Re: A lot to like in the Cs

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

"When team USA struggled early againstinferior competition, Paul bailed them 
out. Are we blaming him when he was unable to do the same against the better 
teams? He didn't starttaking over games until it was obvious that something 
other than"status quo"  was necessary. It was the same during the regular 
season,for two or three quarters, he laid back and when  his scoring 
dominance was needed, he was let loose."- JB
                  ****************************************

  Paul's problems weren't performance as much as foul trouble.  He went to 
the bench early with two fouls against both Argentina and Yugoslavia.  
Against Yugoslavia he picked up a foul just seconds into the game simply 
fighting through a pick.  Against Spain USA was leading by 14 when he went to 
the bench, then Spain went on a run.  He comes back in and it goes to double 
digits again.  He leaves for good in the third quarter and you know what 
happens. 

  When the team was winning Pierce was a hero.  Players and coaches were 
quoted as saying the team depended on Paul being aggressive.
When they lost all the sudden he was selfish, although no one went on record 
saying so. 
  Seems to me he has the same problem with some Celtics fans.  When he tries 
to get others involved they say he's "disappearing".  When he tries to be 
aggressive he's trying to be "Superman".
  Of course then there are the few who are not happy unless he out assists 
the point guards and out rebounds the centers and then it's just luck.

As far as the USA team goes. I stole these stats from a Laker fan on another 
board.
I haven't checked all his numbers but I assume they are correct.

                                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peja's stats: 27.3 mpg, 38-75 (50.6%) from 2pt range, 20-55 (36.4%) from 3pt 
range, 33-36 (91.6%) from the FT line.
pp48 = 33.0, rebper48min = 9.4, astper48min = 4.9, true shooting percentage = 
52.3%, FGAper48min = 25.4

Gasol's stats: 30.1 mpg, 51-79 (64.6%) from 2pt range. 6-18 (33%) from 3pt 
range, 52-76 (68.4%) from the FT line. 
pp48 = 30.5, rp48 = 11.7, a48 = 3.9, trueshooting percentage = 60.8%, FGAp48 
= 17.2

MVP Diggler's stats: 31.2 mpg, 49-108 (45.3%) from 2 pt range. 12-42 (28.5%) 
from 3 pt range, 82-89 (92%) from the FT line.  
pp48min = 36.9, rebper48min = 12.6, astper48min = 4.1, True shooting 
percentage = 44.6%, FGAper48min = 25.6

Paul Pierce's stats: 23.7 mpg, 20-44 (45.4%) from 2 pt range, 33-67 (49.3%) 
from 3pt range, 39-58 (67.2%) from the FT line.
pp48 = 40.1, rebper48min = 9.2, astper48min = 7.9, true shooting percentage = 
62.6%, FGAper48min = 25.0

Ming's stats: 27.2 mpg, 50-66 (75.8%) from 2pt range, 1-1 from 3pt range, 
52-65 (80%) from the FT line.
pp48 = 38.9, rebper48min = 16.3, astper48min = 4.8, true shooting percentage 
= 76.8%, FGAper48min = 16.6

Ming ripped Turkey, NZ, Angola and Algeria. And was merely mortal against 
Germany, USA, and Argentina.

One could still make the case that Paul Pierce was the best offensive player 
in the tourney. Somehow he got benched.     
                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I made the same comparisons a few weeks ago but "Lakerfan" took it further 
also comparing per 48min. (which should have been per 40 min...but you get 
the idea).  

Here is another site a friend of mine put me onto.
  
<A HREF="http://schallertpr.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=125613";>Schaller on World Championship All-Stars</A>

Mr Schaller was obviously watching the games.   

<A HREF="http://schallertpr.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=124708";>Schaller: Who really performed well for USA?</A>

BTW, Mr Schaller tells me he's a Sonics fan who is thrilled to see the last 
of Vin Baker and his $12 million contract.