As a European, used to watch both nba and euro basket, I'd agree that his D sucks, yet, it takes an enormous work to adapt to the game the way it is played in the Olympics.
Why are the US guards so bad on D and get torched by all the opposite guards ? simple, they just cannot read it. no anticipation as they don't know the systems, the players, what are their strengths and weaknesses. It is more glaring outside the paint, as euro offences are far more perimeter oriented.
marbury didn't play really well, but he at least try to play like a euro pg.
what makes me angry about, is how this guy is criticized for having a very low %fg. Look at the game vs Lithuania.
He had a very bad %. Why ? only cause he took a lot of shots NOBODY WANTED TO TAKE. The ball kept going from Jefferson to marb to AI to MARB to AI... with so many guys stacked in the paint, they have nothing to do BUT shooting the three ball.
you have to take what the defence gives you. They give you a 3ball, you sink it and they won't give it back again, clearing the lane and enabling single coverage in the paint.
Criticizing marb for not being a spot shooter is plain stupid, as it is not his game. at least he took the shots, and that's the reason why he's on the court. cause LB knows that the less they'll take the shots from downtown, the more they'll be people in the paint. and the less they'll be able to play. wade just run like a headless chicken, jump in the air while throwing ill advised passes. yet, this guy is praised while marb is buried.
marbury may not be the best player over there right now, but there are fans who should stop watching and1 tapes, and learn what real basketball is about. maybe then, they'd spare us their pointless posts.
peace.
Go France (but only in 4 yrs !
)
8/23/2004 7:46 PM
