Luka’s Corner

Nearly a week since Team USA reclaimed the gold medal against Spain with a 118-107 victory and completed a magical run through the Olympics, I asked myself why the "Redeem Team" won in the first place. The US coaches and players had preached from the beginning that they wanted to win "the right way" and they have done that in 2008. They carried themselves with class both on and off the court and supported their fellow American athletes along the way (Michael Phelps, Misty May-Treanor, etc.) along the way. Here are three reasons why the Americans won gold in Beijing:

Defense

From the first game of the FIBA Americas tournament in ‘07 to the Olympic final in ‘08, the Americans developed a game plan that revolved around defense. Their main source of offense was their pressuring of the ball in the backcourt, which created steals and caused deflections. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul thrived in the open floor and the easy dunks they picked up on the break got them into a rhythm in the halfcourt as well.

Even the bigs (Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh) played exceptional defense down low, rotating over if the guards were broken down or putting a body on the boards at all times. The only times that opposing big men could rebound against the United States were when the American bigs were forced out of position by a slashing guard.

The Team Came First

The Americans would not have accomplished their goal if their superstar players did not buy into the system. LeBron or Kobe or D-Wade could have easily shrugged off what Coach K, a college coach, was telling them and decided to try to win the game on his own. This did not happen and you have to give all of the players on the team credit for putting behind their egos and doing what was best for the team.

Wade, who would have been a superstar on any other team, accepted his role of sixth man. Paul, perhaps the best point guard in the world, accepted his role as a backup to an aging Jason Kidd. Bosh, arguably a better big than Dwight Howard, accepted his backup role. Even Kobe Bryant let LeBron do his thing. He did not try to outdo "The King" when they were on the court together. To his credit, he did not care who scored the points or who wowed the Beijing crowd.

Dwyane Wade

The most consistent player for the United States throughout the Olympics was Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat. He was the most consistent in terms of scoring (16 PPG on 67% shooting from the field) and in terms of his pressure defense. Of course Wade gambled on defense occasionally, as did every American, but I cannot remember a game where D-Wade did not come up with one steal leading to a fast break. He epitomized the pressure, in terms of anticipation and deflections, that Team USA brought defensively every night. 

Even in the final against Spain, some may say that Kobe Bryant stepped up when the US team needed it most. However, the game would not have even been within reach if D-Wade had not entered the game with #10 and #6 on the bench with 2 fouls and delivered. He scored 21 points in the first half and kept Team USA in the game. It is an old basketball cliche that the best player always steps up in the final period, but what good does that best player do if he does not even receive that opportunity. Fortunately for the reigning MVP, D-Wade provided that opportunity.