U.S.A. starts rout early and doesn't let down in win over Germany

The U.S.A. started their rout much earlier than usual capping off a stunning performance win with 106-57 win over Dirk Nowitzki and the German team. Dirk led the Germans with 14 points but only shot 4 of 10 from the field, including only 1 of 4 from the 3 point line. The U.S. was led by starting center Dwight Howard, who finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds as he pummeled the inside presence of the number of 7 footers that Germany had. Germany was already diminished after a tough loss to China, which knocked them out of medal contention and the emotion of the German team wasn't about to get better as they went into the game against the U.S.

The U.S. started off much earlier than usual scoring 2 seconds into the game on a Carmelo Anthony lay up and then pouring it on to a 16-3 lead midway through the 1st quarter. The 3 pointers rained down as they had against Spain two nights before, led by LeBron James the 3 point barrage and the rout started early. The U.S. was up by 19 at the end of the first, unusal for a team that let its past opponents keep up in the first quarter and a half. It only got worse for Germany, the U.S.A. continued to make shots and continued to play full on defense limiting their opponent to only 29 points and scoring 53 points in the process.

By the third quarter it got fun for the U.S. team. A number of highlight plays from the three big stars were put on displays. Kobe Bryant after missing a dunk, went on to make 3 straight 3 pointers. LeBron James threw a massive tomahawk dunk down and Dwyane Wade made a two handed poster out of one of the German players. The deficit was pushed to 37 at the end of the third and the 4th quarter only got worse even though the U.S. had its whole bench put out on the floor throughout.

LeBron James shot 7 of 10 and hit 4 3 pointers and finished with 18 points. Kobe Bryant  had 13 on 5 of 10 shooting and surprising U.S. standout Dwyane Wade finished with 10 on limited playing time.

Dwight Howard and his inside game finally sparked against probably the most difficult backcourt with Dirk Nowitzki and American born Chris Kaman. Kaman under the scrutiny of his father played below average and missed a number of point blank shots hitting only 6 points on 3 of 9 shooting.

The game was capped off with an alley oop show as Chris Paul threw it to Derron Williams first, second from Derron Williams to Chris Paul and the third from Chris paul to Michael Redd. With Redd's points, every U.S. player had scored.

The U.S.A now goes into medal contention and will face #4 seed Australia who the U.S. already face in exhibition games and won 86-75. The U.S. team now though is much more competitive and focused then they were a few weeks ago in Shanghai.