The United States Wins Gold

by Ben Q Rock on Aug 24, 2008 8:43 PM EDT in Praise Comment 11 comments

Team U.S.A. celebrates defeating Spain for its first Olympic gold medal since 2000.

Photo by Chang W. Lee, the New York Times

Congratulations to Dwight Howard and everyone involved in U.S.A. Basketball for their gold-medal-winning performance in this Olympics. Howard scored 8 points (3-of-3 from the field, 2-of-6 from the line) and grabbed 5 boards as the United States defeated Spain, 118-111, to win its first Olympic gold medal since the 2000 games in Sydney. The New York Times' recap notes that Howard, along with four other core players, has already said he would like to return to Team U.S.A. for the 2012 Olympics in London. Here's to hoping he does.

U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

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Who knows, he could be competing for his starting spot in four years. Greg Oden will have a four season’s under his belt and Bynum should be peaking around 2012 as well. With that said, Dwight will be 26 and Orlando we’ll begin to see him peak as a star center. Regardless of how good Dwight gets, starting for team USA will be harder in four years.

by magic fanatic on Aug 24, 2008 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

USA #1

Dwight will be alot better than he is now in four years and will still be the best center in the game. He will start. Dwight please get in the gym and practice free throws every chance u get. GO USA!!!

by Dolphan on Aug 24, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Greg Oden shoots a higher % with his off hand then Howard from the line,

that said, Howard, right now is the standard, so to speak, for centers. If we could get numbers anything close to Howards, we will be estatic in ptown

"Next up, an event we will be following this through Celtic training camp: the Trail Blazers’ fan base competes in sychronized sweating."
--- LaoTzu on Aug 22, 2008 11:51 AM PDT

by ptwnblzr on Aug 25, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m very curious to see how Oden does.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Aug 26, 2008 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Howard will quite possibly be the only center able to compete with oden

that is of course if oden develops as advertised. With dwights headstart, oden will have quite a bit of catching up to do, and I kant imagine howards going to make things easy. im excited to see if oden can get low on howard and get a few rebounds. if he can get 2/3rds of howards production, with howard on the court, i’ll call that a win in my book. I just hope oden can make it look close, howards a beast.

"Next up, an event we will be following this through Celtic training camp: the Trail Blazers’ fan base competes in sychronized sweating."
--- LaoTzu on Aug 22, 2008 11:51 AM PDT

by ptwnblzr on Aug 26, 2008 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

November 10th, 2008

That’s the first Oden/Howard matchup. Ever. I circled my calendar for last year’s, but Oden’s injury obviously changed that plan.

For what it’s worth, Howard averaged 15.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game as a 20-year-old, which Oden will be when the season starts. He averaged 12.0 points and 10.0 rebounds as a rookie, which Oden will also be when the season starts. Just for comparison’s sake.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Aug 26, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dave at the BEdge has a story up right now

that sums up our hope for Oden and the reality for Howard pretty well.

(our) great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit, our system of of credit is privately concentyated, the growth of our nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men... who necessarily, by very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom.

we have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world - no government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and the duress of small groups of dominant men.

--- woodrow wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 27, 2008 5:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the big men on the 2012 team could rival ’92.

www.last.fm/user/mhetrick04

by mhetrick14 on Aug 25, 2008 12:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course I’m a fan of Dwight’s, but the FIBA style of ball showed the flaws in his game and he seemed mentally lost more than once. Speaking purely in regard to the international game, is it possible for Dwight to flourish?

Bosh did a fantastic job of being able to pick up the small man on the pick early in the play (on defense), show defensively and still get back to the basket in time to guard his man. I’m not advocating USA goes after Bosh-type players, but he seems to be far better suited to the international game and does not be leave the team liable to make up for inconsistency at the free throw line.

I’m looking forward to Oden getting a chance with USA Basketball, how Kevin Love would fit (I think extremely well) and if Durant could set a scoring record.

!Nerd Up

by nerditry on Aug 25, 2008 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bosh indeed outplayed Dwight in the Olympics, but I’m not worried. Dwight’s still learning. He just has to get smarter to play the international game. He’s not yet 23. He’ll get it.

I dunno how any of those FIBA teams could guard Durant.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Ben Q Rock on Aug 26, 2008 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

International Rules Changes

Might they make Dwight a better International player? The lane is shrinking and the three-point arc is moving further from the basket.

"Post-ups are a little bit harder," Chris Bosh, a center on the United States team, said in Beijing. "In the N.B.A., you can be a little more patient. Here, if you get it in the post, you have to be aware of guards collapsing and trying to swipe down on you to steal the ball."