FIBA Americas championships
- Thread starter VF21
- Start date
I don't want to get too excited over a 113-63 blowout of Canada, but this squad is playing like a TEAM. Major props to Kobe et al for putting their egos aside and really making it about representing the USA. They keep this up and it's gonna be pretty tough for anyone to stop them.
GREAT basketball!
GO USA!!!
GREAT basketball!
GO USA!!!
RIP miyagi
G-League
michael redd's jumper is magnificient. I could just watch him shoot jump shots all day.
supamari0
Bench
I'll wait and judge when the US starts playing some real teams from Europe and a full Argentina team but I definitely like what's going on right now.
They're basically blowing teams out and goofing around the rest of the time, nice to see. And something great is the defense and the pressure they're putting on other teams because they're so much superior. Just overwhelming teams with brute force, that's how we should play.
They're basically blowing teams out and goofing around the rest of the time, nice to see. And something great is the defense and the pressure they're putting on other teams because they're so much superior. Just overwhelming teams with brute force, that's how we should play.
6th
Homer Fan Since 1985
While it may be too soon to tell, since they have yet to play a "powerhouse," it was definitely fun to watch. Not only is there an unbelievable amount of talent on the U.S. team, but they played as the team they are supposed to be. Jason Kidd (while I personally don't like him) is a superior talent and floor general. He is making everyone look even better.
DaMan
Starter
I love the team they are playing well but the only problem I see is with the bench. I have noticed that when the starting lineup is taken out the bench does not carry the same energy and there is a let down. Billups needs needs to keep the tempo up and they need better ball movement because it seems like when the bench comes in these things needs tend to slow down. But the addition of kobe and Kidd have been huge, they are playing great. And Micheal Redd is shooting lights out he is a left handed Ray Allen, lol.
Last edited:
Variant
Starter
This team is definitely better / more focused than the WC last year. Am I the only one who is not too sad to see Wade not on the roster? I'm just not sure his game fits the international style (can't shoot, depends too much on foul calls).
I think there are squads out there (Argentina at full strength comes to mind) who are going to play a better more experiened international style game, but this group looks to be determined enough defensively to make up for that. And the shooting has been _so_ much better.
And yes, it's great to have a guy on the team who can lock anyone down completely (Kobe).
And as always, very impressed with Carmelo. Great shooter and his game is really well suited for FIBA ball.
I think there are squads out there (Argentina at full strength comes to mind) who are going to play a better more experiened international style game, but this group looks to be determined enough defensively to make up for that. And the shooting has been _so_ much better.
And yes, it's great to have a guy on the team who can lock anyone down completely (Kobe).
And as always, very impressed with Carmelo. Great shooter and his game is really well suited for FIBA ball.
chrisnu
Bench
Agreed regarding Kobe replacing Wade on the roster. His style of play fits the game better than Wade.
The third quarter was absolutely dominant. Completely stifling defense by Team USA. I wasn't impressed with how they finished the game, however. Way too many turnovers (particularly by Mike Miller), leading to layups and open threes. They were outscored by 10 points, by Brazil's B-squad. That won't cut it.
The third quarter was absolutely dominant. Completely stifling defense by Team USA. I wasn't impressed with how they finished the game, however. Way too many turnovers (particularly by Mike Miller), leading to layups and open threes. They were outscored by 10 points, by Brazil's B-squad. That won't cut it.
vytzka
G-League
Variant
Starter
No, not another Dream Team. They're going to have some close games vs the elites, and as with any top NBA team who isn't sharp one night, anyone can be beaten (see Greece last year, and then Greece not showing up vs Spain).
So far they look focused... they need more opponents to push them though. I was happy to see them have to play a lot of half court offense last night and less fast-breaking.
And guys who can shoot! Finally. Watch them go cold now, but how many of us were scratching our heads when our long distance shooters used to be Shawn Marion and Lamar Odom?!?
So far they look focused... they need more opponents to push them though. I was happy to see them have to play a lot of half court offense last night and less fast-breaking.
And guys who can shoot! Finally. Watch them go cold now, but how many of us were scratching our heads when our long distance shooters used to be Shawn Marion and Lamar Odom?!?
There will NEVER be another Dream Team. The world will have to think of another nickname for this squad.
They will be dominant, not like the Dream Team was, but they will be a team to remember. I don't think they will have any trouble beating even the "elite" teams in the '08 Games, not with guys like Kidd who knows how to lead a team and Kobe who hates to lose.
I'm thinking it would be nice if they entered the record books eventually as TEAM USA GOLD.
I'm thinking it would be nice if they entered the record books eventually as TEAM USA GOLD.
Amen. I also agree on the addition of Jason Kidd being pivotal. He knows what it takes to win at this level. There are specific roles assigned to each player, as opposed to all-stars with individual skills who may lack team concepts.
In addition, the Dream Team oozed talent at a level inconceivable to their competitors. I don't believe that can ever happen with a US team again. Here's why:
One - I don't think youth coaching emphasizes the basics, as they look to use athleticism and talent, using AAU as showcases rather than to improve individuals.
Two - I think international talent is rapidly catching up (if not already on par) with the US due to more fundamentally sound coaching/competition at an earlier age.
supamari0
Bench
Basics? It's not like the 1992 dream team had basics. They just beat the living daylights out of teams through brute force. They were faster, stronger, and quicker and won on sheer athleticism. Those teams just joked around the whole time. You could play all the fundamentally sound basketball that you want, but it wouldn't make a difference against those teams. The 92 and 96 dream teams were just showcases in their entirety.
Yes and no... It's not like there weren't good international teams then. The silver medal team (Croatia) in 1992 probably could beat any international team today. That team was pretty loaded with 4 or 5 NBA players like Argentina including Drazen Petrovic, Toni Kukoc, Dino Raja, etc.. were equal to if not better than teams today. In fact even the Bronze team from Slovenia had Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis. And all of the role players were good then too.
Granted I think overall play has increased but there was an upper tier of teams then from Europe that were on par with teams today. And we still obliterated all of them by 50 points. The 92 dream team didn't even call a timeout during the whole tournament. Chuck Daly just took a nap during the Olympics and let his teams do whatever they wanted.
Your original point was correct. I think the biggest difference is that the 92 team had 11 hall of famers on it (well Chris Mullin is a borderline case but still) and no team will ever look like that again. And it would have been completely made up of hall of fame players if Hakeem Olajuwon got his citizenship on time. That was a unique time in basketball when a bunch of hall of fame players from two generations converged and created a team that will never be duplicated again.
That had to be the highlight of Christian Laettner's career...
fact check
Agree with most of the post, but just few comments.
1) Sabonis and Marciulionis played for Lithuania
2) Take that Croatian team you mentioned, add Divac, Danilovic (one of the top European players in 90's, short stint in NBA), Paspalj (another one of the top players, also spent some time in NBA), Djordjevic (see Danilovic), and you will get the team that most of the people from former Yugoslavia are sorry did not play in 1992 against the dream team. That team from 1990 Argentina (most of those guys were youngsters then), was by leaps and bounds better than anything else Dream Team encountered on that tournament. That game would have spoiled point differential of the Dream Team (at least
).
If Kid and Kobe play for Olympic team, I would be shocked if USA, after all these years, does not get back the title of the world champions.
Agree with most of the post, but just few comments.
1) Sabonis and Marciulionis played for Lithuania
2) Take that Croatian team you mentioned, add Divac, Danilovic (one of the top European players in 90's, short stint in NBA), Paspalj (another one of the top players, also spent some time in NBA), Djordjevic (see Danilovic), and you will get the team that most of the people from former Yugoslavia are sorry did not play in 1992 against the dream team. That team from 1990 Argentina (most of those guys were youngsters then), was by leaps and bounds better than anything else Dream Team encountered on that tournament. That game would have spoiled point differential of the Dream Team (at least
).If Kid and Kobe play for Olympic team, I would be shocked if USA, after all these years, does not get back the title of the world champions.
Heuge
Starter
Nah, they would have been whooped just the same as the rest.Agree with most of the post, but just few comments.
1) Sabonis and Marciulionis played for Lithuania
2) Take that Croatian team you mentioned, add Divac, Danilovic (one of the top European players in 90's, short stint in NBA), Paspalj (another one of the top players, also spent some time in NBA), Djordjevic (see Danilovic), and you will get the team that most of the people from former Yugoslavia are sorry did not play in 1992 against the dream team. That team from 1990 Argentina (most of those guys were youngsters then), was by leaps and bounds better than anything else Dream Team encountered on that tournament. That game would have spoiled point differential of the Dream Team (at least
If Kid and Kobe play for Olympic team, I would be shocked if USA, after all these years, does not get back the title of the world champions.
supamari0
Bench
Like I said earlier, there will never ever be another team like the 92 dream team.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R9oXs9x3Vdg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Thzitw4SnuM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=R9oXs9x3Vdg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Thzitw4SnuM
I don't know whether anyone else agrees, but I'm of the opinion that Team USA would be better if they started Chandler and Stoudemire, and brought Howard off the bench; Chandler has definitely showed himself to be the best defender of the three, at least in my opinion.
And, in other news... LeBron F. James...
And, in other news... LeBron F. James...
It amuses me that a guy like Batista can't get off the bench for a horrible team like Atlanta, but has been dominant in this tournament.
Disagree; basketball, on any level, is never boring... And blowouts, when it's the team you want to win, are as good as it gets.
vytzka
G-League
Some guys can be incredible in international basketball but just can't do it in the NBA for some reasons, including distrustful coaches. See Macijauskas for an extreme example.
chrisnu
Bench
If both Chandler and Stoudemire started, either Anthony or James would have to come off the bench. It would probably be LeBron, considering the fast starts Carmelo has gotten off to in every single game.I don't know whether anyone else agrees, but I'm of the opinion that Team USA would be better if they started Chandler and Stoudemire, and brought Howard off the bench; Chandler has definitely showed himself to be the best defender of the three, at least in my opinion.
And, in other news... LeBron F. James...
They dogged it, for the most part, for the entire second half of the last game. The lineup of Billups/Redd/Miller/Stoudemire/Chandler just did not work well. The problem was that none of those guys are slashers who drive to the basket, creating double-teams and open shooters, or fouls. It also doesn't help that Redd and Miller play zero defense.
Similar threads
- Locked
- Poll
