Anyone following this? I find it fascinating that our nba guys look so bad versus the international teams, full of guys who are mostly bench nba players at best. I know there are team play aspects. Also, the rules are a little different. However, it amazes me how bad we look.

One interesting thing is the lack of centers. The dream team had the dream, the admiral and ewing. The current team has one center whom I think plays for the mavericks. This is the best we can do. The dream team guys would obliterate modern centers (best of which is likely dwight howard). where have all the centers gone?

Another aspect is our defense is awful. Good foreign teams seem to get an open 3 every time down. How is that possible? Perhaps the team aspect is huge in this area.

I think at least we have some guys who can shoot this year.

Don't get me wrong, I hope team usa dominates. I just doubt this will happen from history. Maybe these guys in the nba are overpaid and aren't really much better than the foreigners.

The best player on our team is Kevin Durant. The oldest players are Billups and Odom. Its not the dominating players in the NBA. Its a B- team at best. Not much size, but a lot of speed and scoring options. They look sloppy now because after having so many players in camp to just get the roster down to 15 before even leaving for Europe, they haven't had much time to play together and develop roles. Hell, they are still trying to figure out if lamar Odom is going to be the starting center.......

I say they may lose a game after the group stage. And they will beat lesser teams by 20-25 instead of 40. They are equivalent to the Argentinians, Spanish, and Eastern Europeans

When I've seen them, the defensive rotations were terrible and the guards gambled too much. Get the guards to stay at home and there will be fewer defensive breakdowns. The rest of it is just playing together, the Euros and South Americans aren't better players.

Come on man, you really don't think that the world's best players aren't as good as fringe stars (either on their way up or down) from the NBA. You're telling me that wouldn't take a Luis Scola over a Andre Iguodala or Kevin Love..... you're kidding me.

I'm not really sure what you are trying to say there. Are you really saying that the international teams have more talented players than Team USA?

I would say equal in terms of talent. We aren't putting our top tier players out there, and although the other top teams may not have all of their NBA players..... it evens out. Danny Granger and Eric Gordon? Really? Extremely good and solid players, but its not even in a class with David Lee and a Joe Johnson. And thats NBA B-Listers......

I know USA basketball is trying to field a more complete team, but this roster is doesn't even have complete parts.

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where have all the centers gone?

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did anybody else hum this?

Kevin Durant is one of the 3 best scorers in the world. Rajon Rondo is the best PG in the world. Derrick Rose is a star PG. Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala, and Danny Granger are great players stuck on crap NBA teams. Stephen Curry is a future star and a perfect fit for international play.

The interior players are indeed pretty weak compared to what we could field. The guards are young but fantastically talented, no one can match that talent.


And Scola was a terrible example. He's a role player on a non-contender. Scola and Love are a push and Iguodala is significantly better than Scola, if you can really compare a SF/SG to a PF.

[This message has been edited by aero ag 2010 (edited 8/20/2010 6:08p).]

Iguodala is the PF? wtf?

I wish Westbrook would make the cut but he's too similar to Rose and Rondo, so they'll probably take Curry for his shooting prowess. I do think give it another year or two and Westbrook will be better than Rondo.

Scola and Love are a PF/Cs, Iguodala is a SF/SG.

sorry i should have posted the link to the Team USA story on espn.com. It says they plan on starting Andre at PF this weekend.

top euro trash talent go to academies at age 12-

see there soccer programs-

they get unlimited practice time and a better education

they have the system down and it won't be long till 60% of the nba is eurotrash

Rondo the best point guard in the world?.... Wtf are you smoking

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I laughed at that too. Dude can't hit an open shot and fears the free throw line.

that offense was painful to watch today against lithuania.... D looks prety good though

As long as they play good D, they'll have a chance to win this thing.

I don't think Westbrook should be on the bubble anymore.

And I can't wait for hoops season now, it's gonna be a lot of fun watching this team again up here in OKC.

D pulls it out against spain

Looks like Gordon will be the odd man out.

International teams are more cohesive offensively. Our offense consists of a lot of 1-on-1. I think that makes a huge difference and it has always been the reason team USA looks better on paper than they do on the court.

Also, it has basically already been mentioned, but it seems like 95% of the posters on Texags.com don't realize that team chemistry is as important to a basketball team than team talent. The players from the Euro teams have played for their country for their entire lives, and have thus played with their teammates for their entire lives. We recycle players every 4 years. Makes a HUGE difference.

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 8/23/2010 4:19p).]

Rondo has left team.

Team Chemistry is huge as many posters have pointed out but I'd also like to add 2 things

1) International Refs don't bail out the players driving recklessly to the basket like NBA refs do.
2) You need at least one dominant defensive post player in his prime. You need that stopper to anchor your defense inside. Since players aren't used to playing with one another, they're going to get beat more than usual. You need someone to erase those mistakes.

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The dream team had the dream, the admiral and ewing. The current team has one center whom I think plays for the mavericks. This is the best we can do. The dream team guys would obliterate modern centers (best of which is likely dwight howard). where have all the centers gone?

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First off "the Dream" wasn't on the original dream team.

I think centers are not as good now because they don't get time to develop a low post game during 4 years of college against inferior talent.

The more I watch the more of a man crush I am getting on Durant. Kid plays with heart and is amazing to watch.

Am I crazy for starting to think that Durant's ceiling is possibly higher than LBJ's?

As a scorer, Durant may be better than Lebron. I doubt Durant will ever come close to Lebron's passing ability and vision.


And while it is nice for a PG to be able to shoot jumpers, that is not his function. Rondo is the best PG because he runs the offense, gets to the rim at will, distributes the ball, and plays great defense.

all stuff westbrook does

Not as well as Rondo. Westbrook is good, but Rondo is better.

I've never see so many missed dunks than in the tournament. What's the deal?