http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AqyBF8e51Zfe4eS9ubr.IP28vLYF?slug=ap-spain-ibaka That's going to be a dificult team for Team USA to beat in 2012, especially with rubio gaining some NBA experience.
depends who from team USA turns up, Dwight/Stat/Bron/Wade/Paul aren't exactly going to struggle against that.
He should man up and play for his native country, not act like a front runner and join up with Spain. There has to be a rule for international eligibility that you must have lived in the country for at least 75% of your life in order to be eligible to play/perform for said country.
Ya well there's that whole thing of playing with Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Melo, etc. Oh and Kobe plans to play too if I'm not mistaken. They're gonna rape errbody.
To be fair, Olajuwon had been living here for 16 years before he played for the US team, which was nearly half his life.
This has me thinking. If chances are good that this season is going to be scrapped (I'm pessimistic)....why not kick start the 2012 Team USA squad? Finally have a crew practicing for more than 3 weeks. Go do 1 or 2 exhibition games each month. If our squad spends the next 6 months getting out of shape and rusty while the international leagues are going full swing....I'd be concerned about how well this next Dream Team does.
Not going to happen. USA basketball is too closely linked with the league to be exempt from a lockout - that's why Rudy ended up coaching Brad Miller and Kiwane Garris to the Bronze medal in 1998.
True...but only 5 players play at a time and with one ball. I think fans should have learned by now that it's not always clear cut, or at the very least not always a blowout when a "super" team plays a really good team with chemistry.
While they still won't have 100% of the NBA's problem of fielding a different team of players not used to playing together, isn't part of the reason America occassionally struggles against international teams because of their better chemistry and being used to international rules? Does Serge Ibaka really help Spain that much?
Considering they dont have anyone with his athleticism up front, yes. Obviously how much will depend on who ends up playing in the olympics, but I'd say he'll be a factor. I believe he lives there in the offseason as well too, so i'd imagine he already has a solid chemistry with the players and their culture.
