Author Topic: USA Basketball  (Read 3856 times)

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USA Basketball
« on: June 30, 2008, 03:40:03 PM »

Offline Manzana

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Alright, don't know if this is hanging around in the other threads somewhere buried. I saw the stuff about Dwight Howard's injury over the weekend. And then I cruised through the USA Basketball roster. Is it just me or does it seem the USA is setting itself up for failure again? Only three bigs on the roster? The same amount of point guards. I mean come on, I might not be a basketball coaching prodigy or even a professional, but I feel I know enough not to have three bigs, with really only one legitimate center. Does that sound moronic to anyone else?


Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2008, 04:06:29 PM »

Offline iowa plowboy

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That any NBA player would risk his future playing in this dog and pony show is moronic to me.

Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2008, 04:11:31 PM »

Offline fairweatherfan

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I guess the rationale is the Olympic game tends to be a bit like the Suns' style - not necessarily as fast-paced, but a big emphasis on spacing, players who can play and guard multiple positions, and usually at least 4 if not 5 guys who can hit from outside (the shorter international 3 line promotes this).  So, Team USA decided to take the longer, more defensively agile, 3-point shooter Prince instead of the bigger but less mobile and poorer shooting Chandler for the final spot.

I agree though, I would have preferred to see another big on the squad for rebounding, and in case of this exact situation

Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2008, 04:20:47 PM »

Offline Manzana

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That any NBA player would risk his future playing in this dog and pony show is moronic to me.

Well, it should matter to be selected and when interviewed, all of the players will give the company line. To call it a dog and pony show, well, I can see where you are coming from. But I think that is where we fail, we just don't take it seriously because we think we are soo superior, I am sure the Romans felt that way before their civilization crashed too. These other countries have players that feel honored and they play their hearts out in these types of games, just look at how passionate fans from other countries get during the World Cup. Is the US so arrogant that we feel we shouldn't even have to participate in such trivial things as the Olympics? I don't know. I would just like to see USA basketball go out and put a hurting on the other countries, for the simple fact that I do think we are the basketball powerhouse in the world and we should win the gold in this event every time out.

I just am sick of changing the way we play basketball to fit into the international style. We should bring some high intensity defense and muscle and make the international scene adjust to us. But I guess then we might run into a lot of foul trouble, etc.

As someone who doesn't really watch the Olympics, I will be keeping an eye on how this team does.

Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2008, 04:29:10 PM »

Offline fairweatherfan

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That any NBA player would risk his future playing in this dog and pony show is moronic to me.

<snip>

I just am sick of changing the way we play basketball to fit into the international style. We should bring some high intensity defense and muscle and make the international scene adjust to us. But I guess then we might run into a lot of foul trouble, etc.

<snip>

See Duncan, Tim - 2004.  The refs call things differently in international ball, and to top things off, they are, with a few exceptions, significantly WORSE than NBA refs. 

Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2008, 04:36:50 PM »

Offline Big Ticket

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I think people (read: the media) are crowning this USA team WAY WAY WAY too early.  What is significantly different from previous disappointments?  Team thrown together, supremely athletic and gifted, lack of perimeter shooter, etc.  That is still Team USA's make up.  Maybe having Kobe, LeBron, Wade, etc play major roles is enough this year... only time will tell.  But either way, I think it is going to be much closer and competitive than most people (read: the media) are leading us to believe.

When it's close and late in a big game, will Team USA know how to react, where to move the ball, and who will shoot?  You better believe Argentina, Spain, etc will.  I kind of see it as a Celtics-Hawks type thing... one team is clearly more talented, but that team also hasn't been through those paces and situation together before. 


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Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2008, 04:41:00 PM »

Offline iowa plowboy

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The only way NBA players are going to be successful in proportion to their superior talent in this ( ;D :D) "competition" is to bring their own officials with them.  Especially players like the primadonna.

International officials, (when not in the tank of course), do some really strange things as opposed to NBA officials.  They actually officiate according to the rules and not the player.  It's a concept that is bizarre to most elite NBA players and tough to adjust to in the limited timeline that the olympic ( ;D ;D) "competition" lasts.  Great players like the primadonna and Wade will adjust to not being able to run the entire court without dribbling....It'll just take him longer to adjust to that than they have in the dog and pony show.

Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2008, 07:58:25 PM »

Online Who

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Quote
Tyson Chandler has been named an alternate for Team USA, according to a report by ESPN's Chris Sheridan.

Two sources told ESPN.com that Chandler has been invited to attend training camp with Team USA in Las Vegas beginning July 21, then to travel with the team to Macao and Shanghai for exhibition games.

USA Basketball is awaiting a response from Chandler, who was passed over in favor of Tayshaun Prince nearly two weeks ago.

The other five alternates will be Shawn Marion, Kevin Durant, Chauncey Billups, Joe Johnson and Mike Miller.

Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2008, 08:07:37 PM »

Offline Big Ticket

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Quote
Tyson Chandler has been named an alternate for Team USA, according to a report by ESPN's Chris Sheridan.

Two sources told ESPN.com that Chandler has been invited to attend training camp with Team USA in Las Vegas beginning July 21, then to travel with the team to Macao and Shanghai for exhibition games.

USA Basketball is awaiting a response from Chandler, who was passed over in favor of Tayshaun Prince nearly two weeks ago.

The other five alternates will be Shawn Marion, Kevin Durant, Chauncey Billups, Joe Johnson and Mike Miller.

Interesting.  I wish Miller had been on the team in the first place.  I don't like that they assemble a team of great athletes and big time scorers, then throw Michael Redd on and say "look at our outside shooting!".  Kobe is probably the 2nd best deep range shooter on that team as it stands.  I think Miller is a perfect fit because he's not one that will be unhappy with lack of touches, and he's about as pure of a shooter as you'll find.  Heck, I'd even like seeing Kapono on that team.... Let's see these international teams clog the lane when Kapono and Miller are camping out behind the line. 


"It ain't about me.  It's about us."  - KG, interview with John Thompson, 2005 All Star Game.

Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2008, 08:09:56 PM »

Offline Chief

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I've watched almost every USA basketball game that was televised since the original Dream Team. And the big thing that always hurts the USA is a lack of guys who are 3 point specialists. I think they need another besides Redd. I felt Mike Miller and Chauncey Billups were nice additions to the last team.  :-\
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Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #10 on: June 30, 2008, 08:21:16 PM »

Offline Hollywood

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How on gods green earth did the usa lose to Greece in 2006?

Yet another positive of the Celtics handling the Lakers...Kobe is going let out his frustration on some poor sap from turkey...he just needs to find his roots and play a little street ball

I look forward to some variation of this happening...


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Re: USA Basketball
« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2008, 08:35:50 PM »

Offline bdm860

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The only way NBA players are going to be successful in proportion to their superior talent in this ( ;D :D) "competition" is to bring their own officials with them.  Especially players like the primadonna.

International officials, (when not in the tank of course), do some really strange things as opposed to NBA officials.  They actually officiate according to the rules and not the player.  It's a concept that is bizarre to most elite NBA players and tough to adjust to in the limited timeline that the olympic ( ;D ;D) "competition" lasts.  Great players like the primadonna and Wade will adjust to not being able to run the entire court without dribbling....It'll just take him longer to adjust to that than they have in the dog and pony show.

I usually find myself disagreeing with most of your opinions, but you hit the nail on the head perfectly with this one, totally agree, TP. 

All of our American superstars have trouble adjusting when the game is called evenly across the board.  They don't know how to play a game where they just can't drive to the hoop and get a bail out call. Because the NBA has been catering to them for their entire careers they don't know how to play any other way.

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