USA Basketball

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:48 pm

Does anyone know if Ben Wallace was invited to play on the team, because I think he should have. Against Greece they pounded us and we really could have used an enforcer. What do you all think the problem is with USA basketball. Me personally I think its what we value in players and untill that changes winning the goal would be tough. When most basketball coaches think of talent and potential all they think about is height, strength, and vertical. They don't look at fundamentals, people base how good of shooter someone is by how well they shoot the three. They don't look at mid jump shots or other stuff, just what makes the highlights. The diffrent rules I don't buy that, because I played in high school and we played teams from Canada in the spring (team trip) and we had no trouble adjusting to the rules. Like a person with a high basketball IQ people could care less, just like size and speed instincts can't be taught. I think the problem is we look at atheletes and not is he a basketball player. Another example is D, Larry Hughes is considered a good defender all NBA first team, they just go to the stat book and say he has a lot of steals he is good, in reality he isn't at all, the guy he is guarding always scores 20 + points a night. I think Jammer Nelson would have been perfect for this team, He can shoot (hurting the zones) he is a great distributer and a good defender not stats defender but keeping his man from scoring. I also cutting Bruce Bowen was a mistake, he can shoot and play D, that opens up box and 1 and it can kill the zone. What do you all think.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:00 pm

I am not sure if he was invited but i do know this. No matter what team the USA has, it will never match the original dream team. You would think the U.S., having all of the best basketball athletes, would be able to blow out every team they come across. It is rather disappointing we can only get a bronze. I don't care how long the other teams have been together. We should dominate the world of basketball.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:06 pm

Cappster wrote:I am not sure if he was invited but i do know this. No matter what team the USA has, it will never match the original dream team. You would think the U.S., having all of the best basketball athletes, would be able to blow out every team they come across. It is rather disappointing we can only get a bronze. I don't care how long the other teams have been together. We should dominate the world of basketball.

We should, I think that our players aren't well rounded though. There fundamentals are horrible. American basketball players, like Bird and Stockton won't come again because Americans don't value solid all around play. Stockton and Bird could do it all, they can pass, shoot, dribble, they protect the ball. They could play D.

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:18 am

As a non-US resident can I say that in the time of Bird and Stockton that all national teams (except maybe old USSR) were afraid and in awe of the american basketballers.

Using Australia as an example, it was possible for an american to turn up here - show a college career presence - and get a contract to play for anyteam

At the moment there are something like 30 or 40 players from Australia playing at colleges in the US and playing and beating US players at this level

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:23 am

Amberion wrote:As a non-US resident can I say that in the time of Bird and Stockton that all national teams (except maybe old USSR) were afraid and in awe of the american basketballers.

Using Australia as an example, it was possible for an american to turn up here - show a college career presence - and get a contract to play for anyteam

At the moment there are something like 30 or 40 players from Australia playing at colleges in the US and playing and beating US players at this level

How many Austrailians play in the NBA? Very few if any. Beating a college level player is nothing like beating a pro basketball player. That's why very few make it to the big leagues. The cream rises to the top. I agree with Manfreda. If we played better defense like the ORIGNAL DREAM TEAM then we would cream everyone. Actually, we don't have all of the NBA's best players playing on the USA basketball team. We used to have all hall of famers playing for the team. Now all we have is a few future hall of famers and a bunch of filler players.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:33 am

If our pro players cared enough about international competition to play, then the US would make a much better showing in the Olympics etc.

As it is, we rightly get our butt kicked. Even if we got our best players out on the court, there would probably still be some close games (that we might even lose!). The days where a dream team is even possible are over.

I only wish that football was getting this kind of international exposure. It would be great for the game.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:57 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:If our pro players cared enough about international competition to play, then the US would make a much better showing in the Olympics etc.

As it is, we rightly get our butt kicked. Even if we got our best players out on the court, there would probably still be some close games (that we might even lose!). The days where a dream team is even possible are over.

I only wish that football was getting this kind of international exposure. It would be great for the game.

Football I don't think will get big, Rugby is the sport in Europe and personally I think its a better sport.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:42 pm

Rugby is the sport in Europe and personally I think its a better sport.

Did you mean to say soccer (the other football?), because there is no way that Rugby is Europe's sport.

As for American football. . .while it may not be catching on all that well in the UK, other nations do seem to be picking it up. Germany in particular has most of the NFL Europe within its borders, as well as a massive number of amateur leagues functioning within the country. I like football's odds there of growing in popularity.

Spainardskin · Post by **Spainardskin** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:11 pm

We are Worl Champs!!!

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:40 pm

Irn-Bru wrote:
Rugby is the sport in Europe and personally I think its a better sport.

Did you mean to say soccer (the other football?), because there is no way that Rugby is Europe's sport.

As for American football. . .while it may not be catching on all that well in the UK, other nations do seem to be picking it up. Germany in particular has most of the NFL Europe within its borders, as well as a massive number of amateur leagues functioning within the country. I like football's odds there of growing in popularity.

Its big in Europe the seven nations, I don't mean the most popular, but for contact sports its the sport. One guy from Europe got drafted from the Vikings in the second round and took less money to play professional Rugby overseas. New Zeland, Australia, South Africa, France, England, those will always be Rugby. Like why Rugby won't get huge here because of football. Argentina, thats a huge Rugby nation, Somoa (those people r huge and not many of them play football (well some) but a lot more like Rugby. A lot of Europeans don't like football because of its stop and go mentality. They like continous play thats why Rugby is big over there, Soccer, Basketball is getting big, they don't like play and than stop, play than stop.

John Manfreda · Post by **John Manfreda** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:41 pm

Amberion wrote:As a non-US resident can I say that in the time of Bird and Stockton that all national teams (except maybe old USSR) were afraid and in awe of the american basketballers.

Using Australia as an example, it was possible for an american to turn up here - show a college career presence - and get a contract to play for anyteam

At the moment there are something like 30 or 40 players from Australia playing at colleges in the US and playing and beating US players at this level

Not being afraid of someone doesn't mean ur going to win.