No, really....Greece?!?!

by user The Widening Geier

Now America can add a loss to the Spanakotoppolovskitsts to our distinguished international basketball resume. THIS MAKES NO SENSE!

"But WG, Greece were the Eurpoean Champions, and haven't lost a game in the Championships."

"Actually TWG, the talent level on the Greek team is comprable to the US roster.'

"It's the team's fault. Greece played together, the Us just played like a thrown-together roster. The world has caught and passed America in team play."

You know what I say? If Miami can win the NBA running out Jason Williams, Gary Payton, Udonis Haslem, there is NO WAY that we should lose a quarter with Lebron, Carmelo, Wade, Paul and Howard.

This is, and continues to be an embarassment. I don't see the US winning the World Cup any time soon, Mexico will not sail away with the America's Cup, England will never lead an Olympic games in Medals, and finally.....

THE US, absent an unconscious performance from their opponent (where a 3-point shooter can not miss, or someone is shooting like Bill Walton in the NCAA championship game) should not lose in basketball.

Stay tuned for when the Rhine Fire and Toronto Argonauts beat the Colts and Patriots in international football friendlies.

Date

Fri 09/01/06, 7:40 am EST

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1185 days ago

Score 1

I actually watched the first half... Hellas is a BIG squad they can't defend inside (Duncan would REALLY have helped)

Permalink | Reply

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1185 days ago

Score 0

I mean... FIBA World Championships... Ooooooh! (NO!F)

Permalink

DeuelioJV Squad

1185 days ago

Score 1

I was concerned with our lack of size more than anything. Greece had some big bodies inside and we could not stop the pick and roll. If anytying, we should be fired up and pissed off for Beijing.

Permalink | Reply

JoshkrossDraft Pick

1185 days ago

Score 1

You know, next you'll tell me the U.S. team won't win in a global baseball tourney, perhaps something like a World Baseball Classic. Face it, as American sports globalize, other nations will catch up. Perhaps the ultiate impact of the first few Dream Teams will be that it inspired so many more kids globally to play basketball that Other countries have caught up. As an American I'm glad to see some competition.

Permalink | Reply

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1185 days ago

Score 1

It happened to England with other sport. England invents sport. England teaches other nations. USA changes them a bit. People start to beat England at it. England teach game to more countries in the hope of finding someone they can beat. And now, people play modified US games and start to beat the USA. That is basically the history of sport. Logically, next in the list comes "USA teaches sport to other countries in the hope of finding someone they can beat". Been there, got the T-shirt.

Permalink

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1185 days ago

Score 1

England will never be lead in an Olympic Medals table for one good reason - they aren't in it. They count as Great Britain & Nothern Ireland.

Permalink | Reply

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1185 days ago

Score 1

When the team was announced I commented about the lack of size and there being only one (half) true center and everybody jumped all over me.... I won't say I told you so, but I will type it.

Permalink | Reply

ASwaffAll-American

1185 days ago

Score 3

I'm more concerned about the internal problems the team is suddenly having. This team was assembled to get the malcontents, ballhogs and showboats out of there so they could actually play as a team this time. And it looked like they might have accomplished that until this last week. One player came out and said the US could beat teams even if their shots aren't falling. Way to give them free motivation, stupid. And then you have Gilbert Arenas whining about not getting a fair shake. I'm on the verge of giving up on pro basketball. I can't deal with these whiny, obnoxious primadonnas anymore.

Permalink | Reply

Alex HolowczakHall of Famer

1185 days ago

Score 3

The NBA has become too much of a showboating place. Even in Britain, people on the Street care more about tricks than simple skills. Basketball at it's best is a team game, but in the NBA, individualism is taking over.

Permalink

Anonymous Fanatic #1

1185 days ago

Score 1

"You're making my point." I said earlier that the U.S. (read NBA) no longer plays good enough team basketball consistently to claim that we are the most superior hoop around. If you want to watch the best basketball in the U.S., you have to watch womens' college basketball, where skill and fundamentals meet.

Permalink | Reply

ASwaffAll-American

1185 days ago

Score 1

I think we still do. There are fundamental differences you're not looking at with that kind of statement. First of all, our players don't play together like the players of other countries do. This team from Greece is a real team, not a group of All-Stars thrown together shortly before the tournament.

These countries also manage to get the best their country has to offer, unlike the US. I think this team is better than the '04 team, but this isn't even what our All-Star rosters would look like. Where are Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, McGrady, Garnett, and others of similar caliber? For various reasons, we don't have our best playing. Oh, we've got three superb players in Wade, Carmelo and Lebron, but our team isn't the best of the best. Not like they're capable of putting together.

Permalink

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1185 days ago

Score 3

Keep in mind, everyone... We're playing THEIR version of OUR game, not the other way around....

Permalink | Reply

ASwaffAll-American

1185 days ago

Score 1

That's a good point, too. Right down to the different ball. Yes, even the ball is different.

Permalink

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1185 days ago

Score 1

actually... that's the ball the NBA is going with this year, too.

Permalink

Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

1185 days ago

Score 1

no more leather PETA members! Gone are the days of the old horsehide and the pigskin... B-ball finally goes All synthetic

Permalink

ASwaffAll-American

1185 days ago

Score 1

Oh, they're going to change to the different ball, with the different number of panels and everything?

Permalink

Bleeding GreenVarsity

1185 days ago

Score 1

THe US needs to make the obvious choice to solve this problem. Send the winner of the NBA title to play. The Miami Heat would have won this thing easy. The Spurs would have won it, the Pistons would have. The all star teams don't work anymore. These other clubs play better team ball than any all star could ever hope to. Send the winner of the NBA title the year of or before the olympics, that team will have already proven it can beat other good teams! They can add to the squad if there's injuries, but for the most part the team should stay intact right down to the last bench player. Frankly, I'd be more interested to see that than an allstar team.

Permalink | Reply

ASwaffAll-American

1185 days ago

Score 1

I couldn't agre more. And they can add superstar players just to replace just the international players. Think what an international team we'd have if we sent the Spurs, but had Dwyane Wade and Michael Redd instead of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. I like that team.

Permalink

The BeastAAA-er

1185 days ago

Score -2

How embarrasing.

Permalink | Reply

JoshkrossDraft Pick

1185 days ago

Score 0

Why? Because a really really good team beat an American team that wasn't that great of a team? This is not just an American game. The fact that you are embarassed means that you expect that the U.S. is supposed to be much better than the rest of the world. Since 2000, that has not been the case.

Brazil is very very good at the Foosball, but are they embarassed when their team loses to good competitor? No, they are disappointed, but losing to a worthy opponent is not embarrassing.

What is embarassing is how many Americans think that there are no worthy opponents.

Permalink

I am a cpcpMajor Leaguer

1185 days ago

Score 2

Since Coach K was an assistant coach for the original Dream Team, he should have put together a team with a similar makeup. The 92 version only had a three guys (Bird, Magic, Jordan) who were THE man on their team. The rest of the roster was made up of all-stars who fit in around these guys and were used to not being the face of the NBA. Stockton and Malone were used to sharing a spotlight, Pippen was used to being second fiddle to Jordan, David Robinson was always low key, and Chris Mullin was, well Chris Mullin. An All-Prima Donna team will never win. They need another US team build like the original.

Permalink | Reply

The Widening GeierSoccer Kid

1183 days ago

Score 0

Pat Ewing was the man, so was Sir Charles

Permalink