US Men's Hoops - No Gold !!

They just weren't set up for international play. That's what happens when you pick marketability over building a fundamentally sound team.
 
I'm not surprised we lost but I'm a bit disappointed we couldn't even make it to the medal game. All streaks must come to an end and I guess dominating in men's basketball is no different. Bummer.
 
"They just weren't set up for international play. That's what happens when you pick marketability over building a fundamentally sound team. "

True.

I do feel bad for them though.
 
I don't feel bad for one of them. They have tens of millions of dollars, dozens of cars and 5,000+ square feet homes to go back to.

No heart I tell you, no heart.
 
I am so damn disappointed, sloppy passing everywhere especially on fast breaks breaks. Mainly when they can easily get an easy dunk/layup but go for a fancy pass instead that usually got stolen. The usa women have really dominated in the olympics though. Not only in basketball either soccer, wrestling, and softball have really showed heart.
 
[quote name='Steve Dave']"They just weren't set up for international play. That's what happens when you pick marketability over building a fundamentally sound team. "

True.

I do feel bad for them though.[/quote]

Is this a joke? Marketability? I suppose the high marketability value of the team is why half the country was rooting against them. :roll:
 
"I don't feel bad for one of them. They have tens of millions of dollars, dozens of cars and 5,000+ square feet homes to go back to. "

True but that doesn't fit into the equation for me. These are the players who wanted to go. While ben wallace and rip hamilton were pussying out these guys stood up and said they would go and represent us. I am disappointed in the outcome but not in the players themselves. What did tim duncan or iverson need to go to the olympics for? They didn't, but they chose to represent us in the games and I feel bad that they didn't have a good showing.

I am bigger fans of iverson and duncan who I didn't care about now then I was before the olympics.
 
Good, I'm glad they lost. It's embarrasing for us to send a bunch of over paid, individualisitic showboats. If they can't learn to play as a team, rather then individuals, then they deserve to lose. It's the same problem Philly has been having since Iverson came to town...

If none of the Pros wanted to go to the Olympics then they should have allowed college aged kids to go, like in the old days. I promise you, those kids would have played as a team.
 
[quote name='Advocatus']Good, I'm glad they lost. It's embarrasing for us to send a bunch of over paid, individualisitic showboats. If they can't learn to play as a team, rather then individuals, then they deserve to lose. It's the same problem Philly has been having since Iverson came to town...

If none of the Pros wanted to go to the Olympics then they should have allowed college aged kids to go, like in the old days. I promise you, those kids would have played as a team.[/quote]

oh go fuckyourself
 
Hopefully this will encourage our real players to commit to playing next olympics. Other then Marion, Duncan, AI, and Lebron, the rest of those guys really didn't belong on the team. I also have to really question Larry Brown's rotation, his starting 5 never really looked good together from the start, but yet he stuck with them the entire tournament. He seemed to be unable to figure out which players were having good games and which weren't.

Other then Marion, Duncan, and Lebron no other player was consistant. Instead of rotating other guys in and giving them a chance to perform to gauge who was feeling it and who weren't he kept playing Jefferson, Marbury, AI, and Wade. Each of the those players really only had 1 or 2 good games and yet he kept playing them when it was pretty obivious they weren't playing well.

The officiating didn't help either, especially those horrible fouls against Duncan. Still I gotta give credit to Argentina, they played a really great game.
 
First of all do not blame the players who are playing for America as it is not fair. They wanted to be there and represent their country, and they should not be faulted for this.

Second, Blame USA Basketball and Larry Brown, as they chose a team that would sell jerseys and not a team that would win games. They could have corrected the problems that were evident during the 2002 World Championships, but chose not to. LeBron, Carmello, Wade, and Okafour have no business on the team, as they do not have the fundamentals to play well with others yet (Wade will by the next olympics though).

To back up my point, they left Ron Artest (who wanted to go to Athens ) off the team. This is the defensive player of the year, and a person who knows how to play with a team.
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']First of all do not blame the players who are playing for America as it is not fair. They wanted to be there and represent their country, and they should not be faulted for this.

Second, Blame USA Basketball and Larry Brown, as they chose a team that would sell jerseys and not a team that would win games. They could have corrected the problems that were evident during the 2002 World Championships, but chose not to. LeBron, Carmello, Wade, and Okafour have no business on the team, as they do not have the fundamentals to play well with others yet (Wade will by the next olympics though).

To back up my point, they left Ron Artest (who wanted to go to Athens ) off the team. This is the defensive player of the year, and a person who knows how to play with a team.[/quote]

I have to disagree with you about Lebron, I thought he played very well when given the chance and should have started at point guard IMO, he is an incredible passer with great court vision, which this team needed a lot more of.

You are dead right though about USA basketball, they did a horrible job picking a team, also if you are blaming Brown for the selections, note that he didn't really have a say, he made recomendations but by and large USA basketball ignored them.


EDIT: I'm surprised more people aren't talking about this? I mean it's not really shocking that we lost, considering things, but I still think it's kind of a big deal.
 
[quote name='jimbodan'][quote name='CaseyRyback']First of all do not blame the players who are playing for America as it is not fair. They wanted to be there and represent their country, and they should not be faulted for this.

Second, Blame USA Basketball and Larry Brown, as they chose a team that would sell jerseys and not a team that would win games. They could have corrected the problems that were evident during the 2002 World Championships, but chose not to. LeBron, Carmello, Wade, and Okafour have no business on the team, as they do not have the fundamentals to play well with others yet (Wade will by the next olympics though).

To back up my point, they left Ron Artest (who wanted to go to Athens ) off the team. This is the defensive player of the year, and a person who knows how to play with a team.[/quote]

I have to disagree with you about Lebron, I thought he played very well when given the chance and should have started at point guard IMO, he is an incredible passer with great court vision, which this team needed a lot more of.

You are dead right though about USA basketball, they did a horrible job picking a team, also if you are blaming Brown for the selections, note that he didn't really have a say, he made recomendations but by and large USA basketball ignored them.[/quote]

Yea, but LeBron did not show up for a long time, and once he did, Carmello started sucking.

I would have replaced all first year players with:

Michael Finley
Ron Artest
Nick Van Exel
Jayson Williams

people who play with quality teams and who know how to be stars and role players.
 
I think one of the problems was they all seemed to be passing the ball too damn much. I mean past Dream Teams have been built on dominating the other teams, crushing their spirit, and resulting in blowout wins, or at least wins for that matter. Instead of laying a ball up or dunking on some foreigners, which is what most people wanted to see anyway, they would pass the ball outside for someone to miss an open 3, or try to dump the ball off to someone else inside and result in a turnover. I didn't really see the explosiveness that USA basketball is known for. Honestly, it was painfully obvious that no one could hit an outside shot, except Marbury for part of one game, so why not try something else that works and plays to your teams strenght.
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']

Yea, but LeBron did not show up for a long time, and once he did, Carmello started sucking.

I would have replaced all first year players with:

Michael Finley
Ron Artest
Nick Van Exel
Jayson Williams

people who play with quality teams and who know how to be stars and role players.[/quote]

I think I would have gone at it a little differently, I would have replaced Jefferson, Anthony, Okafor, Stoudemire, Marbury, and Wade with Brent Barry, Brad Miller, Ron Artest, Bruce Bowen, and Michael Redd.

That way you have some defensive with Artest and Bowen and some shooting with Barry, Redd and Miller. Miller would have matched up well with the European big men who can all shoot the jumper as he can shoot very well for a big man.
 
[quote name='jimbodan'][quote name='CaseyRyback']

Yea, but LeBron did not show up for a long time, and once he did, Carmello started sucking.

I would have replaced all first year players with:

Michael Finley
Ron Artest
Nick Van Exel
Jayson Williams

people who play with quality teams and who know how to be stars and role players.[/quote]

I think I would have gone at it a little differently, I would have replaced Jefferson, Anthony, Okafor, Stoudemire, Marbury, and Wade with Brent Barry, Brad Miller, Ron Artest, Bruce Bowen, and Michael Redd.[/quote]

Bowen and Barry would have been awesome as both can shoot from outside and play defense.

The Spurs are the team to beat next year
 
[quote name='Advocatus'][quote name='Zenithian Legend']oh go fuckyourself[/quote]

You're a mature fellow aren't you?[/quote]

Hey when people spew nothing but ingnorance.. how else can you respond, I could either pick apart your pathetic argument about sending college kids or call you out for the dumbfuck you are... I picked option B.
 
Lol, I wouldn't say that there was really patriotism involved in them going, considering how pampered they were in Athens. They stayed on a fantastic, couple billion dollar boat, getting absolutely all their desires fulfilled. Call me crazy, but if that wasn't involved I don't think over half of them would even bother showing up. I also completely agree with anyone who thought the team totally sucked this year.
 
No one is saying they were the best Team USA, but for God's sake anyone who's an American should be ashamed to be cheering this loss. A permanent scar on USA basketball has been left by the 2004 games and all that came with them. The worst part is, in reality, Tim Duncan shouldn't have been on this team, and then they might have finished 1-4, with only a win over Angola.
 
[quote name='Forest Mercenary']Lol, I wouldn't say that there was really patriotism involved in them going, considering how pampered they were in Athens. They stayed on a fantastic, couple billion dollar boat, getting absolutely all their desires fulfilled. Call me crazy, but if that wasn't involved I don't think over half of them would even bother showing up. I also completely agree with anyone who thought the team totally sucked this year.[/quote]

WOW, just WOW. USA basketball has been to many olympics before without staying on "billion dollar boats" I highly doubt that was the reason these athletes choose to come. If it was such a big deal to stay on that boat how come many other NBA players declined to come? Also do you have any idea how much extra work these players had to do to prepare for the games? Hardly my idea of a nice relaxing summer vacation.
 
To be honest you can't blame Larry Brown dor choosing this team. If I am not mistaken, a lot of the better players in the league turned down invitations. Richard Hamilton, Big Ben, Shaq, Kevin Garnett, Karl Malone, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Mike Bibby, Kenyon Martin, Elton Brand, Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen.

The fact is that that we have to have have guys that are committed for international ball including the Pan-Am games and Goodwill and the World Championships. THe fact that we could just throw our best players together and kill teams was something that was going to end sooner or later.

Also, Team USA losing is not that much of a shock. Serbia-Montenegro (defending) world champs didn't even make it to the medal round (granted they were without Peja) and previously undefeated Lithuania lost to lightly regarded Italy. There were more upsets than just Team USA and its a shame that people son't realize that. I understand why the focus is on the US because of our previous dominance but it really shows how the media can paint a one-sided picture.

The Team USA guys deserve more respect than they are getting. They had guys go who didn't concern themselves with security issues OR fear of losing face if they lost. I have more respect for guys like Lamar Odom who was in danger of his career flopping due to his weed habits, then he turns himself around and says he WANTS to represent his country. That is something he probably never dreamed he'd have a chance to do.

Having solely college players represent us is probably not the best idea. Sure I would have loved to see Ben Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Jameer Nelson play but look at the 2004 draft....

http://www.nba.com/draft2004/board.html

To be honest, the players OVERALL aren't that impressive.
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']No one is saying they were the best Team USA, but for God's sake anyone who's an American should be ashamed to be cheering this loss. A permanent scar on USA basketball has been left by the 2004 games and all that came with them. The worst part is, in reality, Tim Duncan shouldn't have been on this team, and then they might have finished 1-4, with only a win over Angola.[/quote]

You're obviously a fresh faced teenager... Once you mature and see the United States for what it really is, then you'll understand. It's not until you meet people from other countries, that you realize what this country stands for and how it treats the world. Part of being American, and part of being a citizen is speaking your mind openly, and freely... and that's even if that insults some teenager on a forum, who clearly hasn't left Mom and Dad's womb.

Grow up kid... it's never alright to resort to profanity in an argument on a forum. You just look stupid. Remember arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, even if you will, you're still retarded.
 
Wow.... my first true cag enemy.... and it only took 1100+ posts... and you seem to have taken only 125, nice work chief :roll:. Let's set our facts straight here, and prove who the real retard is. First learn how to spell. Second don't make assumptions, I understand you're an asshole, but don't subject anyone else on this board to your stupidity. I moved out of the house at 18... my guess is from the way you come off, you're probably 13 and still live at home. Then there's this bit about me not meeting people from other countries... ya, you know me pretty good, seeing how I've spent 2 weeks in Europe. I could care less how other countries view the USA, if you live in the USA you should like it or get the fuck out.

But, the best part is how you say grow up and it's "never alright to result to profanity on a forum", as though you're the God of all message boards, and make the laws that everyone else must abide by. Then you fail again to insult me by saying that
You just look stupid. Remember arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics, even if you will, you're still retarded.
Click to expand...
Seriously, messing up a quote like that makes you look like a genuine retard.

So, my parting thought, why not take your holier-than-thou attitude over to gamefaqs where they praise that kind of crap, because no one wants to read that or any other crap you spew here.
 
[quote name='Zenithian Legend']Wow.... my first true cag enemy.... and it only took 1100+ posts... .[/quote]


Congratulations... naw really I'm sure enemy isn't the right word, people have arguments all the time here (I seem to be having 2 at the moment) but usually after a time everythings good. Really seems to be the nature of the beast though, Anonymous Bulletin Boards are fraught with the danger of becoming filled with arguement. Chances are in a month you will be 'allied' with this fella against someone else in an argument.
 
[quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']I don't feel bad for one of them. They have tens of millions of dollars, dozens of cars and 5,000+ square feet homes to go back to.

No heart I tell you, no heart.[/quote]

I am really disappointed that the US will not bring home gold this year, but I agree with you - I don't think they had the heart to win.
 
I believe that we placed right where we should have in basketball. I do not believe that we played well enough against the other teams in order to get a gold medal. Watching the way that the American team walked into their first game just showed me how confident they thought they were, and how they were going to lay an astronomical beatdown on every team and easily get the gold. Unfortunately for them, it did not go that way at all. They shot horribly, and did not play well as a team altogether until the bronze medal match. I just hope that at the next olympics things will be different, because I am sure there are quite a bit of people in America waiting for our players to come back to give them a piece of their mind
 
[quote name='Lancey Howard'][quote name='PittsburghAfterDark']I don't feel bad for one of them. They have tens of millions of dollars, dozens of cars and 5,000+ square feet homes to go back to.

No heart I tell you, no heart.[/quote]

I am really disappointed that the US will not bring home gold this year, but I agree with you - I don't think they had the heart to win.[/quote]

I disagree about them not having heart. When they lost is wasn't due to lack of effort, they were just beat by a better team, bottom line. Yeah, alot of pro athletes are spoiled but what they go home to and what they have money-wise is irrelevant. A LOT of people had been dumping on them (I'm sure the majority have never experienced competitive basketball on ANY level either), and Team USA could have tanked the Bronze Medal game. Instead they came back in the 2nd half to win against a team that beat them earlier in Lithuania. That IS heart. They didn't turn tail or make excuses. When they (they being the millionaires) lost they were gracious in doing so and that seems to be left out whenever people talk about Team USA.
 
[quote name='CaseyRyback']http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5851082/

:applause:[/quote]

I agree with AI on that CaseyRyback. I don't always see eye to eye with AI, but even his harshest critics have to agree with those statements.
 
Let's face it, the gap has closed between the US and other International teams. 10-12 years ago you would be lucky to see 1 or 2 International players taken in the NBA draft, now they are regular lottery picks for many teams.
MOST of Team USA played with their hearts, and they played pretty darn good once the medal round started. Sure I'm disappointed but maybe something good came out of this.
 
I think that this has been an overall weird olympics for America. It seems that the events that we were expected to do well in ended up not how we wanted, and in other events where we have not won gold in many years we seem to have come out on top ( what comes to mind is the gold that we won in fencing, which not many were expecting, and also an event America has not gotten gold in for who knows how long). I say that these olympics were very enjoyable, both for the good and bad parts.
 
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