Wade and co. hammer Spain

In perhaps the first true test of legitimacy for the Redeem Team, Dwayne Wade put on yet another dazzling performance off the bench for the Americans in a 119-82 victory over Spain.

Wade, who entered the game for Kobe Bryant, proved once again that he is fully recovered (and then some) from the recent shoulder injury that he sustained while playing for the Heat in February. After subbing in midway through the second quarter, Wade immediately picked up two key steals and continued to exploit Spain's transition defense. He finished with 16 points on 8 of 12 shooting, adding 6 rebounds.

The combination of Rudy Fernandez and the large Spanish front line appeared to have a potential recipe for success against the US early on, as they came out with a 2-3 zone that forced them into the type of long range shots that they have struggled with throughout the tournament. That, plus the most polished offensive scheme (a high-low half court set) the Americans had seen thus far gave fans cause for concern throughout the first quarter. But in an act of defiance, as if to strut their newfound resiliency as a team, the long range success that had eluded the team came roaring back to the tune of 7 of 11 3pt shooting as a team in the first half. Among the culprits were a rejuvenated Carmelo Anthony and the "Little Flying Warrior", as Bryant is called in China.

Despite shooting 65% from the floor, Spain trailed by 12 with 5 minutes to go in the half. Yes, the American turnover bug bit the Spanish as well, as they had accumulated 13 turnovers in little more than 15 minutes of game time. That, plus the barrage of US threes sent the Spanish into submission, as they appeared to surrender the victory shortly after the halftime break. If this were a US team of the recent past, Lebron James and his crew would have surely followed suit and looked ahead to their game against Dirk Nowitzki and Germany. Not the Redeem Team. As if to shatter any remaining hope the Spanish had of beating the Americans, Coach Mike Krzyzewski ordered the team to continue to play a tight game, not letting the Spanish come away with even a moral victory. 

The cast of Spanish NBA and Euroleague players didn't know who to stop, as 8 Americans finished in double figure scoring. Lebron lead the team with 18 pts, but added 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals in a performance that proved once again how versatile he has been for the national team. Even veteran Jason Kidd got in on the scoring bonanza, attempting his first shot of the tournament on a fast break. If there's one thing that rival powers Spain, Argentina, and Lithuania didn't want to see out of the already talented Americans, it was that they could adapt as a team and spread the ball inside and out. Unfortunately for them, the US squad appeared to have finally grasped the team concept against the Spanish Saturday.

Story to watch: The team's Monday matchup against Germany will be a prime opportunity for Dwight Howard to rebound from his recent slump. Though Chris Bosh's surprising success in the opening round has enabled them to press on without skipping a beat in the front line, Howard has struggled in the past few games, missing free throws, failing to finish in the post, and on defensive assignments. Chris Kaman may be a successful NBA player but Germany better double team Howard if they want to prevent him from bouncing back with authority, which he is capable of.

"Redeem Team" sports new weapon

With monomial superstars Kobe, Lebron, and Carmelo leading the way for the US men's basketball team, visions of alley-oops and windmills dance in the heads of its offense-crazy fans.

But in this year of redemption, revenge, and regaining the world's respect, the highlight of the team's first two games has been the stifling defense with which the cast of NBA all-stars has bludgeoned its challengers. Lebron and company have had their share of highlight reel dunks, but the true indicator of the team's overall attitude change has been the selfless defensive effort put forth by the cast of multi-million dollar stars.

In the qualifying round against Lithuania, Bryant was charged with shutting down standout guard Sarunas Jasikevicius, who was one missed 3-pointer away from beating the US in the semifinals in Sydney. Bryant responded by holding the former Pacer to 9 points on 2 of 8 shooting.

Defense proved to be the catalyst for the Americans' offensive attack in their highly-anticipated Monday matchup against Yao Ming and China as well. Though the Chinese were able to keep the game close in the first quarter with 4 of 6 shooting from 3-point range, the smothering half- and 3/4-court defense of Bryant, James, and Dwayne Wade lead to fast break dunk after dunk for the usual suspects, resulting in a 101-70 US win.

With an overmatched Angola team forced to drive against the likes of Dwight Howard and James on Tuesday, the Americans racked up 13 steals and 4 blocks in their 97-76 victory, including a James highlight in which he rotated over and swatted an Angola shot straight down, bouncing the ball high in the air. It has been James, in fact, that has arguably been the most active member of the US team. Using his 6'8'' 260 pound frame to overpower defenders, collect rebounds, and dish the ball to the likes of the high-scoring Wade/Bryant duo, James has been a jack of all trades for Coach K's team throughout the qualifying and preliminary rounds.

Up next for the Americans is a surprising Greek team that upset the US in the 2006 World Championships in Japan. With a hard-nosed group of veterans lead by 6-4 guard Vassilis Spanoulis, the Greeks will give the Americans a physical game before they face the talented Spanish team lead by Pau Gasol on Thursday, airing on USA Network and online at 7am.

'The Report' Card

Trade deadline winners and losers

July 31 used to mean one thing: Kenny Lofton will be in the news. With him now out of the picture, there is no such thing as a sure thing. The Report examines the best and worst of the week's transactions.

The Winners

Dodgers: A-

It was becoming a July tradition in Boston. Manny Ramirez squawks about a trade yet posts numbers that GM Theo Epstein couldn't part with. Leave it to Manny to finally talk his way out. The relaxed atmosphere of Dodger stadium will give Manny the change of scenery he desperately needed. He may be 36 but his offensive clout will be more than enough for the Dodgers to avoid second-guessing the loss of 3B prospect Andy LaRoche. Look for the Dodgers to overtake the offensively weak Diamondbacks in the NL West. Ex-Indian Casey Blake, who came over in a trade with Cleveland earlier in the week, will offer a compliment to the increasingly veteran-laden Dodger lineup.
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White Sox: B+
The trade for Ken Griffey, Jr. is a prime example of addition by subtraction, believe it or not. Putting Junior in centerfield allows Nick Swisher to move to first base to replace struggling fan favorite Paul Konerko, which is a bonus in itself. The Report hesitates to give the Southsiders a better grade for two reasons. One, Griffey would be an A+ addition if it were 1998. Unfortunately, it's not and Griffey's dipping average does little to help the Sox fix their solo-homerun-itis. OF Carlos Quentin would be among the league leaders in RBIs if his teammates would get on base before him. Second, the move is a short-term solution to the Sox's offensive woes given Griffey's age and the loss of IF prospect Danny Richar. However, this is the first time in eons that Griffey has played for a playoff contender. Look for him to rise to the occasion and pull together a White Sox clubhouse in need of a leader.

Cubs: A -
Some times the best action is inaction at the deadline. This team is very different from Dusty Baker's 2003 squad. There are no holes in the lineup with the exception of centerfield, and Jim Edmonds is on a tear, not to mention a high caliber defensive presence. When GM Jim Hendry orchestrated the heist of the Pirates that brought over Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Randall Simon that year, the lineup was in desperate need of a tune up. Rich Harden was just what the doctor ordered for an already ultra-productive pitching staff, but Hendry was wise not to tinker with the lineup. Bullpen worries will be solved from within, pending Kerry Wood makes a full recovery.

Angels: A

The acquisition of Mark Teixeira cemented Mike Scioscia's club as the frontrunner in the AL. A big, RBI-producing bat and spectacular defense at 1B make Teixeira the perfect addition to the surging Angels. The move gives new meaning to the saying "The rich get richer".

Head of the class, Brewers: A+
Kudos to GM Doug Melvin for landing this season's big fish. Everyone wanted CC Sabathia, the Brewers got him. No one has had a greater impact on his respective team, as he went 4-0 with 3 CGs before his lapse recent against the Cubs. Losing AA sensation Matt LaPorta would worry The Report had they not acquired a reigning Cy Young winner. LaPorta would have to win a MVP for this trade to be questionable, given Sabathia's continued production and durability. Ex-Giant Ray Durham will provide the young infield with some veteran insurance. Until Rickie Weeks proves he can stabilize, Durham will provide the Brewers with a sturdy presence at second base.

The Losers:

Pirates: C
Even with the addition of future stalwart Andy LaRoche, the Pirates come out of Trade Week with their tails between their legs. Losing OFs Jason Bay to the Red Sox and Xavier Nady to the Yankees earlier in the week sucked the life out of a surprisingly potent outfield in Pittsburgh.

Marlins: C-
Only 1.5 games out of first place, the Marlins had a golden opportunity to make a splash by trading for Manny Ramirez. Already leading the majors with 153 team homers as of August 1, a player like Manny Ramirez or Mark Texiera could have propelled them into the lead in the NL East. More importantly, the club missed a perfect chance to prove to the league that they were ready to compete with the larger-market teams. The long-term contract of phenom Hanley Ramirez was a start, and another big name signing could have helped the Marlins get to the next level heading into their proposed downtown Miami stadium in 2011.

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Athletics: D
This time GM Billy Beane may have gone too far. With a roster capable of making a playoff push in the event of an Angels collapse, Beane dealt a trio of pithcers including ace Rich Harden and Joe Blanton to the Cubs and Phillies, respectively, for a package including SP Sean Gallagher, struggling OF Matt Murton and recent IF demotee Eric Patterson. In little more than two weeks, the depleted A's have gone from 6 games back in the AL West to 14.5 games behind Mark Texiera and the Angels. Now a team with playoff potential in the near future is set back several years yet again. If the A's are looking to make a splash heading into the proposed Cisco Field in 2012, another fire sale isn't going to help.

Bottom of the class, Red Sox: D
Most of the other teams who lost big names were out of contention and looking to rebuild with prospects for the future. Jason Bay is a fine player but trading away a rare talent like Manny Ramirez doesn't make sense for a contender in the ultra-tough AL East, especially with the Yankees' recent slew of additions. Look for JD Drew and David Ortiz to see some decline in production, as opposing pitchers will have less reason to give them good pitches to hit.