I don't think too many coaches really like Francis either. I don't think it's just Stu Jackson. Seeing how the US team got punked last summer because of selfish individual play, Francis is really the last player on the team that they would want. I don't justify the selection of Bibby either.
I know it's not the greatest example, but look at what stevie does when surrounded by superstars, pretty damned good: Come on, selfish play is a concern but Iverson is on there? who won't even go to "PRAC-TICE"? THe killer is that a lot of these selections were made earlier this year, when Steve was playing awesome. Bottom line is that Stu "OT for a first rounder" Jackson has a lot of reasons to dislike Steve (more even than you!) and his decision making with respect to the last two Nat'l teams only reinforces this.
why wasn't Kevin Garnett invited? Garnett is so good at both ends of the court with his energy and freaky physique, he seems to intimidate the international guys. Without Garnett, they lose in Sydney. It amazes me that he is not on this team.
Hold up guys, slow down... Most of the guys you have named were asked but rejected the invitation or had stipulaions on the only reason they would play IE: (shaq says he'll play if Phil Jackson is the coach). Some of the guys are bitter because they dont get paid to play. They dont get any money from the Team USA jersey sales and so forth. (I think they should get some incentive to play "CASH") Dont jump the I HATE STU JACKSON BANDWAGON. Personally I think our best should play out of respect for the country. The coaches shouldnt even have to beg them to play. My point is, the players that are on the team are their because the accepted the invitations the others were first choices but THEY had their reasons why the werent going to play. Steve is the exception to this case. I really care less for Stu Jackson, but it is not his fault alot of those guys (scratch Steve Francis) are not playing for the team..... PS: The two guys I am speaking of are KG, SHAQ. Paul Pierce and Ben didnt get the nod because of the last teams failure I think. In my opinion everybody else is debateable (maybe-maybe not). Steve should have been considered just as Baron Davis should have been considered etc....
i believe this roster is not set at this point and can change before the olympics. we just need to field a team to get through the north american qualifying. then someone like kg, who has already put in years for a previous olympic team, can simply join w/o having had to commit the full amount of time and someone else will be kicked off. the last 3 selections, whoever they were (there was a thread about it), i'm sure understand that they aren't assured of being on the team. i have no problem with someone like kg who has already put in time not wanting to do it again but still wanting to represent the country and give us the best chance to win. who knows if that's what he's doing, but he (and others) have that option.
First, I dont care what the players say... it is the duty of Stu Jackson to make sure he puts the best product on the court. He needs to show Shaq and KG that he really wants them and not take NO for an answer. I rememebr Shag saying he would only play for Phil, but that was him trying to use his powers to have them pick Phil. I also remember Shaq saying, after they chose coach brown, that he would not completely rule out playing. That shows some interest. Stu needed to capitalize on that. I dont think so... then why do they have Elton Brand and Jermaine Oneil on this new squad.
Which strengthens Steve's case, he has practically begged to play on the team for years now; while ingrates like Karl Malone, Garnett, etc dilly dally about whether or not they can be bothered to play. As for the last team's failure: Stu Jackson picked the coach and the players, so who should be blamed for that? Ray Allen and Elton Brand I guess are off the hook. Paul Pierce, who played better than any US player in INdy last year, is not I guess. I think Stu Jackson's record speaks for itself; GM of Vancouver, Chairman of USA basketball for the last few years. I wouldn't want that resume; evein if I was mildly succussful as a coach back in the 80's.
With all theinjuries Shaq has during the regular season, do you REALLY think he would be eager to play some Olympic ball? Plus didn't his wife just have another kid? Maybe he wants to actually spend time with the kid. I would have like to have seen Gary Payton on the team for sure. I would think he would be ahead of Francis in order of desirable players. Francis didn't make any All NBA team, but you expect him to be on the Olympic team? Don't be so myopic.
That raises another issue; they pick the team according to who's good now. Payton, for example, is clearly a declining player and will turn 36 before the 04 olympics. Picking guys too early is how you end up with stiffs on the team like Steve Smith and Tim Hardaway; Hardaway if you recall was picked a few years before the olympics and eneded up to banged up to contribute.
First of all, this will be played under international rules which are quite different from the NBA. The team that's picked should be OK provided injuries don't become a factor. That said, Francis' style of basketball does not appear to translate too well to the international stage. Defensively, he'd be somewhat of a liability as a PG. Offensively, it would be critical for him to run the offense and set the pace. One-on-one he'd simply blow right past the opposing PG but the name of the international game is team play and that's probably where the past 4 years have worked against him. He's not perceived as a top PG on the basis of his playmaking and decision making skills but because of his athleticism. Bibby is just as athletic but is far superior as a playmaking PG which is why he's on the team while Francis is not.
Stu Jackson is a moron. While he was GM of the Grizzlies, Phoenix offered Steve Nash for I forget for what, but he refused. Now with Nash being a local kid that would have been huge for the franchise and may have saved them if he blossomed into a star there or at least delay the move to Memphis for a while. To this day he hates talking about that subject and refuses to answer it when people ask him that question about passing on Nash.
PUH- LEEEEAAAAASE!!!!! Bibby is just a huge benefactor of a great Sacramento team that was just as good before he got there with Jason Williams. Bibby was garbage when he was a Grizzly, and Jason Williams has not preformed like he did in Sacramento because he too benefited. Put it this way... would you trade Francis for Bibby....ummmm... I dont think so! I dont think the Rockets would be a better team at all!! In fact we would be worse!!
Dude what are you talking about? I guess you dont remember the fact that none of our stars wanted to play on the last U.S. Basketball team. Thats why most of our team was filled with Sub-Superstars. Im not going to debate about this but you seem to forget why we had, who we had on that team. It took us to get our ass handed to us for our REAL Stars to even consider playing... And yet we still cant get our best players to play. Stu shouldnt have to beg and jump at every oppurtunity to get this guys to play. I dont think it is his job to kiss every players arse to play on this team. It is a priviledge. They are representing AMERICA, me and you. They already get paid boo-koo money they should want to play just because they represent the greatest country on the face of the planet. But I guess their right to choose is what makes us so great. As for the Steve Francis situation, if Stu still has beef then yeah thats jacked up. But in my opinion Steve is still debateable on wether or not he should be on the team. I would still rather have JKidd and AI manning that post, but thats my debatable opinion.
What a load of crap. Where was Bibby against Dallas? Without Webber, he couldn't do a damn thing. He's the third best playmaker on his team. It's just like Jason Williams. He was the most overrated player when he was with Sacremento, just like Bibby. They both got credit for Sacremento's high powered offense when in fact the credit belongs to Webber and Divac.
I remember that Stu Jackson hand picked a team and coach that finished SIXTH in the World Champonships. End of story.
