I was totally surprised that Mailman and Bibby were invited to the US team. Clearly, the committe is trying to build up a team playing like a 'team'. IMO, they are totally wrong. US's basketball tactics and strategy are way behind the good teams in the world Yogo, Argentina. US has to win the game with their super stars. Dream Team I beat everybody easily. But Dream Team II didn't have a big advantage over other teams at that time. When Shaq sit down, the game always became ugly for US. At Atlanta and Sydney, we all have seen what happened. But it seems US Basketball hadn't realized their game was behind the world. What won the gold for them was their super stars, Shaq, Pippen, Vince.... no their 'Advanced Team Plays'. The disaster finally came to Indiana last year, if Karl let Pierce play 48 mins per game and gave him the ball in every possecion, US might have a chance actually. Instead, they tried to play team ball but turned out to be streetball. However except Pierce, nobody was that much better than Ginoboli, Bodiroga, Jaric, Gasol... The 'TEAM' USA without Shaq would be pissed off in the Olympics. To win the game, please ISO Iverson, T-Mac, SF, Duncan... Don't ever expect that a flow offense like the Kings can beat the world, because they know it much better than US.
Malone on the team is a JOKE! What, they want to embarass the US with this thug representing? I'm surprised his dirty partner isn't also there. Sickening. Why wasn't David invited? He has class AND leadership, not thug tactics and a pathetic smugness like Karla. Hopefully the international officials will sit that thug down when he whips out his bag of dirty tricks. If they add Stcokton, I'll puke!
Just another example of Malone getting mroe respects than he's due. They should have extended a spot to David. Disrespect!
Yeah, but he also has a bad back, bad hips, his legs aren't what they used to be ... Sorry, but I think David is ready to retire.
Malone being on this team is a joke, so is Bibby for that matter. I tell ya, Bibby has made the most headway in terms of rep off of one playoff series than I have ever seen. Hakeem didn't get this kind of respect after toying with DRob. I believe that there are four, five or even six pgs better than Bibby IMHO.
So was the original Dream Team a joke too? Larry Bird and Magic were both past their prime. They should never have been on that team. Tehy pick both the best young players and veterans for the team, not just the current 12 best players. They are picking the best players to represent our country. Much as I dislike Karl he is one of (of not the best) PFs ever.
Malone is the perfect guy for the national team. Brings some veteran experience. Mike Bibby I dont know about. Put ****ing allen iverson on the team
Umm...cause the little mermaid is way past his prime. Mermaid might have class, but he is also a big wuss.
There is not foreign out there that can handle Malone. As much as I hate him, Malone would eat up any foreign player including the ones that play in the NBA. Well maybe not Yao but Yao wouldn't be covering Malone in the first place.
Ok, I don't like Malone as much as any guy, but you have to admit he does come to work. He's consistant and plays physical, almost to a fault. He'll provide some invaluable veteren leadership.
USA Basketball should offer an invitation to Vince Carter. After all, it was Vince who put the team on his shoulders at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. If he wasn't injured, he'd still be one of the top players today. If he's still injured by the time USA practices, then he can respectfully decline. But it's a slap in the face of Carter when he did so much for the team before and he doesn't even get an honourary invite. I'm sure if Shaq decided to play, they'd make room, despite Shaq being injured this season (big toe)
Carter didn't want to give his All Star starter spot to MJ even though he'd only played 10 games at the time. So we put him on the Olympic team now based upon what he did in 2000 and then he gets injured near the end of the current NBA season or perhaps needs minor surgery. You are really comfortable that he would step aside? Assuming Carter wants to commit to this summer and next, I would think holding off for as long as possible on a decision regarding him would be a wise thing to do.
The difference is, that the fans voted him in. This time, it's chosen by the coaches. If he's not healthy enough, then the coaches can ask him to step aside if he doesn't want to. Rudy T. was grateful of Carter for saving his azz in the 2000 Olympics. If it weren't for Carter, they would definitely have been the first Dream Team to lose a game, and perhaps not get a gold medal.
That's my point...rather than expect him to step aside or embarrass him by asking, wait until near the end of the selection process and see how healthy he is. Regardless of what Carter did in 2000, he is no where near the same player in 2003. It would be wise to wait because a premature selection is ackward for ALL concerned.
