USA Hoops WTF?

[Solo]

4 minutes left in the 3rd Quarter and they're down by 20 to a team they beat by 25... what kind of crap is this

[][ceCube]

Yea, well im done watching USA basketball, NBA is gross, the Olympic team should be all College Players that actually care about the game!

[Unfor]

i thought the olympic team WAS all college players...*coughs at everyone but duncan and iverson*

less than 8 to go, and only down by 14! duncan travels, oh no!

[Zogo]

puerto rico is OUR TERRITORY AND IS A TINY COMMONWEALTH WITH A POPULATION OF 4MILLION!@

puerto rico is ahead by 20+...me thinks we should add them as the 51st state since 75% of our NBA stars (and most of our country) are too stupid to realize "terrorists" existed worldwide before 9/11..what a joke. and these commentators DARE to make excuses...

this is so embarassing..DAMN you lazy nba players afraid of terrorists!

edit: there's olympic history..our first olympic loss since nba players were allowed to participate

[KewK]

wow...can't wait to see who takes the heat when we come home without a medal :o

[flewk]

[15:20] <flewk`iG> holy shit gg usa basketball first olympic loss since nba players allowed in
[15:20] <flewk`iG> because all the new nba elite are pussies
[15:20] <flewk`iG> and didnt go
[15:20] <flewk`iG> O NOES EL TERRORISTO BASKETBAL

really i think it's because all the great veterans just retired in the last decade and the new guys are just too young.. and pussies

[Unfor]

we need the Dream Team.

[Mexi]

The Dream Team fucking owned.


This should be our starting 5, if anyone had heart like that Dream Team did...


C - Shaq
PF - Duncan
SF - Garnett
SG - McGrady
PG - Kidd


Or something along those lines. Unstoppable. But our players are fucking useless except Duncan.

[foreveR]

Well, you're never going to get another Dream Team, which is without a doubt the greatest lineup of players of all time, any country.

The players are just cowards, pure and simple. They can sit there and cite reasons why(family...give me a fucking break, there are thousands of Olympic athletes worldwide leaving their families for this) till they turn red in the face, doesn't make them right.

They'd only be on the most protected ship in the fucking world...the thing has Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 as just a small part of their protection, we're talking the world's most elite CT units ever. But they were so hardcore growing up in the "hood"...ooooh. :rolleyes:

[SlaX]

That was horribly embarrasing. Not only was it the first loss for the USA since pro players were allowed in '92 (The ONLY Dream Team), not only was it the 3rd loss for the USA in basketball in olympic play ever, but it was the most lopsided victory ever, by 19 points! FYI The other losses were to the USSR in '72 by 1 [51-50] in controversial fashion in the Gold medal game and to USSR again in '88 by 6 [82-76] in the semis, leaving the US to settle for Bronze. [The USA boycotted 1980 in Moscow, leaving us with no medals, obviously.]

This marks not only their worst defeat in Olympic play, but their first defeat in a 1st Round.

In my opinion, this is not even close to being a "Dream Team". Other than Duncan and possibly James and Iverson (I doubt I'd put Iverson on any DT), everyone else is bench players at best in even the NBA All-Star game.

I still think the USA needs to put the NBA players team vs the best of college team and see which one qualifies for the Olympic team. Every other sport has a qualifier, why not basketball? Oh, will the millionaires cry if they don't get to go? Tough, so do any other athletes that fail at qualifying. Welcome to World Class competition.

Regardless, this year's team shows no energy, heart, nor willingness to compete in the Olympics at all. I said two weeks ago that I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose their first game in, which sadly happened.

If I were coach Larry Brown, I'd take each and every one of them out back and shoot them in the knee ending their pro career for that embarassment. However, at least, I hope it wakes the guys up and we see them stomp the rest of the field. Sadly, I wouldn't be surprised to see us fail to medal at all at this point.

My 2¢

[vekkio]

They'd only be on the most protected ship in the fucking world...the thing has Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 as just a small part of their protection, we're talking the world's most elite CT units ever. But they were so hardcore growing up in the "hood"...ooooh. :rolleyes:

There are very few Army CAG or Navy DEVGRU (formerly known as ST6) operators present at the olympics. But they are there. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) soldiers are also present at the 2004 Olympics and they are providing the bulk of the security. The Delta boys are amazingly good at what they do but not the best. CAG was formed in the shadow of British SAS. SEAL's go back to the Second World War. The frogmen who stormed the Normandy beaches on June 6th, 1944 were the forerunners to today's Navy SEALs.

ANYWAY, that was a pathetic performance by our Olympic basketball team.

[janordy]

Haha Duncan is only one who deserves to be on team USA the rest can go fuck themselves. Im actually happy they lost.

[Unfor]

i've been saying it all along, duncan is the only one that deserves his spot there (and maybe AI).

Greeks are spending a ridiculous amount on security aren't they?

I still think the USA needs to put the NBA players team vs the best of college team and see which one qualifies for the Olympic team. Every other sport has a qualifier, why not basketball? Oh, will the millionaires cry if they don't get to go? Tough, so do any other athletes that fail at qualifying. Welcome to World Class competition.

You've got to be kidding me. The NBA guys would tear the shit out of the NCAA guys. You do realize that even the shittiest NBA guys were (at the time) the best in the nation in college? That is how they got into the NBA...at least the majority that is...College players lack true experience...as this young USA team has shown.

[SlaX]

You've got to be kidding me. The NBA guys would tear the shit out of the NCAA guys. You do realize that even the shittiest NBA guys were (at the time) the best in the nation in college? That is how they got into the NBA...at least the majority that is...College players lack true experience...as this young USA team has shown.

When the college kids have heart and determination and the pros are asking, "where's my paycheck?", I doubt it.

And taking the past into consideration, in 1996, the USA team played the college all-star team (may have been the World Championship team, but I can't recall) in an exhibition and only BARELY won.

In 2000, the USA Olympic team played another exhibition vs. US college players and lost.

I'm surprised no one ever remembers those games. I have both on tape if you'd like to see them.

[Unfor]

That is why guys like Christian Laettner were so successful in the NBA, despite being able to dominate the college game, day after day.

[Nas-T]

I wanna see the And1 guys in there.

[SlaX]

That is why guys like Christian Laettner were so successful in the NBA, despite being able to dominate the college game, day after day.

I'm a UNC guy too. So I think it's funny when Duke fans think their guys are so great (I can't name one Duke alumni that has had a good career in the NBA). I'm assuming you're also a UNC fan too, considering you're in CH.

I still look back and say "Christian Laettner on Dream Team?" It's true, but the ONLY reason he was, is Duke was dominating that year (even I can't deny that Laettner had a good college career) and Coach K was one of the Team USA Assistant Coaches. If Shaq or 'Zo played for Duke instead of LSU, he'd have been on that team.

Sometimes players can be the best players in college and barely be on court in the NBA. That's why you see Sam Bowie go #2 over Michael Jordan. (edit: I just realized that sounded like I called Sam Bowie the "best players in college". Cancel that... I still don't know what Portland was thinking with that pick. But it beats seeing MJ in a Blazers jersey most of his career.)

[AxioN]

id rather lose with college kids who work their ass off, then win or lose with the nba players. I dont think they should get money to play in the olympics, give them room and board, and let them be happy that our whole nation considers the good enough to represent us. What has happened in this country.

[Vr_]

and they shot 4/27 from the 3-point line too.

come on USA, 3 pointers are like 23 feet away now! they take 23 foot shots all the time and make them, but when it counts then nooooooooo

[Platypus]

immature ball players who are flashy and arrogant and hardly have any fundementals against passionate players whose dreams are to be in the olympics

if you didn't see this one coming sooner you weren't paying enough attention

[foreveR]

There are very few Army CAG or Navy DEVGRU (formerly known as ST6) operators present at the olympics. But they are there. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) soldiers are also present at the 2004 Olympics and they are providing the bulk of the security. The Delta boys are amazingly good at what they do but not the best. CAG was formed in the shadow of British SAS. SEAL's go back to the Second World War. The frogmen who stormed the Normandy beaches on June 6th, 1944 were the forerunners to today's Navy SEALs.

ANYWAY, that was a pathetic performance by our Olympic basketball team.


Actually ST6 would face up very well with the likes of the SAS and GSG-9. I know the entire team isn't there and neither is all of Delta, but there's quite a bit(for SF) of both helping plus all the Green Berets. Still a very well protected ship.

[ffej-OD]

I think this is a joke. I dont care if these arnt the "greatest" NBA players i guarentee if you took the salaries the USA team makes in the NBA it could power the puerto rican economy. Fucking faggots make millions and cant even beat a shitty ass team like puerto rica. What the fuck are these guys making so much money for.

[eon]

they got beat by a bunch of "juan"abes

anyway, surprises me but at the same time it doesn't surprise me. wilbon has been harping about how the us basketball team was about to face reality and some actual competition in this year's olympics for a while now in the washington post(and probably on PTI as well, but i don't watch that very often)

[SlaX]

I would like to add that I think that USA Basketball should pick a good TEAM, perhaps college or even NBA players, as long as they play well together (see my comments on qualifying above).

But this year's team is nothing but a bunch of players. Players who only wanna do one-on-one matchups. Oh wait, that's what the NBA consists of now, but that's another topic.

What USA Basketball needs to do is take out these types of players and perhaps only bring them back when the Olympic committee decides to allow 1-on-1 basketball be an Olympic sport. You never know; beach volleyball spawned from volleyball several years ago.

[Mexi]

I wanna see the And1 guys in there.

lol, did you see that SportsCenter segment? That was great.

[vekkio]

Actually ST6 would face up very well with the likes of the SAS and GSG-9. I know the entire team isn't there and neither is all of Delta, but there's quite a bit(for SF) of both helping plus all the Green Berets. Still a very well protected ship.

Seal Team 6 doesn't exist anymore. It was disbanded and thus has become DEVGRU, Naval Special Warfare Development Group. They're still as badass as they were before but this time with a brand spankin' new cover name.

Oh, and Army Special Forces ARE the Green Berets. There are no other units in the US military that go by this name. All other units designed for unconventional warfare are designated SOF, special operations forces. Take it easy, mister!

[Zogo]

and they shot 4/27 from the 3-point line too.

come on USA, 3 pointers are like 23 feet away now! they take 23 foot shots all the time and make them, but when it counts then nooooooooo


the 3 point line used internationally is ~20 feet..which is 3 feet shorter than the NBA's..which makes the performance of the US even worse.


btw no college team could beat an NBA team even "trying hard."

[PATRIOT]

the 3 point line used internationally is ~20 feet..which is 3 feet shorter than the NBA's..which makes the performance of the US even worse.


btw no college team could beat an NBA team even "trying hard."

Any college team would be crushed by a pro team. People don't realize how good the NBA players are individually. They were all stars in college, or very solid players at worst.

[H-Town]

These players obviously don't care, thus I don't care, and I hope they don't win any medal at all and come back home in shame.

Course, they have to actually feel some pride in order to have shame, so that won't work either...

[AGT-Shady]

Take the number one college team in the country and throw them against the worst team in the NBA and I STILL think the NBA team would win. These highschool kids who skip college for the NBA would DOMINATE in college anyway... I'm not saying they would be in another league but any one of them would be the best player on their team. Not to mention the other players on the team who tore it up in college anyway and would just be like stomping on the young kids.

Seriously Uconn vs. the Magic from last year, the Magic are going to win. Easily. Even if you have the threepoint line at the College level and stuff.

**EDIT** btw, Iverson broke his finger or something but he's playing anyway. Sometimes he can actually shoot the ball.. Yeah we're screwed.

The teams that could do it would need a more polished team, no doubt. But many teams over the past 10 years could absolutely have won ONE game against the lesser NBA teams, if this Olympics have shown you nothing they should have proven that. Matchup zones and clutch shooting can overcome all sorts of individual man-to-man shortcomings.

[Skitz]

the 3 point line used internationally is ~20 feet..which is 3 feet shorter than the NBA's..which makes the performance of the US even worse.


The best 3 point shooter on the team right now is Richard Jefferson who was like 60th in the NBA overall. The US is getting killed because international play is basically all zone defense and since the US has shitty 3 point shooters they can't break down the zone D with an outside game and they get raped trying to get it in the key. The world championship team had Ray Allen and Mike Bibby who could hit consistently from the outside now all we have are Duncan and AI from that team it's not even that big of a surprise we lost to Puerto Rico and can barely pull it off against Greece.

[foreveR]

It's their fault for wanting stars instead of the best players they could get, I'm pretty sure a guy like Billups or Hoidberg would of gone, but instead they wanted big names like Starbury.

The first big names they asked happened to be overall stars and successes and all turned them down for 1 reason or another. Shaq, Kobe, T-Mac, KG, all of them were asked and refused for health problems, court or security issues. I really can't say I wouldn't love to see those 4 on the same team because you know how dominanting they could be.

[flewk]

i guess they cant call in some shooters? probably a roster deadline or something?

[Vr_]

nope =\

[Nas-T]

No. foreveR is right. Delta Force owns the world.


My Counter Terrorist unit can beat up your Counter Terrorist unit.

[Unfor]

they've got nothing on my terrorist units, hizbullah fo' life yo

[Ke-]

When the college kids have heart and determination and the pros are asking, "where's my paycheck?", I doubt it.

And taking the past into consideration, in 1996, the USA team played the college all-star team (may have been the World Championship team, but I can't recall) in an exhibition and only BARELY won.

In 2000, the USA Olympic team played another exhibition vs. US college players and lost.

I'm surprised no one ever remembers those games. I have both on tape if you'd like to see them.


Emeka Okafor or w/e is sure doing a whole ton for the olympic team right?? right??

[PATRIOT]

LoL now the media is trying to tell us that this team has heart and determination because they won two games. Now they are sympathetic figures and all. This is funny, amazing the power of the media, shoving whatever crap they want at us.

[mulisha]

And they lose again 94-90...pathetic.

[Zogo]

US played OK today for THIS team at least. but lithuania is probably the best team here.

US still missed way too many free throws.

[mess]

A turnover by Stephon Marbury was followed by a pair of foul shots by Jasikevicius to make it 93-87 with 57 seconds left.


told you dudes Starbury is the anti-clutch

[ellisonrn]

i never thought i'd see the u.s. team lose to a team of white guys. it's completely against what the nba is.

[Mexi]

^ exactly.

[destroy the map]

i started watchin the game by the 2nd quarter and i already guessed that lithuania would take the lead by the end of the game. US couldnt get out of 4-5 point lead and tried for higher but their missed free throws and horrible defense (guarding the 3-point shooters) only killed their chances of winning.

[mr_germ]

All they need is a little Mullin.

http://www.nba.com/media/warriors/mullin_buzz_275_331.jpg

[Vr_]

they look like theyre in alot of pain

[mess]

lol they lost to Argintina, GG Ratfaced Carmello

[Vr_]

WTF USA basketball SUCKS!

GET SOME PLAYERS AND NOT EGOS!@#$@
or something?

[Zogo]

ratface. lol

[hawk]

The US had by far the most talented players, but they weren't the most talented team. All of the other teams had time to practice as a team, the US really didn't. Even if Shaq, Kobe, KG, etc... would have joined, they might still have lost because of the team dynamics. Basketball is a team sport and throwing together 10 people from random teams with relatively no practice time just won't cut it *anymore.* The rest of the world is getting better at basketball. All of that said,the other teams also care a lot about the Gold metal, the US really didn't (Manu said winning a gold would be better than a NBA championship). The US should just send the NBA or College champs, either of them would have done better than the current US team.

[Vr_]

did you know some players were upset that they werent getting play time? so much for teamwork this olympics.
maybe in another 4 years

[Quazzar]

I think this is a joke. I dont care if these arnt the "greatest" NBA players i guarentee if you took the salaries the USA team makes in the NBA it could power the puerto rican economy. Fucking faggots make millions and cant even beat a shitty ass team like puerto rica. What the fuck are these guys making so much money for.
exactly what I was thinking

[rws]

Now they play Lithuania for bronze, there's a chance (a slim one) that the USA won't medal at all.

[Milosenpotion]

Kinda reminds me of this year's NBA Finals...

[aninja]

I think this is a joke. I dont care if these arnt the "greatest" NBA players i guarentee if you took the salaries the USA team makes in the NBA it could power the puerto rican economy. Fucking faggots make millions and cant even beat a shitty ass team like puerto rica. What the fuck are these guys making so much money for.

^^ Clueless. Maybe if you ever played u ever played on a competative bball team u'd know it would take more than 2 weeks to build team cohesion. The world has closed the gap in individual skill level enough that Team USA's edge in that category can no long overcome the top international teams' ability to play together. Although I am disapointed in the NBA 1st teamers declined (except for Kobe-court, and Jermaine Oneal-injury) it seems to be a fucking retarded judgement to call out TEAM USA just because they make millions. Do you fucking think Michael Phelps along with other US olympic athletes went for free? Most of these olympic athletes wouldn't even particpate if there were no monetary gains involved.

Fact is these NBA stars risked not only injuries, careers, and their multi-million dollar contracts but THEIR lives to represent our country. Meanwhile, some idiots back here showed no support.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=whitlock/040826

[hawk]

Jason Whitlock straight reppin' Kansas City.

[TuanDuay]

I'm suprised they're even contending for a medal.

[Vr_]

i dont get how coaching makes a difference. sure you have a different guy telling you were to go and different plays. but thats all it is.. they already know how to run and jump, how hard is it to listen to someone thats been around the olympics before coaching them on what to expect.

if you cant shoot or defend the 3 point line in int'nl play you dont stand a chance.

[VeeKaChu]

I haven't read the whole thread- it being a couple of weeks old and all- so I don't know if this has been touched on or not, but I'm of the opinion that a big part of the problem for Team USA was going into the proceeding with a firmly entrenched "sense of entitlement" to the gold medal.

Since the inclusion of NBA players to the Olympics we (and I mean ALL OF US, not simply the players/coaches) have kind of labored under the delusion that any dozen NBA players could whup up on anyone else in the world.

I just don't think Team USA believed that they actually would have to try very hard, or would face actual competition.

Really would've been interesting to see what a Phil Jackson coached team would've done this year... Brown's a great coach too, no doubt, and I feel for him, but I think after the early exhibition losses Jackson would've whipped their asses into better shape.

Ah well, now the world has yet another reason to 'laugh and point' at us...