Live Blog: USA vs Turkey

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• Tzvi Twersky Posted: Sep.12 at 2:18 pm
  Let the game(s) begin!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 2:43 pm
  KD more than delivered yesterday, hope he does the same today. GO USA ,GO BILLUPS,GO KD!!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:13 pm
  DURANT is illigal

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:15 pm
  the turkish guards lack the speed to follow the u.s. ones on the perimeter

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:17 pm
  one has to be sad when seeing really great athletic talents having so poor bball knowledge….(iguodala,westbrook,gay)

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:18 pm
  westbrook almost gave us the dunk of the year a few minutes ago….just unbelivable

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:20 pm
  u.s.better not let Turkey be near them as the game is nearing the end…

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:21 pm
  KD has already 20 with great stats

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:23 pm
  i was waiting for Turkey to try and slow down the tempo of the game , maybe they are simply unable to do so…

• Darksaber Posted: Sep.12 at 3:34 pm
  Someone on the Slam staff should check Durant for any signs of non-human tissue next time they meet up. Maybe gills, or a 6th finger on each hand, perhaps a tatoo that states “Area 51 4eva!” Cause these last 2 games, he’s been something else.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:41 pm
  oh my god,Oscar Smith,divac,Meneghin, and the greatest of them all “Sabas”, entering the hall of fame!!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:45 pm
  Tunceri again the only guy helping Hedo

• JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.12 at 3:46 pm
  Durant is great and all but people need to calm down with all the talk of him being on kobe/bron/wade’s level, he may be on Melo’s level though. He needs improve his defense, passing skills, and crunch time ability then maybe just maybe we can start comparing him to those guys.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:47 pm
  only thr great Durant….all the others simple observers if not let alone to run…

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:51 pm
  DURANT!!!!! I remember when i explained you some years ago why the world will never overtake U.S.: one of the phenomenal athletes will be able to develop a complete game in the end(Jordan,Kobe,Durant). And ,exactly as i told you then, Kobe is taking the torch from Durant. He proved me correct(again). Bue ,BUE tURKEY!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:54 pm
  this iguodala guy is really tragic…

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:55 pm
  at least he is rebounding and giving us smoe D(RUN,JUMP)…

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:56 pm
  same with GAY….tragedy

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 3:58 pm
  Gay and iggy remind me of josh…useless facing serious defences…whatever, lets enjoy the brilliance of one of the greatests ever (i’m taking you in 2020 now). KD!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:02 pm
  Turkish fans praying on the stadium but KD is from another world/god!! Even Westbrook is amking a 3…if the others guys don’t help at least a little,U.S. may have problems….

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:03 pm
  westbrook made a 3 and immediately thinks he became a shooter….he misses a quick jumpshot on next possesion….terrible decision making…hope he matures with time

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:04 pm
  great assist from rose

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:05 pm
  Durant overdoing it in the end of third, misses the ball….Iliasova is terrible again, strange.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:08 pm
  12 minutes more and USA is back on top of the world after the Dominique,Dumars,Mayerly,Kemp team….i remember the russian players taking pictures from the bench while the game was still on and a crazy leap from K.J for a block. 1994-2010. 16 years…it was enough.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:09 pm
  Turkia seem to be satisfied with second plaece, they should be…they are not second best in the world, not even top-6

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:11 pm
  i’m really happy for Lamar, he was in the 2004 team, now he is the WORLDCHAMP!!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:12 pm
  nice assist and then lay-up and 1 from ROSE

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:13 pm
  LAMAR is screaming after the follow on a rose missed free throw….he is really excited!!! he should be.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:14 pm
  LAMAR!!!!!he deserves it.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:20 pm
  westbrook again for 3…Durant is overdoing it again, great D from iguodala stealing the ball form the turkish big

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:22 pm
  Hedo is trying to fire up the crowd, he succeeds now everbody is chearing. iGGY DOING on offence the only thing he knows: finishing an alley-up!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:24 pm
  Turkey gave us a terrible final

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:24 pm
  Durant is getting out on a deserving standing ovation. Mission acomplished!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:25 pm
  this is the 110 win for U.S in the history of world championships. they have 27 loses.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:26 pm
  ITS OVER!!!!THE NEW WORLDCHAMPS!!!USA!!!USA!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:26 pm
  congratulations on coach K!!

• The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.12 at 4:35 pm
  how the haters feeling??? feeling okay?? no?? you’ll be fine. lol….unrelated note this Storm-Dream game is getting crazy!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:35 pm
  also US finally overtaking Argentina after 4 years on top of the world comulative rankings. A huge drop for Serbia (world champos of 2002 that is now being deleted from the calculation ) that is overtaken by turkia(!!!), Argentina on 3 under Spain that is now second.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:36 pm
  coronation time

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:37 pm
  best starting five of the tournament:
  TEODOSIC (sorry Dark), KLIEZA, SCOLA,HEDO and KD.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:38 pm
  KD THE MVP!!!!! 110% DESERVING!!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:40 pm
  LITOHUANIA is receiving their bronze medals, great tournament the real surprize of the worlds, if there was a B-team in this tournament it was them. Second B-TEAM : Argentina.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:43 pm
  Litohuanians really happy, their fans are the only ones that always stay tyill the end. Greatest bball nation in the world considered their population and their results.

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:46 pm
  the two captains raise up the trophy, BILLUPS and LAMAR!!!!

• The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.12 at 4:46 pm
  this is going to be one HECK of an upcoming NBA season….got my popcorn ready already!!!!!!! ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!

• GIANNIS BOUROUSIS Posted: Sep.12 at 4:53 pm
  REALLY GOOD TOURNAMENT (except the final), THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, SEE YOU IN SPAIN!!!
  USA!!!!KD!!!USA!!KD!!!!USA!!!!KD!!!!

• dma Posted: Sep.12 at 4:58 pm
  somehow i can’t help but think Durant is a taller Carmelo with a better shot.

• Young C Posted: Sep.12 at 5:01 pm
  After this tournament, I believe that Durant is the best player in the world…And this is coming from a lebron fan.

• Chi-Town Stand Up Posted: Sep.12 at 5:12 pm
  Someone explain to me exactly what Lebron has ever shown he can get accomplished! I’ve never actually saw Lebron lead a team to anything. He may have played a role, but he has never been the type of player to will a team to victory! Now Kevin Durant on the other han has just sown that he is the most dangerous scorer in the world right now! Based on their first 3 years in the league, I would definitely give the edge to Durant because he’s proven he can lead a team to a championship! After Lebron’s 3rd season he took 3rd place in the world championship, and he wasn’t even the best player on the team! Some players have the killer instinct, and some don’t! It’s very obvious to distinguish the difference between Durantula and Prince James!

• The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.12 at 5:14 pm
  Young C, thats the beauty of this coming NBA season. Will Lebron remain the most dominant force in the NBA, will KD eclipse Lebron, can the Thunder make a serious and deep playoff push, can anyone stop Miami, can anyone stop the Lakers, can Miami perform in the clutch moments, do the Celtic’s old dogs have another bite…….goodness grief riveting just thinking about it all. I haven’t quite been this excited for an NBA season since maybe that ’03 Lakers squad…..*salivates*

• The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Sep.12 at 5:16 pm
  Chi-Town please lets not get carried away, by all accounts Lebron was the vocal leader of the ‘redeem’ team. What KD did was great no doubt, but to say he’s already accomplished more than Lebron is just completely being a prisoner of the moment.

• luv2ball Posted: Sep.12 at 5:51 pm
  I just want KD to stop lying about his height. He is taller than LO and looking eye to eye with Chandler. Dude is like an athletic Dirk Nowitzki with better handles, passing, AND a killer instinct. KD makes scoring look so easy.

• Chi-Town Stand Up Posted: Sep.12 at 6:05 pm
  @Kamla…How was Lebron the Vocal Leader! Leaders lead by example! Last I checked D-Wade led the team in scoring, but when it came down to crunch time in the gold medal game against Spain it was Kobe not Lebron who carried team USA to victory! In the 2010 World Championship I don’t think there’s any debate as to who the Leader was of the team! Durant is a different animal than Lebron! Lebron would make a great PG though a la Magic Johnson! Durant is a Killer in the mold of Jordan! Not that he’ll ever be better, but you get what i’m saying!

• JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.12 at 6:23 pm
  DMA is right, KD is a taller Melo except Melo’s better in crunch time. @Chi-Town, you gives a hell about what happens during fiba games, what has KD done in his first 3 years that’s better than Bron’s first 3 years. KD struggled ALOT against the LA in the playoffs and RWestbrook was actually the BEST player on the Thunder during the playoffs. All durant does on the basketball court well is score and rebound, he’s defense is below average, mediocre passer, struggles in crunch-time, and struggles ALOT against physical defense. He’s a top 10 player right now but is not better than Bron/Wade/Kobe and is still below guys like CP and DWill. He is on the same plane as guys like Melo/BRoy/Dirk/DHow.

• Jukai Posted: Sep.12 at 6:52 pm
  Chi-Town Stand Up: Uh, both Kobe and Wade readily admitted Lebron was the leader of the redeem team. If you disagree, you should probably talk with one over with Kobe. Kobe ‘left it up to the young guns’ to lead and just decided to play defense and be uber clutch.
  But Lebron, and to a lesser extent, Carmello were the real leaders of that team.
  Not to take anything away from KD. My opinion on KD is realllly really high. My big complaints from KD is that he was a lousy passer and a lousy defender. You know what? HE HAS IMPROVED. Still weak passing on double teams, still needs some work manning up… but man, his help defense has REALLY skyrocketed, and he is seeing the open floor better than I have ever seen him. He’s patching up his game slowly but surely. He may not Paul/Howard/Williams/Carmello out of that top-5 tier and be a household name VERY soon.

• Jukai Posted: Sep.12 at 6:53 pm
  *not = knock

• Mo Posted: Sep.12 at 9:27 pm
  Chi-town: Are u F-ing nuts? What n the hell has durant done n the NBA that Bron hasn’t already done? And I luv KD but let him get out the first round of the playoffs at least before u start proclaiming him better than LeBron. Then u say KD had led a team to a championship and Bron hasn’t. Its the dam World Championships! Playing with other good players as well and now that counts as “leading a team to a ship?” Give me a break. Let him lead his team to a NBA championship and then talk. People kill me with this “flavor or the week” garbage. Bron pissed people off with the “decision” and now guys are just talkin reckless. Ain’t no way n hell KD is better than that dude. KD is a lethal scorer but Bron brings way more to the game than him. Period! If bron wanted to just flat out light it up every night, he can. Its as simple as that. But like I said before, when KD leads his team to the Finals like Bron has (a garbage team at that) then u might not sound as crazy. Now people wanna forget the sh*t that LeBron has done n the league. Laughable.

• yuan Posted: Sep.12 at 9:32 pm
  enough said KD is and will be the best right after kobe relinquish it soon… with his humility i am so sure he will be up there with the best ever players…. on side note kudos to lamar odom ..im
  very happy for your accomplishments.. you deserve it for all your humility ant team first attitude… hope you will play with kd and iggy in the nba one day.

• The Fresh Prince of Nsam Posted: Sep.12 at 10:49 pm
  @Mo: Not to enter our debate (i’m a LBJ fan and I like KD 2, I don’t care who’s better) 2 answer ur question (1 thing than KD has done in the NBA better than LBJ) : Youngest scoring leader of the NBA (2010).

• The Fresh Prince of Nsam Posted: Sep.12 at 10:56 pm
  It was a great TEAM, people really doubted them. Kudos 2 KD (awesome) Odom (if he was not playing 4 the Lakers, would b my favorite NBA player) AI and Westbrook. Was not impressed by Rose’s last 3 games and Billups jacked up 2 much early 3s. Great job by Coach K in putting up this team and making it successful.

• The Seed Posted: Sep.12 at 11:16 pm
  This was the most boring team to watch in any of the World Championships. KD is being overrated yall, let the kid grow any numbers he put up against these teams during the FIBA stuff is nothing. The thing people don’t talk about is that against the Lakers last year, KD is the one who costed the Thunder the series. With his dumb shot taking and trying to go against Artest. If KD had relaxed and moved the ball around and not shoot like 37 percent his team wins. Westbrook on the Thunder to me has the most upside over KD. KD will only get better in shooting, but Westbrook can eventually be the best point guard in the league. Westbrook already can play defense, dunk on anybody, has a quick first step, working on his mid range game and if thinks about passing more when he gets in the lane will be more important than KD. KD is good, but people last year, he hurt the Thunder trying to be the HERO alot of games and not making the right pass. Lebron is ten times better than KD and anybody comparing them is just STUPID. Also anyone comparing Melo to KD is lost in translation to. KD has alot of work to do. BOOK IT!!

• Dagger Posted: Sep.12 at 11:58 pm
  Durant is a much better shooter than Lebron, and he’s at least an equivalent rebounder because he relies less on athletic ability and more on boxing out. Durant is also the opposite of a ball-stopper and he always seems to understand his role. On the other hand, Lebron is a much better dribbler, a superior defensive player (though Durant has made huge strides here in the past year), much better around the basket and a far better passer. Both players have substantial upside: Lebron could become a better shooter and he’s got huge room for improvement as a post player; Durant could put on some weight and grow as an all-around player. Overall Lebron is still a significantly better player but right now Durant is the only guy that can realistically surpass him in a couple years. This coming from a huge Durant fan, of course.

• JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.13 at 12:08 am
  @The Seed, you become smarter every day. That’s exactly the same thing I said about KD costing the Thunder the series vs the lakers. Dude was straight up AVERAGE and was completely shut down by an aging Ron Artest. Without RWestbrook’s play, the thunders might have being swept by the Lakers. Also people are so quick to think that OKC can challenge the Lakers this year, which is beyond LUDACRIS because there’s no way in hell that KD outperforms Kobe while being guarded by Artest, especially in crunch time. People are insane if they think that KD is even remotely as good or better than Bron, just because bron decided to go down to south beach doesn’t mean that overnight he stopped being a Top 3 NBA player and that KD belongs in that discussion. Who cares about player’s freaking character, all we care about is what they accomplish on the court.

• Anton Posted: Sep.13 at 1:00 am
  The Expendables get the Gold!
  - Durantula stroking over your country like a nerd on Saturday night
  - Odom & Iguodala making hussle play after hussle play
  - Westbrook making the zone defense his b!tch
  - Gordon scoring and locking mo-fo’s down
  - Kevin Love rebounding like a beast
  - Tyson Chandler looking like at least 30% less of a douche
  - Billups taking horrible shots just to give himself more of a challenge
  We did it for the Collective Bargaining Agreement!

• Danny23 Posted: Sep.13 at 1:20 am
  Being elder statesman is great. Nobody noticed Billups went 1-13 from the field in the Finals and semis. Does he get away with that if the US lose?
  What this team really only needed was a true point who can shoot. Deron Williams would be perfect. My 2012 starting five would be Deron, Wade, Durant, LeBron and Carmelo/Iggy for offense/defense.

• Bryan Posted: Sep.13 at 2:33 am
  Jtaylor21-lebron’s lapdog Durant is entering his 4th year. Lebron has obviously been around longer. Whether you approve or not, Durant is working his way into the Wade/Kobe/Lebron talk. This year it would not surprise me at all to see the thunder and Durant take another leap forward. After all, taking leaps forward is all the guy has done his first 3 years. And saying character doesn’t matter pretty much exposes you as someone who doesn’t know what your talking about anyway, bro.

• Bryan Posted: Sep.13 at 2:35 am
  “Who cares about player’s freaking character, all we care about is what they accomplish on the court. ” I just need to reiterate how wrong this is. It actually looks even stupider when you read it by itself

• total scrotal implosion Posted: Sep.13 at 4:25 am
  We won despite chauncey and derricks best efforts to tank it. Damn they were awful all tournament. Derrick had a few nice plays but overall he really sucked. Westbrook is 3rd best pg in the league, best defensive pg no doubt. Durantula vs bron is dumb, right now brons better, but who knows when its all done

• RedRum Posted: Sep.13 at 7:41 am
  Durant is the best player I have seen play since MJ. There… I said it…

• jdstorm Posted: Sep.13 at 8:00 am
  Lebron is Magic 2.0
  Durant is Larry Birds game with kevin garnets body. And the Argument continues

• J Posted: Sep.13 at 8:40 am
  the comment section is a little weird.. first how much did slam pay the greek dude to be their live blogger? and he’s rooting for USA? lol kidding.. second did i just read The Seed wrote Lebron is ten times better than Durant? The Seed giving LeBron some love? Weird.. anyway great job by Team USA! They deserve this! Now lets see these guys on the upcoming season.. Is it November yet?

• SLAM ONLINE | » World Championships: Missed Opportunity for LeBron? Posted: Sep.13 at 9:39 am
  [...] that Team USA has finally re-conquered the World Championship tourney — following a 16-year drought — and that Kevin Durant is suddenly [...]

• Kap Posted: Sep.13 at 9:46 am
  Are people actually serious about Kevin Durant being the best player in the world right now? The kid is gonna be great but Kobe, Wade, and Lebron are still miles ahead of this kid. I hate it how people have so short term memories.

• c_cantrell Posted: Sep.13 at 11:41 am
  look im a huge durant fan but jus cause the kid led team usa this summer and took them farther than what most thought he would does not make him better than 2 time mvp lebron who has had one finals appearance or finals mvp wade or 5 time champ and 2 time finals mvp bryant.. kd is an amazing player but he has nothing on these guys.. all they share in common is a scoring title.. but yeah he is gettin better every year and may be in the bron, wade, bryant conversation in a year or 2 or 3

• Allenp Posted: Sep.13 at 2:15 pm
  durant has a better stroke than Melo, and his off the dribble moves are better. Plus, he’s a more fluid and creative shot maker.
  Melo is a Big Freaking Bully, who is also pretty clutch.
  Their game really aren’t that similar at all.

• RedRum Posted: Sep.13 at 6:15 pm
  seriously, I am old enough to have seen Magic and Bird, MJ, Kobe, Lebron, Wade. My fav player ever is Duncan. But I don’t think I have been this excited about a player since seeing MJs rookie year.

• CONEY ISLANDER Posted: Sep.14 at 3:59 pm
  Kevin Durant’s jumper is actually registered as a weapon in most states. He has to bring his laminated permit to the refs before games.

• JTaylor21 Posted: Sep.14 at 6:15 pm
  @AllenP, with all that Melo is still the BETTER and BEST scorer in the NBA. Give me a bully over a finesse type player.

• Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Sep.14 at 6:52 pm
  These have been great, Matt. Thanks!

• sport j Posted: Jan.30 at 5:32 pm
  there should b a new stat for hustling, like u know divn for balls tips to other players picks , just straight hustling , it would give the blue collar athletes ,a chance to shine ,