Olympic Basketball
 

I think it's clear from the performance of the US team, that other countries are really catching up in terms of skill level. Theoretically the US should be able to send any combination of NBA players and whip the other teams.

It's true that a hodge-podge group of players won't play as well because they're not used to playing with the other teammates.

Still, you can see the difference in how the US and European teams play. The Europeans focus on shooting the ball from the 3-point line and freethrows. The US players just aren't up to par at shooting. They can only go inside to score.

The US team is learning a lesson this year. I think scouts and the NBA are going to have to focus on skills other than dunking to have the best players.

If only that were true... You do realize the players who would have made a difference, but declined. But instead, we have a variety of young, inexperienced ball players who can't sink in any shots or honestly couldn't care less.

I really doubt that the NBA players take the olympics seriously, they just care about the paycheck that's coming in back in the states. Of course the opposing teams go all out trying to topple the U.S. from its high horse since this is what they strive for-- To beat the overwhelming powerhouse that has won every consecutive Olympic basketball gold.

Then again, the basketball world has its mind set on the Dream Team. Such a group of talented players cannot be assembled now, and perhaps never will. They think that every team the U.S. sends to the Olympics is capable of the power that the Dream Team had wielded. Reality is, the U.S. Olympics team is just like any other human basketball team-- They can win ... And lose.

I'm with you AdultNex. I'm watching the US vs. Lithuania right now and I can assure you these guys don't care one bit. They're throwing the ball away, chucking up lazy shots, and couldn't play defense if their life depended on it. It's pathetic and embarrasing. :feels-hot

Shaq
Mcgrady
Bryant
Garnett
Houston

Do i even need to say anything else? you people know nothing about bball, people are not catching up to the USA 1%, if these players came every game would be +20 points USA.

u take 5 of the best players away from any other country and they would not even compete, just shows u how good these players are.

I think it's a combination of both.

The european basketball is much better then it used to be, and also the US players aren't the best that US could send, and aren't giving their 100% best....

what's the score?

Exactly.

What benefit does losing or winning the Olympic gold serve you as an NBA professional? They still get to go back to the states, play on their team, sit back and count the millions that they are paid.

you have a point, but seeing as the NBA is so much better then any european league, one would expect from players like Tim Duncan, Alan Iverson, Laveron James, Carmelo Anthony, Lamar Odom etc' to deliver better results then they are displaying...

her's my first 5, the real Dream Team :)

Shaq
Duncan
Garnett
Kobe
Kidd

I agree with the Kobe's and Garnett's the US team would win.

But you can't tell me it doesn't matter to the US players playing in the Olympics. It matters. They played their hardest against Lithuinia. But Lithuinia beat them. You could see the desperation in the US team nearing the end.

The US team shouldn't have to send Kobe bryant or Shaq to win against these teams. The US players get paid millions. They're the best in the country. The Lithuianian players probably get paid 10k per year.

Exactly my point. These are some of the BEST players in the NBA but can't deliver against Lithuania??? Where the hell is Lithuania??? Gimme a break. It's embarrasing.

The NBA will be revamped after this year's Olympics. Focusing on primary basketball skills. Less focus on dunking or going inside. What ever happened to the other skills like being able to shoot from the foul line or making a 3-point shot?

The oldschool players had these rudimentary skills down pat. They could play from the inside and the outside. The US has gotten too bogged down in going to the basket. 3-point shooting is why the Lithuanian team won. They sucked at going inside but that didn't matter. They can shoot and make freethrows too.

If the US couches focus on these other basic skills, the US team will slaughter as they always did and it wouldn't matter who form the NBA they sent.

You can bet it matters to them. They and their couch have been humiliated. Losing twice EVER in the Olympics. You saw the way they walked off the court, heads down in shame. They know they should have destroyed Lithuiania and Puerto Rico. You can bet they're going to try their best not to lose again.

They lose face. They lose the prestige that says US basketball is the best in the world. That image is becoming increasingly tarnished and it started from the previous Olympics.

The team is just too unorganised and have no hearth . That's about it . Skill wise, they rape any other country

The difference is in the paycheck I guess. You figure you can take the 5 best players out of the NBA and still beat a poor no-name country in terms of basketball. Without those 5 players, then, the NBA means squat in your opinion. All the other players are mediocre but get paid top dollar for it. Pathetic any way you look at it. Trust me, the US cared about winning this game and tried their hardest. It doesn't really matter if Lebron James is a newbie. He's suppose to be one of the best in the country or he wouldn't be in the NBA to begin with.

It just smells because I love US basketball and I hate seeing them lose.

They are suppose to represent.. what the hell is wrong with them?

Exactly... should be able to send the worst NBA players and still win by about 10 points.

Come on Duncan and Co. Ante up!

What the US needs is outside shooting. Out of the 5 players you listed, only Houston could provide this. Bryant and McGrady would be stopped as easily as Iverson by the zone defense which takes away everything within 12 feet of the hoop.

Let's face it: Europeans are simply better basketball players at this point in time.

If I owned a NBA team I know where I would start looking for talent..

If your going to spend a ridiculous amount of money for basketball players they meant as well be the best money can buy

Ive always wondered why the NBA hardly has any euro players? there are a lot of good ones from eastern europe, spain etc.

94-90

Lithuania won by 4 points!

That might change after episodes like this:1orglaugh

well obviously you're underestimating european basketball if you're underestimating the Lithuanian team...

why didnt shaq, bryant, etc play for their country?

I think every player's dream should be to represent their country at the Olympic games so if all those NBA millionaires are not interested in the Olympics then they are not real sportsmen.

thats absolutely sad and fucking pathetic

what assholes

so you mean to tell me that many skilled american players didnt want to represent their country?

unfuckingbelieable.. only in america

Lithuania over years had some great players, many of them played at NBA. Have you heard of Sabonis and Marciulionis?



Embarrassing to not know where Lithuania is.

no :1orglaugh

US Olympic basketball team didn't sign the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) agreement like the rest teams across all sports.


http://www.nba.com/playerfile/arvydas_sabonis/?nav=page

then you're not a big basketball fan

and proud of it

basketball is a ridiculously stupid 'sport'

This is why more teams are drafting European players now

I don't think they're catch up to the states in terms of skill, but it's more of they play as a team and with heart and determination. Theres no I in team un like the Americans

The USA is worse, more so than other countries improving, and this other thread is better
http://www.gofuckyourself.com/showth...adid=344391&s=

Michael Redd...
Tayshaun Prince...
Rasheed Wallace..
Dwayne Wade (yea, i know he's there)
and Brad Miller

now that's a starting five that will straight out PLAY.

then we add Rip Hamilton..keep Le Bron, Jefferson and Odom

then add Chris Webber, Sam Cassell, Shane Battier.

Redd was the only obvious choice that should have been invited and wasnt. I said that after their first loss. Sam Cassell might do well too.

Rip said no.

its obvious that you dont follow olympics basketball, because we took the bronze in atlanta, barcelona and sydney games.

I don't think there catching up in skill. I just think the current US basketball team just doesn't give a shit about winning. They have no heart and play like its exhibition.

All I gotta say is

WE GOT FUCKING

http://www.owned-pictures.com/owned-pictures/006.jpg

Some of them said they were worried about a terrorist attack on them.

I think this is their off season, and they want to rest up and enjoy the couple months they have off a year. I really don't blame them for that.:2 cents:

True... great players, but we're talking about the NBA versus Lithuania. And yes I know where Lithuania is, it was just a figure of speech.

I had no idea we took bronze so many times before. I haven't followed Olympic basketball since 1992 when the dream team was there. I guess anything less than that is anti-climactic. Never seen so much skill on a single court and we never will again.

didn't notice that topic before....
i'm from Lithuania and i'm proud of that, and yesterday, it was kinda celebration for all of us, people went to the streets, shouted, sang, many fireworks etc....

we all saw how our little 3 million people country made multimillion USA in basketball.... Lithuania is also an Europe champion too, so don't think about "who are they to win"...

Basketball is one of he best games for lithuanians, yesterday's game was the most watched sports event, even my mom and grandma saw it it meant very much for us.

Those of you who think that USA are gods in basketball are wrong. and you saw games with Puerto Rico and Lithuania, when Puerto Rico won against american stars who thought that world in on its knees.... lithuanians won against american basketball team which used to know that there's basketball in europe and other countries too...

It's foolish to bash your players for their mistakes or that they missed a 3-point shoot or so. A game is not always just a game, it's luck, it's situation. Shaq is not a good too, he misses sometimes too, right?

Last Olympics, USA won against Lithuania and the difference was only 2 points. 4 years ago your coaches should have seen their enemies for the further 4 years, but seems that they missed that....

Americans don't know european or world baskerball from inside. They can only watch TV and tapes. Many Lithuanian players played or play now in NBA, Sabonis (beloved by Boneprone ;)), Marciulionis (as Soul Rebel said), Karnisovas, Ilgauskas (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/zydrun....html?nav=page) and the same Songaila (http://www.nba.com/playerfile/darius....html?nav=page and http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/player...e?statsId=3647) and Javtokas (who will play in NBA sometime soon)
Lithuanians know NBA from inside!

All Lithuanian team players mostly don't play in native basketball clubs, they are paid very good (more than 10k$) to play in the best world clubs, as i know, former head coatch of last olympiocs basketball team Kazlauskas (http://www.athens2004.com/en/Partici...nts?pid=414452) is the coatch if Chinese team, and see what's chinese basketball these days....

Lithuanians will win gold this olympics, we're enough of bronze for the last 3 olympics!

I like american NBA basketball, really, sometimes i even watch finals or all star games, i need to get up very late at night so watch them. But in olympics, i'm with european teams or teams from other world part when they play with NBA....

NBA is more of a show, real athletic sportsmen, too sad that mostly they are afro-americans, but anyways they make what they are paid for. European basketball is harder game, more brainy game with lots of joy or tears.....

this is all i wanted to say before going to bed.... it's late now.

if somebody has something agains what i said here, we can discuss it.....

see ya

hahaha

well, Lithuania vs Australia: 25 points difference after 2 halfs