i agree as well

Posted by tkf:

I agree, they are looking at the olympic team as a Allstar team, I mean this is a good "ALL STar team" but not a good Olympic team, when playing other NBA allstars I am sure this team would win, but playing against Good teams, this is not a good fit, we do need some shooters, like KVH, Houston, Redd, Hamilton, a good college shooter like Reddick from Duke, we have so many redundant players, I mean Carmello, Lebron, Odom, Marion? come on man.. come on!!!

Van Horn can't handle the pressure of playing for his team in the playoffs but people think he could somehow handle the pressure of playing for the country in front of the world???

If they don't when the gold this year, as is quite possible, may be the mindset will change.

Agree with your Rich, problem is the warning signs were already there during the World Championships, the Olympics were supposed to be payback time. There aren't much excuses for these guys if they dont make it, if teamwork was an issue they should have hit the courts sooner and harder.

That issue is related on the way the game is now played in the nba.

Make no mistake about it. It's gonna be worse and worse. talent pool will increase all over the world, adding what they clearly lacked for year, athleticism, but still keeping their strength, fundamentals.
The US and the nba will still be the highest individual level, which is not compatible with the way basketball is meant to be played.

Some posters are complaining about how the rules are stupid in the international play, how the officiating sucks, how everybody want the US to lose. Blame other people or factors for your own failures, and you'll be a loser for life. If you're the best, you'll always find a way to win. But if you still can't, then you have to draw lessons from your failure, and start to crawl back to win tomorrow.

Now, that issue can be considered at three different levels.

1- short term, you're done. You'll lose and not get the gold. Bringing a medal would be a success in my mind. That team had no chance, but I still have a tremendous respect for the guys who gave their summer, risked injury in a lose-lose situation. Team USA is expected to win, so if you win it's no big deal, but if you lose, you're UNFAIRLY treated like paul pierce, georges karl... when they lost in the world championship.

2- mid term, you still can win the gold back in four years by sending the BEST OF THE BEST team available. But again, who will risk his reputation now ? Going to the Olympics and the world championships was much more fun when you had nothing to fear. Who wants to get a rude awakening ? The thinking seems to be " if i don't go, I don't loose, it won't be my fault". That is plain wrong. If your country loses, so do you. Playing or not. Going or not. But during these four years, talent all over the world will steadily increase. I do think and say, though I will be bashed for saying that, that the best team you try to field in 4 yrs may not surely win it all. They'll be favourite again, but the competition will not be the same as the '92 dream team faced anymore.

3- the US have to think about how the game is meant to be played, and if the nba still wants to transform the game into the media circus it has become. Travellings, non respect of basics (play without the ball, mid range and free throw shooting...), emphasis on the one on one play have destroyed your game. The danger is summed in one word : inertia. Like a big boat that you want to make turn, complex systems take time to be changed. You won't be able to change everything in a few years, cause it has to be done on the next breed of young players that only will be able to correct the mistakes that have been done by the nba, and 1... It will take time, efforts, sacrifice of some of the Showtime to the benefits of fundamentals. It will take someone to show a direction that you'll have to follow.

This is a great challenge that the US are facing. Though I am European, I do think that if one country can overcome such a challenge, it must be yours.

Peace.





[Edited by - raven on 08/16/2004 04:31:33]

NBA players get lots of money for 2 reasons. 1 its there and 2 a team is willing to give it to them. I dont see why this is an issue for people. Its no different than the entertainment industry. The money is spent because the hope is the investment will pay off. Sometimes it does Garnett = Titanic and other times it doesnt Eisley = Waterworld.

I dont know why this issue bothers so many people.

Oh, and on the USA basketball team there are still a lot of games to play. Is this the way the Knicks season is going to be? God forbid the Knicks start 2-4 or something and all the offseason aquisitions were a waste and we are stuck w/ this loser bunch for 5 years... bla bla bla.

Chill people... please have an ounce of hope or faith that these coaches and players can straighten the ship.

Posted by fishmike:

NBA players get lots of money for 2 reasons. 1 its there and 2 a team is willing to give it to them. I dont see why this is an issue for people. Its no different than the entertainment industry. The money is spent because the hope is the investment will pay off. Sometimes it does Garnett = Titanic and other times it doesnt Eisley = Waterworld.

I dont know why this issue bothers so many people.

Neither do I. It doesn't matter to me if a player gets a good contract. I would try to too.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by tkf:

I agree, they are looking at the olympic team as a Allstar team, I mean this is a good "ALL STar team" but not a good Olympic team, when playing other NBA allstars I am sure this team would win, but playing against Good teams, this is not a good fit, we do need some shooters, like KVH, Houston, Redd, Hamilton, a good college shooter like Reddick from Duke, we have so many redundant players, I mean Carmello, Lebron, Odom, Marion? come on man.. come on!!!

Van Horn can't handle the pressure of playing for his team in the playoffs but people think he could somehow handle the pressure of playing for the country in front of the world???

The sum of the pieces is what adds up. KVH can play 15 min on a team like this and give it a spark. If he is cold, sit him.

I would also have Wally on this team. Guys that can shoot!

KVH could not handle the pressure? I don't think those other guys stood to tall. Certainly KVH would not do worse!