Instead of sending various players from different teams why don't we send a team to the World championships? Like say whoever loses in the NBA finals. I realize there would be problems at times because of injuries or certain players already playing for other contries but thats easily fixed. One thing for sure we need to send players that can play with each other better than this last group.
I absolutely agree that we should send more of a "team" and less of individuals but... If you had sent the Lakers, how good are they without Shaq (toe surgery) and Fox (Canadian citizen)? Without Shaq and with Kobe, the Lakers win only 56% of their games. (This was a graphic from the past WC Finals). Do you think sending the Kings without Vlade, Peja, & Hedo is a better team than what was sent this year? If you were the owner of the "lucky" team that was sent, would you like to see all of your players exposed to injury risk while none of the other teams had that liability? I still say that sending tandems (as in Bibby-Webber, Kidd-KMart, KG-Wally, Zo-Grant, etc) would solve part of the "team" problem.
Great points, GATER. On top of which, what team would agree to go? I think the last thing the Finals loser wants to do in any given year is jet off to play a series of exhibition games.
How about sending one of the lottery teams, so we have a really good excuse for not medaling from now on. Or the INS could force citizenship on Peja, Gasol, Dirk and the gang. Seriously though, could we pay big cash to people who agreed to play? What's the rule? Sadly, it's $$ that would get the big fish to play.
The best players thoughout the league should be chosen to represent the team,but I agree to some extent with B-Bob.Jason Kidd and Ray Allen got injured or else they would have played in the WC.
Geez but Ray Allen would have helped. His shot is, well, international. Sounds like the American basketball folks are already taking this seriously; they announced they want to hire a specific coach for the purpose of international bball and give the team more training time. As far as what I've read on the rules, we could really pay some coach whatever we wanted. I want Van Gumby.
Sure, if he was healthy and in shape. Can you imagine Steve and Davis playing off of each other? I think the U.S. would still be undefeated... JMHO.
