning. Spain’s top players, especially Pau Gasol, who wilted in the face of Boston’s aggressive and bullying D during the NBA finals, already know that. Just in case they forgot, it sure seems like Team USA is poised to remind them of as much on Saturday night.