Anthony's 17 Gets Team USA Started At FIBA Americas Championship
8/23/2007 7:12:29 AM | Men's Basketball
USA Basketball
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Aug. 22, 2007) -- Behind a start to finish, end line to end line aggressive attack that featured seven U.S. scorers in double figures, the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team (1-0) opened play at the FIBA Americas Championship with a 112-69 win against Venezuela (0-1) Wednesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Former Syracuse All-American Carmelo Anthony tied for team honors with 17 points in 16 minutes of play.
"We are really happy about our performance," said USA and Duke University Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Venezuela played so hard, and we played hard. Our talent level showed but also how well these guys have been playing together. Very unselfish and we played outstanding defense. I am really pleased with our first performance."
Anthony (Denver Nuggets) and Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks) led the USA with 17 points each; followed by 16 points from Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); 14 points, five rebounds and five assists from Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); 12 points and eight rebounds from Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); 11 points and three assists from LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); and 10 points and four rebounds from Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies). Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets) added four assist, as did Redd.
"I think we came out from the start and denied the ball well and had a great all around defensive game and that is what led us to victory" Stoudemire said. "It’s a lot of fun when you are playing together and you are playing great defense.
Right from the opening tip the USA jumped all over Venezuela as points from Anthony, James and Howard helped the U.S. to a 9-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. One made free-throw from Greivis Vasquez put Venezuela on the board at 6:22, but the USA closed the period with a 13-7 run to bring the score to a lopsided 21-8 after one.
"We just wanted to be aggressive from the jump," Anthony said. "Kobe Bryant really set the tone on the defensive end pushing up on guys and getting a couple of steals. We fed off that."
The USA was led by another trio in the second period, as Anthony, Bryant and Stoudemire each scored seven points in the second stanza, and the U.S. lead stretched to 20 points, 54-34 at halftime.
As the score ballooned to 92-51 after three quarters and then to the final of 112-69, so did the USA’s statistical advantage and highlight reel. The Americans finished with 25 assists, nine blocked shots and 41 fast break points.
The crowd first chanted U-S-A at 5:43 in the second period after James hit Bryant with a behind the back pass that Bryant capped with a dunk, and then again in the third period when Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons) pushed the ball ahead toRedd, who left it for a trailing Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons) to finish with emphasis with just 1:15 remaining in the third quarter.
"Now the public has a chance to see what’s been going on behind close doors- some of the plays that guys are making," Bryant said of James’ assist. "It was an unbelievable pass."
If the USA showed a weakness, it was at the free-throw line, connecting on just 57.0 percent in the first half (8-14 FTs), they finished with a 69.0 percent average (20-29 FTs).
In other tournament action, Uruguay (1-0) nipped Panama (0-1) 88-84 in overtime, Mexico (1-0) upset Puerto Rico (0-1) 100-89 and Brazil (1-0) topped Canada (0-1) 75-67.
The USA will continue first-round action Thursday against the U.S. Virgin Islands (11 p.m. EDT), then is scheduled to meet Canada on Aug. 25 (3 p.m. EDT) and Brazil on Aug. 26 (9 p.m. PDT).
In other action, Canada was edged by Brazil, 75-67. Team Canada is coached by former Syracuse standout Leo Rautins. Andy Rautins, a junior at Syracuse, played but was forced to leave the contest with an injury. He was limited to two minutes of action.
