Report Card: USA 109, Argentina 83

USA

109

Final

83

Argentina

STARTERS

	Chris Paul, G 3-4 FG | 2-3 3PT | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 7 AST | 10 PTS After a slow start to the summer, Paul has really come on strong in the last four games. He was a wizard yet again in this one, controlling the offense and making reads I didn't even know were possible. He also did a nice job of hassling Pablo Prigioni all game.
	Kobe Bryant, G 5-10 FG | 3-6 3PT | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 13 PTS Kobe's hot streak from the fourth quarter of the Australia game carried over into the first quarter against Argentina. He took smart shots and played well within the offensive structure. He cooled off after that initial burst, but also got quite a bit of rest time.
	Kevin Durant, F 7-14 FG | 5-10 3PT | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 19 PTS He didn't shoot his usual 60 percent from deep, but KD did go absolutely nuts in the third quarter again, which was fun. He didn't look to go to the basket much and didn't hit the boards, but those criticisms are small potatoes when he's playing like this.
	LeBron James, F 8-12 FG | 0-2 3PT | 2-2 FT | 7 REB | 7 AST | 18 PTS This exercise of grading LeBron every game is really getting silly. It's almost useless. The guy has brought it every single night, and when the best player in the world is fully locked in, the results are predictably awesome. (P.S. He was great in this one, too.)
	Tyson Chandler, C 2-2 FG | 0-0 3PT | 0-1 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 4 PTS Tyson got more minutes, but didn't make much out of them. I feel like he should be owning the glass more than he is — next to Love, his rebounding numbers are pretty pedestrian. He also got called for three seconds in the key twice, which baffled me.

Report Card: USA 119, Australia 86

USA

119

Final

86

Australia

STARTERS

	Chris Paul, G 3-7 FG | 1-4 3PT | 0-2 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 7 PTS Paul wasn't quite as masterful offensively in this one as he was against Argentina, but he did give the Aussie guards fits on the defensive end, coming away with a team-high five steals. With guys like LeBron and KD running the floor, that's 10 more free points.
	Kobe Bryant, G 6-14 FG | 6-10 3PT | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 20 PTS "How can you give Kobe a B- when he shot 60 percent from three?!" some of you are undoubtedly wondering. And you're right — he did explode late. But that first half was the worst I've ever seen him play, hands down. That has to factor in somewhere.
	Kevin Durant, F 5-13 FG | 4-9 3PT | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 14 PTS Durant came back down to earth after his stratospheric performance on Monday. He never really looked comfortable and wasn't able to fully engage offensively. He took way too many tough jump shots and got pushed around on defense. KD can do better.
	LeBron James, F 3-7 FG | 1-3 3PT | 4-7 FT | 14 REB | 12 AST | 11 PTS LeBron dominated the game without scoring, finishing with a Rondo-esque line of 11-14-12. It was Team USA's first ever triple-double since they started keeping assists as a stat in the 1970s, and that should really say it all. LeBron is just so, so good.
	Tyson Chandler, C 3-4 FG | 0-0 3PT | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS Chandler (again) watched much of this game from the bench — a phenomenon that I've given up trying to understand. He was solid when he was on the floor, providing some semblance of a post presence. But I doubt he'll ever see more than 10 minutes a game.

Report Card: USA 126, Argentina 97

USA

126

Final

97

Argentina

STARTERS

	Chris Paul, G 6-7 FG | 5-6 3PT | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 7 AST | 17 PTS Now that's the CP3 we've been waiting for. Paul controlled every facet of the game from the opening tip, and he was an absolute wizard. Passing, scoring — you name it. His on-ball defense was also crucial in keying Team USA's third quarter run. Masterful stuff.
	Kobe Bryant, G 3-10 FG | 1-4 3PT | 4-4 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 11 PTS Kobe indulged his worst instincts in this one, clogging up the offense, repeatedly looking for his own (contested) shot, and constantly getting burned on D. He simply isn't the Kobe of yesteryear anymore, and he's not the focal point. This is no longer his team.
	Kevin Durant, F 9-12 FG | 8-10 3PT | 2-4 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 28 PTS KD's best game of the summer. Not only did he literally light London on fire in the third quarter, but he also led the team in steals, dropped a few dimes, and just generally took over the game. Only a few too many turnovers kept him from A+ territory. Wow.
	LeBron James, F 7-12 FG | 1-3 3PT | 3-3 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 18 PTS Despite struggling with some (mostly bogus) foul trouble in this one, LeBron still found a way to decide the outcome of the game. His dominating start to the third quarter undoubtedly set the tone for Team USA's big run. Durant just finished the job.
	Tyson Chandler, C 1-2 FG | 0-0 3PT | 1-1 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 3 PTS If this team's main weakness is lack of defensive focus, Chandler covers up a lot of that by simply protecting the rim. His presence allows perimeter defenders to play more aggressively and take more chances. That approach becomes much riskier sans Tyson.

Report Card: USA 99, Lithuania 94

USA

99

Final

94

Lithuania

STARTERS

	Chris Paul, G 3-9 FG | 1-4 3PT | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 6 AST | 7 PTS Paul's shooting woes continued in this one, but I liked that he was aggressive in looking for his shot and to set up his teammates. It felt like he was in control of the offense more than at any point thus far. Plus, his perimeter defense was stifling.
	Kobe Bryant, G 1-7 FG | 0-3 3PT | 4-5 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS It finally happened — Kobe went Hero Ball on us. With Team USA struggling offensively, Kobe attempted to take control by hoisting several tough, contested jumpers. With this many offensive talents on the court, those just aren't smart shots, even for him.
	Kevin Durant, F 5-12 FG | 4-7 3PT | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 16 PTS KD shot the ball well from deep, but he seems too passive and reliant on others to create quality looks. He isn't looking to attack toward the basket consistently, so he isn't in rhythm when he does so. I love his spot-up shooting, but I'd want more aggression.
	LeBron James, F 9-14 FG | 1-4 3PT | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 20 PTS When LeBron decides he wants to get to the rim, nobody in the world can stop him. Case in point? The last two minutes of this game. Team USA needed a savior, and James stepped in and took over. Now if he would just play that way more often...
	Tyson Chandler, C 0-0 FG | 0-0 3PT | 1-4 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 1 PTS On possession after possession in the second half, Coach K's small lineup got beat on the perimeter, allowing Lithuania to penetrate at will. The problem? No rim-protecting presence behind them. Someone please explain how Chandler is only getting 8 minutes.

Report Card: USA 110, Tunisia 63

USA

110

Final

63

Tunisia

STARTERS

	Chris Paul, G 1-4 FG | 0-2 3PT | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 7 AST | 2 PTS This was Paul's best game in quite awhile. He didn't score the ball much, but he saw the floor well and set up his teammates for easy looks, while also bringing the suffocating perimeter defense that he's been showcasing the past month. Solid effort.
	Kobe Bryant, G 2-5 FG | 0-2 3PT | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 4 PTS Kobe was mostly forgettable in this one. He played only 9 minutes, and most of those came during Team USA's ugly start to the first quarter when nobody looked particularly good. On the bright side, he got lots of rest, which will be essential moving forward.
	Kevin Durant, F 4-10 FG | 1-4 3PT | 4-4 FT | 10 REB | 5 AST | 13 PTS Durant shot the ball poorly, but did enough other things well to make up for it. He was aggressive on the defensive glass, grabbing 10 boards, and facilitated for others more than in previous outings. He seemed particularly intent on getting Davis quality touches.
	LeBron James, F 2-4 FG | 1-2 3PT | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 4 AST | 5 PTS It's always amazing to me how much LeBron can influence a game without it necessarily showing up in the box score. He was solid in this one, always making the right pass and getting the ball where it needed to be. Then again, he also did this. No words.
	Tyson Chandler, C 3-3 FG | 0-0 3PT | 0-1 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS A solid offensive performance. Not quite on the level of his breakout game against France, but exceptionally efficient nonetheless. The only problem was on defense, where the Tunisians (particularly Ben Romdhane) finished at the rim far too easily.