From the desk of Swordsman Yen I'm not sure if it means that the world has caught up with the US or the US has played down to the world since the days of Magic, Bird, and MJ (not the impostor playing for the Wizards). At any rate, I can't help but feel a little embarrassed for them.
I dont think this is the national tragedy some are making it out to be. This was bound to happen eventually, the international players have gotten steadily better since 1992. So we lost, big deal. I think its actually good for the game. If nothing else it teaches our guys humility. Does this mean that US players arent the best in the world? Not at all. The world is very much aware who IS playing and who ISNT playing for USA basketball. Im actually interested the World Championships now, to see how the USA team reacts. Embarassment can be a powerful motivator. I would hate to be the next team to meet Team USA.
When a chicken in this neighborhood gets angry, it will chase you down...
Originally posted by rockdotcom_2.0I dont think this is the national tragedy some are making it out to be. This was bound to happen eventually, the international players have gotten steadily better since 1992. So we lost, big deal. I think its actually good for the game. If nothing else it teaches our guys humility. Does this mean that US players arent the best in the world? Not at all. The world is very much aware who IS playing and who ISNT playing for USA basketball. Im actually interested the World Championships now, to see how the USA team reacts. Embarassment can be a powerful motivator. I would hate to be the next team to meet Team USA.
This will be a big motivator. They now get stuck with the tag 'first pro team to lose in international competition.' Not winning the gold now only adds insult to injury.
These commercials are superfine because they pay for the production costs of putting CHRIS MOTHERFUCKING BENOIT on my GODDAMN TV SCREEN! I will GO GREYHOUND! I am thinking OUTSIDE THE BUN! – Dean Rasmussen 8/1/2002 Smackdown Workrate Report
The thing that bothers me most about this is the continuous comments from the team and even media about how embarassed they are. Why? You lost a game, big deal.
As mentioned it was bound to happen sometime. When I was in High School our team was by far the best in the league. Went like 30-0 one year, then started the next year with 15 wins. In the next game we lost. Was I embarassed? No.
We got beat by a team who played better that day. Thats all that happened. Did I feel bad that we lost, sure, but not embarassed. Shows how little class the USA basketball team has.
Ask yourself this, if Bird and Magic had lost on the Dream team, would they have said they were embarassed? Not likely!!!
With that off my chest, the US should still win this thing, but who knows...
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Plus, this Team USA basically sucks. They seem to fall behind in every game, so I wasn't surprised at all when they were down 18 in the first half to Argentina. They play terrible defense and they play like it's a pick up game. Can we please have a team that actually plays TOGETHER? George Karl, what are you doing over there besides looking as though you're prairie-dogging it on the bench?
The Argentines should be proud, but the truth is they beat the USA "C" team at best. Hopefully we'll get a REAL Dream Team II out of this for 2004, which Kobe, Shaq, KG, JKidd, TD, etc.
While this is certainly not "USSR 50, USA 49" it still is a big deal. Even if the end result is only to get a real Dream Team together for 2004, this loss will have reprecussions, and they would only be compounded if the US fails to win.
Originally posted by JayJayDeanPlus, this Team USA basically sucks. They seem to fall behind in every game, so I wasn't surprised at all when they were down 18 in the first half to Argentina. They play terrible defense and they play like it's a pick up game. Can we please have a team that actually plays TOGETHER? George Karl, what are you doing over there besides looking as though you're prairie-dogging it on the bench?
The Argentines should be proud, but the truth is they beat the USA "C" team at best. Hopefully we'll get a REAL Dream Team II out of this for 2004, which Kobe, Shaq, KG, JKidd, TD, etc.
You cant really blame them for not being able to play together, this team was basically thrown together a few weeks ago. Alot of the international squads play together for months, sometimes years before events like this.
As for another "Dream Team" I want to see the whole concept dropped. Weve proven that we produce the best basketball players in the world. Another US blowout by the elite players will do nothing for the game. I think they should turn it back over to the college kids myself. But I know THAT wont happen. Also I dont really dont see this making the elite US players care more and wanting to play.
Also to say the US players have no class because theyre upset over losing is a little harsh. Would you like it better if they were just all nonchalant and didnt give a shit? Then we would call them arrogant spoiled un patriotic assholes.
Relax people, believe me this is GOOD for the game. If nothing else the ratings are sure to be higher for this and Olympic basketball.
When a chicken in this neighborhood gets angry, it will chase you down...
tomvejada.... I'm guessing that Miller is playing because the World Championships are in Indianapolis, so Reggie may not have to travel and being a popular "homer" he could draw a few fans.
I think this may be the impetus to get the US to send its very best players to all international events. Why shouldn't we? I would hardly call this year's team the best the US has to offer. I don't think the US winning and dominating is bad for the game either. I simply think you should always play to win, and do so bringing your best players. I'm not saying that the guys playing for Team USA are not good. They are good. They're not the best, though. (Kobe, Carter, Shaq is injured... but I think I've made the point.)
Sending college guys wouldn't work any more. Straight to NBA and early departure doesn't lend itself to having a great college all-star team. Besides, we do want a level playing field. Should Germany withold Nowitski because he is an NBA player? It is almost condescending of us to not send our best players. It could be inferred that we think we can win with our third tier. Now we know better. Do I think that we should hold a few roster spots for college players? Sure, why not? It's not like we rely on the entire 12 man roster (with the exception of injuries or massive foul counts).
Big question is: Does this cause George Karl to lose a little of his reputation?
Keep in mind, its not like USA Basketball didnt want to send the best players, the elite US players (Duncan, KG, Answer) all declined to play. Its their choice and they didnt want to, nor should they be obligated. I say that because I know someone going to bring up that it should be in their contracts to play for USA Basketball. You cant MAKE a guy want to play for his country. this isnt the USSR.
When a chicken in this neighborhood gets angry, it will chase you down...
I think they declined to play (partially) because no one here cares. Have you seen the crowds at the USA games? There's no one there. There's 2 Pacers on the team and there's no one there. I know I sure don't care.
As for Team USA losing, good, they deserve it. Too overconfident, but if the rest of the international basketball community thinks what happened last night was a good thing for them they're sorely mistaken.
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Steve Bellisari, Strong Safety, St. Louis Rams. He made the team!
From the desk of Swordsman Yen They should be embarrassed at this loss, not because of who they lost to, but for how they lost. It wasn't like this was a close game and Argentina pulled off a miracle at the last second. Argentina dominated them, pure and simple. I still think Team USA will win the gold. Pride will not let them also be the first American pro roster team to not win it all as well.
The US team just played lazy ball, jacking up a ton of threes. They have a ton of talent but seem to be sleepwalking, as if thinking "how could Argentina even think about beating us". None of these teams could withstand a complete postup barrage by Elton Brand and Paul Pierce, but it's not so exciting I guess. If it happened during the Olympics(tm), I think it would be a gigantic story, but by the complete indifference shown by basketball mad Indiana seems to mirror the feelings of everybody involved--yawn.
You can't expect the guys who play until May or June to be expected to participate if they don't want to. With the season going 8 1/2 months (training camp to finals), guys need to rest and heal, as well as mentally decompress from the rigors of a season.
Originally posted by tomvejadaI still think they're going to win the World Championships despite the loss.
Why is Reggie Miller on the US team? Most of the US team are young and he's the only one from the original Dream Team.
Reggie wasn't on the Original Dream Team, he was on Dream Team II (the embarrassing edition with Derrick Coleman and Larry Johnson trash talking 175 lb. Angolan power forwards who couldn't understand English).
Dream Team I Magic Bird Jordan Mullin Ewing Robinson Barkley Drexler Pippen Malone Stockton Laettner
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 5.9.02 1559)
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 5.9.02 1600) From the Desk of Head Booker Stephanie McMahon Attn: Paul Heyman re: Dialouge memo for Smackdown 8/29/02 Cole: "Brock Lesnar, exclusive to Smackdown thanks to a coup Monday night by Stephanie McMahon." Tazz: "Stephanie rocks man!"
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Reggie was on the 94 World Championship team that taunted everyone in Toronto. Remember, the 2000 Olympic Team barely kept the undefeated streak going, and if Pierce didn't go lights out in a few of the previous third quarters , the streak would have ended a few games earlier.
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I would like to see it turned back over to the college kids myself, maybe get some players who actually think that the Olympics and the World Championships are important to them. At this point, judging by both the roster and their lackluster play, the NBA doesn't give a rat's ass about this. And apparently it doesn't help sell tickets anyway, because nobody is showing up for this thing. So what's the point?
I've always favored sending the NCAA National Championship team to this and the Olympics, as a extra reward. I honestly think that outside of a true Dream Team, this is the next best option too, as you are sending an actual team, not a bunch of supposed all-stars thrown together at the last second. However, I'm sure there are factors that would prevent this from being feasible.
These commercials are superfine because they pay for the production costs of putting CHRIS MOTHERFUCKING BENOIT on my GODDAMN TV SCREEN! I will GO GREYHOUND! I am thinking OUTSIDE THE BUN! – Dean Rasmussen 8/1/2002 Smackdown Workrate Report
I don't mind the Seattle uniforms either, it has a nice retro feel to it... The Warriors are kinda bland, looks like something that suits the Phoenix Suns more.