NBA Ballers being targeted by FIBA

[Indazone]

What I wanna know in light of Delfino, Nachbar, Childress...is are there any other premium players being targeted by FIBA?

What about restricted free agents?

JR Smith
Landry
Cassell
Okafor
Deng
Gordon
Barea
Hermann
Monta Ellis
Gomez

Granted some of these guys just get paid too much and are not willing to try the Euroleague but...

Guys like JR Smith, Landry, Herrmann, Deng are ripe for the pickings.

NBA teams do not have matching rules with FIBA Euroleague teams. All the Euroteams have to do is raise their offer above what the match level is for restricted free agents.

[The Franchise]

The NBA is acting like they don't care, but I guarantee you within the next two years Stern will revise the rules as they stand.

[jacobdrj]

You guys are failing to see this as a businessperson:
By NBA talent being wooed into Europe with Higher Salaries, that means that the parent companies that own these teams are spending more money. If they are spending more, they will have incentive to increase their own revenue to cover the cost of the big contracts. The best way to do this is by having modern arenas with proper suites, box seating, and modern concession.
That is what the NBA has been waiting for to globalize. The arenas. And Stern and the current owners, won't have to subsidize a single penny to bring these teams up to speed. The owners of the international teams will most likely want to take part in the marketing machine that is the NBA, and will allow for the NBA to expand into Europe, making this a truly global game...

[jack sommerset]

NBA needs to have no salary cap.That will end all this.

[The Franchise]

You guys are failing to see this as a businessperson:
By NBA talent being wooed into Europe with Higher Salaries, that means that the parent companies that own these teams are spending more money. If they are spending more, they will have incentive to increase their own revenue to cover the cost of the big contracts. The best way to do this is by having modern arenas with proper suites, box seating, and modern concession.
That is what the NBA has been waiting for to globalize. The arenas. And Stern and the current owners, won't have to subsidize a single penny to bring these teams up to speed. The owners of the international teams will most likely want to take part in the marketing machine that is the NBA, and will allow for the NBA to expand into Europe, making this a truly global game...

Good theory,and you may be right. They also may be doing this to grow their own product seeing as the dollar is shit right now. Kick a man when he's down logic.:lol

[Indazone]

or..the Euroleague turns into a Superleague able to sustain itself. In this case, they don't need the NBA. Stern get left holding the bag as competition for players continues between two continents.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

What I wanna know in light of Delfino, Nachbar, Childress...is are there any other premium players being targeted by FIBA?

What about restricted free agents?

JR Smith
Landry
Cassell
Okafor
Deng
Gordon
Barea
Hermann
Monta Ellis
Gomez

Granted some of these guys just get paid too much and are not willing to try the Euroleague but...

Guys like JR Smith, Landry, Herrmann, Deng are ripe for the pickings.

NBA teams do not have matching rules with FIBA Euroleague teams. All the Euroteams have to do is raise their offer above what the match level is for restricted free agents.

As is say before Panathinaikos already make huge offers in much more than Nachbar even get to players like Artest and Jamison. But they not accept. Also Scola get same and he accept it, but Rockets refuse leave him from contract.

Also Olympiacos give Anthony Parker the huge offer also more than Nachbar get, but also Raptors not let him from NBA contract. Also Panathinaikos is only allow have 2 American players because of Greek federation rules.

So is very complicate issue. Is not thing as easy as just offer money to NBA players or is be able to pay such amounts. Thing is also hard is attitude of US in basketball ways. Last summer remember Olympiacos offers Chris Webber $12 million per year in the net salary and he decide refuse because he believe European league is "insult" to NBA and is "joke".

As long as such idiots believe these thing NBA will be able to prevent lose players for little bit time more. But as agents start explain to the dumb players this just is part of NBA propaganda, like the ones people here always says which is all the lies, this will be also thing that change.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

You guys are failing to see this as a businessperson:
By NBA talent being wooed into Europe with Higher Salaries, that means that the parent companies that own these teams are spending more money. If they are spending more, they will have incentive to increase their own revenue to cover the cost of the big contracts. The best way to do this is by having modern arenas with proper suites, box seating, and modern concession.
That is what the NBA has been waiting for to globalize. The arenas. And Stern and the current owners, won't have to subsidize a single penny to bring these teams up to speed. The owners of the international teams will most likely want to take part in the marketing machine that is the NBA, and will allow for the NBA to expand into Europe, making this a truly global game...

Yes Real Madrid, Lottomatica Roma, Olympia Milano, FC Barcelona, Olympiacos is all going to have NBA level arena. Is also new one in Berlin for German teams there and in Istanbul for Efes and Fener clubs. Panathianikos also plan to have new small arena for Greek league games and then upgrade Olympic hall for NBA level. This also is lease for teams like Panionios and AEK Athens.

Moscow have one also for hockey and is plan to be arena for CSKA for NBA standard. Also is NBA level arena come soon in Lithuania and can be for big Euroleague club Zalgiris there. So NBA arenas is start to come now to basketball clubs.

[samikeyp]

Do you believe that European basketball leagues are better or equal to the NBA?

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

or..the Euroleague turns into a Superleague able to sustain itself. In this case, they don't need the NBA. Stern get left holding the bag as competition for players continues between two continents.

Euroleague is not want to accept NBA merger. This is decision they make after season. Stern have give them his plan to have the 4 or 5 teams of Europe join NBA and they refuse this.

Because of this Stern say he will make NBA franchise there to compete with them and make Euroleague be bankrupt. They get mad at this. Is Stern decision do this that cause what is happen now.

Euroleague because of this decide have special meeting also with richest owners of teams from Russia League that is not in Euroleague. Decision is make to challenge NBA and not allow it try take over Europe. Decision is also make to start pay huge contract to NBA players and steal them from NBA and to start try block any more Euro players leave for NBA by offer much bigger contract than NBA can pay.

In some case it work like Splitter and Childress. In some case it not work like Anthony Parker and Rudy Fernandez. Even with CSKA offer Rudy $60 million contract he decide go NBA because of "promise" he get play time and "bigger" contract in future.:rolleyes Yes some European players is still dumb and falls for this NBA lie and tactic.

But because of Stern this is all happen now. Rich owners in Europe was not use all their money to compete with NBA but Stern anger them and now they will. And Euroleague change many rules. Change ruls to same as NBA for games. They also order owners of big clubs to start make profits of teams and start make merchandise deals. I know is say PAO and Olympiacos is order start make games online and start have games on tv for all Europe and such thing. Even to have the merchandise online for sale and all this.

before they not even care about make money they just do all for the fans and for hobbie. Now they actual must run like business and make money. Also Euroleague change rule teams must be in NBA like arena within couple years or cannot be in Euroleague.

So now they have NBA rules for game on court, will have the big arenas with the NBA technology and also they will have the teams with the games show all over Europe in tv and all over world in internet. This is all order by Euroleague as way to attract NBA players and change image they have in US about be poor. Is also the new decision include rich Russia owners in decisions even though they is not in Euroleague and is now why rich Russian clubs is give these huge contract like the $41 million for Boki.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Do you believe that European basketball leagues are better or equal to the NBA?

What I know is when read how members here is talk about many players in Europe is like big joke. Everyone attack me on Spanoulis and say "he fail NBA" this is BS. Typical of attitude. he have crazy coach in NBA that hate and ruin him.

He is just one player I can give as example is be one of handful of very best point guards in all world. In NBA coach will not even play him. Also there is players like Papaloukas who is never even go to NBA.

There is players like Splitter can play verse Dirk and Kaman 1 against 2 and hold his own. There is many examples. Player like Diamantidis which is better defender than any player of NBA. There is player like Rubio consider best player in world in his age.

Of course is players from other countries also who used to also play in Europe before like Manu and Scola and Nocioni and ones like this Sabonis, Marciulonis, Petrovic, Shrempf, Radja and such players from Europe in past times. Is players from US like Galis that decide rather player in Europe than NBA and is have Bob McAdoo say is better than Bird and Magic.

Players like Dominique and McAdoo from US that goes to Europe. Is players like Dirk and Gasol, Parker, Calderon and those ones in NBA now who is from Europe and such.

What I know is read way NBA American fans in forum here talk about basketball level in Europe and also about just European players is craps and lies. If 100 superstars was in NBA come from Europe would still be "Euro players all suck".

If Euroleague team was to win world cup if it exist against NBA champion would still be all says here "Euroleague is joke league to NBA". Just same way no matter how many time US lose in FIBA tournaments we hear same craps about US is greatest of even in history of basketball and worst player on team is 100 times superior best player of other teams. Even few minutes after US lose these games in Europe we already hear "US dominates basketball world".

Most basketball friends I know now in Europe think NBA is nothing special anymore, just little bit better than Euroleague level and nothing more. Basketball players most from here not care anymore and think it is all hype. This different from before as in 1980 s of time NBA was consider like super league of whole world. Now is like just barely better than best Euroleague clubs is how NBA is view.

And is funny joke to most how we always are be explain by ones in US that in Europe all basketball fans worship NBA league and all NBA players.

[MacGyver]

Player like Diamantidis which is better defender than any player of NBA.


Wow. Is this true?:wow

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

One thing I need say here. NBA players is not being target by FIBA.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Wow. Is this true?:wow

Yes is true.

[stretch]

One thing I need say here. NBA players is not being target by FIBA.

first off, two things...

1 - you are the least credible source i have ever seen on this board. i think jonathan was more credible than you.

2 - learn to speak english. if you are going to sit around and attempt to insult the intelligence of people (mainly residents of america), then how about you attempt to learn some fuckin english and quit typing like a fucking third-world dumbass.

anyways... you can say all you want about the NBA, and say how euros dont care about playing in the nba or whatever weird bullshit you spout off, but the facts speak for themselves. look at the globs of euro players in nba summer and d-league, trying to do what they can to make it in the NBA. not to mention the many foreign players that are in the NBA.

and your BS about people never saying euro players are good is ridiculous. Dirk is a perfect example. many people (not here considering its a spurs board) consider Dirk a top 5 player in the NBA right now, quite a few even argue that he could be considered top 3 at this point and have very good arguments for it as well. many people think that he will go down in the end as a top 4, possibly even top 2 PF of all time. how about all the props guys like Sabonis gets? anyone that watched the guy knows how gifted he was and if he had came to the NBA at a younger age, he could easily be considered among the greatest players of all time. euro players get a lot more props than you think, so cut the crybaby ass bullshit, quit fucking whining, learn some english, and take V-Span's cock out of your throat.

[endrity]

Yes is true.

Diamantidis is an amazing defender, but better than Bowen, Battier, Prince!!

I'll be patient, and wait to see how he does against Kobe in Beijing.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Diamantidis is an amazing defender, but better than Bowen, Battier, Prince!!

I'll be patient, and wait to see how he does against Kobe in Beijing.

He is same as Bowen in one on one defense and Battier in team defense. But he is much more athletic than they are.

[Indazone]

I knew the Euroleague wouldn't take the merger with the NBA well. It's cause Stern and his stalling on helping out the Euroleague and building good relations has taken a dive. Stern doesn't help out there. He just give lip service. Tells them a big fairy tail about NBA Europe. If he were to help them he'd sign a contract tomorrow for NBA explansion teams with the help of the NBA to reach all of Europe. Now we are going to get competitiion from an emerging basketball Superleague in Europe.

Nobody thinks this is anything right now. But the day they start signing one or two players like Gilbert Arenas or Lebron James, that is the day the NBA North America will take notice. If they follow the old American Basketball Association, they would go after the young stars and the number one draft picks of the NBA. Those guys are not established yet and they have the LLE rookie rule. Pay a guy like that 20-30 million a year and he's gonna be gone.

[Indazone]

One thing I need say here. NBA players is not being target by FIBA.


Why not? Makes sense to me if they did.

[MavDynasty]

first off, two things...

1 - you are the least credible source i have ever seen on this board. i think jonathan was more credible than you.

2 - learn to speak english. if you are going to sit around and attempt to insult the intelligence of people (mainly residents of america), then how about you attempt to learn some fuckin english and quit typing like a fucking third-world dumbass.

anyways... you can say all you want about the NBA, and say how euros dont care about playing in the nba or whatever weird bullshit you spout off, but the facts speak for themselves. look at the globs of euro players in nba summer and d-league, trying to do what they can to make it in the NBA. not to mention the many foreign players that are in the NBA.

and your BS about people never saying euro players are good is ridiculous. Dirk is a perfect example. many people (not here considering its a spurs board) consider Dirk a top 5 player in the NBA right now, quite a few even argue that he could be considered top 3 at this point and have very good arguments for it as well. many people think that he will go down in the end as a top 4, possibly even top 2 PF of all time. how about all the props guys like Sabonis gets? anyone that watched the guy knows how gifted he was and if he had came to the NBA at a younger age, he could easily be considered among the greatest players of all time. euro players get a lot more props than you think, so cut the crybaby ass bullshit, quit fucking whining, learn some english, and take V-Span's cock out of your throat.

:lmao

[endrity]

Why not? Makes sense to me if they did.

cause FIBA is a different organization from the Euroleague. Just a technicality, but while most American fans think of everything outside the NBA as Fiba controlled, that is not true.

In short, FIBA deals with the national team competitions and the rules of international basketball. Club competition in Europe is run by a different organization altogether.

[stretch]

Why not? Makes sense to me if they did.

hes bsing

[Bruno]

The top players who have left the NBA to go in Europe are Nachbar and Delfino. They were both below average NBA players and played in Europe before signing with the NBA.
It isn't a big deal at all for the NBA if some "euro" players, who have done nothing special in the NBA, come back in Europe.

If Childress sign with Olympiacos, it will start to be more problematic for the NBA. Childress is an American player with no Euro roots and was better than Nachbar and Delfino.

You also had to look at what happens in Europe. The Euroleague is changing it's philosophy.
Right now, teams plays the Euroleague when they do well in their local leagues. It means that if a top team has some bad results for one year, they won't play the Euroleague the next year (some teams are more protected with a three years Euroleague ticket).
It's hard for teams to invest a lot of money if you aren't sure that you will play the most lucrative competition in Europe the next year. In 2 or 3 years, it will change and some teams will get a lifetime ticket for the Euroleague. With this safety, these teams will be able to invest a lot of money on an arena and players.

If the NBA wants to keep its best players, they have basically two choices : starting a financial war with Euro teams or making an Euro expansion to absorb Euroleague teams.
I don't think it is in the interest of the NBA to start a financial war with some Euro billionaires. The best solution is an Euro expansion and it should happens quickly if they want to absorb the Euroleague. If the NBA wait 2015 or 2020 to expand in Europe, it could be too late.

[Indazone]

The NBA cannot wait that long and if it waits even 5 years it'll be too late. They have to make their move now with rules changes and expansion NBA teams. If they can't negotiate a fair deal for the European Billionaires there will be a European Superleague to compete with the NBA. The NBA needs to get it together within 2 years max.

[mavs>spurs2]

Kill Bill like many other Euroball fans have a huge inferiority complex about the NBA. Hopefully this time we put together a good enough team to smash the competition and put all this "nba is equal to europe" bullshit to rest.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Why not? Makes sense to me if they did.

Is big ULEB contract teams and big Russia league teams, not FIBA.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Kill Bill like many other Euroball fans have a huge inferiority complex about the NBA. Hopefully this time we put together a good enough team to smash the competition and put all this "nba is equal to europe" bullshit to rest.

You have it backwards. USA not win 2002 World Championship, 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Championships. But all US say "we are best in world".

It is ones who lose every tournament and keep tell all rest of world they are winning all these tournaments they are really losing that has this inferiority complex.

It is YOU that has such condition. And you have it so bad you cannot see it even but you rather like accuse others of have it. Others who bring up annoying thing to you like you lose last 3 competitions.

[mavs>spurs2]

You have it backwards. USA not win 2002 World Championship, 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Championships. But all US say "we are best in world".

It is ones who lose every tournament and keep tell all rest of world they are winning all these tournaments they are really losing that has this inferiority complex.

It is YOU that has such condition. And you have it so bad you cannot see it even but you rather like accuse others of have it. Others who bring up annoying thing to you like you lose last 3 competitions.

Those teams were poorly put together at the last second, poorly coached, and didn't have enough time to develop chemistry. They were going up against guys who have played with eachother since they were teenagers, so it's not a fair comparison. NBA talent level >>> Europe or anywhere else and you'll just have to cry yourself to sleep at night and get over it. And in the meantime, learn to speak English so we can understand your weak ass arguments and at least get a laugh out of it.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Those teams were poorly put together at the last second, poorly coached, and didn't have enough time to develop chemistry. They were going up against guys who have played with eachother since they were teenagers, so it's not a fair comparison. NBA talent level >>> Europe or anywhere else and you'll just have to cry yourself to sleep at night and get over it. And in the meantime, learn to speak English so we can understand your weak ass arguments and at least get a laugh out of it.

lol :downspin:

[Obstructed_View]

What I wanna know in light of Delfino, Nachbar, Childress...is are there any other premium players being targeted by FIBA?

I'm not sure I accept that Delfino, Nachbar and Childress are "premium" players. If foreign teams want to overpay for players that's their call. Scola got premium money as one of the best players overseas, and he's not much more than a decent role player in the NBA, correct?

[endrity]

I'm not sure I accept that Delfino, Nachbar and Childress are "premium" players. If foreign teams want to overpay for players that's their call. Scola got premium money as one of the best players overseas, and he's not much more than a decent role player in the NBA, correct?


Please Spurs fans, don't turn this into another Scola thread.

And no, Scola isn't just a decent role player. He is a bit more, and as he adopts better to the league, I think you'll realize that.

As for overpaying, well that's the only way you're gonna get some people to come over in Europe and give up their dream of playing in the NBA. But if that helps Euro basket grow in size, popularity, arena quality, then it might just make the Euroleague a true rival to the NBA. And then, overspending won't be the only factor in the equation. An Euro team can sell that living in Europe is better, playing in Europe is more exciting because of better fans, better endorsments maybe. But until they can pitch that stuff, overpaying will be the only way.

[Obstructed_View]

Please Spurs fans, don't turn this into another Scola thread.

And no, Scola isn't just a decent role player. He is a bit more, and as he adopts better to the league, I think you'll realize that.
Scola was the best player overseas. He's by your admission a bit more than a decent role player in the NBA. The point is the gap in talent. That has nothing to do with the Spurs, so it's not "another Scola thread". RIF.



As for overpaying, well that's the only way you're gonna get some people to come over in Europe and give up their dream of playing in the NBA. But if that helps Euro basket grow in size, popularity, arena quality, then it might just make the Euroleague a true rival to the NBA. And then, overspending won't be the only factor in the equation. An Euro team can sell that living in Europe is better, playing in Europe is more exciting because of better fans, better endorsments maybe. But until they can pitch that stuff, overpaying will be the only way.
Overpaying is currently a way to get guys who aren't really very good in the NBA to jump ship. Again, Delfino isn't exactly first-tier talent.

[Indazone]

Of that list I put of of players at risk. I just don't want a Euro team to snag Landry and take him away from the Rockets. In fact, I think Landry has so much potential that he might someday become an All-Star and I do not want him going buh bye simply because the Rockets were not able to match the MLE.

[ArgSpursFan.]

Do you believe that European basketball leagues are better or equal to the NBA?

It doesn't matter.
The US soccer league have beckam and It's the worse soccer league in the planet.
Money talks and bullshit walks.

[Indazone]

It doesn't matter.
The US soccer league have beckam and It's the worse soccer league in the planet.
Money talks and bullshit walks.

Spoken for Truth

[xcoriate]

If they follow the old American Basketball Association, they would go after the young stars and the number one draft picks of the NBA. Those guys are not established yet and they have the LLE rookie rule. Pay a guy like that 20-30 million a year and he's gonna be gone.

Brandon Jennings for example. Signed a three year deal with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma in the Italian Pro League.

He was projected as the top point guard of the 2008 HS class, but due to the 1 year college rule decided to go to Europe for guaranteed money.

link (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/ncaa/07/16/jennings.italy/)

[Roxsfan]

You guys are failing to see this as a businessperson:
By NBA talent being wooed into Europe with Higher Salaries, that means that the parent companies that own these teams are spending more money. If they are spending more, they will have incentive to increase their own revenue to cover the cost of the big contracts. The best way to do this is by having modern arenas with proper suites, box seating, and modern concession.
That is what the NBA has been waiting for to globalize. The arenas. And Stern and the current owners, won't have to subsidize a single penny to bring these teams up to speed. The owners of the international teams will most likely want to take part in the marketing machine that is the NBA, and will allow for the NBA to expand into Europe, making this a truly global game...

Its the National Basketball Association, NOT the Global Basketball Association or GBA, or World Basketball Association, WBA

[emo serb]

Herrmann Must Stay A Piston For Life. Start Him Over Sheed!

[ChumpDumper]

Its the National Basketball Association, NOT the Global Basketball Association or GBA, or World Basketball Association, WBAStrangely enough, the GBA and WBA are little regional leagues wholly located within the US.

[Kibic]

Remember?

By Michael Wilbon
Saturday, September 2, 2006; E01

Our arrogance has no boundaries when it comes to international basketball, though it ought to by now, after yet another loss in a major competition. Even Americans who pay fairly close attention to world basketball, people who should know better, took one look at the Greek roster and dismissively figured, "No NBA players on the roster? Then no chance for Greece."

As dumb as it is for American fans to be so presumptuous, especially after a string of losses dating from 1987, it's even dumber for anybody actually involved in international competition to be dismissive. But that's exactly what I heard in the words of Team USA's Joe Johnson earlier this week. The Atlanta Hawks guard, asked if the United States is unstoppable when the team shoots well, answered: "No doubt, when our shots are falling and when they're not falling. I think our biggest opponent is ourselves right now."

This was after beating up on the likes of Senegal and Australia, teams that were never going to challenge the world's top teams anyway. But you know how we roll; one foreign basketball team is the same as another. China, Senegal, Greece and Spain . . . they're all the same, right? They are to most Americans, fans and players alike, which is one of many reasons U.S. teams, first the college boys and now the pros, are getting whipped in these international competitions.

We commit the single most arrogant and unpardonable mistake in competition: We underestimate the opponent. Hell, half the time we don't even pay any attention to the opponent. We didn't know the Greek players, so how could they be any good? Where are their phat shoe contracts? Where were they in the Top 10 Dunks on "SportsCenter"? How talented could they be if they don't have a Gatorade commercial or answer to a single name like Shaq or Kobe or LeBron?

Greece? Why should we pay attention to Greece?

Because they won. Because Greece, a team known only for playing good defense in this tournament, scored 101 points early Friday morning in Japan and eliminated Team USA from the FIBA World Championship.

In every other sport we seem to understand that we're not the only ones playing, that we're not vastly superior and, in fact, often aren't as good. We're fairly arrogant about Ryder Cup play, too, but not to the extreme of basketball. Americans only popularized golf; we invented basketball. And we dominated hoops for nearly 100 years if you don't count being cheated out of the gold medal in the 1972 Olympics.

But a lot has happened since, beginning in 1987, when Brazil beat a U.S. team of collegiate players. The Dream Team reestablished American superiority in Barcelona in 1992. But the United States barely won Olympic gold in 2000 in Sydney, finished sixth in the world championship in 2002, lost three times in the 2004 Olympics and now has failed to win in the 2006 world championship.

The rest of the world isn't catching up. They've caught up. I think, in terms of international competition, they've passed us.

Please, I don't want to hear about how we could have won if we'd only had our best players. Two of the brightest men in the basketball community, Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski, led the effort that put together this team. Don't tell me we lost because Tim Duncan wasn't there, because Duncan was there in Athens two years ago when the United States lost. Don't tell me "Well, Allen Iverson wasn't there," because A.I. was there two years ago with Duncan when the United States lost those three games. Don't tell me that Paul Pierce and Tracy McGrady would have made all the difference because they could have busted those zone defenses Americans struggle with, because Pierce and McGrady were on the world championship team four years ago when the U.S. team finished sixth.

This team had access to all the shooters and role players in America, and one of the great coaches in the history of modern basketball -- Coach K -- and lost. Why? Because we're not as good, not in this international format, anyway. But more than anything we lose these most recent affairs because we look down our nose at the competition, which is going to land us in the same position in 2008 in Beijing if we don't wise up.

The game has changed. Much of it has been given over at the grassroots level to the forces of AAU, hip-hop and video game nonsense, where the emphasis has switched from learning how to play fundamentally to embarrassing the opponent in any way imaginable and posing while doing so. Combine this new attitude with the traditional arrogance from people nearing age 60 who grew up without ever seeing the United States challenged other than in '72, and we've got just about every basketball demographic covered in hubris.

It's a cultural condition that afflicts us: If we lose, it must be our own fault because, well, just look at you.

And it's a racial condition as well. We -- and by "we" I mean Americans of all colors -- have conditioned ourselves to look at European teams specifically and dismiss them out of hand because they're white. Or we think they're white. And of course, Americans have led the world in telling folks that white men can't jump, though amazingly some of those Greek kids apparently didn't accept our premise. I never thought this U.S. team was going to beat Spain or Argentina but it didn't even get to that.

What's sure to happen now is that we'll start to pick apart Team USA, and I will admit that I don't understand how we continue to go from one competition to the next without multiple pure shooters. Will we at some point stop paying lip service to having shooters and actually put some pure shooters on the team?

Still, there's no sense in picking apart the players on the team. USA Basketball picked the right team for the most part, though cutting veteran defender, three-point shooter and calming influence Bruce Bowen seemed regrettable to me the moment he was let go. And who in his right mind would question selecting Krzyzewski to coach the team? In fact, look at the men whose teams have lost in international play the last 19 years. Denny Crum (1987 Pan American Games) won two NCAA championships. John Thompson ('88 Seoul Olympics) won an NCAA championship. George Karl (2002 World Championship) might not have won a championship, but only a fool would suggest he's not a fine coach. Larry Brown (2004 Olympics) has won championships in college and the NBA. And Coach K has won three NCAA championships.

You want to argue with the selection of coaches? These men are or were great coaches. International teams (particularly in Europe and South America) studied at the feet of those coaches in clinics and competitions. And they taught the American game to their European, South American, Asian and African players.

Now those players play this particular brand of basketball -- one not controlled by our slash-and-slam style that's grown so tiresome -- better than we do. The question now, as we look to the Olympic Games of 2008, is whether we'll spend the next two years making excuses or taking a good look at the growing number of teams internationally who play at least as well as we do, and increasingly better.

© 2006 The Washington Post Company

[Obstructed_View]

Man, that was embarassing. I didn't mind losing to Greece; they were by far the better team. It was the bad attitudes the USA team displayed once they discovered that Greece had the unmitigated gaul to come out and try to win against them. International competition is no place for Ugly Americans. I don't give a shit that the rest of the world hates us, but I can't stand when we give them good reasons to.

I'm so glad Bowen wasn't a part of that shameful display, and I was happy to see them get what they deserved. I haven't really rooted for the US team since then.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Scola was the best player overseas. He's by your admission a bit more than a decent role player in the NBA. The point is the gap in talent. That has nothing to do with the Spurs, so it's not "another Scola thread". RIF.



Overpaying is currently a way to get guys who aren't really very good in the NBA to jump ship. Again, Delfino isn't exactly first-tier talent.

Scola was never the best player "overseas". He was the best player in the country of Spain. He was not even ever the best player in Europe.

[stretch]

You have it backwards. USA not win 2002 World Championship, 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Championships. But all US say "we are best in world".

It is ones who lose every tournament and keep tell all rest of world they are winning all these tournaments they are really losing that has this inferiority complex.

It is YOU that has such condition. And you have it so bad you cannot see it even but you rather like accuse others of have it. Others who bring up annoying thing to you like you lose last 3 competitions.

from my understanding, the only teams that have any right to say that they are/were the best in the world during those three championship, were Yugoslavia, Argentina, and Spain.

being that you are in love with greece, and that they have never won shit (except for a silver in 2006, BFD :jack and please dont bring up that BS eurobasket crap cuz no one gives a shit about that tourney except insecure fans like yourself) you kindly need to remind yourself to shut the fuck up. the US at least have a history of winning (since 1936, there were only 3 times when the US did NOT win the gold medal in olympic play, so a whopping 12 gold medals in the olympics, as well as another 3 world championships)

oh, and the we arent the ones ranking the US as #1. FIBA is.

[Indazone]

Well everyone knows that the USA is the favorite. How could they not be? The roster is stacked and they have been playing together for 3 years.

[Obstructed_View]

Scola was never the best player "overseas". He was the best player in the country of Spain. He was not even ever the best player in Europe.

List of players who were better than he was, plz.

[jacobdrj]

Its the National Basketball Association, NOT the Global Basketball Association or GBA, or World Basketball Association, WBA

Canaidiya ain't a US state, protectorate, or teritory. Not Vancuver. Not Toronto.

[samikeyp]

But all US say "we are best in world".

Wrong.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

List of players who were better than he was, plz.

In years he was in Euroleague was also some same players and they were better if ask me.

Spanoulis
Papaloukas
Pau Gasol
Manu
Bodiroga



Anthony Parker, Diamantidis, Siskauskas, Nocioni, Navarro, Jasikevicius, Vujcic, is debatable ones in same class with him I think in these times for most in Europe. But I will give in personal opinion that yes he is better than these ones, except Diamantidis and Siskauskas. But many others from Europe would argue others is in similar class with him also.

Is just part of US NBA fans always exaggerates everything like "Scola best player in world not in NBA". So they can always say thing like "and look he is starter in Rockets but just role player, this proves NBA destroys Euroleague."

Scola I think can be consider best player in Spain in time after Gasol and Bodiroga leave there. He was consider best PF in Europe along with Smodis in peak years before he came to NBA.

NBA fan always try say he was best player in Europe is exaggeration and was never true. One of best players, but not #1 best. There was others which was better players and others in very similar level as him.

[Indazone]

Scola is playing with Yao also an International Player. I think if Yao can find a way to be successful in the NBA so can Scola. Remember Yao only averaged like 13.5 ppg in his rookie year. Scola has been going at about 16 ppg.

[stretch]

Scola is playing with Yao also an International Player. I think if Yao can find a way to be successful in the NBA so can Scola. Remember Yao only averaged like 13.5 ppg in his rookie year. Scola has been going at about 16 ppg.

you mean about 10 ppg?

[Obstructed_View]

In years he was in Euroleague was also some same players and they were better if ask me.
I didn't say the best players in the last ten years, I meant better than he was year before last.


Spanoulis
:lol

Papaloukas
:lmao


Pau Gasol
Manu
Pau's been in the NBA since 2001, and Manu's been in the NBA since 2003. Not sure how that's even relevant.


Bodiroga
Okay, you're finally sort of close. I'll give you him and Vagisilis. That's two. Let's say there was someone else that was better, making him fourth. That means the fourth best player internationally is an above average pro. Sorry, but I can't see how this doesn't make my point for me. I suppose we'll have to wait until an NBA scrub goes over there and sets the world on fire.

[Indazone]

you mean about 10 ppg?

Ok whatever, it's close to Yao's production his rookie year. Not saying he's gonna be getting as many pts or minutes as Yao but if Yao were not there and instead it was a team like the Bucks with Bogut at Center, I could see Scola putting up 20-10 eventually.