http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/aldridge_david/1427992.html 1. we b**** and moan about our kids focusing too much on athletics. . . imagine if they played 6~7 hours a day! 2. How many international players do you think have degrees? [since we see our players as thugs and dummies] 3. We have set up alot of rules that the internationals don't follow .. . . ARE WE WILLING TO REPEAL THEM? I don't think so. This was just a poorly put together team poorly Coached. I think we should limit the team to people on the rookie scale or under 25 to start. Then pay them . . . make it a BONUS to get the gold. [like 1 mil between them all] . . . give this to players where the extra money mean ALOT! Rocket River
I completely agree with the idea of paying them major $$$. I hate to admit it, but that's what's going to talk in this great land of ours. And I especially like the idea of a gold medal bonus payoff. Well, I mean I hate it, but I think it will work better than any other idea.
I would think the prestige of representing your country would be enough incentive. They're already being paid by their clubs anway.
Hey, you can ignore this all you want. Take it or leave it... If a player wants a degree in electrical engineering, then go for it. Who's stopping those millionaire NBA players? As far as NCAA...yeah right. They are going for the NBA contract if they have the talent and given a chance. And this is not about "not getting a degree." It's about changing the mind set of what makes a good basketball player. Just because you can jump and run, wont cut it anymore. No. Don't repeal them, learn them. And not crash course either. Coach Karl did what he could with what time and players were giving to him. Negative. Paying players millions to represent your country makes me sick.
I'm confused about something. For the Rockets and 12 other NBA teams, the season ended about April 15th. The 2002-2003 training camp begins about 2 weeks prior to the first preseason game on Oct. 8th. Unless I have forgotten how to count, that looks like close to 5 months off for 13 of the 29 teams. Teams that made first round exits didn't play much further into the summer - the Raptors played last on May 2nd, TWolves on April 28th, Sixers and Sonics on May 3rd, and the Celtics bowed out of the EC Finals on May 31st. Now, the Worlds started on August 29th and those in the know say it takes a month to prepare - that's July 29th as I count. Unless I have totally missed something, a Lotto team member has been off for 3.5 months (April 15th to July 29th). Even a member the EC Finals Celtics has been off nearly 2 months. Why is it that "2-3 months" is continuously quoted as the length of the NBA off season? This flat out isn't true except for the Nets and Lakers who last played on June 12th. Surely there is enough time and talent on the other 27 teams?
Every other country is paying there guys George Coached a poor series. The point about 1 and 2 [BTW did you read the article supplied with the post?] You say the Euros more fundamentally sound they also play 5~6 hours a day from like age 15!!!!! we b****ing and moaning because Garnett didn't goto College. Leon Smith . . Kobe.. . . McGrady . . .etc We have alot of rules that deal with our athletes. . . that the euros do not have. THOSE are the rules of which i speak. Rocket River
Yes, and I'm one of them...(b**** and moan).... When Garnett came in to the league he looked like uncoordinated rookie. Same with Kobe, same with McGrady, and Jermaine O'neal was a bench warmer. Where should they have gone? To school or into the CBA... But stay out of the NBA until you learn something about basketball, not just dunking. All four of those players above couldn't shoot worth a dam*n when they came in...McGrady is still suspect. Tim Duncan spent 4 years in college. He came out READY! So did Bird and so did Magic. So, it's not about age. It's about "learning the game." They can do that in 4 years of NCAA tournament playing... Also, don't confusing playing with shoot-arounds.... The foreign players, "PRACTICE" more basketball... The USA players, "PLAY" more basketball... There's a differernce.
RR, what dollar figure are the international's paying their guys? Can you dig up an article? They're playing pro players, but I'm not sure they're paying them, up front anyway. Most of the US players were probably just happy to be on the team at one point, but then, their ego's became involved and everyone got Paul Pierce disease. I gotta be the star. Garnett has been quoted. He would have gone to college if he had the SAT scores. In a heartbeat, according to KG. Bryant just wanted the spotlight ASAP. That's the kind of guy he was, and that's the kind of guy alot of these players are.
http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/aldr...id/1427992.html It says the Argentines getting like 2k a game and some team got 50k for beating the Yugos When Garnett came in to the league he looked like uncoordinated rookie. Maybe if he PRACTICED 5-6 hours a day from freshman year instead of trying to goto class or something . .. . he'd be ready THe Euro have an advantage. . . . would u require a Tony Parker to goto 4 yrs of school before NBA? Rocket River
You talking like you have to sacrafice your school time to get good a basketball!!! Wrong. You MAKE TIME!!!! Practicing 5-6 hours a day can be done if that's your goal: NBA Player. How many hours a week are spent playing pool, or going out with buddies, or going to frat parties with your "homies?" And you don't have to pratice 5-6 hours 7 days a week. Spread it out over a week. Use your off time if you want. Use your weekends. It's up to that player. But if they slack. Then, they are just giving their interational comrades a better chance to take your job. You snooze, you lose. Now, we aren't talking everyday people here. There are only 400+ jobs in the NBA. But if those players have the talent, then hone those skills to the max. That's not happening in the NCAA (highschool) in today's game.
My point is not that this should be done My point is in America NO SCHOOL [high school or college] COULD JUSTIFY ORGANIZED PRACTICES OF 5-6 HOURS. *ORGANIZED* while in Europe it seems to be the norm. I think the system we have is fine. I think alot of folx just ready to say .. . well we need to be more like the Euros and I'm saying we need to slow it down. Rocket River
Four years of college de-values players worth in today's NBA. We're in a cycle of drafting Americans on potential and Euros on experience. A guy like Shane Battier, although fundamentally sound, was taking a ton of criticism for not being "good enough" to leave school earlier. And most of the guys skipping college altogether won't be the ones in jeopardy of losing their jobs because they're already on the high end of the "potential" scale. ALthough everyone seems to be enamored with Nachbar; if Lebron James was on the board, Boki would be wearing some other team's jersey come Oct.
paying the players can work to our advantage, but i don't want to pay them to much. I say 750k is good. If these players want to work on there game why don't they be on the team, i mean you are playing against the best in the world. And they practice against the some of the best as well. There is no excuse.
We'll see. Your talking about raw altheltic ability. Do you honesly think that Lebron James will win you a title? He's going to struggle period. If Lebron when to college, stayed 4 years and took his team to the Final 4; then I'd say yes, he's a winner. If someone wants to draft him on potential, that's their business. I say that basketball I.Q. wins out everytime. Althetic ability is a bonus. Sure, those player will get jobs. But get their butts kicked for the first 3 years they are in the league by international players of the same age. Also, most of these high-school players turn out to be 3 year projects for that sorry team that drafts them, only to bolt for a larger market (greedy) in their 4th year. No thanks. Remember, I'm not talking about All-Stars, or highhighs. Lebron James will be filling our ESPN screens for years to come. But, a automatic winner? Sorry, but Bosjtan Nachbar will be excellent. You'll be on that bandwagon soon enought.
And I say we need to be like the 70's and 80's. Practice, fundaments and learn the game. If your players happen to have athletic ability, then that's a bonus. You might say, "Wake up, it's a new world we live in..." Blah, blah, blah... And I say, Ok, ignore it then. International players will fill our NBA rosters. Ignore it if you like. Keep telling yourself that we are fine. Keep telling yourself that we sooooo good. Arrogance is a sure way to underestimate your competition. I've been saying this all through out the 90's; even when the Rockets won the title in 94. In my opinion, that was the most boring team in history; one-dimensional. A lot of teams were like that during the 90's; except the Bulls.
I agree. Somewhere along the line we got sidetracked. I never claimed that James was/is/will be a better player than Nachbar. I've never seen either of them play. My point was that Boki would not take a contract away from Lebron because potential can get you a TMac, Kobe, or even Francis (sorry, but he was all highlight footage coming out of Maryland after one season).
Are we watching hoosiers again THREE PASSES BEFORE ANYONE SHOOTS!!! Just because the MYTHICAL and LEGENDARY ball movement is not there. . it does not make it BORING [but boring is an opinion] Some people want the game to run like they want it Hell I could say non RUN AND SHOOT football is boring. Rocket RIver
Never seen it.... Maybe I should... Nevertheless, ONE PASS BEFORE ANYONE SHOOTS is very predictable; 1994. Dump it into Hakeem, then maybe out to the 3 point shooters...sigh...That's why we got our butts kicked in the start of the 1995 season. Predictable and boring. Why do you think it had the lowest finals ratings? A fluke? Nope. The truth hurts. No one cared OUTSIDE of HOUSTON. I could go on forever on the "boring 94 Rockets." You should have seen the amount of people that couldn't care LESS about the Rockets during 1994; including Sports Illustrated, NY Times, LA Times, Sports Mag, Chicago Trib, Miami Herrald...etc It was the 1995 Championship team that won the hearts and minds of people OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON. They were legit at that time. Thanks to Clyde and Hakeem (A duo offensive threat). By the way....I hope you realize that we've moved off topic...
