Remember this? Add your pics and gifs for most underachieving team in US Sport histoy

[Splits]

They were supposed to cruise to the Finals...

Nobody could stop them...

Kirby not only had MVPau but the league's most other dominant big...

They gave away 4 picks for Nashty...

The payroll was $118 million, WAY over the cap...

And then...

http://i.imgur.com/SluNcjg.jpg

[Venti Quattro]

Most under-achieving team in US sport history?

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/duncan_bronze.jpg

http://www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Olympics+Day+15+Basketball+6gRyQ25aUQcl.jpg

http://cdn.triangleoffense.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DreamTeam51896562.jpg

http://a.espncdn.com/media/oly/2004/0828/photo/oly_mens_hi.jpg

[AlexJones]

Most under-achieving team in US sport history?

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/duncan_bronze.jpg

http://www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Olympics+Day+15+Basketball+6gRyQ25aUQcl.jpg

http://cdn.triangleoffense.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/DreamTeam51896562.jpg

http://a.espncdn.com/media/oly/2004/0828/photo/oly_mens_hi.jpg

alleniversonjumperstepsovertyronnlue.gif

[Mitch]

http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/t_article_image/p22babxtyj5lpyvtd9y7.jpg
http://www2.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Olympics+Day+15+Basketball+6gRyQ25aUQcl.jpg
http://i.imm.io/AiKB.jpeg

[Venti Quattro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVNfNrj8zNE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV3xGflsz2o


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtopNCH5-qY

[Mitch]

:lol Barely beating Lithuania

[Splits]

http://a4.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2012%2F0821%2Fnba_g_nash1x_576.jp g&w=1140

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/ZachHarperPlayoffs3.jpghttp://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/RoyceYoungPlayoffs.jpg

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/MattMoorePlayoffs.jpg

https://cbsla.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/kobe_achilles_166464789.jpg

[Mitch]

:lol
http://greghornjudge.com/images/Large/4%20Magazine%20art/Olympic_team_USA_basketball.jpg

[Venti Quattro]

:lol
http://greghornjudge.com/images/Large/4%20Magazine%20art/Olympic_team_USA_basketball.jpg

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/2004-US-Mens-Olympic-Basketball-Team.jpeg

[Splits]

http://i.imgur.com/F1ej4pa.png

[Venti Quattro]

http://standingosports.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2004-Team1.jpg

[Mitch]

http://www.menshealth.com/sites/default/files/images/slideshow2/sports-humiliations-04.jpg

[Venti Quattro]

http://a.espncdn.com/i/magazine/new/040804_duncan.jpg

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Olympics+Day+15+Basketball+MERuEdxBLuwl.jpg

[Mitch]

Outplayed by Od:lolm


Player
Pos
MP
FG
FGA
3P
3PA
FT
FTA
ORB
DRB
TRB
AST
STL
BLK
TOV
PF
PTS


Stephon Marbury (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/stephon-marbury-1)
G









1
1
1
0
3

18


Lamar Odom (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/lamar-odom-1)
F









8
3
2
0
1

14


Tim Duncan (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/tim-duncan-1)
F-C









6
0
0
0
3

10


Allen Iverson (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/allen-iverson-1)
G









2
3
2
0
1

10


Shawn Marion (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/shawn-marion-1)
F









5
1
3
0
0

9


Carlos Boozer (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/carlos-boozer-1)
F









9
1
3
0
2

8


Richard Jefferson (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/richard-jefferson-1)
F









2
0
0
0
0

7


LeBron James (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/lebron-james-1)
G









1
0
0
0
1

3


Dwyane Wade, Jr. (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/dwyane-wade-jr-1)
G









2
2
2
1
3

2


Amar'e Stoudemire (http://www.basketball-reference.com/olympics/athletes/amare-stoudemire-1)
C









0
0
0
0
0

0


Team










36
11
13
1
14

81

[Mikeanaro]

If you have Dick Jefferson in your team failure is unavoidable.

[Venti Quattro]

http://helicalus.com/images/wallpapers/Tim-Duncan-Olympics-2004-USA-Team-Wallpaper-1024x768.jpg

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/olympics/files/2012/07/3632340-DAY-11-OLY-BASKETBALL-15-08_21_2004-382x600.jpg

http://www.basketwallpapers.com/Images-02/Tim-Duncan-USA-Team-Wallpaper.jpg

https://goingahamm.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/iverson-duncan-2009-3-24-15-31-45.jpg

[Splits]

:lmao what kind of "sports" fan considers the olympics anything other than trailer trash free giveaway plane tickets?
:lmao olympics
:lmao fiba
:lmao Laker fan has no comeback for most underachieving team in history of sport
:lmao $118m for a 1st round sweep
:lmao #StayDwert
:lmao olympics
:lmao 3 straight lotteries with Kirby at the helm
:lmao MVPau carrying shitty teams once again
:lmao last playoff game at age 33
:lmao $48.5
:lmao who can't make the playoffs at age 34?
:lmao stad padding faggot for all-time #3 scoring while bricking more than any in NBA history
:lmao olympics
:lmao what's next, AAU?

[Splits]

http://i.imgur.com/SluNcjg.jpg

[Venti Quattro]

:lmao what kind of "sports" fan considers the olympics anything other than trailer trash free giveaway plane tickets?
:lmao olympics
:lmao fiba
:lmao Laker fan has no comeback for most underachieving team in history of sport
:lmao $118m for a 1st round sweep
:lmao #StayDwert
:lmao olympics
:lmao 3 straight lotteries with Kirby at the helm
:lmao MVPau carrying shitty teams once again
:lmao last playoff game at age 33
:lmao $48.5
:lmao who can't make the playoffs at age 34?
:lmao stad padding faggot for all-time #3 scoring while bricking more than any in NBA history
:lmao olympics
:lmao what's next, AAU?

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/duncan_bronze.jpg

[Mitch]

:lmao what kind of "sports" fan considers the olympics anything other than trailer trash free giveaway plane tickets?
:lmao olympics
:lmao fiba
:lmao Laker fan has no comeback for most underachieving team in history of sport
:lmao $118m for a 1st round sweep
:lmao #StayDwert
:lmao olympics
:lmao 3 straight lotteries with Kirby at the helm
:lmao MVPau carrying shitty teams once again
:lmao last playoff game at age 33
:lmao $48.5
:lmao who can't make the playoffs at age 34?
:lmao stad padding faggot for all-time #3 scoring while bricking more than any in NBA history
:lmao olympics
:lmao what's next, AAU?

:lmao Puerto Rico?
:lmao Lithuania?
:lmao Argentina?
:lmao "Dream Team"?
:lmao Bronze?
:lmao 2003 MVP & FMVP... BRONZE?
:lmao Outplayed by Lamar Odom?
:lmao Disgrace to the US

[Splits]

Bernucca: Future murky for Lakers, biggest underachievers in NBA history

April 29, 2013 by Chris Bernucca (http://www.sheridanhoops.com/author/chris-bernucca/)

Before Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers handed out white towels to fans at the Staples Center.

Apparently, someone in the marketing department didn’t understand symbolism. By halftime, those towels had become flags of surrender for the Lakers, the biggest underachieving team in the history of the NBA.

Dwight Howard offered his own symbolism, figuratively throwing in the towel midway through the third quarter. Unwilling to grit his teeth and bang and bump his way through all of another telling, embarrassing loss, he got himself ejected, starting his offseason of uncertainty with an hour’s headstart on his teammates.

Dwight Howard, human surrender flag. Yeah, there’s the sort of toughness you want to build a franchise around.

Eight months ago, the Lakers had assembled a superteam for the ages. People were talking about 70 wins. Among a panel of 35 “experts” at ESPN.com, 33 said the Lakers would win their division, 25 tabbed them as Western Conference champions and eight picked them to win it all.

You say the media doesn’t know what it’s talking about? Fine. In an NBA.com survey, all but one of 30 GMs had the Lakers winning the division, 18 said they would win the West and seven had them hoisting The Larry.

I don’t want to hear about injuries. GM Mitch Kupchak knew Howard was coming off back surgery and Steve Nash had been nursing mutiple aches and pains for several seasons.

I don’t want to hear about age. Kupchak knew the acquisitions of thirtysomethings Nash and Antawn Jamison made his team older, slower and extremely susceptible on defense.

I don’t want to hear about coaching changes. Smart coaches develop schemes that fit their talent instead of forcing talent to fit their scheme.

The projected starting lineup was a former Defensive Player of the Year who actually was the runt of the litter; a four-time All-Star and arguably the best all-around European player ever; the NBA’s best center, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and the game’s most impactful paint player; a two-time MVP who is among the league’s best passers and shooters; and simply one of the greatest players ever with an unmatched will and competitive nature.

The injury whiners will point out that the projected starting lineup took the floor just seven times this season. Right. And went 0-7.

“It’s not necessarily about having the best names,” forward Metta World Peace told CBS Sports Radio this weekend. “It’s about being the best team. So this year, I felt we had the most talent. It just wasn’t translating and it didn’t connect.”

From Nov. 21 to March 8 – a span of 107 days – the Lakers were not above .500. They lost home games to Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington, three of the worst road teams in the league. They won three road games all season against teams that finished with winning records. They had to win eight of their last nine games just to clinch a playoff berth on the final day of the season.

With a $100 million payroll, the Lakers finished 45-37. That was the same record as the Houston Rockets, whose payroll was $52 million. They were swept in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1967. They lost all four playoff games by double digits and led those games for a total of 5 1/2 minutes.

When told that the 120-89 beatdown in Game 3 was the worst home playoff loss in franchise history, Earl Clark said, “Damn, that sucks.”

I challenge anyone to find a team that has underachieved more in a single season. The 1994 Seattle SuperSonics and the 2007 Dallas Mavericks may have suffered stunning first-round upsets, but both those teams won 60-plus games with less talent than the Lakers and neither was swept out of the first round.

[Venti Quattro]

:lmao Outplayed by Lamar Odom?

Lamar Odom redeemed himself and won an NBA championship and a FIBA World Championship in 2010.

[Venti Quattro]

No longer invincible, USA loses shot at gold
By David DuPree, USA TODAY

ATHENS — The reasons are aplenty, some legitimate, some exaggerated and others simply imagined, but the reality of the situation is chilling — a group of top NBA stars, albeit, not the very top, but still among the best — lost three games at the Olympics and isn't even in the gold medal game.

The United States is no longer the invincible basketball power it once was. The world's best players might be in the NBA, but the best team, for right now, at least, is Argentina.

Led by Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs, Argentina had its way against the United States Friday and ended the USA's quest for a gold medal with an impressive 89-81 victory.

The United States will face Lithuania Saturday for the bronze medal, while Argentina will face surprising Italy for the gold. Italy upset previously undefeated Lithuania, 100-91, in Friday's other semifinal.

"You can't take anything away from them," said the USA's Allen Iverson. "We fought as hard as we could. We just couldn't get it done. They were just the better team."

Ginobili controlled the game with 29 points, including going 4-for-6 on three-point shots. His energy and floor leadership also gave Argentina a huge advantage as it successfully held off every challenge the USA made.

"He may be a better competitor than he is a player," said USA assistant coach Gregg Popovich, who also coaches Ginobili on the Spurs. "Tonight he combined both."

While the USA was scrutinized, criticized and second-guessed for everything from who wasn't on the team to its lack of outside shooting to its difficulty in adjusting to the international game and to international officiating, the bottom line is simply that this particular team just wasn't good enough. Effort and willingness to try to do things the right way was never an issue. But having been together for only a month showed, especially against a team like Argentina, which has essentially been together for four years.

"Their execution and the years they've played together showed," Popovich said. "Just because a team loses doesn't mean it wasn't ready. We were ready. You have to give credit to Argentina, but that doesn't take away from how hard our players played. I'm proud of every one of them."

The USA shot only 42% and was 3-for-11 from three-point range. Tim Duncan was in foul trouble early in the second quarter and played only 19 minutes before fouling out. Without him inside, and with no consistent outside game, the USA was left to scramble.

"I'm proud of my team," coach Larry Brown said. "They never stopped trying and they played hard under some difficult circumstances, like Duncan getting into foul trouble every game. Every game there were different kinds of fouls. I couldn't see any pattern except that he never got to play. I thought Argentina executed well and made its shots and we didn't. For us to have a chance, we had to have an inside presence and Timmy fouled out of four (actually two) games here."

[Mitch]

Bernucca: Future murky for Lakers, biggest underachievers in NBA history

April 29, 2013 by Chris Bernucca (http://www.sheridanhoops.com/author/chris-bernucca/)

Before Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers handed out white towels to fans at the Staples Center.

Apparently, someone in the marketing department didn’t understand symbolism. By halftime, those towels had become flags of surrender for the Lakers, the biggest underachieving team in the history of the NBA.

Dwight Howard offered his own symbolism, figuratively throwing in the towel midway through the third quarter. Unwilling to grit his teeth and bang and bump his way through all of another telling, embarrassing loss, he got himself ejected, starting his offseason of uncertainty with an hour’s headstart on his teammates.

Dwight Howard, human surrender flag. Yeah, there’s the sort of toughness you want to build a franchise around.

Eight months ago, the Lakers had assembled a superteam for the ages. People were talking about 70 wins. Among a panel of 35 “experts” at ESPN.com, 33 said the Lakers would win their division, 25 tabbed them as Western Conference champions and eight picked them to win it all.

You say the media doesn’t know what it’s talking about? Fine. In an NBA.com survey, all but one of 30 GMs had the Lakers winning the division, 18 said they would win the West and seven had them hoisting The Larry.

I don’t want to hear about injuries. GM Mitch Kupchak knew Howard was coming off back surgery and Steve Nash had been nursing mutiple aches and pains for several seasons.

I don’t want to hear about age. Kupchak knew the acquisitions of thirtysomethings Nash and Antawn Jamison made his team older, slower and extremely susceptible on defense.

I don’t want to hear about coaching changes. Smart coaches develop schemes that fit their talent instead of forcing talent to fit their scheme.

The projected starting lineup was a former Defensive Player of the Year who actually was the runt of the litter; a four-time All-Star and arguably the best all-around European player ever; the NBA’s best center, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and the game’s most impactful paint player; a two-time MVP who is among the league’s best passers and shooters; and simply one of the greatest players ever with an unmatched will and competitive nature.

The injury whiners will point out that the projected starting lineup took the floor just seven times this season. Right. And went 0-7.

“It’s not necessarily about having the best names,” forward Metta World Peace told CBS Sports Radio this weekend. “It’s about being the best team. So this year, I felt we had the most talent. It just wasn’t translating and it didn’t connect.”

From Nov. 21 to March 8 – a span of 107 days – the Lakers were not above .500. They lost home games to Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington, three of the worst road teams in the league. They won three road games all season against teams that finished with winning records. They had to win eight of their last nine games just to clinch a playoff berth on the final day of the season.

With a $100 million payroll, the Lakers finished 45-37. That was the same record as the Houston Rockets, whose payroll was $52 million. They were swept in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 1967. They lost all four playoff games by double digits and led those games for a total of 5 1/2 minutes.

When told that the 120-89 beatdown in Game 3 was the worst home playoff loss in franchise history, Earl Clark said, “Damn, that sucks.”

I challenge anyone to find a team that has underachieved more in a single season. The 1994 Seattle SuperSonics and the 2007 Dallas Mavericks may have suffered stunning first-round upsets, but both those teams won 60-plus games with less talent than the Lakers and neither was swept out of the first round.



1. 1992 Barcelona
http://images.athlonsports.com/d/31915-1/1992.jpg
With 11 future Hall of Famers and one college legend, the original “Dream Team” changed the global landscape of basketball.
“It was like Elvis and the Beatles put together,” coach Chuck Daly said. “Traveling with the Dream Team was like traveling with 12 rock stars.”
Until further notice, the first team of NBA players remains the best.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 117.3
OPP. ppg: 73.5
Avg. Margin: 43.8 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Croatia (117–85)
Coach: Chuck Daly, Detroit Pistons
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Michael Jordan, G (14.9 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4.6 spg)
Charles Barkley, F (18.0 ppg, 71.1 FG%)
Karl Malone, F (13.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Scottie Pippen, F (9.0 ppg, 5.9 apg, 2.9 spg)
Patrick Ewing, C (9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.9 bpg)
Magic Johnson, G (8.0 ppg, 4.1 apg)
Larry Bird, F
David Robinson, C
Chris Mullin, F
Clyde Drexler, G
John Stockton, G
Christian Laettner, F

2. 2008 Beijinghttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31924-1/2008.jpg
The “Redeem Team” had arguably the most athletic roster in Olympic history — with a young LeBron, D-Wade, Dwight and Melo, and a young-er Kobe.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 106.2
OPP. ppg: 78.4
Avg. Margin: 27.8 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Spain (118–107)
Coach: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University
Player, Pos. (Stats):
LeBron James, F (15.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.8 apg)
Dwyane Wade, G (16.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.25 spg)
Kobe Bryant, G (15.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Dwight Howard, C (10.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Carmelo Anthony, F (11.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Chris Bosh, F (9.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg)
Chris Paul, G (8.0 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.6 rpg)
Jason Kidd, G
Deron Williams, G
Tayshaun Prince, F
Carlos Boozer, F
Michael Redd

3. 1996 Atlantahttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31917-1/1996.jpg
It would be hard for any Team USA to deal with the size of this host nation roster — which included David Robinson, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 102.0
OPP. ppg: 70.3
Avg. Margin: 31.7 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Yugoslavia (95–69)
Coach: Lenny Wilkens, Atlanta Hawks
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Charles Barkley, F (12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 81.6 FG%)
David Robinson, C (12.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
Scottie Pippen, F (11.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.3 apg)
Reggie Miller, G (11.4 ppg, 17-of-41 from 3)
Shaquille O’Neal, C (9.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg)
Penny Hardaway, G (9.0 ppg, 4.4 apg)
Karl Malone, F (8.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Grant Hill, F (9.7 ppg)
Gary Payton, G
John Stockton, G
Hakeem Olajuwon, C
Mitch Richmond, G

4. 1984 Los Angeleshttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31912-2/1984.jpg
Three future Dream Teamers (M.J., Ewing, Mullin), plenty of NBA-ready size (Tisdale, Perkins) and solid guard play (Roberton, Alford, Flemming) makes Robert Montgomery Knight’s squad the top Olympic college roster of all-time.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 95.4
OPP. ppg: 63.3
Avg. Margin: 32.1 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Spain (96–65)
Coach: Bob Knight, Indiana University
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Michael Jordan, G (17.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Patrick Ewing, C (11.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.3 bpg)
Chris Mullin, F (11.6 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 rpg)
Wayman Tisdale, F (8.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg)
Sam Perkins, F (8.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg)
Alvin Robertson, G (7.8 ppg, 2.1 spg)
Steve Alford, G (10.3 ppg)
Vern Flemming, G
Leon Wood, G
Joe Kleine, F
Jon Koncak, C
Jeff Turner, F

5. 1960 Romehttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31898-2/1960.jpg
With three of the NBA’s top 50 players — the Big O running the show, the Logo shooting from the outside and Lucas down low — it’s hard to deny that Rome witnessed one of the most talented, balanced, albeit top-heavy, USA rosters ever.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 101.9
OPP. ppg: 59.5
Avg. Margin: 42.4 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Soviet Union
Coach: Pete Newell, University of California
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Oscar Robertson, G (17.0 ppg)
Jerry Lucas, C (17.0 ppg)
Jerry West, G (13.8 ppg)
Terry Dischinger, F (11.8 ppg)
Adrian Smith, G (10.9 ppg)
Walt Bellamy, C (7.9 ppg)
Robert Boozer, F
Lester Lane, G
Darrall Imoff, C
Jay Arnette, F
Burdette Haldorson, F
Allen Kelley, G

6. 2000 Sydneyhttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31921-2/2000.jpg
Vince-anity jumping of French 7-footer Frederic Weis was the highlight of this roster — which was the first Team USA that elite NBA players (looking at you, Shaq and Kobe) thought they were too cool to play on.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 95.0
OPP. ppg: 73.4
Avg. Margin: 21.6 ppg
Gold Medal Game: France (85–75)
Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich, Houston Rockets
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Kevin Garnett, F (10.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg)
Vince Carter, F (14.8 ppg)
Alonzo Mourning, C (10.2 ppg)
Ray Allen, G (9.8 ppg, 10-of-19 from 3)
Jason Kidd, G (6.0 ppg, 4.4 apg)
Allan Houston, G
Antonio McDyess, F
Shareef Abdur-Rahim, F
Vin Baker, F
Steve Smith, G
Gary Payton, G
Penny Hardaway, G

7. 1976 Montrealhttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31909-2/1976.jpg
The electric Dantley was flanked by undefeated 1976 Hoosiers (May and Buckner) and coach Dean Smith’s Tar Heels (Kupchak and Ford), giving this team even more built-in chemistry than most.
Record: 6–0
USA ppg: 97.3
OPP. ppg: 83.3
Avg. Margin: 14.0 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Yugoslavia (95–74)
Coach: Dean Smith, University of North Carolina
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Adrian Dantley, G (19.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Scott May, F (16.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg)
Mitch Kupchak, C (12.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Phil Ford, G (11.3 ppg)
Quinn Buckner, G
Kenny Carr, F
Tom LaGarde, C
Phil Hubbard, F
Walter Davis, F
Ernie Grunfeld, F
Tates Armstrong, G
Steven Sheppard, G

8. 1956 Melbournehttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31895-2/1956.jpg
As always, Russell — an 11-time NBA champion, two-time NCAA champion and gold medalist — turned defense into offense, en route to the greatest average margin of victory in USA men’s basketball history (53.5 ppg).
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 99.1
OPP. ppg: 45.6
Avg. Margin: 53.5 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Soviet Union (89–55)
Coach: Gerald Tucker, Phillips 66ers
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Bill Russell, C (14.1 ppg)
Robert Jeangerard, F (12.5 ppg)
Ron Tomsic, G (11.1 ppg)
K.C. Jones, G (10.9 ppg)
Charles Darling, C (9.3 ppg)
James Walsh, G (9.1 ppg)
Burdette Haldorson, F (8.6 ppg)
Dick Boushka, F (8.0 ppg)
William Evans, G
William Hougland, F
Gilbert Ford, G
Carl Cain, F

9. 1964 Tokyohttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31899-1/1964.jpg
Iba’s first of two golds (and one silver medal) leading Team USA. Bradley and future bronze-winning coach Brown headline a relatively boring roster.
Record: 9–0
USA ppg: 78.2
OPP. ppg: 48.2
Avg. Margin: 30.0 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Soviet Union (73–59)
Coach: Henry Iba, Oklahoma State University
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Jerry Shipp, G (12.4 ppg)
Bill Bradley, F (10.1 ppg)
Luious Jackson, F (10.0 ppg)
Joe Caldwell, G (9.0 ppg)
Larry Brown, G
Walt Hazzard, G
Jim Barnes, C
Melvin Counts, C
George Wilson, F
Pete McCaffery, F
Richard Davies, G
Jeff Mullins, F
10. 1968 Mexico Cityhttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31903-2/1968.jpg
The inside-outside duo of Haywood and Jones might have trouble against some of the USA’s deeper rosters.
Record: 9–0
USA ppg: 82.1
OPP. ppg: 56.1
Avg. Margin: 26.0 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Yugoslavia (65–50)
Coach: Henry Iba, Oklahoma State University
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Spencer Haywood, C (16.1 ppg)
Jo Jo White, G (11.7 ppg)
Michael Silliman, F
Charles Scott, F
Bill Hosket, F
Calvin Fowler, G
Michael Barrett, G
Glynn Saulters, G
Donald Dee, F
Ken Spain, C
John Clawson, G
James King, F

11. 1948 Londonhttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31889-2/1948.jpg
Adolph Rupp served as an assistant coach on a team that preferred to squeeze the air out of the basketball and feed the post with Groza, Kurland and Barksdale.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 65.5
OPP. ppg: 32.0
Avg. Margin: 33.5 ppg
Gold Medal Game: France (65–21)
Coach: Omar Browning, Phillips 66ers
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Alex Groza, C (11.1 ppg)
Robert Kurland, C (9.3 ppg)
Don Barksdale, F (9.0 ppg)
R.C. Pitts, F
Raymond Lumpp, G
Wallace Jones, F
Gordon Carpenter, F
Vincent Boryla, G
Jesse Renick, G
Lewis Beck, G
Kenneth Rollins, G
Clifford Barker, F
Ralph Beard, G
Jack Robinson, G

12. 1952 Helsinkihttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31892-2/1952.jpg
NIBL coach Warren Womble had a team that revolved around Lovellette — the first player in history to win championships at the NCAA, NBA and Olympic levels.
Record: 8–0
USA ppg: 70.3
OPP. ppg: 50.8
Avg. Margin: 19.5 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Soviet Union (36–25)
Coach: Warren Womble, Peoria Caterpillars
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Clyde Lovellette, F (14.1 ppg)
Robert Kenney, G (10.9 ppg)
Robert Kurland, C (9.6 ppg)
Ronald Bontemps, G
Dan Pippin, G
Marcus Freiberger, C
William Hougland, G
Wayne Glasgow, G
William Lienhard, F
Frank McCabe, F
Howard Williams, G
Charles Hoag, G
John Keller, F
Melvin Kelley, G

13. 1936 Berlinhttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31886-2/1936.jpg
The first Team USA is the worst gold medal squad in history. In fairness, the game has evolved quite a bit since the Olympics’ top team averaged less than 40 points per game.
Record: 5–0
USA ppg: 38.0
OPP. ppg: 17.3
Avg. Margin: 17.0 ppg
Gold Medal Game: Canada (19–8)
Coach: James Needles, Universal Pictures
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Joe Fortenberry, C (14.5 ppg)
Frank Lubin, F (11.0 ppg)
Francis Johnson, G (10.0 ppg)
Sam Balter, G
Willard Schmidt, C
John Gibbons, G
Carl Shy, G
William Wheatley, F
Jack Ragland, G
Carl Knowles, F
Art Mollner, G
Ralph Bishop, G
Don Piper, G
Duane Swanson, F

Silver Screwed
The only Team USA to lose a Gold Medal Game refused to accept their silver medals.
14. 1972 Munichhttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31906-2/1972.jpg
Controversy reigned supreme, as biased officiating led to the fist loss in USA Olympic men’s basketball history.
Record: 8–1
USA ppg: 77.3
OPP. ppg: 44.6
Avg. Margin: 32.7 ppg
Loss: Soviet Union (51–50)
Coach: Henry Iba, Oklahoma State University
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Thomas Henderson, G (9.2 ppg)
Bobby Jones, C (9.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Mike Bantom, F (7.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Jim Brewer, F (7.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
Doug Collins, G (7.3 ppg)
Tom McMillen, F
Ed Ratleff, F
Kevin Joyce, G
James Forbes, F
Dwight Jones, C
Tommy Burleson, C
Kenny Davis, G

Bronze Busts
Unlike the 1972 squad, these two disappointments have no excuse for failing to even advance to the Gold Medal Game.
15. 1988 Seoulhttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31913-1/1988.jpg
Team USA was no match for a Soviet Union roster of grown men — including 7-footer Arvydas Sabonis and wingman Sarunas Marciulionis.
Record: 7–1
USA ppg: 91.6
OPP. ppg: 61.3
Avg. Margin: 30.3 ppg
Loss: Soviet Union (82–76)
Coach: John Thompson, Georgetown University
Player, Pos. (Stats):
David Robinson, C (12.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.4 bpg)
Dan Majerle, G (14.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Danny Manning, F (11.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Mitch Richmond, G (8.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg)
Hersey Hawkins, G (8.8 ppg)
Charles E. Smith, G
Charles D. Smith, F
Vernell Coles, G
Jeff Grayer, G
J.R. Reid, F
Willie Anderson, G
Stacey Augmon, F

16. 2004 Athenshttp://images.athlonsports.com/d/31922-1/2004.jpg
Larry Brown used the same starting lineup for all eight games — riding Iverson, Marbury, Odom, Jefferson and Duncan to an embarrassing 5–3 record while the 22-and-under crew of LeBron, D-Wade, Carmelo and Amare spent most of their time on the bench. After all, Brown is notorious for not playing young guys. He showed them. He showed us all.
The 2004 Athens Olympics was easily the worst showing in Team USA history.
Record: 5–3
USA ppg: 88.1
OPP. ppg: 83.5
Avg. Margin: 4.6 ppg
Losses: Puerto Rico (92–73), Lithuania (94–90), Argentina (89–81)
Coach: Larry Brown, Detroit Pistons
Player, Pos. (Stats):
Allen Iverson, G (13.8 ppg, 37.8 FG%)
Tim Duncan, C (12.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg)
Stephon Marbury, G (10.5 ppg, 3.4 apg)
Shawn Marion, F (9.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
Lamar Odom, F (9.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Richard Jefferson, F
Dwyane Wade, G
Carlos Boozer, F
LeBron James, F
Amare Stoudemire, C
Carmelo Anthony, F
Emeka Okafor, C
by Nathan Rush
- See more at: http://athlonsports.com/nba/ranking-every-usa-men%E2%80%99s-basketball-team-0#sthash.vxXs7vO6.dpuf

[Splits]

:lmao olympics
:lmao only meaningful memory is Tanya on Nancy
:lmao Purple n Piss has no retort except amateur league smack
:lmao 3 straight lotteries with Kirby at the helm
:lmao $116m team swept by Spurs
:lmao Duncan ringing at 38
:lmao Kirby can't make the playoffs past age 33

[Mitch]

Two bronze medals, won by two of the Spurs' best players...

[Infinite_limit]

http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/t_article_image/p22babxtyj5lpyvtd9y7.jpg


Holy crap. Larry Brown partnered up with southern boy and the 5th best coach in the ACC Roy, with dry humor Pop.


Jefferson, Okafor, Odom holy crap and #7 is Boozer?

[Venti Quattro]

Ginobili scores 29 for Argentina
8/27/2004
Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece -- Bronze is the best the American men can do in basketball, and the reason is simple: A hastily assembled assortment of NBA stars couldn't beat a better team -- Argentina.

Manu Ginobili scored 29 points to lead his nation to another victory over the country that used to dominate the sport, an 89-81 win in the Olympic semifinals Friday night.

For the first time since 1988, the gold medal will not go to the Americans.

And for the first time since pro players were added for the original Dream Team in 1992, the United States will not be the Olympic champion.

"We fought as hard as we could. We couldn't get it done for whatever reason. They were a better team than us," Allen Iverson said.

Argentina, with almost the same roster that made history in 2002 by becoming the first team to defeat a U.S. squad of NBA players, will compete for the gold medal against Italy, which defeated Lithuania 100-91. The U.S. team will play Lithuania for third place.

The Argentines were better passers, shooters and defenders than the Americans. They confronted them with a mixture of man-to-man and zone defenses, and confounded them with an assortment of back picks and deft passes that turned the start of the second half into
a layup drill.

Argentina's players celebrated wildly when the game ended, and the crowd yelled "Ole!"

U.S. coach Larry Brown walked over and gave a handshake and hug to his Argentine counterpart, Ruben Magnano, who played for Argentina against the first Dream Team in Barcelona.

"Our rival today was extremely tough, but in the few hours that passed between yesterday's game and today's, we realized that nothing was impossible," Magnano said. "We had to go out there and attack them on an equal footing, go for them. That's what we
did, and that's why we won."

NBA commissioner David Stern attended the third loss of the Athens Games for the Americans, who entered the tournament with a 109-2 Olympic record.

Their 19-point loss to Puerto Rico in the opener was shocking, and their second defeat, to Lithuania, finally hammered home a message to the team's young players that the level of competition was a whole lot better than they had imagined.

The U.S. team's best effort came Thursday in a victory over previously undefeated Spain.

But just a day later, they went back to missing 3-point shots, lost Tim Duncan to foul trouble, didn't get a breakout performance from any of their players and couldn't make a sustained comeback after they fell behind by a double-digit margin.

The Americans gave Argentina credit, but the fact remained that a big part of the U.S. team's loss was its fundamental weaknesses: a lack of familiarity with each other, poor defense and abysmal outside shooting.

It showed that the quarterfinal victory over Spain was an aberration, not an awakening.

"I don't know if we'd have beaten them if Timmy had played 40 minutes -- though I'd have liked to have had that chance," Brown said. "Basketball has been getting better around the world because of what the Dream Team did in '92, and rather than knocking our guys we should give credit to the guys who won."

The results might have been different if the Americans had fielded a team of their best players, but injuries, indifference and insecurities left many of the best Americans -- including Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Jason Kidd -- back in
the United States.

"In 1992, the USA had the best players ever. Here they are great players, too, but they are young and they never played internationally, so with different rules it's a whole different thing," said Ginobili, who also plays for the San Antonio Spurs. "The rest of the world is getting better and the States isn't bringing their best players."

Argentina shot 54 percent overall and 11-for-22 from 3-point range, while the Americans finished just 32-for-77 (42 percent) and 3-for-11 on 3s. After scoring 31 points against Spain, Stephon Marbury led the U.S. team with 18, and Duncan had just 10 while being limited to 19½ minutes.

"You can't just show up at a basketball game and feel that because you have USA across your chest you're going to win the game," Iverson said. "It means a lot to other teams out here to get a medal as well."

The first half ended with Argentina ahead 43-38 after its big men outplayed the Americans and showed themselves capable of as much flair as anyone.

The half's prettiest play came on the 3-on-1 break when Hugo Sconochini, one of the team's elder statesmen, tossed a nifty behind-the-back pass to Alejandro Montecchia for a high-arching layup over Richard Jefferson that gave Argentina a 42-33 lead.

The Americans shot just 36 percent in the first half and didn't hit their first 3-pointer -- missing their first five -- until LeBron James made one 30 seconds before halftime.

The third quarter began with Ginobili hitting a wide-open 3-pointer, Duncan picking up his third foul, Luis Scola, Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto getting inside for layups, and Marbury clanging a driving shot off the side of the backboard.

Suddenly, the Americans were down 53-40 and on the verge of having the game get away from them.

It soon did. Duncan was whistled for his fourth foul with 7:41 left in the third quarter, causing Brown to jump out of his chair and scream "NO!"

Next came a wide-open 3 from the right corner by Ginobili, and the lead was up to 16.

The Americans quickly got their deficit down to six, but Montecchia and Ruben Wolkowyski knocked down 3s, and Ginobili added a rare four-point play -- just like the one from Lithuania's Sarunas Jasikevicius that doomed the Americans in their opening-round loss
-- to make it 70-57 after three quarters.

The Americans trailed 76-65 with five minutes left when Duncan fouled out for hitting Ginobili with a hip check. The U.S. team went to a trap and a full-court press in an effort to climb back, but Argentina handled it with aplomb and didn't let the Americans
get closer than eight.

"For us to get an Olympic gold would be amazing, and tomorrow our soccer team and us will be playing for gold," Ginobili said. "That could be the happiest time ever for us."

[Venti Quattro]

:lmao olympics
:lmao only meaningful memory is Tanya on Nancy
:lmao Purple n Piss has no retort except amateur league smack
:lmao 3 straight lotteries with Kirby at the helm
:lmao $116m team swept by Spurs
:lmao Duncan ringing at 38
:lmao Kirby can't make the playoffs past age 33

Please stick to the topic, which is "Add your pics and gifs for most underachieving team in US Sport history"

[Splits]

:lmao oylmpics

[Infinite_limit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtopNCH5-qY

[Venti Quattro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtopNCH5-qY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jHW2VR3ZBY

[Venti Quattro]

Holy crap. Larry Brown partnered up with southern boy and the 5th best coach in the ACC Roy, with dry humor Pop.

Jefferson, Okafor, Odom holy crap and #7 is Boozer?
https://goingahamm.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/iverson-duncan-2009-3-24-15-31-45.jpg

[Mitch]

Let's not forget this fucking disgrace to USA, commanded by the Admiral


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qveApg1A8Es

[Splits]

Please stick to the topic, which is "Add your pics and gifs for most underachieving team in US Sport history"


http://thatsenuff.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Dwight-Howard-Kobe.jpg
https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-9nZ6_OdWx5l9rxFCmw7UCelKK0=/0x58:4000x2725/730x487/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/18374215/20130322_jla_aj4_656.0.jpg

http://blog.gtbets.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dwight-howard.jpg

http://sportschump.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Lakers-convene.jpg

http://www.theipinionsjournal.com/uploaded_images/shaq-736944.jpg

[Venti Quattro]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jHW2VR3ZBY


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxO75ah-_q0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV3xGflsz2o

[Splits]

:lmao amateur play

[Sean Cagney]

Two bronze medals, won by two of the Spurs' best players...

Don't forget the two Golds one of them won as well since you are counting Olympics and leaving that out. He was the leading scorer on one of those teams as well I believe.

Oh yes, since we are talking about 2004 Olympics a certain Spur won the tourney MVP and got Gold as well.

[Mitch]

http://www.rio2016.com/sites/default/files/users/guilhermertorres/chris_mcgrath.jpg

[Mitch]

Don't forget the two Golds one of them won as well since you are counting Olympics and leaving that out. He was the leading scorer on one of those teams as well I believe.

Stay on topic, this is about worst USA teams.

[Splits]

Who was in the WCF with a shithead team with a playoff choker?

Kirby couldn't even get home court advantage with a healthy Dwert, plus MVPau and Nashty

:lmao

Couldn't even take the court because he was too afraid of losing to Duncan again

[Venti Quattro]

:lmao amateur play

This 2004 team lost to a bunch of Amateurs then. What kind of cucks are they? Surprised they haven't been charged with treason yet.

[Sean Cagney]

Stay on topic, this is about worst USA teams.

Robinson was on two dream teams was he not? I would say that is on topic since you mentioned him and a Bronze. He was the leading scorer on one of the teams I said as well, not the Original dream team but the one after that.
Who was in the WCF with a shithead team with a playoff choker?

Kirby couldn't even get home court advantage with a healthy Dwert, plus MVPau and Nashty

:lmao
They were actually out of the playoffs and eventually up to 8th with Kobe healthy, when he got hurt they moved up to 7th without him :lol

[Venti Quattro]

Who was in the WCF with a shithead team with a playoff choker?

Kirby couldn't even get home court advantage with a healthy Dwert, plus MVPau and Nashty

:lmao

:lmao Only winning bronze with a star-studded NBA cast

:lol Losing to a bunch of amateurs

:lol Losing to Manu Ginobili

:lol Getting carried in Game 7 of the Finals 10 months later

[Infinite_limit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVAEA9NuXHI

[Mitch]

http://a.espncdn.com/media/oly/2004/0821/photo/duncan_hi.jpg

[Venti Quattro]

http://standingosports.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2004-Team1.jpg

[Splits]

:lmao Only winning bronze with a star-studded NBA cast

:lol Losing to a bunch of amateurs

:lol Losing to Manu Ginobili

:lol Getting carried in Game 7 of the Finals 10 months later

:lol Olympics

:lol TMZ

:lol Tanya vs. Nancy

:lol http://i.imgur.com/Tkw1one.jpg

:lol http://i.imgur.com/ukJvtPb.png

[Sean Cagney]

I remember Kobe and Shaq withdrawing from that team in 04 after the Finals ass whooping they took, damn cowards lost twice that year.

[Mitch]

Shit pushed in by this guy :lol

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Carlos+Arroyo+Miami+Heat+v+Memphis+Grizzlies+CZi-4uc2JWvl.jpg

[Infinite_limit]

Timmy the Sidekick?

http://cache.nba.com/media/duncan_iverson1_170_040726.jpg

[Infinite_limit]

http://i.cnn.net/si/2004/olympics/2004/basketball/08/27/usa.argentina.ap/p1_duncan.ginobili_ap.jpg

[Clipper Nation]

Did someone say 2004?

http://i.imgur.com/nnwPP9P.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ClhfXQH.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ubqX7XO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/qvdTrzg.jpg

[Splits]

Shit pushed in by this guy:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BTgObyJCQAA_Cdz.jpg

[Splits]

http://home.comcast.net/~magic_rat/croshere9.jpg

[Infinite_limit]

Shit pushed in by this guy :lol

http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Carlos+Arroyo+Miami+Heat+v+Memphis+Grizzlies+CZi-4uc2JWvl.jpg

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2012/0619/oly_olympicupsets_07.jpg

[DJR210]

:lol
http://greghornjudge.com/images/Large/4%20Magazine%20art/Olympic_team_USA_basketball.jpg

Regardless of the outcome that's a sweet picture

[DJR210]

http://standingosports.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2004-Team1.jpg

RJ bending over for Tim, the preview

[Splits]

RJ bending over for Tim, the preview

:lmao

[Infinite_limit]

Regardless of the outcome that's a sweet picture
Barbarians returned

[Splits]

RJ bending over for Tim, the preview
LkrFan (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=18824) Koolaid_Man (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=19058) Thebesteva Medvedenko (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=180)

[DJR210]

http://blog.gtbets.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dwight-howard.jpg



Could they have caught Dwight in a more fitting pose?

[Splits]

Could they have caught Dwight in a more fitting pose?

One was in the WCF.

The other is hocking ugly ass watches and cheap wine.

Take your pick.

[Malik Hairston]

:lol damn, even as a Spurs fan, I have to admit that Laker fans in this thread destroyed the OP, tbh..

[Koolaid_Man]

LkrFan (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=18824) Koolaid_Man (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=19058) Thebesteva (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=42939) Medvedenko (http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=180)

Just as a good as a pic tbh..

That's the game I dread," Duncan said. "That's the game I dread."


He said it twice because the idea bugs him that much. Duncan said Monday, somewhat seriously, that he will tell Team USA coaches Larry Brown and Gregg Popovich that he's injured and can't play that day. He never expected that he would have to play against his home country, because the Virgin Islands didn't field a senior men's national team back in 1994 when he represented the United States for the first time.


"I hoped that it would never happen," he said.

That'd be a great honor," Duncan said, "to get a Virgin Islands team into the Olympics."


Duncan, mind you, wants a gold medal, and he doesn't deny that he chose to play for the United States -- instead of waiting for the Virgin Islands to assemble a representative squad -- because it gave him "a better opportunity to win the gold."


Marc Stein is the senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. To e-mail him,click here (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/mailbagESPN?event_id=3033). Also, send Stein a question (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPNEWS?event_id=920) for possible use onESPNEWS (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espnews/index).

[Koolaid_Man]

Duncan won't play for U.S. at worlds, '08 Games

Associated Press



PHOENIX -- Tim Duncan (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3173) has officially notified USA Basketball that he will not be a part of the U.S. team that will compete at this year's world championships and the 2008 Olympics.
Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, said Saturday that Duncan's agent, Lon Babby, had called with the news earlier this week.

After the Spurs' 91-86 loss to the Suns on Saturday night, Duncan confirmed his feelings on playing for the U.S. team.
"I have no interest in that," he said.

Colangelo said has met with 15 to 18 players, and Duncan was the first to say he would not take part.

Duncan was part of the U.S. team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics.

[Koolaid_Man]

By Mike Wise
Sunday, August 29, 2004; Page E12

ATHENS -- Tim Duncan wore a haggard look as he emerged from a locker room of bronze medalists. Hardly an emotional guy, he mumbled that his international basketball career is "95 percent" over and that, oh yeah, "FIBA [stinks]." :lmao

[Koolaid_Man]

:lmao


Duncan came here because he believed in the ideal of representing his country in basketball. And he must have figured if he was going to head overseas, risk security concerns and his professional reputation as arguably the best player in the game, players such as Tracy McGrady and Mike Bibby would surely follow.


Instead, he was joined by a cut-and-paste team that had little practice time together and ended up fouling out twice in eight games, after fouling out approximately two times in eight years. He battled the ticky-tack calls of international referees. He endured jeers and whistles from people who treat American basketball players like Boston treats the Yankees. Criticized back home and castigated abroad, Duncan walked out of that locker room Saturday night at Olympic Indoor Hall and figured, "Enough already. This just isn't worth it."

[Koolaid_Man]

So he wins a bronze and then he and Pop become so salty they try to blame it on Shaq and Kobe.....:lmao fucking pathetic



The league's premier power forward honored his two-year commitment when lesser players did not. But in the international game, Duncan never got the star treatment that every franchise player in the NBA receives. He may as well have been Angola's sixth man.

"How can you make sense of the officiating," said U.S. assistant Gregg Popovich, Duncan's coach in San Antonio. "If Tim Duncan knew this is how the games were going to be called, he would have thought seriously about not coming."

Duncan actually took pride in the bronze medal, happy to earn some reward for sacrificing two summers to the NBA's global marketing machine. While Kobe Bryant consulted his lawyers and Shaquille O'Neal was trying to reach a truce with his appetite, Tim Duncan of the U.S. Virgin Islands wanted to wear USA across his chest.

[Koolaid_Man]

Talk about a sore fucking loser....and they say this guy is stand up....yeah right..he and Pop never took responsibility for this obviously..instead they blamed it on anyone and everything else...all trolling aside .it is quite pathetic :lol



Regardless, rules changes won't change what needs to be fixed back home. And nothing, it seems, can get Duncan to buy into playing for the United States again. He was asked if his own misgivings about playing internationally would hurt the recruitment of other marquee players.


"I hope not," Duncan said. "I'll try not to share my experiences with anyone."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42585-2004Aug28.html

[midnightpulp]

Duncan performed fine in the Olympics. Best overall stats on the team and consistent with what USA big men typically average in FIBA competition. I don't see how Lakerfan uses this as an argument of anything, especially considering Kobe was the 3rd or 4th best player on the team in '08 and was irrelevant in 2012.

[midnightpulp]

Some no name Argie who subbed in for an injured Manu held Kirbs to 35% shooting and dropped 12 points in his grill in 19 mintues :lmao

http://oi57.tinypic.com/el5ks9.jpg

In addition to Austin Croshere, we can now add "P. Quinteros" to the list of players who've outplayed Kirby in big games/series. :lol


Note: Quinteros measures 6'2" :lmao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Quinteros

[K...]

So losers in this thread include splits, Kobe, and any nba player planing with a corrupt foreign organisation for free.

[Koolaid_Man]

No Kobe no gold

[Blizzardwizard]

boiled down:::

http://cdn2-www.hoopsvibe.com/assets/uploads/2013/04/file_170891_6_tumblr_mlx3l8bErw1qzaoamo1_r1_500.gi f

[RsxPiimp]

Venti and Mitch with no disregard to human life

[RsxPiimp]

http://i.imm.io/AiKB.jpeg

:lmao

[ElNono]

Lots of appreciation for that 2005 Team USA, tbh... they unleashed the beast that gave us 4 more rings...

http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/sports/2013-06-17/10f5a0b6-3ffe-44dc-b94a-24b381f87404_ginobiligold.jpg

[unleashbaynes]

:lmao lakerfan cares about olympics now? how cute.

[Koolaid_Man]

:lmao


So what's that shit on Tammy's head...lol crown of Champs

[DMC]

Lakers didn't underachieve. They did what we expected they would do.

[Venti Quattro]

:lmao lakerfan cares about olympics now? how cute.

The Nightmare Team, as they call it within our shores

[Mitch]

The Nightmare Team, as they call it within our shores

Puerto Rico, Quattro.

Puerto FUCKING Rico... they're on course to be the 51st state and they defeated the mighty US Basketball team with supposedly the greatest power forward to ever live.

[FkLA]

Some no name Argie who subbed in for an injured Manu held Kirbs to 35% shooting and dropped 12 points in his grill in 19 mintues :lmao

http://oi57.tinypic.com/el5ks9.jpg

In addition to Austin Croshere, we can now add "P. Quinteros" to the list of players who've outplayed Kirby in big games/series. :lol


Note: Quinteros measures 6'2" :lmao

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Quinteros

Jesus christ look at that disgusting FG%. No shame having chucker along with Melo tbh.