It's easy to make the 2010 FIBA World Championship revolve around Team USA. The Americans' success and failure make juicy headlines. If you're anticipating the great American meltdown in Istanbul, you'll realize Spain's expulsion tallied a mild two on the Richter scale. Yet after witnessing game-changing baskets late at night (or early morning), it seems the other title contenders are in the tournament, not just to share the same hard-court with Kevin Love, but to win with or without the Americans on the opposing side. We make a big fuss out of Kobe Bryant's perfect release on the jump-shot, the product of an obsessive solitary training regimen, yet players in the FIBA World Championship, cold-blooded shooters like Serbia's Milos Teodosic, nail game-winning three-pointers near half-court like it's no big deal. Oh I made it. We're going to win the game. Fans in my homeland are going bananas. Ho-hum. The very weapon deemed questionable in the American game is the very weapon other teams launch with the nonchalance of a beach bum. It's almost comical. Whoever said the three-point shot is a low-percentage shot is clearly ignored in these games. Serbia shot 50% from three-point country in their stunning KO win over Spain. By the way, Serbia used a three to win by three over the Spaniards. Lithuania, during their conquest of Argentina in the quarterfinals, started 8-for-8 from three-point distance. Linas Kleiza and company eventually cooled off to finish at a still impressive 12 out of 24. Against Russia, Team USA didn't need impeccable three-point shooting to win. If players follow Coach K's game plan, they won’t need it in their next two games. Team officials never claimed to assemble the best outside shooting unit in USA Basketball history. While I marvel at how Lithuanian and Serbian shooters made long jumpers like lay-ups even at most crucial times, USA's defensive mindset is just as astounding. Eric Gordon (51% 3pts) and Kevin Durant (44% 3pts) have been lethal from rainbow country. Yet I'm willing to overlook that in favor of highlighting the Americans' defense. Russell Westrbook, Derrick Rose and Andre Iguodala have combined for 31 steals. They hound players like one-man double-teams. Granted that USA Basketball sent its Team B to Istanbul, the team's combo guards, however, have exhibited Grade A pressure defense. It's the kind of defense that wo'’t allow Delininkaitis and Kleiza to fire perfectly-arched three-point attempts. It's the kind of defense that disrupts the kind of ball movement that leads to the kind of dramatic 22-footers that win games. I suspect the three other teams in the FIBA Final Four care less about causing Team USA's spectacular downfall and more about winning the championship. Turkey has home-court advantage over Serbia, a team enjoying life without Darko Milicic. Lithuania will try to stop Durant the way they stopped Scola. I still expect Lithuania to launch 3-pointers as if the Americans aren't there. I expect Team USA, however, to play in-your-jersey defense so everyone else will take notice.
- GMANews.TV 
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