In the discussion of Team USA's problem, I was looking back at the history of Olympic basketball. Back in those days, the USSR and Yugoslavia were the best teams other than the US. Incidentally, both countries were broken up in later history. From the sports point of view, when a country is broken up, its talent pool gets thinner. One thing that has not been mentioned is the size of the US population. Imagine if the US were broken up into 6 countries, and we were sending out 6, rather than 1 basketball teams to compete. Let's have some fun and pick 6 teams. It's too difficult to track where each player is originally from. So to make it easier, let's use the new NBA divisions and treat them as 6 countries. Select a team from each division. Atlantic: Boston, NJ, NY, Philly, Toronto Central: Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Indy, Milwaukee Southeast: Atlanta, Charlott, Miami, Orlando, Washington Southwest: Dallas, Houston, Memphis, NO, SA Northwest: Denver, Minn., Portland, Seattle, Utah Pacific: GS, LAC, LAL, Phoenix, Sac. To make it simpler, forget about a 12-man roster, just pick an 8-man rotation, 5 starters, 3 backups. Americans only, no international players, and assume everybody is willing to go. Which team would win if they played a tourney among themselves under international rules? Would it be better than Team USA 2004?
Nah, I kept it in mind. Since it's not possible anyway, just throwing names won't hurt, making sense or not.
You guys are too lazy. The Jazz wouldn't have AK47. The Grizz wouldn't have Gasol. Only the Pistons don't have key foreign players.
Actually, the Jazz without internationals would look horrid. pg Arroyo + Lopez Gone! sg Giricek + Bell Gone! sf AK47 Gone! c Okur Gone! Here is what's left pg Williams(signed an offersheet with the Bucks) sg Snyder (rookie) sf Harpring pf Boozer + Humphries (rookie) c Borchardt + Collins Well... good luck!
you're shooting down your OWN proposed team? hahah lay off the pho man. those sugar rock crystals are playing with your head again.
Wallace Wallace Prince Hamilton Billup Williamson Hunter James Against this team? Team Southwest Dampier Duncan Finley McGrady Davis Magloire Jackson Barry
Actually, those things are what's keeping me going. I haven't had them for a week now, and here I am...
Here's my pick. Team Atlantic Collins Robinson Pierce Iverson Kidd K. Thomas Carter Marbury Team Central B. Wallace J. O'Neal L. James Artest McInnis R. Wallace Redd Billup Team Southeast S. O'Neal K. Brown Jamison E. Jones Francis E. Thomas Mobley Wade Team Southwest Dampier Duncan Finley McGrady B. Davis Magloire Mashburn B. Barry Team Northwest Ratliff Garnett Anthony Allen Cassell Randolph Lewis Stoudamire Team Pacific B. Miller Brand Odom Bryant Bibby Webber Q. Richardson B. Jackson
Southeast seems to be the weakest, even with Shaq. Southwest has very little depth. Atlantic has terrific perimeter players, but very weak inside. I think Central, Northwest and Pacific are quite even. Central is the most balanced team. And has some great defensive players. But Northwest has better outside shooting. And they have the best player in KG.
