Post by sonofbarcelonabob on Aug 25, 2004 22:35:21 GMT -5
Just got done watching the NBC coverage, I don't know if I caught all of it (caught about 27 minutes total), but saw most of G4 and G5.
Wow. Intense.
Biggest thing that jumped out at me is that this current USA men's squad has finally figured out what the '84 Gold Medal squad figured out in their day. Ignore Beal. Listen to what he can teach you in training, listen to his analysis during the match (it's usually correct), but ignore everything else. The intensity and emotion that was on display tonight came from the team itself - just like in '84 with people like KK, Timmons, Powers, Dvorak, and even Marlowe. The look on the faces of people like Priddy, Barnett, Suxho, Millar - they finally realize that they are in control, and they don't need to look to Beal for motivation, they can look at each other.
Barnett - getting better every match this tournament. Wow. Never woulda predicted he would emerge in the role his is filling right now.
Suxho - totally changes the look of the US offense. One key thing that he does better than Ball, he understands what it means to put up hittable sets in any situation (good pass, bad pass, high ball, low ball). Watching his sets to the pin, I could tell that Priddy/Barnett/Stanley had room to work around the block.
Ball - wanted to pout. Even Arnie shown in the stands wanted to pout, you could read the facial expressions. But to his credit, subdued it. His sub for Hoff in G5 was critical, 2 natural points in 3 serving attempts - those were critical. Maybe he will gain some perspective from this - it's about time he got put into an uncomfortable position. He's had carte blanche as Team USA's setter for too long. He has two choices - step up and help this team go as far as it can in the remainder of this tournament by doing whatever he is called to do, or withdraw and continue to pout internally if Suxho continues to get the nod. Let's hope he makes the right choice. To the team's credit, the didn't skip a beat, and to Suxho's credit he didn't hestitate at all to step in and take control. Suxho's raw emotion is sorely needed on the court.
Sullivan - non-factor. Team no longer looking to him as the vet for leadership. He's not the one making the plays (not that he ever did).
Controversy at the very end of the match. Phantom whistle in the middle of the rally at 14-14 causes Greeks to momentarily stop playing. Silly Greeks, you guys should train for that, it's your own fans blowing whistles just like the ones the referees have. Americans knew better, they didn't stop playing. Then, final play of the match, Greek MB waffles the quick about a foot over the American block. Greeks go ballistic looking for a net call that never happened. From the camera view, it didn't look like the USA even came close to hitting the net, Hoff was the only one that jumped and he wasn't even halfway up when the ball sailed out-of-bounds.
Great match. While I still don't think the USA will overcome Brazil in the semis, I hope that they carry tonight's momentum into the next match. At least then I'll know they aren't just gonna roll over and die.
Wow. Intense.
Biggest thing that jumped out at me is that this current USA men's squad has finally figured out what the '84 Gold Medal squad figured out in their day. Ignore Beal. Listen to what he can teach you in training, listen to his analysis during the match (it's usually correct), but ignore everything else. The intensity and emotion that was on display tonight came from the team itself - just like in '84 with people like KK, Timmons, Powers, Dvorak, and even Marlowe. The look on the faces of people like Priddy, Barnett, Suxho, Millar - they finally realize that they are in control, and they don't need to look to Beal for motivation, they can look at each other.
Barnett - getting better every match this tournament. Wow. Never woulda predicted he would emerge in the role his is filling right now.
Suxho - totally changes the look of the US offense. One key thing that he does better than Ball, he understands what it means to put up hittable sets in any situation (good pass, bad pass, high ball, low ball). Watching his sets to the pin, I could tell that Priddy/Barnett/Stanley had room to work around the block.
Ball - wanted to pout. Even Arnie shown in the stands wanted to pout, you could read the facial expressions. But to his credit, subdued it. His sub for Hoff in G5 was critical, 2 natural points in 3 serving attempts - those were critical. Maybe he will gain some perspective from this - it's about time he got put into an uncomfortable position. He's had carte blanche as Team USA's setter for too long. He has two choices - step up and help this team go as far as it can in the remainder of this tournament by doing whatever he is called to do, or withdraw and continue to pout internally if Suxho continues to get the nod. Let's hope he makes the right choice. To the team's credit, the didn't skip a beat, and to Suxho's credit he didn't hestitate at all to step in and take control. Suxho's raw emotion is sorely needed on the court.
Sullivan - non-factor. Team no longer looking to him as the vet for leadership. He's not the one making the plays (not that he ever did).
Controversy at the very end of the match. Phantom whistle in the middle of the rally at 14-14 causes Greeks to momentarily stop playing. Silly Greeks, you guys should train for that, it's your own fans blowing whistles just like the ones the referees have. Americans knew better, they didn't stop playing. Then, final play of the match, Greek MB waffles the quick about a foot over the American block. Greeks go ballistic looking for a net call that never happened. From the camera view, it didn't look like the USA even came close to hitting the net, Hoff was the only one that jumped and he wasn't even halfway up when the ball sailed out-of-bounds.
Great match. While I still don't think the USA will overcome Brazil in the semis, I hope that they carry tonight's momentum into the next match. At least then I'll know they aren't just gonna roll over and die.