SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Aug 25, 2008 13:26:17 GMT -5
Jim Boeheim had a good quote about USA Hoops. He said in referring to the players committing to the team, "I think it's important to play for the national team now. I think that's what Jerry wanted to do. That was the whole goal."
The commitment our guys made, the team effort, and the reaction of those guys after winning the gold? That was great. And it does present Team USA in a whole new light. It is COOL to play for the USA, with the best guys in the league and against the best in the world, and win.
I would guess there are a lot of top NBA players and current college players who would like to be there next time. Great team effort by all involved. It was a LOT more fun to watch than I thought it would be.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Aug 25, 2008 13:52:17 GMT -5
I guess I don't remember when it "wasn't cool" to play for Team USA in Olympics?
Admittedly--I rooted against this version--but it didn't upset me they won--I just tired of this attitude as if these guys were:
A. Fighting a War B. Curing Cancer/Every Illness to Mankind C. It's a "commitment" to practice/play basketball-which most would be doing anyways D. All of Above
It's BASKETBALL. It's American Ego--that had everyone up in arms. If you let college kids go over, it's more in spirit of Olympics--but we know NBA isn't going to miss marketing globally at any time.
Just tired of hearing how it's "Great" the guys show up to women's games-they did this in '04 too. These guys are "great guys", etc...why? Because they play basketball well? Just disgusting how gushing and "loving" everyone is about the best players in world actually taking court--instead of guys like Marbury, Odom, Marion, etc....and winning. They won a Basketball Tournament--and only difference--if the '04 team won in same way '08 team did in Gold Medal game--it would've been considered a "failure" because of the attitude towards NBA and certain people who are most recognizable/biggest star on the team--aka Iverson.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Aug 25, 2008 14:36:48 GMT -5
If you let college kids go over, it's more in spirit of Olympics How is it "more in the Olympic Spirit" for the US to send college kids when the rest of the world sends professionals?
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Aug 25, 2008 22:51:51 GMT -5
If you let college kids go over, it's more in spirit of Olympics How is it "more in the Olympic Spirit" for the US to send college kids when the rest of the world sends professionals? I just like seeing the best collegiate players represent the country.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Aug 26, 2008 8:55:33 GMT -5
I must have missed this -- In April, FIBA adopted new rules for Int'l Hoops to take effect in 2010. See story from today's NY Times. Excerpts But in two years, the trapezoid will be dead, the arc will be a little deeper and the international game will be a bit closer in style to the N.B.A.’s. The lane will become a rectangle, emulating the United States model. The arc will move to 6.75 meters (22.1 feet) — closer to the N.B.A. standard of 22 feet 9 inches — from 6.25 meters (20.5 feet).
The changes were among several adopted, to little fanfare, by the International Basketball Federation, known as FIBA, in April. The new rules take effect after the world championships in 2010, so they will be in place for the 2012 Olympics in London.
“It’s also probably an endorsement of our game and our rules,” said Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of the senior national team for USA Basketball.
In FIBA’s view, the 3-point shot has become too common. In 1984, when the arc was added in international play, only 14 percent of all field-goal attempts were 3-pointers, Baumann said. Now, he added, that number is 40 percent and players routinely make 38 to 40 percent of them.
FIBA is looking for the combination of a deeper arc and a narrower lane to help open up the floor and allow more movement.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Aug 26, 2008 9:32:54 GMT -5
Well, the title game just reinforced my opinions.
1. In a single-elimination tournament, anything can happen. Especially with international refs and a short 3 point line.
2. The rest of the world is caught up so far that the only things the US has going for it is depth and a few super-duper stars.
3. Without LeBron, Wade and Kobe, this crew is probably better than Spain or Argentina, but not so much that we'd be prohibitive favorites. Getting these guys to commit -- especially James who will still be in peak condition physically then -- is key.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Aug 26, 2008 10:23:02 GMT -5
What should the team be in four years? Who do people think will be the best players?
I'd definitely have these guys back:
Paul, Bosh, Howard, James, Wade and Bryant, even though he'll be about 33, I think.
Oden goes on my list, as well, as well as probably Deron Williams.
What other young players would you put on? Rose as the third PG? John Wall? Durant? Beasley?
I think the Class of 2010 will be too young to make a real impact so I wouldn't go much younger than an NBA rookie this year, personally.
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SirSaxa
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Post by SirSaxa on Aug 26, 2008 10:35:35 GMT -5
Agree with the guys you want back... heck, you could take all of them. Amare Stoudemire would be a candidate. Too soon to tell about Oden, Rose, Durant and Beasley.
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Aug 26, 2008 13:23:50 GMT -5
Stoudemire is a low post guy who refuses to play defense -- I don't like that fit in International Ball and on this team. The change in lane will change some things, but the officiating is the bigger reason why teams don't go low. More important, if you refuse to play D, the US loses its biggest advantage. International teams are closer to us on offense than defense.
They have to pick soon for a lot of their core if they want to play together. So I'd definitely take a flyer on Oden. We need some more size and defense.
Who wouldn't be in the next run?
You could bring Kidd back as a coach, but he'll be more than done as a player.
I don't think I'd invite Redd back. We have a need for all-around players that can shoot, not individual shooters who don't defend. Not that he'd be awful, but I think you could maybe do better. I guess it doesn't matter.
I think there's a real need for a Tayshaun Prince-type player, but is that Prince in four years? Prince will only be 21, but he plays so many minutes, he's thin and defense is the first thing to go. Tough decision.
Carmelo is another tough one. He's a gunner and hurt the team at points, IMO. But he's also one of the better shooters on the team and isn't completely inept at other things.
I guess a lot will depend on who doesn't come back the next time around.
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kghoya
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Post by kghoya on Aug 26, 2008 15:27:51 GMT -5
why would you want bosh back?
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SFHoya99
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Post by SFHoya99 on Aug 26, 2008 15:33:47 GMT -5
Did you want watch any of those games? Bosh was our best interior defender and our best finisher down low. He played the pick and roll well.
In the NBA, he doesn't play D at all, but his lack of bulk is not a huge issue in internaional play.
He had the third? best plus/minus in the games (though there's some correlation with him playing with Wade, who was awesome).
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Aug 26, 2008 17:18:00 GMT -5
Also, Bosh isn't guaranteed to miss his free throws, unlike Howard. Barring injuries, I think you can definitely add Deron Williams to the lock list. He and Chris Paul will be battling for the top point guard designation for the next few years.
If Tayshaun Prince isn't the glue guy in four years, perhaps it will be...
Jeff Green!
Who knows; stranger things have happened.
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FewFAC
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Post by FewFAC on Aug 26, 2008 20:31:56 GMT -5
Williams, Paul, James, Bosh, Wade would be locks if they wanted to recommit/were uninjured.
Some other names I'd throw in the mix:
Joe Johnson Tyson Chandler David West Andre Iguodala
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