"Dream Team Nightmare"

[stantheman]

I admit I'm a Basketball FREAK. BUT, watching this latest edition of The USA Basketball Team???? is a
very painful thing, almost like eating an enormous
bowl of Corn Flakes, Milk, and Banannas and then
"chasing it" with 5 or 6 Pepperoncini.
David Stern has got to lay down "The Law" that when
there's an Olympic Year it is THE OBLIGATION of that
years REIGNING NBA CHAMPIONS to represent America,
PERIOD. I don't know about anybody else but after playing (Small Forward) and watching "The Game" for
5 Decades in The Greater Boston Area (which BTW qualifies ME to be General Manager of The Clippers) I
am personally humilated by This Teams "play".
I would have rather watched Duke or UConn or Kentucky
or Kansas at least make an effort (as GREAT TEAMS are
known to do) than these "Playground Professionals" that
we sent to Athens.
HUMILIATED.

[stevieboy]

Elgin Baylor is the general manager of the Clippers. You can't argue with his basketball career. His lack of success as a GM is atributable to the owner.

As far as Team USA, well it's certainly not a dream team, as I'm sure you know it's an unorganized-despite a great coach--group of mostly young talented players. Years ago this team would have kicked everyone's butt, but it's to the credit of the sport that people love it around the world and the other countries are getting GOOD. If our best players don't want to play, you can't make them, even David Stern doesn't have that much power. As far as sending the reigning NBA champs, though not the case this year, there are going to be years where key players aren't going to be American. Diminishing success doesn't seem to bother the best US players enough to play--other than TD--so this is going to be the result. But they're not done yet and still think they can win gold.

[lenny]

they are rich, spoiled brats who play when they feel like it. same as the nba. for 75% of the season it looks to me like they goof off. if it doesnt matter, they don't care. and when it does.. they might try. either way they get paid.
never mind that the best team is too lazy to even go in the first place. they'd rather relax here in the states.
i'm annoyed too. i agree, a good college team who actually tries would be a lot better to watch, and would have a good chance at a medal too. AND, they would represent real sporting values. get these professional brats out of there i'm not impressed either

[John Harrison]

To my eyes, basketball is in a stage of de-evolution. All sports, again my opinion, are suffering (or maybe it's just me who's suffering!) from similar circumstances. It's too much about business and the bottom line. While the salary cap was intended to facilitate parity (looks more like parody, at times), the rich have gotten richer and all but the elite have become expendible.
It's too much about ego. There's no loyalty. Very few players will start and end their careers with one team. Team identities, with very few exceptions, are pretty much things of the past.
Professional basketball, to me, reflects much of the worst of the current conditions. Too much showboating, poor fundamentals, too many entourages, too much bling, too little support of the coaches. The three point shot and the slam dunk have taken a toll on the game.
Larry Brown, for whom I have great respect (even or because his Pistons massacred my beloved Lakers), had been hinting at what might transpire in the Olympics. Too many Americans arrogantly (and that's what I think it is, folks, so flame away) sloughed the warnings off. Few coaches, and luckily Greg Popovich is coaching with Brown, could have kept the lid on the circus that is this incarnation of the "Dream Team" (who's dream?).
For my money, the best thing that could happen is that these prima donnas eat some international crow, that the blame is then placed where it should be (on the players, not on the coaches), and that they grown up, get back to work, and learn to make basketball better for the experience.

[Doug T.]

Right on, John!

But the sad thing will be that they (the "Dream Team") will point fingers to everyone else as to why they lost (even each other).

Most of these players were expecting an easy win, with some fame for their ego and "bling" (gold medal) to go with it.

And rather than sucking it up, getting better and returning to prove a point (or redeem their pride), I'm betting none of them will return to a future Olympics!

[Oskar]

The US should field a national team, and support it. Either draft players or have them volunteer. They would sign up for four years (for each Olympiad), be paid well and have a schedule where they would play college teams and pro teams across the country during the four years. Then, when the Olympics come around they would be ready, play as a tight unit, and be a very strong contender. The days of the "Dream Team" are over. Basketball is big all over the world (still far from soccer, however) and there are many foreign players in the NBA who go back and play for their country. International basketball has evolved much in the same way as women's basketball. It's no longer second class, it's extremely competitive.
To field a team from the NBA won't work down the road, in my opinion, for many reasons. Lack of time to practice, the "rich player" syndrome, and probably lack of desire to play in the Olympics among others.

[Mark Davis]

I love seeing the overpaid undertalented NBA players loose to unpaid non-professional players.

I have zero respect for anyone in the NBA.

They did a survey of only 50% of the NBA players and 87% of them have been in trouble with the law mostly sexual crimes.

Whatever happened to sports people you could look up to and admire as players and people too?

[stantheman]

The NBA is to blame for this CROCK. Seldom during the regular season anymore do You even see an actual "Basketball Game".
The NBA has turned into Schoolyard/Playground (this'll
get their attention CRAP).....it's got The World's attention
now baby. These guys should be forced to watch their games - they look ridiculous - like a bunch of escapees
from The Circus - or a Tattoo Parlor.
The NBA should hang their collective heads in shame putting that collection of misfits on the court to represent
their people - that's our Team my fellow Americans.
Thank goodness I haven't got any money riding on these
truckhorses.


U.S. Men's Basketball Team "F"

[Mark Davis]

Whats funny is the USA Olympic womens team has a better percentage of made shots than the USA mens.

I'd love to see the womens team play the USA men I bet they could beat them.

[Telecaster Joe]

.....in the Olympics?

Isn't there a rule against this?

I never thought this was cool.

[genelovesjez]

Can they please finally stop calling them the "Dream Team"?

Sure they can play in the NBA, but take away the NBA play, the NBA refs, etc., and you need something a lot of these guys lack: playing fundamentals.

[ravindave_3600]

Originally Posted by genelovesjez

Can they please finally stop calling them the "Dream Team"?

There was only one Dream Team, with 10 players anybody would count as All-time Greats (and a couple of hangers on). Since then there have only been All-star teams, each good enough for the moment but none good enough to dream about.

The only people who think this is a dream team are the hypemeisters at NBC.

And should they lose only one or two will even have the good grace to feel humiliated.

[TBoneDeluxe]

The biggest problem this team has is they don't have any shooters! If you're going to play the international game, you have to be able to hit the 3 pointer! It wouldn't hurt to hit the free throws too!

They are constantly out rebounding the other teams, and killing them on the inside, but they can't hit anything outside of 15 feet.

TBD

[snoglobe]

The NBA-style of game with it's focus on one-on-one plays, usually a crossover dribble then taking it hard to the rack can be picked apart by a team that passes well and shoots well. It's sad to see the wrestlification of the NBA and how it's turned into a globetrotteresque entertainment event.

[Colo Springs E]

Originally Posted by stantheman

David Stern has got to lay down "The Law" that when
there's an Olympic Year it is THE OBLIGATION of that
years REIGNING NBA CHAMPIONS to represent America,
PERIOD.

First of all, he can't do that if it's not in the CBA (collective bargaining agreement). Secondly, it will never be in the CBA, nor should it.

Why punish a team that just went thru a grueling NBA season, with x number more weeks of practice and games, and then right back into another NBA season? I can guarantee one thing: they'd not repeat (they'd be exhausted).

I don't think anyone should be "ordered" to the Olympics; it should be an honor and a priviledge that someone deserving willingly does.

I'd personally love to see college kids go. I could care less if they win or lose.

-Eric

[ravindave_3600]

Originally Posted by snoglobe

It's sad to see the wrestlification of the NBA and how it's turned into a globetrotteresque entertainment event.

"wrestlification" AWWRIGHT!

When US basketball changed into a game that prioritized hotdogging in the 5' around the basket above everything else, it sacrificed shooting, passing, free throws and, oh yeah, team work.

The Dream Team had three certified shooters (Bird, Mullin, Stockton), plus two guys named Michael and Magic who could be counted on to do WHATEVER was asked (including passing, driving, OR shooting) effectively.

That's 5 out of 12, and that's the kind of percentage that wins international games.