20 Second Timeout Latest Blog Posts

Great Julius Erving Stories

David Friedman posted 12 hours ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

This post contains some links to stories about my all-time favorite player, Julius "Dr. J" Erving.

Tags:

Julius Erving

Comment on

Great Julius Erving Stories

Kevin Duckworth Remembered

Published 2 days ago by David Friedman (noreply@blogger.com) at 20 Second Timeout

Kevin Duckworth, a two-time All-Star center with the Portland Trail Blazers who won the 1987-88 Most Improved Player Award, passed away on Monday. He was a skillful, quality big man for two Portland teams that made it to the NBA Finals but the best tribute to him is that those who knew him best remember him as a joyful and caring human being, as recounted in this Portland Tribune article: ...

Tags:

NBA

Portland Blazers

Team USA Olympics Report Card

David Friedman posted 2 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

After Team USA went 5-0 during the pre-Olympic exhibition tour, I wrote a report card for SlamOnline. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were the three "A" students. Not surprisingly, they also finished at the top of the class on my Olympics report card as well.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Comment on

Team USA Olympics Report Card

The Difference for Team USA Was Kobe Bryant

David Friedman posted 4 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Mark Heisler and Adrian Wojnarowski explain why Kobe Bryant made the difference for Team USA this year.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Comment on

The Difference for Team USA Was Kobe Bryant

Carnival of the NBA #59 Hosted by A Stern Warning

Published 4 days ago by David Friedman (noreply@blogger.com) at 20 Second Timeout

Carnival of the NBA #59 is being hosted by the good folks at "A Stern Warning." I contributed Five Observations About Team USA Heading Into Medal Round Play.

Tags:

NBA

David Stern

Kobe Takes Over in the Fourth Quarter, Team USA Defeats Spain 118-107 to Claim Olympic Gold

David Friedman posted 5 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Kobe Bryant had 13 points and two assists in the fourth quarter as Team USA survived a gritty, determined performance by Spain to win the gold medal game, 118-107. Bryant began his onslaught with 8:13 left in the game and Team USA clinging to a 91-89 lead; in the next 2:11 he scored five points and assisted on a Deron Williams three pointer and a Dwight Howard dunk.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Spain

Comment on

Kobe Takes Over in the Fourth Quarter, Team USA Defeats ...

Team USA-Spain Gold Medal Game Preview

David Friedman posted 6 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

The gold medal game will be a clash between 2006 FIBA World Champion Spain and Team USA, which is the number one ranked FIBA team; I don't know exactly how Team USA earned a number one ranking despite not winning a gold medal in a major FIBA event since 2000 but in light of their dominance thus far in the Olympics that certainly looks like the correct call.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Spain

Comment on

Team USA-Spain Gold Medal Game Preview

Team USA Topples Defending Olympic Champion Argentina, 101-81

David Friedman posted 7 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Team USA raced to a 21-4 lead en route to a 101-81 victory over defending Olympic champion Argentina, earning a berth in Sunday's gold medal game versus 2006 FIBA World Champion Spain. Team USA seemed to lose focus shortly after Manu Ginobili--the leading scorer in the tournament--left the game for good with a left foot injury. There are a lot of weird numbers from this game.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Argentina

Spain

Comment on

Team USA Topples Defending Olympic Champion Argentina, ...

Scouting Report: Kobe Bryant Versus LeBron James

Published 7 days ago by David Friedman (noreply@blogger.com) at 20 Second Timeout

My newest article for SlamOnline is a scouting report-style comparison of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James: Scouting Report: Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James

Tags:

NBA

Kobe Bryant

LeBron James

What it Takes to Make it to the NBA Finals

David Friedman posted 8 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

A couple months ago, ESPN The Magazine ran a fascinating article about what it takes to get to the NBA Finals. Guest writer Baron Davis interviewed fellow All-Star guards Kobe Bryant, Chauncey Billups and Tony Parker.

Tags:

NBA

ESPN

Baron Davis

Kobe Bryant

Chauncey Billups

Tony Parker

Comment on

What it Takes to Make it to the NBA Finals

Team USA-Argentina Olympic Semifinal Preview

David Friedman posted 8 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Argentina is the only country to twice defeat Team USA since 1992, when the United States first sent NBA players to FIBA competitions. Team USA must use defensive pressure and their superior depth to wear down Argentina.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Argentina

Comment on

Team USA-Argentina Olympic Semifinal Preview

Team USA Pounds Australia, 116-85

David Friedman posted 9 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 25 points--the most by any American player in this year's Olympics--as Team USA defeated Australia 116-85 and moved to within two victories of winning the gold medal. LeBron James added 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists and four steals. Bryant played a team-high 26 minutes, while James played 25 minutes, five more than any other player on the squad.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Australia

Comment on

Team USA Pounds Australia, 116-85

Five Observations About Team USA Heading Into Medal Round Play

David Friedman posted 10 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Before Olympic medal round play begins, it is worthwhile to take a moment to address a few issues relating to Team USA and its star players.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Comment on

Five Observations About Team USA Heading Into Medal ...

Team USA Cruise Past Germany, 106-57

David Friedman posted 11 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Team USA hit Germany with a 20-3 run to start the game and never looked back en route to a 106-57 victory to finish preliminary round play with a 5-0 record. Team USA will face Australia on Wednesday in a quarterfinal matchup; Germany had already failed to qualify for a medal round berth prior to this loss.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Germany

Australia

Comment on

Team USA Cruise Past Germany, 106-57

Team USA Demolishes Spain, 119-82

David Friedman posted 13 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Team USA put together their most complete game of the Olympics against their most well respected opponent, routing 2006 FIBA World Champion Spain 119-82 to improve to 4-0 and clinch the top seed in preliminary round play. This game was expected to be the biggest test so far for this version of Team USA and they responded by dominating nearly every meaningful statistical category.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Spain

Comment on

Team USA Demolishes Spain, 119-82

Kobe Bryant: "We Understand the Significance and Importance of Representing our Country"

David Friedman posted 13 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

NBC Sports' Cris Collinsworth did an interview with Kobe Bryant that aired during NBC's Friday night Olympics telecast. Bryant's evident pride and joy to play for Team USA is a marked and welcome contrast with what we saw during the disappointing performances by Team USA in recent major FIBA competitions.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Comment on

Kobe Bryant: "We Understand the Significance and ...

When Did Jason Kidd Become Public Enemy Number One?

David Friedman posted 14 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

It is truly baffling to read and hear all of the negative reactions to Jason Kidd's performance for Team USA this year. Just two weeks ago I did a brief post that explained Kidd's value and included quotes from Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade about how much they respect Kidd's game but it seems like a more detail discussion of this subject is warranted.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Comment on

When Did Jason Kidd Become Public Enemy Number One?

Interview with MIT Associate Head Coach Dr. Oliver Eslinger

Published 14 days ago by David Friedman (noreply@blogger.com) at 20 Second Timeout

Dr. Oliver Eslinger is the associate head coach of MIT's basketball team. His duties range from coaching to scouting to working with alumni to recruiting. MIT aspires to be the Duke or Stanford of Division III basketball, a program combining high academic standards with athletic excellence. Dr. Eslinger told me about some of the better players who have played for MIT recently: "A few years ago ...

Tags:

NBA

Team USA's Suffocating Defense Stymies Greece, 92-69

David Friedman posted 15 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh set the tone defensively as Team USA beat Greece 92-69, avenging Team USA's 101-95 loss to Greece in the semifinals of the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Team USA improved to 3-0 in preliminary round play and clinched a berth in the medal round.

Tags:

Olympics

USA

Greece

Comment on

Team USA's Suffocating Defense Stymies Greece, 92-69

Team USA Improves to 2-0 With 97-76 Win Over Angola

David Friedman posted 17 days ago from 20secondtimeout.blogspot.com

Team USA played sloppily at times but defeated an overmatched Angola 97-76 to improve to 2-0 in preliminary round play. The game on Thursday against Greece will be a measuring stick for how much Team USA has improved since 2006. Team USA owes Greece for the 101-95 defeat that the Greeks dealt them in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Look for Kobe Bryant to be the "bill collector" on defense.

Tags: