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Melo with another strong showing
LeBron and Wade keep talking about the 3 of them being the face of the team. He's got their respect. He has earned the respect of the coaching staff and Colangelo.
Impressive stuff.
He starts.
So of the 14 players left, there are not 2 players who will help the USA less than Bruce?
Don't believe that.
What does Jamison offer team USA that they don't have?
Battier?
Melo with another strong showing
LeBron and Wade keep talking about the 3 of them being the face of the team. He's got their respect. He has earned the respect of the coaching staff and Colangelo.
Impressive stuff.
He starts.
Exhibition against China.
In the gold medal game against Argentina, Argentina has the ball with 5 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the game is tied.
Who would be every unbiased USA fan's first choice to be on the floor guarding Manu?
I'll help you a little with this one:
It isn't DWade- he gambles way too much, could get burned or commit a foul .
Ladies and gentlemen, I think we have a winner.
The Manu Rules by tko.
where is tlongII when you need him?
He's that grease spot on the highway.
He has to learn somehow not to float that weak junk up.
Not enough postage on that one.
Return to sender.
Let's hear some more about who you all would cut and why?
It's not an easy decision, imo.
For example, what are your thoughts, Pistons<Spurs?
Go Spurs, Go Pistons, Go old time Spurs and old Pistons (the defensive dinosaurs of the past) !!!
Or how about you, Nuggets fan. Hopefully, you can be reasonably fair about this since it is our national team.
Or mabber, put in your two cents.
What do you say?
Way too quiet in here. Let's stir some things up.
Did everyone have a bad day just because it's Monday?
Last edited by themanurules; 08-07-2006 at 06:00 PM.
Kori,
do we have a vbookie on team USA winning the FIBA (?)?
If so, I put all of my vbookie money on that.
Probably not a great return.
But a penny earned is worth about .75 cents.
Ducks has joined us!
Taking 3 graduate classes in 1 summer session has made me go sleepless. That explains the erratic nature of my posts today and I am studied out. I don't want to study any more, but my classes don't end until Thursday afternoon.
Bowen's D wasn't very good against Puerto Rico. From the box score it's hard to tell how well he played on D against China.
Probably Bowen, but the question should be is it worth keeping him for that particular situation? Is he that much better than say Battier to keep him even though he's not contributing as much as Battier is in other areas? I hope they keep Bowen but I don't think it's a slam dunk anymore. Only because of the way the USA has been playing their games (up tempo and always attacking on offense). Maybe they keep both Bowen & Battier. I do know that it's going to be really difficult for coach K to cut Battier since he's playing so well.
The problem with your scenario is that Argentina will be down by 25 with 5 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Bowen is not needed on this USA team.
If we were talking about a tyical NBA team, I would agree that Bowen and his stingy D may be more valuable at times ... however this is more of an ALL-STAR team. An All-Star squad does not require role players any where near as much as a regular season or playoff team.
IMO there is not one, let alone 2 players that would contribute less than Bowen.
No matter how I look at it, I cannot find a reason that Bowen makes the team.
When your average margain of victory is 30 or so points, a defensive stopper is not needed.
IF this team finds itself in a end of game scenario where they need a defensive stop to win, I'd say they already failed. No way this group of guys should ever be in that situation. And if they do, I could argue that if we had another offensive player on the team as opposed to Bowen, they may not have been at the brink of a loss.
This team is unlike any we've put forth into international play in a very long time.
It's not anywhere near as talented as the origional Dream Team.
But
I love who and how they selected their potential players. I love the commitment required of and given by the players and coaching staff. This is some of the greatest players we currently have in the game as opposed to the last few attempts where no one really wanted to or was able to play.
I don't see how any other international team can compete with us. This team is not like our last few teams that barely practiced together for a week. This isn't like past years teams where they were 2nd or 3rd teir players.
The international scene has definetly improved and may have caught up to an unprepared, lower level, poorly coached team that we put out there last time .... but they're not going to be able to compete with this team. No way.
I don't mean that in a bad way to the Argentina's, China's, Spains and other teams out there. It's just that everything about this squad is light years better than the teams we've put out there in years.
Also keep in mind that we will be running and gunning the entire time. It's fast breaks and Alley-oops. Likewise teams we play are going to try an uptempo game to keep up with us. If it was to be a slow down half court game, Bowen IMO would be more effective ... but I don't se that being the case.
And where did this notion that Bowen is a Manu stopper come from? I remember reading an article from SA here on these boards where Bowen commented that he didn't guard Manu in practices. He doesn't gain any special ability to guard him just because he's on the same team. He may have faced Manu 3 years ago ... but not recently. And Manu is often too injured to be around many practices.
I would contend that other players that have had to game plan against Manu in the NBA may be better suited to oppose him.
And as for Bowen being lauded for his leadership .... that's nice. But IMO not really needed. This is a commited, disciplined, and well coached team. They will be more prepared than any other Team USA. They need a 'leader' about as much as I need another hole in my head.
croutons, pretty much every international team has a baller. , they all took turns lighting up Team USA last time.Which international team has a single overwhelming perimeter scorer to whom Bruce can apply his defense, in a way that actually changes the game in USA favor?
Because they won't be playing Puerto Rico in the World's, it'll be teams like Argentina that they need to contend with.If we were talking about a tyical NBA team, I would agree that Bowen and his stingy D may be more valuable at times ... however this is more of an ALL-STAR team. An All-Star squad does not require role players any where near as much as a regular season or playoff team.
IMO there is not one, let alone 2 players that would contribute less than Bowen.
No matter how I look at it, I cannot find a reason that Bowen makes the team.
When your average margain of victory is 30 or so points, a defensive stopper is not needed.
The other thing Bruce has going for him is history. Colangelo and Coach K said they wanted to put together a team with role players, not just a bunch of All-Stars.
If they cut a guy like Bowen, then get lit up somewhere down the road by a hot perimeter player and lose, they will be the biggest chumps of all time.
Getting owned by an international german player? i thought thats what they didnt want. im confused
Team USA had 21 steals? that's alot for a team that doesn't play D.
Game is about to be televised right now.
It's a little anti-climatic already knowing the outcome and some of the stats .... but I have to say that I'm really looking forward to watching. It's only been a month or so, but I miss basketball so damn much.
Spain beat China by 47 points.
Last edited by smeagol; 08-07-2006 at 08:48 PM.
Manu might need to score more than one point for Argentina to have success. That is a fact.
Pistons<Spurs, Bowen is the man to guard Ginobili.
I just wish I had the quote by Manu saying that when Bruce guards you, you just want to push him... something like that anyway.
I've watched a lot of International Basketball over the years, there is definitly a spot on the team for Bowen. Also, if Team USA dumps Brad Miller that would be a terrible decision.
how did yi jianlian go, the top prospect in next seasons draft or the one after it.....
The 2004 olympic team was blowing people out during exhibitions to, and how did that turn out. There will be times for team USA when noone is hitting their outside shots, and the only constant will be defensive intensity which Bruce brings in droves.
People sure ing forget quickly.
Hedo and Sarunas aren't playing.
I hope Bruce gets to go to the WC because I don't think he will make the Olympic Team if some of the guys who could not play this summer are available then.
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