Realistically? What incetive are the players given other than travel perks? The issue of 'USA dominance' has already been settled by the 92 team...These guys are accustomed to network coverage and packed-out stadiums...They're fat, so to speak...(I don't condemn them for that), but other countries have a lot more to prove. I actually found myself rooting for Vlade & Peja...(Probably 'cause they were cheated out of a ring this year).

It's a natural progression. Let the world catch up, then the playing field will be level, making the games fun (as in unpredictable) to watch. We'll have no choice but to field the best team (and practice them together), and we'll throw away our foolish elitism...

I'm thinking more of a third rate team. Imagine if the tournament wasn't played in Indiana....Reggie surely would not have played, and there would have been 0 veteren leadership at all (ok maybe some with A. Davis).

I'm not really all that impresed with the point guard play, but maybe that was a result of some poor preperation and coaching by the team. I can't remember very many nice plays where it wasn't someone going 1-0n-1 to get a basket.

Posted by falcindor:

this was a 2nd rate team. i wasnt shocked. what do you expect when you have only 3 shooters on the team.

Posted by knickgeek:

I think this team was good enough to win - if they played as a team. I think they showed everything that is wrong with NBA basketball - a "me first" attitude, players going one-on-one, relying too much on talent and not enough on fundamental basketball and teamwork.


[Edited by - knickgeek on 09/06/2002 10:02:57]

exactly.

I remember watching a special on NBA Inside Stuff (I think that's the show. The one with Ahmad Rashad and Summer Sanders) and they had a special on a guy who was from some mid-Eastern counry who works with the Clippers. They showed him going over perimeter moves with Odom and post-up manuevers with the Kandi Man. I don't think he's an assistant, but I think he's the first foreign coach of any kind in the NBA. Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised either. I'd much rather watch a team like Argentina with phenomenal passing and team work then Team USA, one with a bunch of stars but an awful offense.

I think this says a lot about the players that play basketball in the United States. Regardless of whether or not it cuts into their vacation time or if they feel that they are too good for it, if they are asked to represent their country htey damn well better do it... Of all the times to be patriotic tihs is the year, approaching one year since September 11th...have they forgotten so quickly? Do they not care about thier country after all of this? It's just disgraceful. When our military is fighting for the country, the least a few players can do is play 10 basketball games...with shaq kobe garnett and duncan there is no competition for them. its like playing a college team for them. They should be real proud of themselves.

Actually, I think it should remain optional for players to participate in the Olympics. There's no crime in wanting to take a vacation after a grueling NBA season. The whole issue of patriotism is inflated beyond reason anyway...This rabid desire to kick every country's butt in everything 'cause we're the friggin' US of A... We need to just relax and see world competition for what it's supposed to be....A chance to commune with other cultures without the weight of world politics on our shoulders. SPORTS & MUSIC are the only real means of diplomacy left on the planet, let's not corrupt basketball with excessive jingoism...