Olympic Roster should look like.

[mavsfan1000]

If you were going to make up a team for the olympics what should the lineup be? If all the players agree.

[SequSpur]

Is this Spurs related?

I don't think Duncan is interested anymore.

[2centsworth]

Amare
Shaq
Kobe
Allen
Billups

Backups

Kidd
Lebron
Wade
Shaq
Garnett
Redd
Daimon Jones
Ben Wallace


Don't want Tim to play because of injuries.

[baseline bum]

Amare Stoudemire
Joe Johnson
Shawn Marion
Tracy McGrady
Josh Howard
Jerry Stackhouse
Shaquille O'Neal
Ray Allen
Kevin Garnett
Wally Szcerzbiak
Dawyne Wade
LeBron James

[Dre_7]

Amare Stoudemire
Joe Johnson
Shawn Marion
Tracy McGrady
Josh Howard
Jerry Stackhouse
Shaquille O'Neal
Ray Allen
Kevin Garnett
Wally Szcerzbiak
Dawyne Wade
LeBron James

Wally??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

No thanks! :lol

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Shaq
TD
Garnett
Kobe
Kidd

Amare
Iverson
Carter
Wade
Ben Wallace
Ray Allen
Bruce Bowen
Michael Redd
Marcus Camby
Billups

[E20]

Can Steve Nash play for Team USA or does he actually play for the Candian National Team?

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Manu'sMagicalLeftHand --- congrats on picking bowen (first one to do so) to gaurd manu :lol

Obviously, Team USA needed a perimetral defender when Stramijkauskas or some guy named like that was firing at will from the 3 point line.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Olympic forum.

[SequSpur]

Duncan is not playing in the olympics again.

Also, Shaq, KG or any other top player as well.

Might as well start picking high schoolers.

Olympic Forum, agreed.

[myhc]

Tim Duncan/Ben Wallace/Jeff Foster
Kevin Garnett/Marcus Camby
Tracy McGrady/Tayshaun Prince
Ray Allen/Michael Redd/Rip Hamilton
Chauncey Billups/Andre Miller

[JMarkJohns]

PG: Bibby, Iverson, Wade
SG: Allen, Hamilton, Redd
SF: McGrady, James
PF: Garnett, Marion
C: Amare, J. O'Neal

In the backcourt, you gotta have perimeter shooting to combat the zone, as well as slashers to both reate with and without the ball. Need several capable ball-handlers that are quick on offense and able to press, get physical on defense. Most important, you need very good players who aren't selfish.

Between Garnett, O'Neal, Amare and Marion, they have great all-around skill up front. Each can hit from the perimeter and all can run the floor.

I'd love to include Duncan, but I recall him saying he doesn't think he'll participate anymore.

[myhc]

I'd love to have Bibby on my team but I've got enough shooters with Allen, Redd and Hamilton. I'd take the more defensive minded Billups.

[mavsfan1000]

C Ben Wallace/Camby/Shaq
PF Tim Duncan/Garnett/Stoudemire
SF Tracy Mcgrady/B. Bowen
SG Joe Johnson/Ray Allen
PG M. Bibby/J. Terry
There aren't any real good point guards except Nash. Kidd isn't a good shooter so inside out game with Duncan would work better with good shooters.

[timvp]

Jason Collier
Obinna Ekezie
Royal Ivey
Tyronn Lue
Donta Smith
Michael Stewart
Cory Alexander
Matt Carroll
Bernard Robinson
Tamar Slay
Theron Smith


The Olympics is a waste of time. The only things it accomplishes are putting money in corrupt official's pockets and injuring/tiring NBA players.

[mavsfan1000]

Don't just throw a whole bunch of superstars that can't coexist with each other. Things like rebounding, defense, unselfishness, and style of play should be considered. I don't think Kobe and Mcgrady can coexist with each other and be unselfish.

[mavsfan1000]

The style of play is give the ball to Duncan. If he gets double teamed than pass to one of the 3 point shooters. Mcgrady and Duncan can do pick and rolls.
2 superstars
great role players(defense, rebounding, passing, high percentage shooting, and etc.)

[Chris]

A.I.
Kobe Bryant
Ben Wallace
Ray Allen (even though i despise the fucker)
T. Mac

[myhc]

Jeff Foster????? Okay.

I'd go with...

Duncan
Garnett
Kobe
McGrady
Kidd

Shaq
Big Ben
R. Jeffereson
Wade
Allen
Pierce
Lebron
Bibby

Amare doesn't get my vote. There's a reason why he didn't play much last summer.

I picked Foster because he's just the type of role player you need on this team, not just a bunch of all stars and egos who each need shots or else you risk repeating what's happened the last two trips in international play. Foster is a banger inside and solid rebounder.

[Chris]

Might as well put Ostertag in there instead of Foster :lol

[mavsfan1000]

I picked Foster because he's just the type of role player you need on this team, not just a bunch of all stars and egos who each need shots or else you risk repeating what's happened the last two trips in international play. Foster is a banger inside and solid rebounder.
Forget having a team full of superstars. We need great role players. There's a difference. Foster is a solid pick. Pick 2 of the best superstars that work well together in theory and put great role players around them.

[Chris]

I wonder how long the U.S. Olympic Basketball team has to practice with their starting 5 and bench before they actually start playing. I'm sure its very difficult considering each player's individual agendas and locations.

[mavsfan1000]

Bruce Bowen should be included with great role players. You mean Ostertank.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I'll say it - if the NBA and USA Basketball (one and the same) ponied up some money, instead of asking everyone to play for free, they'd have a team in no time.

Yeah, it's pathetic that's what it boils down to, but you can't change the spots on a leopard.

[fonzy16]

USA will lose again. Manu will take care of that :)

[Rick Von Braun]

Considering the probable negatives of many superstarts (including most probably Garnett, Duncan, Shaq, TMac and Kobe, among others), I would field the following team:

Brad Miller/Jeff Foster
Jermaine Oneal/Amare Stoudemire/Elton Brand
Lebron James/Bruce Bowen
Rip Hamilton/Joe Johnson/Fred Hoiberg
Jason Kidd/Allen Iverson

Extra reserve (in case some of the above cannot make it):
Brevin Knight
Michael Redd
Shawn Marion
Emeka Okafor
Marcus Camby

The team above provides a relatively good balance between offense and defense, inside/outside, stars and role players.

[nkdlunch]

Shaq will never play = US will lose again

[Rick Von Braun]

Shaq will never play = US will lose again
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/images/smilies/smilol.gif

Shaq would be useless in international play. He would foul out after 5 minutes of play.

[nkdlunch]

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/images/smilies/smilol.gif

Shaq would be useless in international play. He would foul out after 5 minutes of play.

ok. then US will lose no matter what. :lol

They need to have a real "team" and not just a bunch of superstars assembled together at the last minute. It's sooo obvious, they just don't get it.

[spurschick]

Has anyone considered it being half NBA players and half college players?

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

There are players playing in Europe who are trully superstars there, and would be more than ready to play for the US in the Olympics/ World Championships.

Anthony Parker (Maccabi Tel-Aviv - Israel)
Maceo Boston (Maccabi Tel-Aviv - Israel)
Marcus Brown (CSKA Moscow - Russia)
Travis Hansen (TAU Ceramica - Spain)
Bernard Hopkins (Unelco Tenerife - Spain)
J.R. Bremer (Unicaja Malaga - Spain)
Lou Roe (Caja San Fernando - Spain)
Scott Burrell (Lagun Aro Bilbao - Spain)
Charlie Bell (Leche Rio Breogan - Spain)
Troy Bell (Real Madrid - Spain)
Joseph Blair (Armani Jeans Milano - Italy) (lol at the team sponsored name)

I'm not saying draft all these players for the team, but a couple of them in the roster would be more than useful. They really understand the international game, most of them are stars or very good role players in their teams.

[Slo spurs fan]

Jason Collier
Obinna Ekezie
Royal Ivey
Tyronn Lue
Donta Smith
Michael Stewart
Cory Alexander
Matt Carroll
Bernard Robinson
Tamar Slay
Theron Smith


The Olympics is a waste of time. The only things it accomplishes are putting money in corrupt official's pockets and injuring/tiring NBA players.

:wtf
The losing hurts that much?
Timvp you know this is bullshit. And this came from YOU!!??!!?? :depressed

[jalbre6]

Manu'sMagicalLeftHand --- congrats on picking bowen (first one to do so) to gaurd manu :lol


It's a good thought to consider Bruce, but he'll be 37 by the time the '08 Olympics roll around.

[hendrix]

The Olympics is a waste of time. The only things it accomplishes are putting money in corrupt official's pockets and injuring/tiring NBA players.

Yeah... and too many foreigners around, you wouldnt like that... ack!.
And whats the deal with the Gold medal? I heard is not even made of real gold!.
What a waste of time!

[Kori Ellis]

:wtf
The losing hurts that much?
Timvp you know this is bullshit. And this came from YOU!!??!!?? :depressed

:lol

It's not about the losing. This was timvp's view for years. He has never wanted NBA players to go to the Olympics.

[zeleni]

There are players playing in Europe who are trully superstars there, and would be more than ready to play for the US in the Olympics/ World Championships.

Anthony Parker (Maccabi Tel-Aviv - Israel)
Maceo Boston (Maccabi Tel-Aviv - Israel)
Marcus Brown (CSKA Moscow - Russia)
Travis Hansen (TAU Ceramica - Spain)
Bernard Hopkins (Unelco Tenerife - Spain)
J.R. Bremer (Unicaja Malaga - Spain)
Lou Roe (Caja San Fernando - Spain)
Scott Burrell (Lagun Aro Bilbao - Spain)
Charlie Bell (Leche Rio Breogan - Spain)
Troy Bell (Real Madrid - Spain)
Joseph Blair (Armani Jeans Milano - Italy) (lol at the team sponsored name)

I'm not saying draft all these players for the team, but a couple of them in the roster would be more than useful. They really understand the international game, most of them are stars or very good role players in their teams.

Wouldn't that make even more of a tension?

Just make KG, T-Mac etc. to play! At some point we can just say US baskeball resides within a league, that should be the best in the world. So best players should not have a problem to represent their homeland, should they?

Nevertheless, Blair, Parker and Brown have to get a chance in the USA Team. If USA Basketball do not make a change, then a coach definitly should.

[hendrix]

:lol

It's not about the losing. This was timvp's view for years. He has never wanted NBA players to go to the Olympics.

I bet they're going to listen to him this time.
Thinking about it, it would be REALLY FUNNY. Because that and saying "We're quitters" is pretty much the same thing.

[duncan_21]

For what it's worth here's mine:

g wade
g mcgrady
f lebron
f garnett
c duncan

backups:
g kidd
g bryant
f pierce
f jermain oneal
c snaq

iverson
stoudemire

[Kori Ellis]

I bet they're going to listen to him this time.
Thinking about it, it would be REALLY FUNNY. Because that and saying "We're quitters" is pretty much the same thing.

No one said they were going to listen to him. He is stating his opinion -- many other people feel the same way; they don't want the NBA players in the Olympics and never have. It's not about quitting. It's about thinking the rewards of the Olympics don't outweigh the risks of getting hurt and fatigued.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Jason Collier
Obinna Ekezie
Royal Ivey
Tyronn Lue
Donta Smith
Michael Stewart
Cory Alexander
Matt Carroll
Bernard Robinson
Tamar Slay
Theron Smith


The Olympics is a waste of time. The only things it accomplishes are putting money in corrupt official's pockets and injuring/tiring NBA players.
right, because the NBA is SOOOO righteous!! Give me a break!! The olympics is the only true international event where ALL countries are involved.

[Slo spurs fan]

So you (or Timvp) don't wont USA stars to represent their (your) country in front of more than 1.000.000.000 people at the olimpics?

[ducks]

I have never wanted paid athletes to play in the games
NEVER

[baseline bum]

Wally??!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!

No thanks! :lol

My vote was based on tiring all our rivals out with that bullshit.

[hendrix]

I have never wanted paid athletes to play in the games
NEVER

BS. Its not about the Olympics. So let me get this straight.... Next World Championship at Japan (2006)... Do you want they send college kids?

[hendrix]

No one said they were going to listen to him. He is stating his opinion -- many other people feel the same way; they don't want the NBA players in the Olympics and never have. It's not about quitting. It's about thinking the rewards of the Olympics don't outweigh the risks of getting hurt and fatigued.

OK. Cool then. Fine by me.
Tho, I'm not sure every US basketball fan whines that much. I think most wouldn't want to quit after being 6th at WC and 3rd at the Olympics.

[ducks]

BS. Its not about the Olympics. So let me get this straight.... Next World Championship at Japan (2006)... Do you want they send college kids?

YES
:elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

[nkdlunch]

right, because the NBA is SOOOO righteous!! Give me a break!! The olympics is the only true international event where ALL countries are involved.

hey where did u get that animated gif???? that shit is tight!

[hendrix]

YES
:elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

The answer I was expecting from you dude.
:elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

[baseline bum]

I think the team they send to the 2006 WC should be all former Spurs:

C Jack Haley
PF Julius Nwosu
SF Brandon Williams
SG Derrick Dial
PG Jon Sunvold

C Mike Brittain
PF Gerard King
PG Negele Knight
PG Chris Whitney
SG Steve Smith
C Jerome Whitehead
SF Sean Higgins

[baraya]

my wishlist::

C:: shaq, wallace
PF: duncan, amare, jermaine
SF: carter, lewis, lebron
SG: allen, pierce, iverson
PG: kidd,

if i need to choose between kobe and shaq, i´d take shaq

[timvp]

I've been against NBA players in the Olympics before the US ever lost a game with the pros. The dream team should have been a one-time thing. Now it's lost it's luster.

Oh and if you don't think corrupt Olympic officials skim hundreds of millions of dollars from the games, you're fooling yourselves.

[Slo spurs fan]

I've been against NBA players in the Olympics before the US ever lost a game with the pros. The dream team should have been a one-time thing. Now it's lost it's luster.

Oh and if you don't think corrupt Olympic officials skim hundreds of millions of dollars from the games, you're fooling yourselves.

And Bavetta is milionar too, right? :rolleyes

[Kori Ellis]

And Bavetta is milionar too, right? :rolleyes

:lol He's not talking about referees.

[timvp]

Yeah. Olympic committee officials. Not basketball referees.

[Phenomanul]

Yeah. Olympic committee officials. Not basketball referees.


Dang TiMVP did you donate all of your vBookie money to Kori.... ^^^Those two posts "side by side" show a huge margin.

[timvp]

She's the brain of the operation. I'm just the hanger on.

:smokin

[Phenomanul]

She's the brain of the operation. I'm just the hanger on.

:smokin


Something like the John Leguizamo clip from his new movie with Bernie Mac...??? :lol

[hendrix]

I've been against NBA players in the Olympics before the US ever lost a game with the pros. The dream team should have been a one-time thing. Now it's lost it's luster.

The Dream Team WAS a one-time thing... the rest were a bunch of mediocres compared to them, as it has been proven. What that has to do with anything?... "STOP Basketball!! After watching the Dream Team 1 play, no one should do it anymore, you're not worthy!".


Oh and if you don't think corrupt Olympic officials skim hundreds of millions of dollars from the games, you're fooling yourselves.

Again, what that has to do with anything?. The whole world is corrupt, thats the way it is. Face it, kid. Bush is no saint, either.

[timvp]

The Dream Team WAS a one-time thing... the rest were a bunch of mediocres compared to them, as it has been proven. What that has to do with anything?... "STOP Basketball!! After watching the Dream Team 1 play, no one should do it anymore, you're not worthy!".

Congrats on the gold. But if the best players would have all shown up, the US would have destroyed rest of the world. Sorry, kid.

[samikeyp]

Timvp
Kris
Manny
User
the four guys who won the last FSP tourney.
Sequ
me
Dio
Blaze
(the last four scrubs for fouls and comic relief!) :lol

[bigzak25]

:lol i can see manny talking shit to the other teams already...

[nkdlunch]

Congrats on the gold. But if the best players would have all shown up, the US would have destroyed rest of the world. Sorry, kid.

keyword in bold :lol

[hendrix]

Congrats on the gold. But if the best players would have all shown up, the US would have destroyed rest of the world. Sorry, kid.

And THAT is what I'm willing to see!! You still don't get it, do you?
Look, I see what your point is... the NBA is far more important to you than any other international competition since you work for them (as a sports writer, but still).
And of course is much more easy to say "We would destroy you IF this and this and this...." than risking to lose again.
And I also think USA will destroy the rest of the world as you put it.

[Kori Ellis]

I believe that most American fans of the NBA don't have much attachment to the US Olympic basketball team. I understand the passion that international fans have for their national teams -- but that feeling is just not prevalent here. I don't care much at all if the USA basketball team loses.

[Kori Ellis]

the NBA is far more important to you than any other international competition since you work for them (as a sports writer, but still).

timvp doesn't work for the NBA or any media outlet.

[hendrix]

timvp doesn't work for the NBA or any media outlet.

Yeah... sorry. I meant he writes about NBA.

[smeagol]

This topic has been discussed ad nauseaum last summer.

Personally, it's hard to comprehend why fans of any sport would prefer their regional teams over their national team. Moreso, it's unfathomable that people would cheer against their own National team (this shit happened in the last Olympic Games).

[Leetonidas]

You'd have to get a team that could play together.

Duncan
Garnett
Kidd
Marion
James

I would like to see that.

[Rick Von Braun]

Most people still try to pick all stars with no role players and specialists. How many times the US has to lose in order to compete in the international arena with a TEAM?

Amazing!

[ALVAREZ6]

Guys, next olympics take place in 2008.

Shaq will be 50 by then.

[Rick Von Braun]

Congrats on the gold. But if the best players would have all shown up, the US would have destroyed rest of the world. Sorry, kid.
Nice logic.

If the Sonics didn't have the injury of their best 2nd and 3rd players, they would have destroyed the Spurs. Sorry, kid.

There are on ifs in sports, only facts.

[ALVAREZ6]

Congrats on the gold. But if the best players would have all shown up, the US would have destroyed rest of the world. Sorry, kid.
It's ok, we still own the most popular sport in the world.

[myhc]

1992 was a long time ago. Every 4 years, we kept on sending our all stars and every year, the margin of victory kept shrinking and shrinking until it finally bit us in the ass. We used to beat teams because all our top players wanted to go. That's all changed in recent years. Since I highly doubt we can still get all our top guys to go, we need to construct a team with players that have defined roles: scorers, defensive guys, shooters, rebounders.

[nkdlunch]

It's ok, we still own the most popular sport in the world.

hehemm are you brazilian? :lol

[Leetonidas]

Nice logic.

If the Sonics didn't have the injury of their best 2nd and 3rd players, they would have destroyed the Spurs. Sorry, kid.

There are on ifs in sports, only facts.

Completely wrong, the Spurs would've KILLED the Sonics if Rodmonavic and Lewis were playing.

[ALVAREZ6]

Completely wrong, the Spurs would've KILLED the Sonics if Rodmonavic and Lewis were playing.
Exactly.

It only means less shots for Ray Allen.

[Rick Von Braun]

Completely wrong, the Spurs would've KILLED the Sonics if Rodmonavic and Lewis were playing.
<swiiiiish>

[WalterBenitez]

Kidd
Kobe
Bruce Bowen
Shak
Duncan

Subs

Iverson, Wade
Hamilton, Lebron
Wallace, Amare

[hendrix]

hehemm are you brazilian? :lol

He meant Polo :lol

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

hehemm are you brazilian? :lol

Last Olympic Champion: Argentina
Last time a Brazilian club won the Libertadores (S.America equivalent of the Champions League): 2000
Only team in the world that doesn't hold a negative record head to head against Brazil: Argentina
Most Copa America wins (in which Brazil plays): Argentina

Yes of course, Brazil has its trophy cabinet full of silverware, but the Argentinian one has nothing to envy them.

[WalterBenitez]

Has anyone considered it being half NBA players and half college players?

I thik that option will be great for US team

[nkdlunch]

Last Olympic Champion: Argentina
Last time a Brazilian club won the Libertadores (S.America equivalent of the Champions League): 2000
Only team in the world that doesn't hold a negative record head to head against Brazil: Argentina
Most Copa America wins (in which Brazil plays): Argentina

Yes of course, Brazil has its trophy cabinet full of silverware, but the Argentinian one has nothing to envy them.

hey u guys rule. But you said OWN. Only Brazil OWNS

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Anyway, back to basketball... I think something that should be noted too is the compromise of the players with their country.

If the NBA American players don't give a f*ck about the Olympics, then they shouldn't be called up for the team.

If they don't accept to play their roles, knowing that is impossible to have 5 basketballs at the same time on the court, then they shouldn't be called up.

If I were American, I'd rather see a bunch of college or Americans playing in Europe playing their hearts out, rather than NBA Stars playing lazy, cocky and effortless basketball (In 2004, only TD and AI were the ones that showed heart).

Curiosly, many Argentinians are posting in this thread. Before some dumbass says that we got too cocky, I believe it's a consequence of different reasons. The Argentinians take the Olympics and World Championships as the most important tournament, since our local competition is good, but constantly suffers the exile of players to Europe and later, to the NBA.

[hendrix]

Personally, it's hard to comprehend why fans of any sport would prefer their regional teams over their national team.

THAT, i have no trouble with. I mean, the team in your city is more representative than a national team, so i can see that happenning.

The thing is NOT sending your best players to an international competition just because they'll get tired and their bosses would get very upset (There are no other reasons people, the rest is BS).

[WalterBenitez]

I believe that most American fans of the NBA don't have much attachment to the US Olympic basketball team. I understand the passion that international fans have for their national teams -- but that feeling is just not prevalent here. I don't care much at all if the USA basketball team loses.

:depressed

Well, we (int'l fans) love to see NBA's stars without "star treatment" :lol

but ...

We also love to see NBA's boys playing like they were alone, killing any other team by 50-60 points :spin

[danyel]

Congrats on the gold. But if the best players would have all shown up, the US would have destroyed rest of the world. Sorry, kid.


:blah

You'll have to prove it someday, by actually winning, or else people would start questioning that...

[timvp]

Hey Argentina, don't get mad at me. I've given your country massive props for the gold medal. It was an amazing accomplishment and nobody can take it away from you.

Why not just let the rest of the world fight for the gold from now on? Honestly, people in the US wouldn't care even if the players brought home the gold medal. Most people here got what they wanted by the US losing. There is no attachment to the national team. Let college players try to win it or overseas Americans or whatever.

But I'm sure the US will send another band of NBA players there next time. And unless they do a great job in the selection process and get ample time to practice, they'll probably get run off the court again by Argentina and other teams ... while Americans laugh at them. Why waste the time? Unless the best of the best go, the US isn't good enough anymore to throw a team together and practice a week or two and then go out and beat teams that have been playing together since they were kids. It's not possible and it's probably a good thing that it's not possible.

[UnknownPlayer]

I'd love to watch a game between NBA Champ. vs EuroLigue Champ. So that NBA can probe that they're the real world champions. Just for fun.

[hendrix]

I'd love to watch a game between NBA Champ. vs EuroLigue Champ. So that NBA can probe that they're the real world champions. Just for fun.

Nice trick, but nobody here doubts the NBA is the strongest league in the World.
Since basketball is played by 5 at a time AND it isn't about money, national teams have more chances in beating USA. Fair is fair.
Although it has been done before (McDonald's open) and there wasn't such a big difference IIRC. I bet any Euroleague champion can take 80% of NBA teams.

[timvp]

I bet any Euroleague champion can take 80% of NBA teams.

Keep smokin'.

[hendrix]

Keep smokin'.

:smokin

Yeah... but i guess we'll never know... coz the little children dont wanna play with the boys from other countries, they're afraid they might get hurt and their bossies can kick their little asses.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Under NBA rules? The NBA team would OWN RAP3 PW3N the Euroleague team.

Under FIBA rules? The Euroleague team would have a chance, but currently, the Spurs or the Pistons are a better TEAM than whatever mix of superstars USA Basketball could draft.

The Euroleague champion would only have a chance against teams who finished below the .500 mark in the regular season, if the game is played under FIBA rules.

[timvp]

:smokin

Yeah... but i guess we'll never know... coz the little children dont wanna play with the boys from other countries, they're afraid they might get hurt and their bossies can kick their little asses.

:lol

Tengo familia en la Argentina así que he estado arraigando para la Argentina en competiciones nacionales puesto que puedo recordar. Mi abuelo jugó en la taza del mundo para la Argentina así que los flujos de la sangre azules y blancos. Pero no diga cualquier persona aquí porque piensan que estoy contra los E.E.U.U..

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

:lol

Tengo familia en la Argentina así que he estado arraigando para la Argentina en competiciones nacionales puesto que puedo recordar. Mi abuelo jugó en la taza del mundo para la Argentina así que los flujos de la sangre azules y blancos. Pero no diga cualquier persona aquí porque piensan que estoy contra los E.E.U.U..
:lol :rollin :lmao

[zeleni]

We used to beat teams because all our top players wanted to go. That's all changed in recent years.

Top players do not always want to go. Even in Europe. Even in soccer. That is the reality. But rich players cannot be protected from media or other civil supervision. So lazy Shaq who is payed beyond reason, but would not play for national team shouldn't be given great media coverage. Serving your country is an important part of Sport pro game.

Somebody said, Americans should not spit on their team. You know what, when they are paid like that, and perform way off, then critics are natural and important. Player that cannot live up to critics, is a coward!

To timvp:
All basketball players are paid for playing. Your college players are even more dependent on their future salary as NBA players. They representing USA Basketball is just saying NBA players are cowardice men who look after big money instead of their pride or money people pay for the daily execution of top quality basketball. If Olympics should not be about such basketball, then what are they for?
There is no simple way of putting it. Money is in every sport.

[zeleni]

Under NBA rules? The NBA team would OWN RAP3 PW3N the Euroleague team.
The Euroleague champion would only have a chance against teams who finished below the .500 mark in the regular season, if the game is played under FIBA rules.


That is BS. In playoff mode this would be an even matchup. Maccabi would own Suns, that is certain. Tau would be a good matchup againts Detroit. Panathinaikos with Sabonis (they would get a big guy for this kind of series) or his kind of big man would perhaps be best againts Spurs. Manu has traditional problems with Greek teams.
So difference is not so staggering.

[timvp]

That is BS. In playoff mode this would be an even matchup. Maccabi would own Suns, that is certain. Tau would be a good matchup againts Detroit. Panathinaikos with Sabonis (they would get a big guy for this kind of series) or his kind of big man would perhaps be best againts Spurs.

Man, you must be high as humanly possible to post that. Those matchups wouldn't even be close. The NBA team could play those teams 100 times and win 100 times. Are you freakin' kidding me?

Luis Scola might be a good player in the NBA, but I doubt he'd lead a scrub Euro team over the Pistons. Come on now. Maceo Baston, Anthony Parker and a bunch of Israelis are not going to beat the Suns. And 82 year old Arvydas Sabonis and the rest of the Greek team wouldn't be able to hang within 40 points of the Spurs.

I appreciate your love for your country or continent or whatever, but lets be realistic. Please.

[Slo spurs fan]

Man, you must be high as humanly possible to post that. Those matchups wouldn't even be close. The NBA team could play those teams 100 times and win 100 times. Are you freakin' kidding me?

Luis Scola might be a good player in the NBA, but I doubt he'd lead a scrub Euro team over the Pistons. Come on now. Maceo Baston, Anthony Parker and a bunch of Israelis are not going to beat the Suns. And 82 year old Arvydas Sabonis and the rest of the Greek team wouldn't be able to hang within 40 points of the Spurs.

I appreciate your love for your country or continent or whatever, but lets be realistic. Please.

Don't be so sure. Even Spurs have had bad day or something otherwise they couldn't lost to Memphis etc.
I don't agree with zeleni but neither with timvp.

[zeleni]

high? as sober as I can be.

1.Timvp, here is only one problem, NBA rules are far off international ones. Euroleague club' players would be in advantage. Sun game would be less wild, "eurozone" defense is quite a different thing, so 3 point shooting must be lethal to beat that defense. Suns with Quentin would be in same shit then TAU with Macijauskas (sorry for spelling).

2.Playoff mode means 7 games. I can bet Suns-Maccabi would be at least 40-60, but first games would be cetrainly for Maccabi. Strategicaly Maccabi's potential is something quite different then Phoenix. Believe me, NBA is out of this world b/c of nothing more the financial reasons.

3.NBA having players coming directly in NBA makes them on the top of the world. But they are just athletes for money. So proving every day is the only way a guy can say he is worth playing in the best league in the world. So how many players that are proving themselves in NBA, make themselves open for cross-examination? So best players are the one in NBA, couse NBA is the best, and every player in the NBA is by so elite just for being an NBA player? Seems absurd, doesn't it? That would mean that Darko Milicic is better for being in Detroit the he would be if he played in French league and dominated? Even then one can ask if he would play in Euroleague...

[clubalien]

if we annex canada then i would give the PG to nash but since we haven't YET then here is my team
A.I
Lebron J
KObe
KG
and amare studamare from the sunnys.. yes playing him as a 5 i think we can play a more athlitec dunking style no need for shaq

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

high? as sober as I can be.

1.Timvp, here is only one problem, NBA rules are far off international ones. Euroleague club' players would be in advantage. Sun game would be less wild, "eurozone" defense is quite a different thing, so 3 point shooting must be lethal to beat that defense. Suns with Quentin would be in same shit then TAU with Macijauskas (sorry for spelling).

2.Playoff mode means 7 games. I can bet Suns-Maccabi would be at least 40-60, but first games would be cetrainly for Maccabi. Strategicaly Maccabi's potential is something quite different then Phoenix. Believe me, NBA is out of this world b/c of nothing more the financial reasons.

3.NBA having players coming directly in NBA makes them on the top of the world. But they are just athletes for money. So proving every day is the only way a guy can say he is worth playing in the best league in the world. So how many players that are proving themselves in NBA, make themselves open for cross-examination? So best players are the one in NBA, couse NBA is the best, and every player in the NBA is by so elite just for being an NBA player? Seems absurd, doesn't it? That would mean that Darko Milicic is better for being in Detroit the he would be if he played in French league and dominated? Even then one can ask if he would play in Euroleague...


I don't agree with this. If you play under NBA rules, the NBA team would shoot 40 free throws per game because of illegal defence if the Europeans use collapsed zones. Maccabbi, CSKA, Tau, Panathinaikos, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, etc... any European team you name would have major problems moving to a zone, where they can't collapse in the paint. If the European teams move to man-to-man defence, they'll need to play the game of their lives. This slight change of rules is the key, it's underrated. Players like Bodiroga, Macijauskas, Navarro, they would look ridiculous in defence when playing a seven games series against more athletic NBA players.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe that the international game has taken a giant leap forward compared to the early 90's, but under NBA rules the number of international players who could become key factors is not the same as the number under FIBA rules. Ginobili, Parker, Nowitzki, Stojakovic, Radmanovic, Okur, Jasikevicius, Oberto, Scola, Arroyo, etc. They would be very important, because they are very intelligent players, with high basketball IQ, but under NBA rules only a few international superstars could carry their teams for an 82 games season and best of seven playoffs.

[Mark in Austin]

My Team:

Stoudamire
Garnett
McGrady
Redd
Kidd

Foster
Hamilton
Prince
Wade
Artest
Howard
Okafur

[Mark in Austin]

Between Stoudamire, Garnett, Okafur, and Foster, i think there is enough size. Look at the teams that won medals - from what I can recall, this hypothetical team would have more than enough size to match up any of them.

To me, what is critical is the ability to move the ball, hit shots, and be versatile defenders. The most underrated part of the original dreamteam's game was the incredible defense it played. In the past few years, this aspect had had the biggest slippage in the US game. So I'd welcome Camby if he's not injured, but I wouldn't want Miller.