Between family things, July 4th things, Wimbeldon finals, and house hunting; I have barely had time to even glance longingly at my laptop.
Plenty has happened, and I’ll try to catch-up and then keep up. In the meantime, the USA U-19 team that includes Ashton Gibbs and is coached by Jamie Dixon easily crushed their opponents in the B pool.
Gibbs has played well so far. He had one game against France where his shots weren’t falling, but he has still has scored 38 points in three games. Surprisingly, he’s doing it inside as much as on the perimeter. In the last game, he shot 8-11 for 18 points. Only 2-4 on 3s, but 6-7 inside the line.
France, which should have been the closest thing to competition in the group went down with ease. Iran and Egypt were jokes. Now it gets tougher with teams from Group A in the fold (for what is now Group E).
USA faces Greece this morning.
After New Zealand unexpectedly missed the cut from 16 to 12 teams, the tournament’s schedule was changed so that Team USA’s next three games all start at 7:30 p.m. in Auckland. That is 3:30 a.m. in Indianapolis. The Americans will play Greece on Monday, Puerto Rico on Tuesday and Lithuania on Wednesday. All three U.S. opponents were 2-1 in Group A.
That’s a significant upgrade in opponents. The USA is the top seed in Group E.
With such easy games so far, and giving everyone minutes the only pattern from the coaching staff is that “everyone plays.”
Another report from my American source:
The officiating reminded me of an elementary school rec league where the referee looks the other way for the huge underdog. Either that or Egyptians get 3.5 steps, I’m not sure which. I’ll have to check the FIBA rule book. The players continue to slip in the lane. Can anyone send a can of “stick-em”?
Coach Jamie Dixon’s starting lineup appears random and his assistants (Matt Painter and Chris Lowery) are using a “platoon” substitution system to keep the team fresh. Everyone plays about half of the 10-minute quarter and then sits, depending on foul trouble.The U.S. played 11, with Kansas guard Tyshawn Taylor out suffering from the flu.
So far, no problems.
