Anyone else happy with the Team USA loss?

The only reason why I am happy is becasue in the next world games some of the better basketball players like Kobe and Francis will want to play, so they can bring back the "dominance" of before.

 

I couldn't have said it better, Nolan.

In fact, I wished Shaq and co. would play and lost. That would have been a REAL wake up call.

I am glad that the gap between American basketball and the rest of the world is shrinking. It's absolutely unhealthy to a sport where a team is expected to win every game by 30 points.

I hope one day basketball is like soccer, and WBC is like the World Cup.

 

This loss begs for a question:

Since an all star team has been beaten, can the NBA teams still claim an NBA championship as the world championship? Can the Lakers be beaten if they were the NT this time?

 

I'm kind of glad about it too. It exposed how bad our basketball fundamentals are. NBA refereeing is slanted for showmanship. When that's not the case, as someone else said, a talented team will defeat superior individual talent.

Also, the attendance was pathetic. Also as someone else has stated here before, those games are best held in other countries where there is more of a hunger for live basketball. Between college and pro games, we get enough in the USA.

 

I too think it was needed. It was better that it happened now. This actually relieves a lot of pressure that would have been building up. Every team was playing not to lose instead of playing to win. That was causing problems. This will change all of that.

 

It took place in Indiana too, they beat us in our house I agree with some of you that it's great. What is USA basketball coming to when Andre Miller is picked over others like Francis? And Jay Williams, this guy's a schmuck lol, give me a break it was a wake-up call. If they do the selection process right next time this will not happen again.

 

They lost ONE game in a tournament for a berth in the Olympics. How on earth does this take away the NBA's claim of a world championship? And I think the Lakers would have blown Argentina out of the building. The Lakers have two go-to players who are dominant and have been a team for about 4 or 5 years.

 

Good wake-up call. Good for Argentina, they out-played NBA gajillionaires and that's that.

So now the world is closing the gap on the U.S., yes...but what happens in two years at the Olympics? You can bet we'll try to entice whomever to play. And that may be easier to do when Olympic gold medals are at stake.

 

I'm glad they lost cause its about time the rest of the world caught up with the US. Watching 40 point blowout wins against Angola is not interesting - Sorry!!!

Hopefully, the by the next Worlds, the rest of the World will be better and we will be able to watch nice, exciting basketball!

-Tariq

 

What i am excited about is that we have drafted two foreign players in this years draft. I know they have not played 1 single nba game together but what i am excited about is that these guys are taught how to be team-players, not exhibitionists, just out there to get highlight reels. These guys are taught the fundamentals, and if they come to Houston and become team players then this Houston Rockets team WILL be succesful..Hopefully Ming and Nachbar do what is necessary to help this TEAM win....and let francis and mobley grab the headlines with their stats...then everyone will be happy...

 

i am definatly not happy. and most of the fault goes to that dipsh!t george karl. He is a suck ass coach in the nba and worse in WT. I hated seeing them lose, but love the heart of Argentina. by any means we should still be winning by 30 and that's what should happen for a long while . nba players are the best in the world.

 

i hope we get eliminated..well just this year cause the team in not the best.

 

say whatever you want, but i'm absolutely happy that the USA team lost. the team we fielded was the absolute cockiest team i have ever seen. they always have this smug look on their face as if they were so much better than the competition that they don't have to play hard. they b****ed after every call, and when opponents scored they had that smug, incredulous look on their faces.

they do not represent what basketball is all about, imo. in bball, you bring it. if you don't bring it, you can get your ass handed to you. argentina handed the usa their asses on a silver platter.


and i loved it.

 

You are reading WAY to much into what I said. I am a blind flag waver because I go for the US when there playing other countries? WTF?!?!?!? If going for the US in the World Games makes me a blind flag waver, then fine, but quit assuming things about me. And as far as my government opinions go, that is in no relation to basketball. I wouldnt wait a second to protest a bad government decision, but oh wait, I cant because I root for the USA basketball team. There is no logic in your reply.

I dont know why you and everyone else is convinced that one US lost is going to change everything and everyone is going to start playing fundamental basketball, your dreaming.

 

First let me say that I am in no way happy that Team USA lost. That team was sent to represent the United States in competition so when they loose, we loose (IMHO).

With that out of the way, I must say that I have a problem with the opinion that some of you seem to have that these "freakish" athletes (I really loathe that you use the word freakish, but that’s another topic) are the problem, that the players are the cause for the competitive gap between the US and other countries shrink.

I counter that with a couple of thoughts, is athleticism not one the main ingredients that makes Dirk Nowitzki (sp?), a seven foot big man that moves like a guard special? Is it not true of Pau Gasol, or Yao? Would you apply the word "freakishly" athletic to them? If not I would ask why?

Also, it really drives me crazy when people harp on players for lack of fundamentals and fail to place any blame on the American coaching systems lack of emphasis on fundamentals. Not only that but the American coaching system period. Until we stop pigeon holing our players by height and size, and actually start taking teaching all of the fundamentals to our young players the gap is going to continue to increase. Dirk and Pau or both 7fters but have the handles and shooting touch of guards, who’s the last American bred player that you remember having those skills, (KG maybe and he didn't go to college).

My point is that the problem is not just the players, but that a large part of the problem is how we coach\handle our players. Stop trying to make it seem like all our players are just some "freakish" show boats that are only concerned with a highlight reel.

 

I don't know if I would wish it on George Karl or Jerry Sloan more, Karl I guess. So at least something positive came out of it.

I think the internationals will catch up and then plateau, like Yugoslavia. Why? because their best players will/do come and spend most of their time playing in the NBA now and living the NBA life. On sheer talent, yugoslavia should far and away be the second best team, but 5 of their guys are Nba guys who don't play together or mesh with their teammates. Yeah, the us isn't undefeated anymore, but is still far and away the best, and will be for the foreseeable future.

 

Our Team needed this kick in the pants!! Now they will realise that it won't be handed to them on a platter anymore, they will have to earn it! All Continents are catching us up! The game is no longer the perogative of one Race or another! Individual Showmanship Basketball can be beaten by a diciplined Team playing Team Basketball!

 

If I read too much into what you were saying then, my bad.

But, as far as the second part above...If you are right, and nothing changes
with the US learning fundamentals (future, not now), then more and more
foreign players will be representing the NBA for years to come.

Which is ok with me since we'll see a better brand of basketball.
Argentina played "Boston Celtic" type basketball last night. It was
poetry in motion!

Boston Celtic = Lary Bird/Bob Cousey era

 

First off, this is the first EVER loss by team USA since FIBA started allowing professional Americans to compete (Dream Team 1). Secondly, they all SUCK. Why in the hell is Jay Williams representing our country in a global setting? That little punk won't be upper-echelon NBA talent for years and maybe never. Their best player is Elton Brand, who JUST made his first all star game a few months ago. Baron Davis is one of the best point guards, true; but there should be a Jason Kidd, Steve Francis, or Gary Payton backing him up. This is a joke. The NBA players have made a joke out of the World Games. Why turn down a chance to represent your country in any way? Why will the good ones only get in on the olympics? Because it's a joke to them. Competition for our REAL players is nonexistent, so why be bullies? Let some Argentinas and Yugoslavias get some wins so their contries can have something to cheer about: "WE BEAT THE USA!!!!" That will just create more little kids playing basketball abroad who otherwise would've grown up playing soccer.