TeamUSA-Greece

[Supergirl]

I called it - Spurs wouldn't win without Bowen.

I'm not saying he would have made the difference, but he might have helped. He can hit from the outside, he's used to big time games, and he's confident, poised, and doesn't give up on defense. USA was exposed.

My bigger shock was the Spain beat Argentina. I predict Argentina comes back to pound the USA for the bronze.

[sabar]

Poor FT shooting
Excellent FG% in 2pt range from Greece
Poor 3pt% by USA

USA could have won, but the dice didn't fall their way. Allowed far too many uncontested shots near the basket, I blame the poor defense. Greece just played better.

Kobe's 3pt shooting would have been very welcome.

Coach lost it in the 2nd half. Defense just vanished.

We did quite well for players that don't play together for extended periods of time in a new system. Send over Detroit/Dallas/Spurs team over there and give time with the system and the USA would steamroll every team. Bring an international team into the NBA and they will have a win record of .500-.600.

Different systems make a large difference. Unfamiliarity with team mates and other teams. Imagine if team USA had 50 exhibition games and then the championships. And imagine if it was the same team over 10 years. The international game has caught up. They play good team ball and we have to get the system down. I think team USA did extremely well given the conditions. Bring over the Greece team into the NBA playoffs and see how far they get.

[adidas11]

You people have it all wrong.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The reason why Team USA lost was because they haven't had enough time to play together as a cohesive unit. And because we haven't had a consistent system in place for an extended period of time like the international teams. (i.e. Coach K being the head coach).

Here is what happens. When you're a team that hasn't played together much, and you encounter a pressure situation, you revert back to your individual instincts. You don't have a proper game plan, you don't have the proper experience playing together to counter the pressure situations. As NBA basketball players, that instinct is to play isolation and try to break teams down, and to chuck up 3 pointers. You can't expect Team USA to be able to beat GOOD international national teams with only a month of practice. These teams have been together and played under the same system for YEARS. They know how to react under pressure situations as a team because of experience together, and enough practice under one coach and one system.

I'm proud of Team USA, and they got as far as I expected them to. This wasn't an upset. Greece is the European Champion, and as of right now, is the BETTER TEAM. All Team USA had going for them in this tournament was to high pressure other teams, and depend on their athleticism to beat their opponents. Which is what you do when you're not familiar with each other. The problem is, being more athletic and high pressuring other teams won't work when you run against a good enough team that can handle that pressure. And as you get further into the tournament, you will eventually run into the 3 or 4 teams that can handle that pressure. Greece being one of them.

Team USA is on the right track, by having a coach and a team together for a 3 year (or however long it is) committment. This way, they get to play together (or at least practice together) next summer, and then play in the following summer as well. They have established a national team pool, where they can continually evaluate players, and try to put together the best team at the right time.

But they need to take it a step further: they need to implement a FULL TIME coach. Not a part time coach like Coach K, who also coaches the Duke Blue Devils. It needs to be a full time coach, who can travel extensively and evaluate players in the league throughout the year, and also travel and evaluate opponents when they play as well.

We did a lot of right things in this tournament. The at ude was good, the team was better put together, the approach was improved. But we have to take the next step in order to beat the elite international teams. We have to play together more often.

I'd also like to say that Sabar has it right as well. Team USA played as well as they possibly could under the present conditions.

[sendman]

None of which supports your earlier contention that the USA's offense was the reason they lost. The USA couldn't hit free throws, took bad shots and passed up good shots. All that pales in comparison to the fact that they allowed 87 points in three quarters to Greece.

I'm not saying that US team played great defense, I'm saying that Greeks managed to slow down American scoring. They were scoring about 120 per game for the first three games and then other teams started to figure out ways to slow US scoring down (bad free throws helped, bad shot selection certainly also helped, but who made them take those bad shots, who made them go to the line when shot was not falling?). Italy showed the way and others followed. Pace of the game was crucial for the outcome, and Greeks were in complete control of it.

[Das Texan]

Why the was Coach K with his wealth of international knowledge the coach of this team anyway?

[adidas11]

Why the was Coach K with his wealth of international knowledge the coach of this team anyway?

That's the problem. There isn't a coach available that has a wealth of international knowledge. To get that experience, you have to have a full time coach for an EXTENDED period of time. At least 4 years. I wouldn't mind Coach K doing it, but to do it properly, he would have to quit Duke. We have to quit appointing coaches who are already under contract with other teams.

[sendman]

You people have it all wrong.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The reason why Team USA lost was because they haven't had enough time to play together as a cohesive unit. And because we haven't had a consistent system in place for an extended period of time like the international teams. (i.e. Coach K being the head coach).

Here is what happens. When you're a team that hasn't played together much, and you encounter a pressure situation, you revert back to your individual instincts. You don't have a proper game plan, you don't have the proper experience playing together to counter the pressure situations. As NBA basketball players, that instinct is to play isolation and try to break teams down, and to chuck up 3 pointers. You can't expect Team USA to be able to beat GOOD international national teams with only a month of practice. These teams have been together and played under the same system for YEARS. They know how to react under pressure situations as a team because of experience together, and enough practice under one coach and one system.

I'm proud of Team USA, and they got as far as I expected them to. This wasn't an upset. Greece is the European Champion, and as of right now, is the BETTER TEAM. All Team USA had going for them in this tournament was to high pressure other teams, and depend on their athleticism to beat their opponents. Which is what you do when you're not familiar with each other. The problem is, being more athletic and high pressuring other teams won't work when you run against a good enough team that can handle that pressure. And as you get further into the tournament, you will eventually run into the 3 or 4 teams that can handle that pressure. Greece being one of them.

Team USA is on the right track, by having a coach and a team together for a 3 year (or however long it is) committment. This way, they get to play together (or at least practice together) next summer, and then play in the following summer as well. They have established a national team pool, where they can continually evaluate players, and try to put together the best team at the right time.

But they need to take it a step further: they need to implement a FULL TIME coach. Not a part time coach like Coach K, who also coaches the Duke Blue Devils. It needs to be a full time coach, who can travel extensively and evaluate players in the league throughout the year, and also travel and evaluate opponents when they play as well.

We did a lot of right things in this tournament. The at ude was good, the team was better put together, the approach was improved. But we have to take the next step in order to beat the elite international teams. We have to play together more often.

I'd also like to say that Sabar has it right as well. Team USA played as well as they possibly could under the present conditions.

This year US team had enough time to prepare. They played enough friendly games, they were together for the same amount of time as all the other teams. International teams don't play together for years like you are preaching. Players of all this national teams competing at WC are scattered all over the world and playing for their teams and they get together about a month before the championship to prepare themselves. Your argument that other teams are playing together for long time is completely bogus, and was already used before to make an excuse.

[Bob Lanier]

Dookie Krizewski chokes again.

Jerry Colangelo can suck it.

[sendman]

Why the was Coach K with his wealth of international knowledge the coach of this team anyway?

Coach K is having Mike D'Antoni on his staff. This guy played in Europe for a long time, this guy was a head coach in European top teams for a long time and I just don't understand what they were doing with this team for a month and a half, because today this team looked lost for last 3 Q.

[adidas11]

This year US team had enough time to prepare. They played enough friendly games, they were together for the same amount of time as all other teams. International teams don't play together like you are preaching. Players of all this national teams competing at WC are scattered all over the world and playing for their teams and they get together about a month before the championship to prepare themselves. Your argument that other teams are playing together for long time is completely bogus, and was already used before to make an excuse.

Sure. I'm willing to bet that in previous years, even going back as far as the Olympics and the previous World Basketball championships, that the same teams were together (for the most part) and that the same coaches were in place as well. Also, you're acting as if Greece has never played together. Yet they participated AND won the European Basketball Championships.

Plus, in the Euro leagues, they have a much shorter season than the NBA.

Even though the teams might have had the same amount of time this summer to prepare, they have a head start by simple virtue of having played together as a cohesive unit in previous years.

Go do some research.

[sendman]

Sure. I'm willing to bet that in previous years, even going back as far as the Olympics and the previous World Basketball championships, that the same teams were together (for the most part) and that the same coaches were in place as well. Also, you're acting as if Greece has never played together. Yet they participated AND won the European Basketball Championships.

Plus, in the Euro leagues, they have a much shorter season than the NBA.

Even though the teams might have had the same amount of time this summer to prepare, they have a head start by simple virtue of having played together as a cohesive unit in previous years.

Go do some research.

Dude I'm from Europe, so don't teach me how things work on our side of the pond. I'm following most European players all year around. Top teams in Europe are playing in at least 3 different compe ions every season (Euroleague, Domestic league and Cup). Amount of games played by top teams is very close if not the same as in NBA. You go do some research, sigh!

[DarkReign]

Is it so hard to just admit the US got beat pretty handily?

Who cares...Im totally serious. I never cared about international compe ion. I want my team to win, not the national team.

Congrats Greece! Definately were the better team (as described in this thread).

99% of Americans never watched a game in this tourney. What may have been Greece's biggest game in a loooooong time, Americans didnt even choose to watch.

[ChumpDumper]

The "inexperienced coach" bit doesn't fly when you have D'Antoni on staff. A decade including championships under international rules isn't enough experience?

And a team like Tau is going to be playing from the end of September to the middle of June, so the preperation time is pretty much the same.

This point:

Even though the teams might have had the same amount of time this summer to prepare, they have a head start by simple virtue of having played together as a cohesive unit in previous years.

is valid.

We'll see what the USA ends up doing in the Olympics. It's a good thing they'll have to qualify next summer -- more experience.

[mavsfan1000]

Things I think that will give USA a better chance in FIBA play.
1. Make the 3 point closer and allow full blown zone defense in the nba. This will force players to work on their jump shot more and the zone defense will force teams to pass more instead of the star styled game the nba has right now which leads to selfishness.
2. Build the team on defense. This means get the prequisite to making the team is defense. The next things to look at are Basketball IQ, passing, and shot blocking. If this leaves a few superstars out than it is fine. USA has had no problems with scoring but their defense was atrocious.
3. Get a coach that understands the FIBA game. A defense first coach. Especially with the High Screen and roll along with guarding the perimeter.

[adidas11]

The international teams have played together before as a cohesive unit (players and coaching staff) in previous compe ions. Team USA has not. It's that plain and simple. Quit acting as if these teams just got together for the first time this summer and started off from the same foot as Team USA.

When push came to shove, Greece knew how they wanted to react to pressure, and how to execute. Team USA didn't. That only comes from having enough experience playing TOGETHER.

Go do some research.

[sendman]

The international teams have played together before as a cohesive unit (players and coaching staff) in previous compe ions. Team USA has not. It's that plain and simple. Quit acting as if these teams just got together for the first time this summer and started off from the same foot as Team USA.

When push came to shove, Greece knew how they wanted to react to pressure, and how to execute. Team USA didn't. That only comes from having enough experience playing TOGETHER.

Go do some research.

Backbone of this US team was made out of players that were playing at Olympic games in Athens (James, Wade, Carmelo). This guys are playing with or against each other on nightly bases, it's not like they fell from the moon. Previous US team coach got dumped for bad results (nothing new for any sport), so what are you saying?

Don’t do any research, it’s a waste of time. Too damn hard.

[mavsfan1000]

The international teams have played together before as a cohesive unit (players and coaching staff) in previous compe ions. Team USA has not. It's that plain and simple. Quit acting as if these teams just got together for the first time this summer and started off from the same foot as Team USA.

When push came to shove, Greece knew how they wanted to react to pressure, and how to execute. Team USA didn't. That only comes from having enough experience playing TOGETHER.

Go do some research.

The research is this team was poorly constructed just like last team. They keep throwing all the superstars and expect them to be role players. Why not get real role players that don't need to score to be effective. Battier and Howard were the closest to this. Carmelo, Wade, and Lebron were the defensive liabilities on this team.

[ChumpDumper]

Why not get real role players that don't need to score to be effective. Battier and Howard were the closest to this. Carmelo, Wade, and Lebron were the defensive liabilities on this team.

You take that back!

Sincerely,

Nike

[sendman]

You take that back!

Sincerely,

Nike

[2centsworth]

As soon as Americans accept that the best basketball is being playing internationally the faster we will see better results in these games.

I think the American basketball team is headed in the right direction. They showed a lot of improvement over the past two teams. They were undefeated in the prelims and a few correction away from making the gold medal game. That is a lot better than we have seen recently which means to me we're headed in the right direction.

[ShoogarBear]

As soon as Americans accept that the best basketball is being playing internationally the faster we will see better results in these games.

I think the American basketball team is headed in the right direction. They showed a lot of improvement over the past two teams. They were undefeated in the prelims and a few correction away from making the gold medal game. That is a lot better than we have seen recently which means to me we're headed in the right direction.

This will be known as the official "Saint K" response.

How about: the USA could/should have won THIS time if the coaching was less pig-headed?

[E20]

I can't believe USA lost. I really remember Potapenko giving Duncan fits at Athens.

[sendman]

From Yahoo sports:

As they warmed up before Friday's semifinal against Greece, the U.S. players put on a jam session for the fans.

Dwight Howard dunked emphatically. Dwyane Wade bounced the ball off the backboard, caught it and stuffed. Elton Brand jammed an alley-oop pass. Finally, LeBron James flew down the lane for a tomahawk.

As the crowd roared, the Greeks lined up at the other end and shot free throws.

This is THE BEST SUMMARY of everything we talked about.

[The Genius]

Wooooooo. I'm quite shocked.

[mavsfan1000]

From Yahoo sports:

As they warmed up before Friday's semifinal against Greece, the U.S. players put on a jam session for the fans.

Dwight Howard dunked emphatically. Dwyane Wade bounced the ball off the backboard, caught it and stuffed. Elton Brand jammed an alley-oop pass. Finally, LeBron James flew down the lane for a tomahawk.

As the crowd roared, the Greeks lined up at the other end and shot free throws.

This is THE BEST SUMMARY of everything we talked about.

Man this team. All they want to do is dunk and be selfish. I'm glad Greece won. They were more interested in winning than showing off.