Posts tagged Dwighthoward at FanHouse

Here is some new footage of Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard on the bus a few hours before the guys go to China. Chris in the video is having fun with Dwight taunting him with "Howard" chants Dwight received during the playoffs in Toronto. Enjoy.

Shot the day before Team USA left for China, this latest must-see video from Chris Bosh is a quick, candid and entertaining look at what it's like to sit down for some Wendy's with Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and LeBron James. Honestly, when was the last time you rolled into a San Francisco gas station and stumbled upon five of the best hoopsters on the planet? Such scenarios just do not happen all that often.

LeBron James: "Man, you get a burger, get you some gas, and get you some coffee then stay on the road for another five hours in this joint."

Chris Paul: "... and some Slim Jims ..."

Deron Williams: "I'm from Dallas ... I eat Rudy's ..."

I don't get all of it, but ... classic.

Team USA had to work for it -- for three years, and for 40 minutes this morning -- but they earned what they sought: the gold medal. In a ridiculously entertaining match against Spain (a team the United States beat by 37 last week), Team USA pulled out the 11-point victory to grab the tournament victory.

The margin snuck within two points in the final quarter, as Spain relied on a heavy diet of absurd Juan Carlos Navarro floaters and Rudy Fernandez threes to stay within spitting range of the Americans. But Kobe Bryant was just as good, nailing some massive threes and doling out sweet assists. One of the Kobe threes -- shot from the fourth row -- also happened to goad Rudy into his fifth and final foul, adding a bonus to a vital four-point play. Kobe most definitely played up to his billing as the biggest American star in China.

Dwyane Wade was nuts in the first half, dropping 21 points in 14 minutes. (!) He cooled off, which was easily predictable given that he made his bed with threes in the first half and he's not a good deep shooter. LeBron James was ineffective in the second half, picking up his fourth foul early on in the final frame. Carmelo Anthony's shooting was off and on; Chris Paul was good but couldn't stick his threes. Deron Williams didn't get much of a chance on offense. The bigs were active but not overpowering ... in fact, the Brothers Gasol had plenty of space to operate in the paint.

Navarro's stream of floaters won't soon be forgotten, nor will Rudy's insane dunk over Dwight Howard. But Team USA's the story here -- four years after being humbled on the world's stage, American basketball is back on top.

Team USA had to work for it -- for three years, and for 40 minutes this morning -- but they earned what they sought: the gold medal. In a ridiculously entertaining match against Spain (a team the United States beat by 37 last week), Team USA pulled out the 11-point victory to grab the tournament victory.

The margin snuck within two points in the final quarter, as Spain relied on a heavy diet of absurd Juan Carlos Navarro floaters and Rudy Fernandez threes to stay within spitting range of the Americans. But Kobe Bryant was just as good, nailing some massive threes and doling out sweet assists. One of the Kobe threes -- shot from the fourth row -- also happened to goad Rudy into his fifth and final foul, adding a bonus to a vital four-point play. Kobe most definitely played up to his billing as the biggest American star in China.

Dwyane Wade was nuts in the first half, dropping 21 points in 14 minutes. (!) He cooled off, which was easily predictable given that he made his bed with threes in the first half and he's not a good deep shooter. LeBron James was ineffective in the second half, picking up his fourth foul early on in the final frame. Carmelo Anthony's shooting was off and on; Chris Paul was good but couldn't stick his threes. Deron Williams didn't get much of a chance on offense. The bigs were active but not overpowering ... in fact, the Brothers Gasol had plenty of space to operate in the paint.

Navarro's stream of floaters won't soon be forgotten, nor will Rudy's insane dunk over Dwight Howard. But Team USA's the story here -- four years after being humbled on the world's stage, American basketball is back on top.

During the remainder of the Olympic men's basketball tournament, FanHouse will give you 5 Things to watch for in each game.

Where's the heart of Argentina? There has been little news regarding the health of Andres Nocioni. One Argentine report (via HoopsHype) said he will not play, but based on Nocioni's record to date it is clear we should not count him out until we see him in blue jeans or John Paxson's invisible dungeon. (Paradox!) Noces was actually a bit terrible Wednesday against Greece, as he limped around on a bum wheel which relegated him to spot-up shooter status. But he's a stud player, maybe Argentina's third most valuable. Any team which loses a top threat will suffer; against an opponent as virile as Team USA, it's almost a pre-emptive death blow. Nocioni needs to be at his best for Argentina to compete diligently.

Another defensive test. Team USA's slashing defense got a test against quick Patrick Mills and the solid backcourt of Australia. Through the first half, Australia kept ahold of the ball and didn't allow Dwyane Wade and the American point guards to get their klepto on. But it fell apart in the third quarter. Can Argentina's Pablo Prigioni, Manu Ginobili and Carlos Delfino keep it up the entire game? Prigioni has been a marvelous protector of the ball, with only four Olympic turnovers in almost 200 minutes (and through 27 assists). Manu will also bring the ball up some, and Delfino took over those duties briefly in the fourth against Greece. The Americans might be able to pressure Manu and Delfino, and certainly bat about at Luis Scola and Fabricio Oberto. But Prigioni should be a tough pastry to smash.

During the remainder of the Olympic men's basketball tournament, FanHouse will give you 5 Things to watch for in each game.

Where's the heart of Argentina? There has been little news regarding the health of Andres Nocioni. One Argentine report (via HoopsHype) said he will not play, but based on Nocioni's record to date it is clear we should not count him out until we see him in blue jeans or John Paxson's invisible dungeon. (Paradox!) Noces was actually a bit terrible Wednesday against Greece, as he limped around on a bum wheel which relegated him to spot-up shooter status. But he's a stud player, maybe Argentina's third most valuable. Any team which loses a top threat will suffer; against an opponent as virile as Team USA, it's almost a pre-emptive death blow. Nocioni needs to be at his best for Argentina to compete diligently.

Another defensive test. Team USA's slashing defense got a test against quick Patrick Mills and the solid backcourt of Australia. Through the first half, Australia kept ahold of the ball and didn't allow Dwyane Wade and the American point guards to get their klepto on. But it fell apart in the third quarter. Can Argentina's Pablo Prigioni, Manu Ginobili and Carlos Delfino keep it up the entire game? Prigioni has been a marvelous protector of the ball, with only four Olympic turnovers in almost 200 minutes (and through 27 assists). Manu will also bring the ball up some, and Delfino took over those duties briefly in the fourth against Greece. The Americans might be able to pressure Manu and Delfino, and certainly bat about at Luis Scola and Fabricio Oberto. But Prigioni should be a tough pastry to smash.

Trouncing Spain in hoops? Not so tough. Eating a hamburger at McDonald's hassle-free? That's the difficult part of the job. At least that's the case for USA Basketball stars Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard in Beijing. In his latest check-in from China, Bosh shows what it's like to be a world-famous athlete in a country that's deep in the throes of Olympic fever.

Trouncing Spain in hoops? Not so tough. Eating a hamburger at McDonald's hassle-free? That's the difficult part of the job. At least that's the case for USA Basketball stars Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard in Beijing. In his latest check-in from China, Bosh shows what it's like to be a world-famous athlete in a country that's deep in the throes of Olympic fever.

When crediting folks around the U.S. men's basketball team on a job well done this summer, don't forget about Dre. (Glad I got that out of the way.) According to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, those handsome, massive headphones LeBron James gave the team came from the lab of famed hip hip producer (and intermittent rapper) Dr. Dre. They are, Lee reports, the "most advanced headphones ever developed."

So if listening to your iPod on those tinny Apple earbuds constitutes doping to some, wouldn't listening via these bad boys count for full-on 'roid consumption? At their loudest, the earbuds Michael Phelps rocks don't deafen; I'd be afraid to put Dre's set on.

I don't know if Lee is being funny or clever by including this Dwight Howard quote, which sounds straight out of an infomercial.

"I never met up with him, but I'm real glad [Dr. Dre] offered us some headphones. I like headphones. I had a lot of different headsets. They are nice. They are good."

Dr. Dre's headphones: so good they'll have you making kind, mild compliments!

NBA Essentials ranks our six favorite stories of the day.

1. The Painted Area. A thorough, excellent look at Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio.

2. Free Darko. Basketball aesthetes make sense of men's gymnastics by way of comparison/contrast with dunk contests.

3. NBA.com, via TrueHoop. Chuck Daly knows Mike Krzyzewski's tell.

4. Akron Beacon Journal. LeBron James grades the Mo Williams trade. Danny Ferry waits nervously at his desk.

5. Fourth-Place Medal. Dwight Howard and WNBA star Lauren Jackson shop at the same store.

6. Slate. A satire on Kobe's Olympic experience which is some brand of funny.