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Melo's 25 Paces Team USA Against Canada
8/25/2007 11:59:38 PM | Basketball
USA Basketball
LAS VEGAS, NV -- Former Syracuse All-American Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets) tallied 25 points, including 20 in the first half, to pace Team USA (3-0) to a 113-63 victory against Team Canada (2-2) in the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 Saturday afternoon at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Tallying 19 points, Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks) connected on 5-of-10 shots from behind the 3-point line to establish a new U.S. high for 3-pointers attempted in an Olympic qualifier, surpassing the eight attempts recorded by Allen Iverson (2003), Tim Hardaway (1999, twice) and Michael Jordan (1992).
"I think it was great basketball today," Redd offered. "We really did a great job defensively. We knew this was a big game coming off a break, and we knew Canada would be ready to play basketball and so we just wanted to come out with a little more energy in the second quarter, especially."
The USA efficiently built a 16-9 lead halfway through the first period when a Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) jumper at 4:50 ignited a 10-2 run that also included dunks from Bryant, Anthony and LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), and the U.S. advantage increased to 26-11 with 2:50 left in the opening period. Canada kept things close and finished off the first period with it’s own 10-2 run to leave the score 28-21 heading into the second stanza.
A Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies) 3-pointer with 9:50 on the clock to open the second quarter was a sign of things to come as the Americans quickly reestablished control. Unleashing a 30-6 run that included 19 consecutive U.S. points, the U.S. took full charge of the contest and limited Canada to just two field goals in the second stanza.
"We got off to a slow start defensively, and they made some tough shots early. But that second group really got going, Michael Redd, Mike Miller. And from that point in the second quarter, we held them to 13 points," said guard Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets).
"That’s why (Michael Redd’s) on the team," Kidd continued. "He’s been shooting the ball extremely well. He’s a great guy, a great teammate. He extends the zone and he knocks down open shots and that’s what you need when you play international ball because there is always going to be somebody open. And he’s been doing that for us."
113-63.
The U.S. also was helped by 15 points from Bryant; 12 from Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists from James; and 10 points from both Miller and Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons).
Anthony added four rebounds and two blocked shots to his 25 points; Deron Williams (Utah Jazz) recorded six assists; Kidd dished four; and Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons) added three assists.
Shooting 54.9 percent from the field for the game, the USA’s offensive superiority and depth was underscored by its 42 points in the paint; 15-of-30 shooting from 3-point; 43-33 advantage on the boards; and 17 fast break points.
Also on the tournament’s schedule for today, Brazil survived the U.S. Virgin Islands 93-89; Uruguay plays Puerto Rico at 5:30 p.m.; and Argentina is matched with Mexico at 8:00 p.m.
The USA concludes its preliminary round action Sunday against Brazil (3-0) at 6 p.m. (PDT) in an ESPN2 live televised contest.
"This team that we played today runs a system, and we kind of took them out of it," said Krzyzewski. "Brazil does that too, (runs a similar system), but they have arguably as good a player as there is in the tournament in Leandro Barbosa. We understand that they are a top-flight team, and we respect them."
With preliminary round action concluding Sunday, the top four finishing teams from preliminary round groups A and B will advance to the second round and form one group. The fifth place finishers in each preliminary pool will conclude their participation in the competition. Each advancing team’s record against the other teams advancing to the second round will carry over to the second round standings.
Second round action gets underway Monday, Aug. 27, with the No. 1 finishing team from Group A meeting the No. 4 team from Group B and the No. 1 team from Group B meeting the No. 4 team from Group A. Likewise the No. 2 team from Group A will play the No. 3 team from Group B, and the No. 2 team from Group B will play the No. 3 team from Group A.
