So why do some experts believe the 2004 United States Olympic basketball squad is more nightmare than dream team?
It's not because no one has faith in Spurs forward Tim Duncan. On the contrary, the consensus among those who observed the team's full week of training camp at the University of North Florida placed Duncan in the role of sole defender of the gold in the competition that begins for the U.S. on Aug. 15 in Athens, Greece.
Said one NBA executive who watched the team work before it headed to Europe for a series of exhibition games, "This team is one Tim Duncan ankle sprain from embarrassment."
That does not sound very promising ... Perhaps Melo should rethink his guarantee of a gold medal?
Alessandro "Hercules" Boondy
Just so you guys know: 75% of this crap [you read on the internet] is made up, either by the writer, or the wrestler the writer is getting the dirt from. Just so you know. -- Statement by "Tammy Sytch", from Hyatte's Dec. 29th column ... Lest we forget.
I think that's a cautious statement on the grounds that the team can't afford to go in cocky. They stunk up the last world championship, and this team had most of it's first choices say 'thanks, but no thanks'. To essentially be taking your B-team to an international tournament after placing 6th (IIRC) the last time out and be talking about gold medals before things even start would be just a touch on the cocky side.
I'm kind of leary about this team. I mean in the World Championships they had another team that lacked the main stars and they finished sixth place, behind teams like New Zealand. Besides Duncan and AI, I don't think that this team has another player that most people would put in the catergory of "Top Ten NBA Players." Lebron and Carmello will be there VERY soon, but they're not there right now.
This team probably wont steamroll over the Olympics like the original Dream Team(s), but I have high hopes for them. Didnt they just whup up a couple of other countries by like 30+ points in exhibition games last week?
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeThis team probably wont steamroll over the Olympics like the original Dream Team(s), but I have high hopes for them. Didnt they just whup up a couple of other countries by like 30+ points in exhibition games last week?
If this (story.news.yahoo.com) is any indication, I would lower those expectations a bit Frosty... :-)
OH SNAP DID THE USA GET CLOBBERED vs. ITALY TODAY!
Man oh man, how embarassing. I have officially lowered my expectations for Team USA. You (whoever) can tell me whatever you want about how this game didnt mean anything & it's nothing to worry about (like the guys on ESPNRadio were saying today, for example) if you want to, but that game looked extra bad. I watched the last quarter or so, & I had flashbacks of what the Pistons did to my poor Lakers (God rest their souls). I think the final score showed Italy winning by like 17 points or so, but it easliy couldve been 25 or so, especially since USA managed to get 2 quick steals in a row & score 6 points in 6 seconds.
On a side note, does anybody have any good theories as to why so many NBA stars (I read the list yesterday of about 15 guys who said "no" to olympic play, but I cant find it now) decided NOT to play this year?
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreeze does anybody have any good theories as to why so many NBA stars (I read the list yesterday of about 15 guys who said "no" to olympic play, but I cant find it now) decided NOT to play this year?
Probably for the same reason *I* wouldn't want to go to the Middle East/Medeterranian region during a global event right now; fear of a terrorist incident during the games. I'm not saying anything IS going to happen, but after the 1996 park bombing at a time when global tensions were nowhere near as high as they are now, I'd be worried too.
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreeze does anybody have any good theories as to why so many NBA stars (I read the list yesterday of about 15 guys who said "no" to olympic play, but I cant find it now) decided NOT to play this year?
Probably for the same reason *I* wouldn't want to go to the Middle East/Medeterranian region during a global event right now; fear of a terrorist incident during the games. I'm not saying anything IS going to happen, but after the 1996 park bombing at a time when global tensions were nowhere near as high as they are now, I'd be worried too.
Besides that, health issues are a concern as well, as it means a decreased summer to rest. Also, many players off the 2000 team ended up playing sub-par due to injuries in 2000-01, with some people blaming Olympic play for accellerating Mourning's kidney problems. Of course, this game against Italy just might have been a tank job orcestrated by Iverson and Co. to show up Larry Brown for the suspensions a few days ago. Considering it was Paul Pierce's fault the U.S. finished 6th in '02, I wonder how he'll get blamed for the team spitting the bit against Italy.
I don't know about the security excuse. I'm sure it si a concern for some athletes, and I'm sure that is the reason that some people have backed out of the Games. If that's how they feel, I don't blame them. But I know that there are thousands of athletes that are going, and I just think that it became a convenient good excuse for some of the basketball players who didn't feel like making the trip to Athens.
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeOn a side note, does anybody have any good theories as to why so many NBA stars (I read the list yesterday of about 15 guys who said "no" to olympic play, but I cant find it now) decided NOT to play this year?
1. Injuries - stuff they've played all NBA season with that needs rest to be right for next season. 2. Injuries - Stuff they might get playing for a relative pittance and miss big $ down the track 3. Injuries - Guys who don't want to play and just say they're injured 4. Fatigue - The next season as RSN said. 5. International rules - Different goal tending, tipping off the cylinder, people getting called for travelling, 3 second violations etc 6. Motivation - Most NBA superstars are more concerned with being "World Champions" than playing in the World Championship or Olympics. In other countries playing for the national team at the Olympics is a definite high point 7. Security - Some real, some imagined issues make some guys wary 8. Not Winning - That's gotta scare the bejesus out of some of these guys
Yup. Italy. A team without a single NBA player. A team that barely qualified for the 2004 Olympics, clinching the final spot in the European qualifier with a 2-point victory over France. A team that yesterday, in a gymnasium in Cologne, Germany, administered the worst whuppin' ever on a US men's team with, ahem, NBA players. Twelve of them. The final score was 95-78.
I know, it sounds like something Iverson would bring back in a suitcase from his travels overseas, a souvenir to commemorate his stint as co-captain of the U.S. men's Olympic team. But how's this for a coincidence?
"Allenamento" means "practice" - as in roll the balls out on the floor and see if a dozen guys with big heads and bigger wallets can spend a few hours preparing to play like a team when it actually matters. And if Iverson and the rest of Team USA doesn't learn how to do that in a hurry, well, at least lesson three should be a snap.
Can you say "Arrivederci"?
Mama mia!
(edited by Alessandro on 4.8.04 1613) Alessandro "Hercules" Boondy
Just so you guys know: 75% of this crap [you read on the internet] is made up, either by the writer, or the wrestler the writer is getting the dirt from. Just so you know. -- Statement by "Tammy Sytch", from Hyatte's Dec. 29th column ... Lest we forget.
NOW THEY NEED A LAST-SECOND IVERSON (oops, caps OFF) 3-pointer to avoid OT against Olympic NON-qualifier Germany. Wow.
Incidentally, since this little mini-tournament had the US over Germany, who beat Italy, who beat the US, I checked with the BCS formula and it said France won the tournament. Uh-huh.
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Originally posted by JayJayDeanIncidentally, since this little mini-tournament had the US over Germany, who beat Italy, who beat the US, I checked with the BCS formula and it said France won the tournament. Uh-huh.
Chaos ensued when France immediately surrendered...
Anyone catch that U.S./Germany game as it was being broadcast? Was it my imagination, or did ESPN's camera completely miss Iverson's three-pointer in-progress? They had to show what happened during a replay.
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I watched yesterday's Italy game & one of the Italians threw this SICK no-look pass for an assist. ESPN goes to show the replay, but they only show everything that happened EXCEPT the pass! The clip stopped right before the pass happens, then they cut back to the live game where absolutely nothing was happening!
Originally posted by ekedolphinAnyone catch that U.S./Germany game as it was being broadcast? Was it my imagination, or did ESPN's camera completely miss Iverson's three-pointer in-progress? They had to show what happened during a replay.
Originally posted by DJ FrostyFreezeI watched yesterday's Italy game & one of the Italians threw this SICK no-look pass for an assist. ESPN goes to show the replay, but they only show everything that happened EXCEPT the pass! The clip stopped right before the pass happens, then they cut back to the live game where absolutely nothing was happening! WASSUPWITDAT
*Surely ESPN has their announcers in Bristol commentating over the international feed. Back when they did Formula One auto racing they used to do that and Bob Varsha (the play-by-play guy) used to bitch about those silly Euro directors at least once during every race for showing stuff like the 8th-place guy just making laps while the leader was pitting or a wreck happening with no replays.
*Didn't watch the game. Have a little thing called a J-O-B during the day. If they were showing the broadcasters actually at the game, then I stand corrected, but it sure sounds like this would be the situation.
“To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
Haha, check out what Yahoo! has to say about Iverson's "game-winning shit" *chuckle*
Alessandro "Hercules" Boondy
Just so you guys know: 75% of this crap [you read on the internet] is made up, either by the writer, or the wrestler the writer is getting the dirt from. Just so you know. -- Statement by "Tammy Sytch", from Hyatte's Dec. 29th column ... Lest we forget.
Thread ahead: Zach Randolph possibly headed to Milwaukee Next thread: Team USA ripping off Ric Flair? Previous thread: Just one reason why I prefer college hoops to about any other sport
Since this thread is about dead, I'll take this and meander off-topic. I've despised Sutton since he left Lexington with his tail between his legs and the program on the verge of ruins.