Team USA loses to Greece...
 

They just can't beat the zone...

:tsk: :tsk: :tsk:

Pathetic. I personally do not like the team that was assembled. It is so full of holes, it's sad. No true centers, no 3 point shooters, no offensive plays, no defense. Argentina should take them out in the consolation game.

One day, we will learn that dunking the ball means NOTHING when we compete internationally. Defense, playing together as a team (not individuals showing off), and <gasp!> shooting the ball is what matters.

Truly pathetic... :rolleyes:

:iagree:

SAD NEWS FOR AMERICA.

Zone?? did u watch the game??? they can't beat the pick and roll.. that's why they lost.. defense wins games...

I disagree.. they had 3 point shooters in Joe Johnson and Kirk heinrich. Dwight Howard IMO is a true center. It's too bad they didn't bring Brad Miller in for the half court sets.

There are far better 3 point shooters than Johnson and Heinrich. How's about Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Michael Redd, and Ray Allen?

Dwight Howard makes about as much center playing center for the U.S. as Moe Howard.

He is NOT A TRUE CENTER. If he is, then the Magic have been playing him out of position since he came into the league and they really didn't need to trade for Darko. He hasn't played enough games at center at the pro or international levels to deserve the job on the USA team.

Maybe you're missing my point - is this the best team that America can field?

Aw crap - wife is yelling at me to get in the car. Gotta go buy groceries.

Agreed, the point is are they willing to play? I think Kobe and Shaq should step it up again and play for the US. More importantly, though, the talent was there to win the gold. The problem is motion offense ain't going to cut it against the better teams in the world and having only playing 3 weeks together, they were not ready as a team for prime time. Coach K also did a shitty job in figuring the pick and roll. They had no strategy and got burnt the entire quarter before the finally making the call to switch on everything. They should've played zone IMO. BTW, in regards to Dwight Howard, he came in that 2nd qtr, 7 pts 8 rebounds. He also solidified the key and did not allow any back door plays like what happened consistently in the 3rd qtr when Bosh came in. If he wasn't playing like a true center, who is?

:withstupi In the US, basketball is glorified sport where athletes are glorified and worshipped. Yet when we play internationally...........:rolleyes:

Kobe wanted to play but he had to have surgery... If I complied a "Dream Team"; it would include:
Jason Kidd
Ray Allen
Kobe Bryant
Dwayne Wade
Lebron James
Carmelo Anthony
Tracy McGrady
Michael Redd
Kevin Garnett
Chris Bosh
Dwight Howard
Jermaine Oneal

Okay - getting back to this... it's nice to see Team USA salvage a Bronze with a win over Argentina. The King finally played a decent game and DWade put together an effort reminiscent of his big games in the NBA playoffs.

This team still needs to be altered. From what I understand, Kobe, Arenas, and Bowen are still eligible to return for the Beijing Olympics. However, I am not at all sure any players that were early cuts or opted not to play can be added to the 15 man roster over the next 2 years. What happens beyond the '08 Olympics?

I happened to be up late and caught that game.

I agree.....US sure didn't want to put in the hard work on defence. How can you hope to prevent baskets when some players are still up the other end....

:thumbup: Well put guruSan!
Having Kobe and Shaq would have made a difference? I am not so sure.
I remember the days when we had our first dream team which brings tears to my eyes....:banghead:

Basketball has become popular around the world now, and unlike 14 years ago when we had the "dream team", the other countries have greatly improved. We no longer can dominate like we used to.

As was seen last Spring, the same goes for baseball.

I think overall, we can still be proud that our teams have done well. But we can't expect to win every time.

Its all about the money. They dont play as hard as they play in NBA. Simply just because they know if somehow they got injured their large paychecks in NBA will drop and even disappear. Some may not agree with this but this is true. Other countries play their guts out, they die just to beat the U.S.A. While our playing attitude is different. Our players know they must not bump knees or twist their ankles. Pay them 5 mil each player in the World champion, they will win 120-50 each game. You can see most of the guys on U.S team carry a big number on their forehead. each with at least 5 mil a year. Their is no pride shiit in the team, its all about the ben. I think those guys from AND-ONE teams would win us GOLD at WORLD CHAMP if you pay them $200K each. They will do anything to win. because AND-ONE pay most $100K each of their touring season. BIG MONEY players in NBA will find excuses not to play in world champ.

I don't buy that money argument. Most, if not all of the players on all of the teams play in professional leagues and have large salaries. It's not just the American players.

Proud?? you crazy? they suck, they make everybody in the NBA look bad.
Yes, we expect to win every time, they are million dollars players for god sake. You are pathetic saying "we can still be proud that our teams have done well" they look worst than the AND ONE team with stupid dunking and dribbling contest. If i were the team manager, I WILL PICK ALL COLLEGE PLAYERS TO PLAY IN WORLD CHAMPIONS. Simply they are not exposed to large money just yet. and college kids take PRIDE seriously.

Most like what? 10% of the team? 100% of our team are paid big in the NBA. what do you think? twist their ankles for a stupid championship? break their legs? for god sake, those players from other countries are paid like 9-5 job pay. only couple of them who play in NBA get paid large. man, get your facts straight and accept money does talk in sport.

Euro leagues pay just as much. Case in point, Spanoulis, the guard for greece refused an NBA contract and is playing for PANATHINAIKOS to the tune of 5 million EUROs/year.. non-taxable.. you should get your facts straight.

You have no idea what you are talking about. There are several other basketball leagues around the world besides the NBA and those leagues also pay players millions of dollars. Plus, an increasing percentage of the NBA players are from other countries as well, so they do not play on our team but on the other teams.

While the NBA is indeed the premier league, not all players want to leave their county and play in the United States. There are lots of players who could play in the NBA but have chosen not to, and some are very good.

The sports world is corrupted. If there is a betting line, there is a chance of unhonest play. believe it or not, it is the truth. networks don't talk about it, teams don't talk about it. but its there. points shaving, coach betting on games. And you think its "Pride" shiit, then you might live in a dream world. The sports are not the way it plays, its the way the money plays. why do you think a team go for 2 points conversion to get 21-56 from 13-56 with nothing left on the clock? check the line and...it was underdog by 35.5 and bet on favored team is 90% consensus. Think about it and leave your darn dream world.

The fact that players make so much money actually helps to decrease that kind of corruption. Players are less likely to risk their livelihood and their long-term multi-million-dollar contracts to make a few extra bucks on the side.

If you know your sports history, then you know of the 1919 Black Sox Scandal where the White Sox threw the World Series. Eight players were banned for life from baseball as a result of this. The bribe money that these 8 players got paid was far higher than their baseball salaries. For example, Joe Jackson was paid $20k for his part in this scandal. His baseball salary for that season was only $6k.

I decided to adjust your quote because when i read your comments this actually makes more sense. The question I have is since thats the way you believe it is what's the point? Whats the answer? The Us team lost. So now amid all of the curruption what is your answer as to how the team can win next time. Give us a game plan.