Comments on: What’s wrong with Team USA Basketball? http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/ the mark cuban weblog Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:24:34 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kanes http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45809 Kanes Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:35 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45809 Starbury is about the only PG on the team, nobody else is passing properly and the international game relies on ballhandling. Larry Brown isn't my pick for coach either, with this team he seems like a pushy mother. A bit off topic but is everyone now sick of Gary Payton? Starbury is about the only PG on the team, nobody else is passing properly and the international game relies on ballhandling. Larry Brown isn’t my pick for coach either, with this team he seems like a pushy mother.

A bit off topic but is everyone now sick of Gary Payton?

]]> By: ac http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45810 ac Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:35 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45810 I guess the problem is that no one wants to pay the insurance. I guess the problem is that no one wants to pay the insurance.

]]> By: Flux http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45811 Flux Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:35 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45811 I agree with most of the posters here, who are just repeating what Bill Simmons and others have been saying since the world championships 6th place finish some months ago. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/040804 The selection committee choose horribly; picking semi-all stars from the NBA as part of a marketing effort, rather than anything resembling a cohesive team. The team was then assembled quickly, with little time to practice and mesh talents. Bball is still a team sport, no matter how much the overwhelming talent of Kobe/Shaq made it appear otherwise for most of the last five years. Look at the last Finals; not a big star on Detroit, but they were good enough to beat top 5 players Kobe and Shaq, along with what's left of Payton/Malone and the rest. Teamwork and outside shooting and hustle and good coaching will beat disorganized superior talent in basketball. Dallas proves that with their yearly early round exist, despite an abundance of scorers and entertaining players. This is even more true in the international game, where traveling is called, the 3-point line is closer, zones are allowed, defense can't involve holding and grabbing, etc. But when you get right down to it, who really cares? Is anyone reading this going to lose sleep over Team USA winning or losing? How do the ratings for Olympic basketball compare to regular season NBA, much less playoff NBA (ignoring the fact that you can never see such a thing on a major network at a reasonable hour) games. How much time did you bball fans spend reading up on and scouting out Argentina and Italy and Puerto Rico's teams, as compared to the time you spend reading pre-season NBA info? We'll all talk about it for a week during the Olympics, and then forget about it by the time the NFL season is underway. Flux http://www.blackchampagne.com I agree with most of the posters here, who are just repeating what Bill Simmons and others have been saying since the world championships 6th place finish some months ago.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/040804

The selection committee choose horribly; picking semi-all stars from the NBA as part of a marketing effort, rather than anything resembling a cohesive team. The team was then assembled quickly, with little time to practice and mesh talents.

Bball is still a team sport, no matter how much the overwhelming talent of Kobe/Shaq made it appear otherwise for most of the last five years. Look at the last Finals; not a big star on Detroit, but they were good enough to beat top 5 players Kobe and Shaq, along with what’s left of Payton/Malone and the rest. Teamwork and outside shooting and hustle and good coaching will beat disorganized superior talent in basketball. Dallas proves that with their yearly early round exist, despite an abundance of scorers and entertaining players. This is even more true in the international game, where traveling is called, the 3-point line is closer, zones are allowed, defense can’t involve holding and grabbing, etc.

But when you get right down to it, who really cares? Is anyone reading this going to lose sleep over Team USA winning or losing? How do the ratings for Olympic basketball compare to regular season NBA, much less playoff NBA (ignoring the fact that you can never see such a thing on a major network at a reasonable hour) games. How much time did you bball fans spend reading up on and scouting out Argentina and Italy and Puerto Rico’s teams, as compared to the time you spend reading pre-season NBA info?

We’ll all talk about it for a week during the Olympics, and then forget about it by the time the NFL season is underway.

Flux
http://www.blackchampagne.com

]]> By: gangstah http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45812 gangstah Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:35 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45812 I have to wonder what the gold medel means to them and then compare that to Michael Phelps. I will never really know what goes on inside an NBA player's mind but having just got a $78 million contract, where does a gold medel rank? I have to wonder what the gold medel means to them and then compare that to Michael Phelps. I will never really know what goes on inside an NBA player’s mind but having just got a $78 million contract, where does a gold medel rank?

]]> By: Jonathan Ruff http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45771 Jonathan Ruff Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:34 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45771 NBA players no longer stack up on fundamentals. The international teams can't compete on athleticism, so they focus on the fundamentals. Compare the shooting percentages in all the games where Team USA gets blown out. When Team USA fielded the dream team in '92, it was filled with people like Jordan, Bird, Magic, Malone, etc. who shot 50% or over most of their careers. The leading guards & small forwards in the NBA shoot horrifically (take a look at the leading scoring guards & SF's, versus 10 or 20 years ago). Europe is exporting fundamentals to the NBA, which is why people like Dirk are so valuable. The NBA has become a breeding ground for athleticism at the cost of fundamentals. Team International will shoot the lights out on Team USA all night, and the players on Team USA aren't used to seeing that kind of shooting ability. They don't know how to guard against the jumpshot any longer, because it's a less utilized weapon in the NBA now. NBA players no longer stack up on fundamentals. The international teams can’t compete on athleticism, so they focus on the fundamentals. Compare the shooting percentages in all the games where Team USA gets blown out. When Team USA fielded the dream team in ‘92, it was filled with people like Jordan, Bird, Magic, Malone, etc. who shot 50% or over most of their careers. The leading guards & small forwards in the NBA shoot horrifically (take a look at the leading scoring guards & SF’s, versus 10 or 20 years ago). Europe is exporting fundamentals to the NBA, which is why people like Dirk are so valuable. The NBA has become a breeding ground for athleticism at the cost of fundamentals.

Team International will shoot the lights out on Team USA all night, and the players on Team USA aren’t used to seeing that kind of shooting ability. They don’t know how to guard against the jumpshot any longer, because it’s a less utilized weapon in the NBA now.

]]> By: C. Dorr http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45772 C. Dorr Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:34 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45772 and not enough doers is what I think, but also bad luck. They couldn't buy a shot. It also didn't look like any calls were being made either, but I don't know much about the International Game of Basketball. and not enough doers is what I think, but also bad luck. They couldn’t buy a shot. It also didn’t look like any calls were being made either, but I don’t know much about the International Game of Basketball.

]]> By: Bill K http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45773 Bill K Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:34 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45773 (1) Lack of cohesion (2) Lack of outside shooting (where's Michael Redd?) (3) Dependence on the easy basket (1) Lack of cohesion
(2) Lack of outside shooting (where’s Michael Redd?)
(3) Dependence on the easy basket

]]> By: kelly kincaid http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45774 kelly kincaid Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:34 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45774 In my humble opinion there is no commitment to team USA.The so called "Dream Team"is no more.In 92 we had something to prove and all of the best NBA stars were on that team. That has changed now its a matter of who will play and not who wants to play.where is KG or Shaq and the rest of the top ten NBA players Tim Duncan was the only one to play on this team.That is what is wrong with this team. In my humble opinion there is no commitment to team USA.The so called “Dream Team”is no more.In 92 we had something to prove and all of the best NBA stars were on that team. That has changed now its a matter of who will play and not who wants to play.where is KG or Shaq and the rest of the top ten NBA players Tim Duncan was the only one to play on this team.That is what is wrong with this team.

]]> By: Brian McCormick http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45775 Brian McCormick Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:34 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45775 Too much emphasis on defense and athleticism, not enough on basketball skills. Poor ability to adjust to the International game and rules. Lack of point guard play. more: http://highfivehoopschool.blogspot.com Too much emphasis on defense and athleticism, not enough on basketball skills.
Poor ability to adjust to the International game and rules.
Lack of point guard play.

more: http://highfivehoopschool.blogspot.com

]]> By: Tim http://blogmaverick.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45776 Tim Mon, 28 Aug 2006 11:00:34 +0000 http://blogmaverick.wordpress.com/2004/08/15/whats-wrong-with-team-usa-basketball-3/#comment-45776 I don't understand talking about the US team lacking fundamentals, and then saying they focus too much on defense. Isn't defense the NUMBER ONE fundamental? Unfortunately, for most of the game against Puerto Rico, the U.S. team wasn't playing much defense at all. It wasn't until the 4th quarter when they really started to apply some pressure. If they'd played better defense, they could have survived their poor shooting night. Their offensive preparation was pretty weak, though. The team doesn't have anybody who is a good 3-point shooter. Only one player(Richard Jefferson) was even in the top 50 in the league this past year in 3pt percentage. Clearly, Puerto Rico showed the rest of the world how to beat the Americans, and until unless the U.S. team suddenly learns how to hit outside shots, it's going to be a long week for them. As far as athleticism goes, the players who looked a step slow out there today were the Americans. I don't think anybody on the court today was more athletic than Carlos Arroyo. If the Americans were so fast and athletic, why couldn't anybody keep up with him? U.S.A. didn't have the desire, and Puerto Rico had both talent and desire. Congratulations to them, they earned this historic victory. Just like last summer, though, it won't be the only loss for the US team. Is it possible a vote to give Puerto Rico statehood could take place before the Olympics are over? I don’t understand talking about the US team lacking fundamentals, and then saying they focus too much on defense. Isn’t defense the NUMBER ONE fundamental? Unfortunately, for most of the game against Puerto Rico, the U.S. team wasn’t playing much defense at all. It wasn’t until the 4th quarter when they really started to apply some pressure. If they’d played better defense, they could have survived their poor shooting night.

Their offensive preparation was pretty weak, though. The team doesn’t have anybody who is a good 3-point shooter. Only one player(Richard Jefferson) was even in the top 50 in the league this past year in 3pt percentage. Clearly, Puerto Rico showed the rest of the world how to beat the Americans, and until unless the U.S. team suddenly learns how to hit outside shots, it’s going to be a long week for them.

As far as athleticism goes, the players who looked a step slow out there today were the Americans. I don’t think anybody on the court today was more athletic than Carlos Arroyo. If the Americans were so fast and athletic, why couldn’t anybody keep up with him? U.S.A. didn’t have the desire, and Puerto Rico had both talent and desire. Congratulations to them, they earned this historic victory. Just like last summer, though, it won’t be the only loss for the US team.

Is it possible a vote to give Puerto Rico statehood could take place before the Olympics are over?

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