USA TEAM smashed by Puerto Rico.. WHAT IF PISTONS represent

[BIGBEN2K5]

First time since 1998 Olympics that USA Basketball Team composed by NBA all-stars got defeated in their first game in Athens.

So a lot of basketball afficionados now have doubts if the young Dream Team line-up can survive and win the Gold medal.

What if USA send the champion team Detroit Pistons instead of the current line-up?? Do u think it is a better choice??

For me a BIG YES because PISTONS showed to the whole world the 'Real' meaning of Team Basketball and Teamwork.

They outbattled the All-star Studded Lakers in the Finals 4-1 almost a Sweep if Kobe missed his memorable buzzer beater from downtown..

For me it is hard to predict the outcome of the current USA Team but it is not yet too late..

GO TEAM USA!!!

[Rokas[LTU]]

Lithuania will crush then on 50 pts..

[Metsis]

USA just couldn't bury a jumper to save their lives... That happens sometimes. When you have one of those collectively bad shooting days, there's just nothing you can do... You'll lose no matter who you are.

I would have thought that it couldn't happen at that level, but obviously it can. They just stunk... If this happens again, then I will have to start questioning the level of competiition in the NBA. The rules are a little different, but not that much.

Let's see how the second game goes and talk more after that... The first game jitters should be gone and the pressures of not being the first NBA star laden team to lose a game in the olympics... They should be better...

Maybe having one or two of those 3pt sharp shooters on the roster wouldn't have hurt. There just aren't too many of those available.

Now, this is a theory, but just think about it... Michael Jordan is the reason why american ballers can't shoot anymore... It seems that the most important thing is to dunk the ball and with as much power and athletic ability as possible. Some of the young guns should start looking up to the likes of Reggie Miller and Larry Bird, the guys who nail the big shots and shoot the three over your guy and just making the defender regret getting up in the morning. I really enjoy putting the ball through the hoop from long range... And it's even easy once you get it going... Michael Jordan is no doubt the best basket ball player we've seen, but everyone can't be like Michael... You should find your own niche and focus on it. I shoot the three and I'm loving every second of it.

[John-John Joe]

First time since 1998 Olympics that USA Basketball Team composed by NBA all-stars got defeated in their first game in Athens.

So a lot of basketball afficionados now have doubts if the young Dream Team line-up can survive and win the Gold medal.

What if USA send the champion team Detroit Pistons instead of the current line-up?? Do u think it is a better choice??

For me a BIG YES because PISTONS showed to the whole world the 'Real' meaning of Team Basketball and Teamwork.

They outbattled the All-star Studded Lakers in the Finals 4-1 almost a Sweep if Kobe missed his memorable buzzer beater from downtown..

For me it is hard to predict the outcome of the current USA Team but it is not yet too late..

GO TEAM USA!!!

Hi pfm, I understand where you're coming from but you have to understand a few things. You can't equate how the Pistons would do in the NBA to international competition, they are two different animals.

[Child-Of-God]

USA just couldn't bury a jumper to save their lives... That happens sometimes. When you have one of those collectively bad shooting days, there's just nothing you can do... You'll lose no matter who you are.

I would have thought that it couldn't happen at that level, but obviously it can. They just stunk... If this happens again, then I will have to start questioning the level of competiition in the NBA. The rules are a little different, but not that much.

Let's see how the second game goes and talk more after that... The first game jitters should be gone and the pressures of not being the first NBA star laden team to lose a game in the olympics... They should be better...

Maybe having one or two of those 3pt sharp shooters on the roster wouldn't have hurt. There just aren't too many of those available.

Now, this is a theory, but just think about it... Michael Jordan is the reason why american ballers can't shoot anymore... It seems that the most important thing is to dunk the ball and with as much power and athletic ability as possible. Some of the young guns should start looking up to the likes of Reggie Miller and Larry Bird, the guys who nail the big shots and shoot the three over your guy and just making the defender regret getting up in the morning. I really enjoy putting the ball through the hoop from long range... And it's even easy once you get it going... Michael Jordan is no doubt the best basket ball player we've seen, but everyone can't be like Michael... You should find your own niche and focus on it. I shoot the three and I'm loving every second of it.

Yea i used to want to be "Like Mike" when i was like 14..But now i realise i cannot and will not be like him..SOOOO i started working on my shooting..And now im an outstanding mid range shooter very similar to Richard Hamilton...Dunking isn't for everyone..But luckily 3 years later im 6'3 and can dunk too..So it didn't hurt me to work on my shots instead oh hops!

[El_Presidente]

First time since 1998 Olympics that USA Basketball Team composed by NBA all-stars got defeated in their first game in Athens.

So a lot of basketball afficionados now have doubts if the young Dream Team line-up can survive and win the Gold medal.

What if USA send the champion team Detroit Pistons instead of the current line-up?? Do u think it is a better choice??

For me a BIG YES because PISTONS showed to the whole world the 'Real' meaning of Team Basketball and Teamwork.

They outbattled the All-star Studded Lakers in the Finals 4-1 almost a Sweep if Kobe missed his memorable buzzer beater from downtown..

For me it is hard to predict the outcome of the current USA Team but it is not yet too late..

GO TEAM USA!!!

No offense bub but the Pistons faced a Lakers team with two All-stars past their prime and one of them injured and a woefully abysmal bench. If the Pistons faced the combined Shaq+Kobe+prime GP+ prime Malone the Pistons would have been blown out of the water in 4 games.

That being said, Team USA lacks pure shooters. They should have invited either Micheal Redd or Ray Allen to complement their slashing team. But hey, Michael Redd, isn't a big name endorser so why bother?

Oh yeah, not to nitpick but this thread doesnt belong in this section

[madskillz]

pmp030

who's that doing between the leg from free throw line in your signiture box?[b] send me the link please????

[Drex]

Why is this thread here??

[MikeBibby]

LETS GO PURTEO RICOOOOO

[Mikki]

LETS GO PURTEO RICOOOOO

nice first post

this thread should be in the NBA Talk.

[TheFranchiseKing]

I was absolutely disgusted by this game. I just wanted say that if these guys are making 78 mill they should be able to buy a jumper. I think we just need to start looking around the NBA and rethinking who we call stars. We out rebounded them 49-27 or some shit and we lost!! Something is wrong when an NBA player cannot make a layup.

- Stephon Marbury has been in the league 10 years and hasn't done shit. Who told us he was a star.
- Richard Jefferson just signed a 78 million dollar contract, HE HIT THE SIDE OF THE BACKBOARD TWICE!!

I could keep listing them 1 by 1 but I am not going to waste my time. Basketball is a game about shooting so you should not be a star if you cannot shoot.

AI and Tim D are the only stars on that team. I understand all these players have talent but they should ave brought some shooters Michael Redd or even Brent Barry would have helped.

Sorry, I had to vent.

[Carlos Boozer]

Basketball is a game about shooting so you should not be a star if you cannot shoot.

Yeah the art of shooting is lost

Basketball in the United States is at the highest level in the world, but other countries are catching up to us because of our poor shooting skills. You saw the truth of that statement in the last Olympics from Sydney when Lithuania and France were able to stay within range of our "Dream" team and could have won the games. Those two teams, as many others, shot better than our players and often worked better as a "team."

In the last world Championships, our pro-based team could only manage sixth place! Something is not working!!!

The athletic, one-on-one way of playing that dominates this country (along with mediocre shooting) can be matched by less athletic teams if they have mastered shooting. Meanwhile, if shooting in this country can be enhanced, then again we'll outdistance the rest of the world until they can learn, somehow, to catch up physically.

[MikeBibby]

puerto rico got suttin to prove and thas that p.r can play u feel me they gonna do good in the olympics and after this theres gonna be more p.r's drafted into the nba carlos arryo keep repping boricua 100% we taking the gold

[.]

They outbattled the All-star Studded Lakers in the Finals 4-1 almost a Sweep if Kobe missed his memorable buzzer beater from downtown..

It actually wasnt a buzzerbeater, but I like the idea of the championship representing America instead of a bunch of star players who never or hardly played with eachoter.

When you get a championship team, you will get the best team in the worlds best league, in other words....the world champions, they are used to eachother, know how to play within the team and know their role inside the team. A team full of stars however, all the players are used to be the first or second option on their own NBA team, and it takes time to get used to your gameplan for the olympic team when you have to share the ball more then you are used to. This team is missing a few parts to be a succesull squad like outside shooters for example, but a championship has answers on all those spots, they can do everything good to very good.

I like the idea, but I dont see it happening.

[Jackal]

Guys, it's nice you're discussing these things but keep it in the correct section.

Since the first USA Basketball thread has been made, it's been pretty clear that USA Basketball talk belongs in Other Basketball League's section.

[Stevan]

lol...
how can you blame Michael Jordan one of the deadliest jumpshooters ever for the lack of shooters on the USA team? It's not his fault people are idiots and forgot what to practice

The Pistons would have the advantage if they were to represent America because yes they play together all year. But they would be facing several other teams with possibly more talent and experience when it comes to international ball. Ben Wallace was at the 2002 championships, and he was as ineffective as the rest of the USA team. It seems like any American guards struggle to guard the Euro guards in the last few years. Euro guards will penetrate and kick the ball out 10 times in one possession if they have to, until someone gets an open look.
In 2000 Jason Kidd and Gary Payton were torn up by the other guards time and time again. Imagine Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton

Until NBA players start caring about international ball (which will probably be never) there's no hope.

[j.23]

lol...
how can you blame Michael Jordan one of the deadliest jumpshooters ever for the lack of shooters on the USA team? It's not his fault people are idiots and forgot what to practice

i agree. thats stupid, you can't blame someone like jordan for everyone elses mistakes.. the nba marketed what people wanna see and that was dunks, dunks, dunks and more dunks.. but some people fail to realize that jordan was a good jumpshooter, defender and a hardworker.. don't blame jordan

[J@3]

First time since 1998 Olympics

Anyone?

[Matt]

ahah, don't blame Michael. He was one of the best shooters the game has ever seen.

also, I like the concept of an NBA team. However the Champs or any playoff team after Rnd1 shouldn't go as they would be too tired for the upcoming season. Send a 1st rnd loser and where there is an Int. player replace him with a player that either 1. has played on that team with those players before 2. will fit in on any team (J Kidd, Garnett type unselfish guys) 3. someone that wants to play like Tim Duncan

[J@3]

Or they could send the best college team...

[Rens]

I'm not sure college players would risk getting injured in the Olympics and thus blowing their chance at a payday they've put everything aside for. Remember most of these kids are only doing a college course because they have to, to play ball at college. Not because they see a future with it.

[J@3]

Yeah but not every player in a college team is considered an NBA prospect. It seems the USA players don't even want to be at the Olympics, I think college players or at least some form of semi-pro players would have a desire to be there.

[Rens]

College players who are not NBA-prospects would get dominated by international competition.

[J@3]

Angola got beaten by Lithuania by 5 points after leading by 14 at one stage. Not one player on that roster would be considered an NBA prospect if they were in college. Lithuania are one of the medal favourites so that's not exactly being dominated...

Yes I'm chosing to ignore the fact Australia beat them today by alot.

[Stevan]

Very good points brought up in that a) an NBA team would be tired and b) there are so many international players on NBA teams nowdays it would pose a problem...

You just have to put together a team of your best available players and hope for the best. Does the USA team have any competition (is there an Americas tourny?) like the Euro's have the European championship? The Euro's play together every year pretty much, not to mention that in the smaller countries a lot of these guys came through programs together and played together in their domestic leagues, while American players come out of all corners of the USA.

I'll bet the USA teams averages the most GPG (groupies per game). They're also probably tearing up the Olympic village like there's no tomorrow. Probably no wives or girlfriends around much, so these guys are having a field day. I know I'd be going for gold. Bet none of you know about that "other" medal tally. I can tell ya Ian Thorpe is not going to win that one Is it really appropriate for me to go on a rant about how much sex olympians are having? Probably not, but you know the USA hoops team has seemed almost disinterested in games, and their energy has been down. You know why? Because they're fucking everything from pole vaulters to weightlifters. You know a young fella like Lebron would want to experience the world. And these fuckin Americans with their little video cameras everywhere recording everything. I just know Lebron is hitting one of them big booty Cuban volleyball players and video taping it. These guys can't keep it in their pants and the olympic village is buzzing. Everyone was worried about terrorist attacks when the real threat was horny 6'8 small forwards and so on. Lucky Kobe declined to play otherwise there'd be trouble in the village. Now you say, why on earth would Stevan go on and on about this. Don't hate, I'm just pointing out how much pounding is going on at these Olympics. Don't you wonder why crowds have been so low at the events? I'll tell ya why! They're watching fuckfest in the village! Porn stars all around the world are getting together and saying "What the fuck are these ball players trying to pull? We're the serial bangers here!". I'll tell ya what, I smell a lawsuite. You don't just take somebody's job like that. You'd think Tim Duncan at least would be sensible. Not according to the towel lady at the village. She did say his fundamentals were good though... Even Allen Iverson's getting busy! So he's got kids and a woman you say? Please, that just proves that he likes to shag! Team USA are a dirty dirty group. They're not going to win a game by penetrating only off the court. No wonder they can't play as a team, the village is so competitive, it's all about who's going to get the most roots. I'm not drunk, nor am I getting off on the fact that team USA are creating squeeky beds in the village. No, I'm just telling you that when you see those fencing chicks scream like fuckin mongoloids after winning a bout, that this is conservative behaviour compared to what's going on in the dorms. You see those ugly Romanian weight lifting bitches with the moustache? You see their veins popping out and shit when they lift 100-odd kilos, almost shitting themselves up there? Again, this is being exceded behind closed doors. I just know team USA is bumping uglies. And good on them I say, that's what the olympics are all about. Carlos Boozer in particular is a filthy young man. He snuck into the swimming fascility to bang a Chinese table tennis player, and on his way out he busting to go, so he pissed in the pool. Now the USA mens swimming team is 'crying foul' saying Thorpie and the aussies are cheating. There are no drug cheats in swimming, just drunk basketball players who piss in the pool. It's not funny hass hole. This ridiculous behaviour has the athletes acting all weird. In judo, one of the competitors (this is a true story) lost his bout in all of 6 seconds. His olympics lasted 6 seconds. And why? He couldn't wait to get back to the village. The sounds of skin slapping put just about put him in a coma and he fell over!

*deep breath*