Would the Pistons have won the Gold in Athens?

[Zenithian Legend]

Simple yes or no poll here... I honestly think with those few months of rest and total disregard to next season the Pistons would've killed the international competition. Of course being born in Detroit makes me a little bit biased, so let's see what everyone else thinks.

[janglypangly]

I think any NBA team would win...the reason the US team isnt winning is because they are all used to being the stars and playing to themselves and not using teamwork....now put in a NBA team that uses teamwork and is used to each other,thats a different story

[jimbodan]

I think the Piston's would have dominated in the Olympics

[Zenithian Legend]

It would've been interesting, but obviously it can't ever happen. We all saw how quickly Joe D interchanged some of the major "cogs" if you will, that kept the Pistons running and did a lot of dirty work. No more memo, Mike James, or Corliss. Of course Memo couldn't have played for team USA anyway. The additions of Derrick Coleman, former Gold medalist Antonio Mcdysse and the argentine himself, Carlos Delfino, as well as a ton of cap room next off-season to make sure no one important leaves Detroit, makes the Pistons even better than last year. I'd love to have seen Jordan's Bulls run the Olympic table as well. A real "team" would be kind of fun to watch at that level. I'm sure in 2008 the NBA and its players will be re-thinking their Olympic strategy.

[jimbodan]

I hope they re-think how these teams are choosen. Still we shouldn't be too harsh on the athletes that did choose to compete. I really don't think lack of effort was to blame for losing, it was simply lack of talent and lack of good role players. Remember many other NBA players declined to come, these guys that did go should be applauded for at least making the commitment to compete for the USA.

[rajchakrabarti]

Detroit would have won... first cuz it has players that can shoot.. and second they don't have richard jefferson.

[pimpinc333]

Yea the so called "Dream Team" is suspossed to be all the top athletes from the NBA....but where were they???? Can we even call the Olympic Team the Dream Team this year???? All of the best players backed out of the Olympics( Shaq especially), so maybe in 4 years most of the ppl that they choose to be on the dream team should just accept the offer so the USA dont look like fools.

After the lose Allen Iverson had the best quote.
I cant remeber what it is but look it up and see how true it is.

[The Successful Dropout]

I think any NBA team would win...the reason the US team isnt winning is because they are all used to being the stars and playing to themselves and not using teamwork....now put in a NBA team that uses teamwork and is used to each other,thats a different story

i dont know jack shit about basketball and i was going to say the same exact thing....you cant just take a hand full of ppl and call it a team...a team has to be built...simple as that

[Cornfedwb]

I think any NBA team would win...the reason the US team isnt winning is because they are all used to being the stars and playing to themselves and not using teamwork....now put in a NBA team that uses teamwork and is used to each other,thats a different story

You know, I hear this alot. But explain to be how the 92, 96 and 2000 us mens basketball teams trounced the competition (not to mention the majority of the world championship teams). They all worked with the same setting.. very little practice time together, a bunch of egotistical superstars, etc.

The reason they lost is A. Larry Brown just did not have control of them team, and B. They had NO shooting guard.. that works in the NBA, not in the international game.

[Zenithian Legend]

The fact that 9/10 people who don't even watch basketball knew the USA's weaknesses and serious flaws, is probably the main reason they're playing for the Bronze.

[Xevious]

This is a very good thread. I have to say that the Pistons as a unit would be better than the current Olympic Team

[johnnyoski]

There are more obvious reasons that they lost.
1. International basketball teams have closed the talent gap on the US. Back in 92 and 96 the US was light years ahead of the other countries, now they are still the most talented but not by nearly as much.
2. They did not play towards their strengths. LB should have had them running the floor and pressing more.
3. NBA basketball is quite different from International. In the NBA most of the scoring is based on player isolation and physical inside play. Tim Duncan fouled out in over half of these games (only 5 fouls allowed). A player of his caliber gets the benefit of the doubt on many borderline calls, but that was not the case here.
And on the original subject, I think Detroit and Indiana would have had a good shot at the gold. Their concept of team basketball fits this style of play well.

[the_deej]

yes

[whiteboy]

well i dont blame anyone from the lakers or pistons from not going since they ended their season not long before the olympics start. i knew from the beginning that we werent going to win gold. If Allen Iverson is a team captain then how much should we really expect?

[WildWop]

No.

Did you ever sit there and say, damn, these Pistons sure can shoot? NO. In order to win on the international level, you have to have good pure shooters that make shots consistently. The Pistons won for their defense, which dominates the paint. International teams shoot a LOT from beyond the arc.

[CaseyRyback]

no. Richard Hamilton was supposed to be on the olympic team and dropped.

I think someone else on Detroit also dropped (maybe Ben Wallace?)

[magilacudy]

The Pistons would probably fall short of a gold, but would probably claim a silver or bronze, here's why.

-The Pistons don't have international experience. I believe Ben Wallace is the only member to have played FIBA style ball.
-The Pistons seem deep in a 48 minute game, but in the shorter international game they would not have enough time to get back into games - lack of scoring, and players would lack rest...
-This might not affect Rip or Ben as much, but older folks like Campbell and Rasheed 'Foot held together with duct tape' Wallace would tire out quickly especially with the 3 games in 3 days format of the finals
-They have trouble defending the perimeter. Look at the Bucks (if the first round was in 5 game format) and Nets series where the Pistons were almost shot out of contention
-Ben Wallace is still not a true offensive threat. He made a lot of strides since the 2002 games, but in international ball the Pistons are still playing 4 on 5 offensively.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Pistons. It's just that it seems international ball requires much more than just teamwork, skill and athleticism. A successful team needs to understand the international game period. It might be impossible for the US at this point unless the NBA shifts to FIBA rules or a year-round Olympic team is created.

[/rant]

[magilacudy]

well i dont blame anyone from the lakers or pistons from not going since they ended their season not long before the olympics start. i knew from the beginning that we werent going to win gold. If Allen Iverson is a team captain then how much should we really expect?

Said like a true whiteboy :shock:

[Cornfedwb]

well i dont blame anyone from the lakers or pistons from not going since they ended their season not long before the olympics start. i knew from the beginning that we werent going to win gold. If Allen Iverson is a team captain then how much should we really expect?

Said like a true whiteboy :shock:

I see where he's coming from.. your team captain should be your inspirational guidance. When you have a man (and I use that term loosely) with all of the problems AI has had.. he's not much of a leader.

[Tromack]

I think any NBA team would win...the reason the US team isnt winning is because they are all used to being the stars and playing to themselves and not using teamwork....now put in a NBA team that uses teamwork and is used to each other,thats a different story
Exactly. I mean a team with no real 3 point shooters? What were they thinking? And I think time has shown that Iverson can't be the centerpiece of a team.

[magilacudy]

Iverson led a scrappy Sixers team to the Finals a few years back. I believe he's gotten a bad rep from the media. His off-court struggles aside, on the floor the man plays with heart.

He played with a broken thumb for crying out loud (and still hit a decent percentage of 3s that game). That's inspiration if you ask me.

[rajchakrabarti]

Iverson led a scrappy Sixers team to the Finals a few years back. I believe he's gotten a bad rep from the media. His off-court struggles aside, on the floor the man plays with heart.

He played with a broken thumb for crying out loud (and still hit a decent percentage of 3s that game). That's inspiration if you ask me.


i agree .. iverson played hard every play..... he other then duncan were the only players that looked like they wanted to win.

[WarrenGekko]

:shock:

This was not a Dream Team. They could not play defenese and they couldn't figure out the zone D on them.

You put the old Dream Team (from 92). (not at thier current ages)
Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkely, Stockton, Malone, Ewing, Robinson, etc. and there is no doubt they could beat everyone this year.

[ex0]

They really were a nice team, they'd most likely do better then team USA and get a gold or silver.

[Moxio]

I believe the Pistons would have done better than the USA team.

[bignick]

:shock:

This was not a Dream Team. They could not play defenese and they couldn't figure out the zone D on them.

You put the old Dream Team (from 92). (not at thier current ages)
Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkely, Stockton, Malone, Ewing, Robinson, etc. and there is no doubt they could beat everyone this year.

I was just thinking about that. Those were some of the best players ever.

[MGoBlue]

The Pistons would have won gold because thay play as a team and basketball is a team sport.

[JSweeney]

no. Richard Hamilton was supposed to be on the olympic team and dropped.

I think someone else on Detroit also dropped (maybe Ben Wallace?)

Can't blame big Ben... he had an emergency appendectomy not long ago.
No one is in game shape after something like that.

[CaseyRyback]

no. Richard Hamilton was supposed to be on the olympic team and dropped.

I think someone else on Detroit also dropped (maybe Ben Wallace?)

Can't blame big Ben... he had an emergency appendectomy not long ago.
No one is in game shape after something like that.

Richard Hamilton is in the same situtation with his nose. I am sure he wants to let it heal before returning to the court.

I have nothing aganist either of them for the reasons they chose not to go, but that said it was just to prove the point that they would not win the Gold medal

[Steggy]

I think any NBA team would win...the reason the US team isnt winning is because they are all used to being the stars and playing to themselves and not using teamwork....now put in a NBA team that uses teamwork and is used to each other,thats a different story


Agreed, which is why many sports stars dont even accept an invitation to the olympics. Its sad realy.

[Zenithian Legend]

:shock:

This was not a Dream Team. They could not play defenese and they couldn't figure out the zone D on them.

You put the old Dream Team (from 92). (not at thier current ages)
Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkely, Stockton, Malone, Ewing, Robinson, etc. and there is no doubt they could beat everyone this year.

I was just thinking about that. Those were some of the best players ever.

Ya with a few glaring flaws. IE - "the snub" John Stockton never should've been on that team in place of Isiah Thomas. Thomas proved it next time they played when he poured 42 on Stockton. Man, I remember how much that pissed me off when Isiah was snubbed.

[Zenithian Legend]

No.

Did you ever sit there and say, damn, these Pistons sure can shoot? NO. In order to win on the international level, you have to have good pure shooters that make shots consistently. The Pistons won for their defense, which dominates the paint. International teams shoot a LOT from beyond the arc.

Clearly you watched about 0 Piston games, while the Pistons did win with their defense, Rip, Chauncey, Mike James and Hunter were all legit 3 point shooters. Although, Hunter really stopped shooting after he left Detroit for the first time. Tayshaun also had a good shot and Okur wasn't a bad shooter either, more from the 10-12 ft range though. The Pistons perimeter D and relentless man-to-man coverage (I think) would've shut down any European teams.

[CaseyRyback]

:shock:

This was not a Dream Team. They could not play defenese and they couldn't figure out the zone D on them.

You put the old Dream Team (from 92). (not at thier current ages)
Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkely, Stockton, Malone, Ewing, Robinson, etc. and there is no doubt they could beat everyone this year.

I was just thinking about that. Those were some of the best players ever.

Ya with a few glaring flaws. IE - "the snub" John Stockton never should've been on that team in place of Isiah Thomas. Thomas proved it next time they played when he poured 42 on Stockton. Man, I remember how much that pissed me off when Isiah was snubbed.

MJ would not play with Isiah. That was the reason he was omitted

[Zenithian Legend]

That was the rumor, apparently MJ didn't like Isiah because of how many times he got brutalized playing Detroit, if you're familiar with the "Jordan rules" that Detroit used to beat him prior to 1991.