USA Basketball: Who's To Blame?

**AvengerRam** · #1 (**permalink**) -15-08-2004

The USA olympic basketball team lost its opener to Puerto Rico by 19 points and seems on the verge of failing to win for the first time since the pros started playing.

Who's to blame?

**AvengerRam** · #2 (**permalink**) -15-08-2004

I voted for the "good teams" vs. "great players" thing, but really it could be all of the above.

**txramsfan** · #3 (**permalink**) -16-08-2004

It can almost come back to AAU play.

*DJRamFan* · #4 (**permalink**) -17-08-2004

Anyone of those reasons is a good choice. I do think the world has caught up to us for the specific reason that American players don't have the skill they once had. Too much dunking, not enough pure shooting and a VERY low premium on defense.

I don't think laziness is as much a reason because for the most part, these guys wanted to play there, especially 'melo who practically begged to get on the team.

I wish they would go back to having college ballers, more interesting and more pure.

It's kind of interesting too because Americans seem to not care - if we win we're supposed to, if we lose it's an embarassment.

*thoey* · #5 (**permalink**) -17-08-2004

I went with the players vs. a team idea, but from everything I have heard, there is more to it. I think the coaches that selected the team had something to do with it as they didn't fill the positions on the team, they just picked a bunch of big named players. No center and no shooting guard. Hard to win without a dominant big man and an outside threat...

*jjsram* · #6 (**permalink**) -17-08-2004

I believe it's most the fact that our players have been together for 1+ month and the rest of the teams have been together for years. Having said that, if the actual best american players in the NBA played, they would go unbeaten, IMO.

*sprtsmac* · #7 (**permalink**) -17-08-2004

I picked the players vs. the team, but I believe its more of the US basketball committee who picked this team. They did not pick a team that could be successful in the international game. And why can't there be tryouts? In the days of the college players tryouts were held. I say we go back to having tryouts and pick a team that fits the international game; even if it means that some of our best players are at home.

**AvengerRam** · #8 (**permalink**) -19-08-2004

I do think that the right players would win easily.

Here's my unstoppable dream team of current NBA players:

C: Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan
PF: Kevin Garnett, Ben Wallace, Jermain O'Neal
SF: Tracy McGrady, Rip Hamilton, Ron Artest
SG: Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen
PG: Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby

Note that there is only one player (Duncan) from the actual team.

*sprtsmac* · #9 (**permalink**) -20-08-2004

Avenger, here's another note for your post:

Look there are outside shooters on this team compared to none on the actual team.

*Ferter* · #10 (**permalink**) -20-08-2004

The players of course!!

Maybe they're just not that good?

:bored: