I disagree, I think the NBA and FIBA need to get together and make a universal set of rules so people throughout the world can play basketball the same way. I don't think it's a bad thing the US is losing, I love seeing basketball being the 2nd most popular sport in the world. How intense would it be if every 2 years (Olympics and World Championships) we got to see our best versus the World's best with universal rules.

Rules I would modify:
1) Use the NBA 3-point line. It's farther back, and more talent should be needed to hit that long shot than the shorter one.
2) Decide on which ball. The FIBA ball is an inch wider and weighs more, just decide which one you use so players can play with them all over.
3) Make the court bigger in FIBA rules. This enables fast breaks to start and makes it tougher for teams to get back on D.
4) Make the lane wider in the NBA. This is a great FIBA rule. The big men can't just camp out downlow. Now they'd need a nice mid-range game or they wouldn't be effective.
5) Longer quarters. Please, give us a 48-minute game. It's more exciting to have the longer game becuase you get to fit more basketball in it.
6) Make universal substitution and refereeing rules. FIBA has different than the NBA. I don't care which are picked, just make them the same all over.
7) I'd outlaw the zone. I think this is such a cheap way to defend other teams. Let players who have the ability to break down a guy on D do that. The zone is such a cop out. Someone mentioned in another thread how defense is about TEAM. It still would be without a zone. Help defense, defensive rotations, etc., these are all things that good defensive teams would do well. With the zone, the basic pick and roll can't even be used, it's a travashamockery. Along with the zone I'd outlaw the isolation up until the last 2:00 of each game. Then players can attempt to take games over, but until then, you need to play team-oriented offense with screens, rolls, give-and-gos, the whole 9 yards. I really compare the zone to playing 30 fielders in a bsaeball game. A shortstop wouldn't be able to show how good he was if there was a fielder between him and third base and him and second base. He'd need no range or mobility, just the ability to field the grounder and throw. I see the zone as the same way. Players athleticism, which is a huge part of basketball, is de-emphasized becuase less-athletic players play a good zone. Get rid of it, it'll make everybody become better defenders. International teams are hiding their best player (who double as hideous defenders) in a zone. That shouldn't happen, to play basketball you have to play both ways, that's what's so great about it.

I'd love to see a universal game throughout the world, then basketball would grow and I'd be an even bigger fan.

[Edited by - bigsm00th on 08/22/2004 12:25:20]

We did not send our best players. I am pretty sure we would blow everyone out if we send
C Shaq
PF Duncan
SF Garnett
SG McGrady/Kobe
PG Kidd

I am sure other teams are imporving but I still think the NBA has so much talent we would destroy any opposition. I am almost convinced that a team of Shaq, Duncan, McGrady, Redd and Stephon would win every single game by a double digit lead.

I think his name is Sarunas Jasekavicius (sp?). He's the same guy who missed the final 3pt shot that could've won the game vs. USA in Sydney. He sure got his revenge this time, I think he scored 3 straight treys (one being a 4-pt play) in the 4th Q vs. USA.