Is it a cold day in Hell?

[Mavs<Spurs]

This may get moved, but I didn't see it in the other forum.

What happened? Explanation please?

I understand the USA mens team losing since the rules are so different, the team is new to each other and we don't know much about the opposition. In 3 years, I would hope that we would be in a better situation in the Olympics of 2008. It is understandable that our mens team lost for those reasons.



On the other hand, it is not very clear why our womens team lost to Russia whom they beat by 10 the other day. The US women mostly are familiar with the international game since most of them have experience playing in Europe. They know the other teams and they know the other players. Therefore, it is extremely confusing when one attempts to understand how Hell can freeze over. Our players are incredible: Candace Parker, Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Katie Smith, Tina Thompson, Tamika Catchings, not to mention Cheryl Swoopes.


The only thing I can think of is (1) we are prone to turnovers and we did turn the ball over a lot and (2) any team can have a cold night shooting from the field and (3) the single elimination system allows for anomalies to take place.

Combining these 3 is the best way I can explain it.

It stinks!!!



Right after classes, I came to check on this score and this???

How utterly depressing. I will have to erase it from my dvr.

FIBA stinks. Single elimination is dumb!!!

That's not a good way to see which team is best.

The deck is stacked against us.
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[747]

Or...The professional game in the USA is not nearly as good as the (W)NBA would have us believe.

[East Coast Babe]

There is one big difference in teams from other countries and teams from the US. Teams from other countries are used to playing with each other as a team. The game is a team effort. We play like individuals. Spoiled, bratty, rich kid individuals. There is no team concept here. When we play more like a team, we may find the results different too. We have time to get our act together. Let's hope we do. :hat

[z0sa]

the problem is role players. every single great team is generally composed of 1-2 superstars in their prime, and a collection of role players that have the intangibles -- not a collection of superstars in their primes that all want to make a major impact. Even if they commit to a team game, it just doesn't work because they can't function as a team unit - because they lack role players. See, when you put people on like Antawn Jamison, you're just asking for trouble. You bring in subs and they all want to have this major impact, instead of having maybe a good sixth man scorer and some defensive role players or something. A little defense would have helped alot vs greece as well.

[East Coast Babe]

the problem is role players. every single great team is generally composed of 1-2 superstars in their prime, and a collection of role players that have the intangibles -- not a collection of superstars in their primes that all want to make a major impact. Even if they commit to a team game, it just doesn't work because they can't function as a team unit - because they lack role players. See, when you put people on like Antawn Jamison, you're just asking for trouble. You bring in subs and they all want to have this major impact, instead of having maybe a good sixth man scorer and some defensive role players or something. A little defense would have helped alot vs greece as well.

I can see that. It would have been a good idea to keep Bowen in that case. We live in the same state as Coach K and Duke and I can't tell you how good their defense is, but they must have some or they wouldn't get as far as they normally get in the playoffs every year. But, everyone wanting to make a difference is playing like individuals in my mind. A true superstar can play as a role player if needed if he is any good. There are alot of NBA players playing for their countries in the World Championships. Are they all the stars for their teams?