USA Basketball is Doing Just Fine
After the 5-3 atrocity in the 2004 Olympics, this year's team was 8-1 and that loss was a close one.
Yes, that Greek team ultimately got their asses whipped by a Spanish team that was missing its best player (Pau Gasol, whose foot was fucked up) — and the Spanish squad never played the US, which could have been a second loss.
But Team USA was hardly our best players (you know: Kobe, Duncan, Garnett, Kidd, etc.) and they were a really big improvement over the previous squad.
Another upside: it drives home the point that basketball is a team sport — practice and team defence matter. Spain had one NBA star and Greece had zero, yet they both medaled.
I've mentioned this before, but the international game is light years away from the NBA game. If team USA played any of those international teams in a game with NBA rules and referees, they would destroy them.
The international game is a lot like watching college basketball with bad referees. The rules don't really reward aggressive play.
Posted by: ChuckJerry on September 6, 2006 7:20 PM | permalinkYeah, I guess if college stars flop as pros, we shouldn't be too surprised when NBA studs aren't at their best playing a college-style game.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg on September 7, 2006 10:28 AM | permalinkWould you say that literally any of those Greek players would play in the NBA, given the chance? Or are they happy to still make good money, be at home, and be superstars rather than marginal NBA players?
Posted by: Max on September 8, 2006 3:23 PM | permalinkI'm sure there are a few exceptions, but I would be shocked if less than 9 out of 10 international players would prefer NBA money, prestige and fame.
Posted by: Joe Grossberg on September 10, 2006 3:49 PM | permalinkNo more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.