Team USA holds off Spain 86-85. The United States came out much better in their second “friendly” before the World Championships start next week.
Kevin Durant was awarded the Global Community Cup player of the game. He finished with 25 points, and 10 boards. Durant blocked shots by Ricky Rubio and Rudy Fernandez after Derrick Rose put the Americans ahead with two free throws.
The United States rallied after Spain — 13 points behind after three quarters — took a one-point lead on Juan Carlos Navarro’s three-point play with 27 seconds left.
Navarro scored 20 points in the first game between the teams since the Americans won the 2008 Olympic final. It was the first loss in nine games for Spain, the defending world champion. The World Championship begins Saturday in Turkey.
The crossover is arguably the most exciting move in basketball. Anybody can dunk, but only few can crossover. YouTube has a plethora of videos containing the utterly embarrassment of getting crossed-over. Even Shaq gets in on the fun. The crossover has many nicknames such as sliced up, put on skates, ankle- breaking and being the bearer of concrete shoes. Many players have mastered the artform from Deron Williams, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, and Dwyane Wade (but he sort of pushes). But Tim Hardaway, and Allen Iverson are head of the class in highlights and using the crossover against all who dared crowd them while they dribbled. Here a few highlights of the crossover in use.
Play the above video and enjoy the music stylings of EPMD while you watch the videos below.(Make sure you turn the volume down on the videos)*All videos in HD, Enjoy!:
Derrick Rose has tons of highlights making players dance, but this one of Andre Miller falling on his ass back in 08′ is worth it.
Allen Iverson utilized the crossover just as regularly as a Samurai utilizes a sword. John Stockton, Isiah Rider, Terrell Brandon, Gilbert Arenas, and poor-poor Jacque Vaughn all learned the hard way what happens when you over defend a player masterful at dribbling a basketball.
On Saturday night Derrick Rose dropped 32 points on the Atlanta Hawks in a 101-98 overtime victory. The 32 points is Rose’s season career high(he scored 36 in the first round of the playoffs against Boston last year). “I guess I did what I’m supposed to do out there tonight and we were able to win,” Rose said. Rose was at his best despite needing a cortisone shot for pain in his right rib cage. He’s showing the explosive play that lifted him to the Rookie of the Year award last season after being limited by an inflamed tendon in his right ankle. “My ankle’s better,” said Rose, who buried 14 of 24 shots. “That’s really it.”
The Bulls have played confused on offense and lackluster defense this season. The Bulls have yet to repeat the level of play they showed in last years playoffs.
Some of the decline could be due to the lack of Ben Gordon. The trio of Rose, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah are capable of playing smart, efficient basketball. The win against Atlanta proves their tenacity, while the lost to the Nets last week shows their immaturity.
On Monday the Bulls host the Sacremento Kings and their former Memphis point guard rookie, Tyreke Evans who is way ahead in the Rookie of the Year running. The Bulls should win this one if they play against the Kings the way they played Atlanta in the second half.
Earlier this season Rose said he wasn’t “cutting his hair” until he started to play better. Somewhere in Chicago a barber chair just became open.
