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I don't know if most NBA stars could deal with the manner in which Pop treats his stars. For some reason I see a guy like Kobe or Carmelo taking issue with being called out in practice.
Yeah but...he still starts out slowly every year....Spam you know. This year was a little bit different but I still don't think it's Pop's style to start out fast....and that's really what it takes to win the Olympics...a quick fix guy.
I don't know if most NBA stars could deal with the manner in which Pop treats his stars. For some reason I see a guy like Kobe or Carmelo taking issue with being called out in practice.
But what does that have to do with it? The core of the team will be set within a couple months from now. Then they'll have the WC's next summer and the Olympics 2 years later. The team will be a regular organized unit that will be training regularly as a team over the next 3 years until the Olympics.
You just said that Pop wasn't suited to it because of the "short" training. Sure, if it was the same deal as it has been in the past, but it's not.
Kobe would be excellent under Pop. I don't know if Carmelo would be ever asked to participate. They almost sent him home last time.
I feel the same way. What could Coach K bring, other than his name, to the team that Pop couldn't bring more of.
Most of the players that he worked with as an assistant coach for the Olympics came away from it praising Pop.
Kobe would be an excellent player under Pop, but could he keep his ego under wraps? And maybe Kobe was a bad choice, he's actually a better guy than most people give him credit for. I would imagine there are some players that would have problems with a coach that didn't kiss their ass though. I don't think Pop would put up with all the egos. Popovich is the best coach in the NBA, but even I have to admit there are coaches better suited to managing teams full of superstars not named Tim Duncan.
EDIT: Pop wasn't in charge in the past Olympics, I'd imagine he'd be in a different situation as a head coach. Things are different when you have to defer to that carpetbagger from NY.
After the way we were embarrased the past few years, a player would really have to be full of himself NOT to buy into what the team is trying to accomplish.
Well I don't know. I can't think of a "star" player in the NBA with a big ego who doesn't have a tremendous amount of respect for Pop. The ego players (with the exception of Carmelo, who is just immature) in the league might have problems under coaches like Bzdelik or RambisKobe would be an excellent player under Pop, but could he keep his ego under wraps? And maybe Kobe was a bad choice, he's actually a better guy than most people give him credit for. I would imagine there are some players that would have problems with a coach that didn't kiss their ass though. I don't think Pop would put up with all the egos. Popovich is the best coach in the NBA, but even I have to admit there are coaches better suited to managing teams full of superstars not named Tim Duncan.but I can't imagine it under a coach they respect. I don't think Kobe would have any ego problems under Pop.
How regularly? The NBA offseason? I don't think that's regular in the true sense of the word.
I don't think it fits Pop's style of coaching...Part of the reason we start slow is because Pop doesn't place a lot of emphasis on winning early, yeah he can do it, like we did this past year...but it's still not his style. I mean no one forced us to start slow and not put much emphasis on winning early during the Pop era, regardlews of the roster turnover...some guys are the every game counts type and that's not Pop's style...but it's what he's comfortable with...he's methodical, a slow starter and strong finisher. I don't think the Olympic/International format is best suited to that style.
They tried to return the team from the qualifiers but everyone bailed...it's not like this is a brand new strategy, it's actually similar to the pre dream team era.....I hope the new guys won't wimp out...but regardless of all of this...I still don't think the international format for tournaments suits Pop's style as a coach.You just said that Pop wasn't suited to it because of the "short" training. Sure, if it was the same deal as it has been in the past, but it's not.
And on top of that I think it will burn him out...
i think Kobe respects Pops just like in the last All-Star game. Kobe likes to win(saw the tears), and Pops is a winner and knows to deal players with at ude problems before-SJax, Big Dogg, and he likes Spree etc.
But i don't know if Pops likes to handle a U.S. team with both ShaQ and Kobe around. A clash of ans will probably arise if this happens.
The first requirement of being on new Team USA is being commited long term....not being an NBA Superstar. This new team might only have one or even fewer A-list stars on it...it's might be made up of guys playing over in Europe...and college players.
It's not going to be an ego managing type deal anymore. I don't see Shaq being a part of it...Kobe might, for image reasons and it might be the only winning he does for a few years...but the Dream Team is dead. Argentina killed it.
They respect Pop, but they also don't play for him. Easy to not have issues with someone you only know by reputation. Put it this way, I don't think Pop would be willing to deal with a lot of the crap players would bring (think AI a few years ago and his comments on practice) and he would have to deal with over an extended period of time like three years. But maybe I don't give Pop enough credit. And again, Kobe might have been a bad example.Well I don't know. I can't think of a "star" player in the NBA with a big ego who doesn't have a tremendous amount of respect for Pop. The ego players (with the exception of Carmelo, who is just immature) in the league might have problems under coaches like Bzdelik or Rambis
don't think so, Whott. They still are a threat.but the Dream Team is dead. Argentina killed it.
if not of those "chicken- " players who backed out from the original team, USA would still reign supreme in basketball right now. this time they have to start early making a team ready for the next Olympics. hey, Argentina players played together for several yrs. How can a team who practiced for a very limited time can compete with that?
I am not saying team USA is dead...it just won't be the Dream Team format of throwing a bunch of All Stars out there and watching them destroy the other teams. It'll be a true team...
Team USA didn't lose because of talent...they lost because they weren't the best team...maybe if they had more stars they would have won...but if the stars don't know how to play team ball(like a lot of the ballhogging NBA stars these days) they won't beat a great team.
i agree with you in some ways. it was really disappointing for some players in Pre-Olympics in Puerto Rico who played great for backing out in the last minute. Plus Kobe with some court problems.Team USA didn't lose because of talent...they lost because they weren't the best team...maybe if they had more stars they would have won...
but i think even if the original team did not go with Tim & Co as planned, with talents like LeBron, Amare, & Wade they can still beat Argentina. It's just they were not given a enough time to gel and be comfortable with each other's moves.
USA is always be a threat to basketball anywhere in the World. They still have the best players in the world. But to win they don't need to send superstars, they shld send a team.
If Pops gets selected as coach, it's really a touch act for him: Bringing back team USA at the top of the game but it can be done.
J. Colangelo dreaming up redemption
Dan Bickley
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 28, 2005 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...ckley0828.html
Piece by piece, Jerry Colangelo is trying to put the Dream Team back together.
Alas, his son has the same mission here in Phoenix.
"This is a story of redemption," the elder Colangelo said from the bleachers in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. "Who wouldn't want to be a part of this?"
With all these colors to worry about - red, white, blue, purple and orange - it has been a strange summer for the first family of Phoenix basketball. BryanColangelo is attempting to survive hurricane season with the Suns, where the most entertaining team in years has been stripped down, rebuilt and repainted. The Corvette now looks like a Hummer.
Meanwhile, father Jerry is on a roll. His search for head coach of Team USA is down to Mike Krzyzewski, Gregg Popovich and another unnamed NBA coach. Although Colangelo has held multiple conversations with Krzyzewski - "he epitomizes a lot of what you're looking for" - the appointment is no sure thing. No matter who gets the job, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni will be part of the staff.
"He's definitely in the mix," Colangelo said.
So is Kobe Bryant, who sees his own shot at redemption.
"I've gotten word that (Bryant) is waiting for a call," Colangelo said. "I think this would be a great opportunity for him."
The olive branch extended to Bryant means there is no chance of Shaquille O'Neal playing for Team USA, although he's not the type of player Colangelo is looking for, anyway. Even if he leads the NBA in scoring next season, don't expect Hawks guard Joe Johnson to get an invite, either.
While Colangelo has already succeeded in laying a bold vision for Team USA, he is not abandoning the Suns. He claims NBA types everywhere keep telling him what a great job his son has done keeping the boat afloat.
What else would you expect him to say?
Then again, it will all be true if the Suns succeed in snaring Michael Finley for the veteran's minimum salary. If Finley comes back to Phoenix, Colangelo's son could repeat as Executive of the Year again, and that's pretty hard to do in the NBA. But it doesn't sound promising.
"I've spoken with Michael and he really appreciates the interest," Colangelo said. "But money will be a factor with him. That's just the way it is, so we'll see what happens. Either way, we really like our team."
He also wants you to know that Leandro Barbosa lit it up in the Dominican Republic. Colangelo said Barbosa scored 55 points in a span of two games, and it came after they talked about the loss of Johnson, and how it opened a door for the young Brazilian. Believe at your own risk.
Still, the older Colangelo has mellowed in the past couple of years. Personal criticisms hardly bother him at all, and to his credit, he won't try to spin the Suns' current roster.
"It will look a little different," Colangelo conceded, knowing the look of last year's team was half the appeal. "But we have a chance to be even better. These are big-time changes made in mid-stream, and if it all works, it'll be quite a story."
A chance? If? That's about as honest an assessment as you will get from a team official concerning the drastic changes.
But it would be quite a story, and even better than winning a gold medal in Beijing.
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