EXHIBITION GAME

8/30/2001

BY getsmartnow

08-30-2001 09:36 AM               

I just got back from the Goodwill Games basketball warmup game between the USA and Australia played in Melbourne. Here's my report...

I got there early, and realised my tickets were in the ideal position- about6 rows from the sideline, and right outside Team USA's entrance onto the court. As they came out, I reached over and gave most of them 'five' as well as some encouraging words ("good luck" etc...). All seemed nice.

The warmups were excellent. Lots of dunks, alley-oops, and crazy shots. Matrix, Davis, and O'Neal did a few memorable ones, and if I can remember correctly, Mike Miller did a 360.

Once the game started, it was obvious that the Aussies were outdone. USA has the most athletic players I've ever seen. Especially there big guys (O'Neal, Matrix, Lewis etc...). Paul Rogers (Australian starting centre) looked like a big frump out there. It was really embarrasing.

The first half plodded along, the USA was just warming up for a big second half. There were a few good dunks and alley oops. In the first quarter alone, I counted at least 4 blocks to team USA.

Onto the second half, and two of the most specatular quarters of bball I've ever seen. Lots of dunks- one that stands out was when Davis drove baseline and kicked it out to Booth, who was standing at the top of the key. He then faked his man out of his shoes, and jammed it home. Very cool. Matrix and Davis had some good run away dunks as well.

The funniest play of the night was when Paul Rogers recieved the ball directly under the hoop. O'Neal moved away, as to say "I'll give you the basket", and so Rogers shot the ball, and it BARELY touched the front of the ring. He had that kind of night.

On a positive note from the Australian camp, point guard Darryl McDonald (D-Mac) looked like the only one trying. His drive in the third quarter was fantastic. Oh, and our old friend Axel Dench was on the Aussie team, he got about 5 or 6 boards, and nailed a 3. But he plays slower than a wet week.

The worst part of the night was when I tried to get some autographs of the players. The security guards waived the fans away, saying some sh*t like "No autographs". P*ssed me of totally. But at the end of the night, as the players were leaving, Baron Davis (I think!?) pretended to take of his singlet, the fans went nuts (including me)- thinking that he was going to take it off and throw it into the crowd. He just casually pulled it back on, and went to the locker rooms. A player did throw his shoes into the crowd (insert player name here).

Overall, it was an enjoyable night.

NOTES:The final score was 109-72. Lewis scored a game high 21 points (correct me if I'm wrong). Fizer didn't see any court time, I don't know why. Mike Miller showed some nice range. Jason Terry and Baron Davis are ultra fast, and have smooth cross-overs. Matrix is just cool. O'Neal is nice to watch, and very athletic. Booth runs like he has a pole up his arse, but is a decent player. That kid from Minnesota with the weird name (Szscrbiak....??) also showed good range. Martin showed he can play (someone yelled out "Break a leg" when he was at the FT Line). Lewis had a quiet 21 points. And Battier showed some nice skills.

It was a pretty good game, and amazingly there wasn't a fight or argument between the teams (cough, cough, Shane Heal, Charles Barkley, Andrew Vlahov, Karl Malone, Vince Carter, Shane Heal AGAIN, Andrew Gaze).