Greece played good ball. We didn't and well now the US olympic team is going to suffer because of it.
^two up^I agree, we are by far the most talented team out there,so kobe wouldnt have changed anything. We play horrid team defense, and team offense. Our olny way to win is to pound the ball inside because these guys dont want to play real ball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe definitely would have helped but IMO the biggest problem was that they need to give the ball to the big men more. It's a huge loss not having a Duncan or Shaq in there but they still had Bosh who is a great scorer but never gave him the damn ball. When you base your whole gameplan around guards getting steals you're going to get f'ed up when you come across a team who doesn't turn the ball over. Give the ****ing ball to the big man and get the **** out of the way.</div> Exactly, they have to give the ball to the big men. Dwight and Bosh are there waiting to cause havoc in the paint.
International players are more fundamentally sound than the players on Team USA. FIBA basketball is played from the perimeter in, and if you can't make shots you're not going to be successful. Team USA missed 14 FTs, and allowed Greece to shoot over 60% from the field. The defense couldn't figure out how to stop the pick and roll, and when Hinrich is switching to defend Baby Shaq in the post, it's an automatic two points for Greece. This Greece team has a lot of experience and success already as a team. Losing today was a good lesson for this young group of players from Team USA, and when the Olympics come around and they've actually spent 3 years playing together, Team USA should see better results. Shaq would not have helped this team. He can't make FTs, and the trapezoid key limits what he can do in the post. He's hard to officiate as well because of his size and strength, and I could see him getting called for an offensive foul or travel everytime he made a move. Duncan said he's never playing again because of the officiating. He had a terrible experience because everything he's been taught to do wasn't allowed by the FIBA officials. Could the team use Kobe Bryant? Absolutely. He's the best two-way player in the NBA, fundamentally sound and doesn't crack under the pressure. The team also needs Michael Redd or Ray Allen out on the perimeter.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Run BJM:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe definitely would have helped but IMO the biggest problem was that they need to give the ball to the big men more. It's a huge loss not having a Duncan or Shaq in there but they still had Bosh who is a great scorer but never gave him the damn ball. When you base your whole gameplan around guards getting steals you're going to get f'ed up when you come across a team who doesn't turn the ball over. Give the ****ing ball to the big man and get the **** out of the way.</div> Bosh only got 5 min of playing time. Brand only got 12 min Howard only got 13 (and 10 points and 5 offensive boards on 67% FG) Brad Miller got 0 I don't think team USA needs Kobe, they have very similar players in Lebron, and Wade. I think they need more role players (Hinrich and Battier are good starts), but its not individual talent that is the problem (they have tons of that), its team play that they need more of. Because talent-wise everyone knows that Greece has no ability to match up talent wise to USA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bruin007:</div><div class="quote_post">So I just watched Team USA get beat by Greece.... Greece? Do they even play basketball over there? Seriously Kobe needs to play why wasnt he on the team? Would he have made a difference?</div> No, FIBA just took a whole bunch of guys off the street one day and gave them a basketball, and they somehow got good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bahir:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, everybody, listen to this guy, he really knows what he is talking about. Sure, he has no credibility at all, and probably doesn't know **** about basketball, but still. Oh, and in case you fanatics didn't notice, Kobe is human and not a basketball god.</div> i could of sworn kobe was god
WHY CALL THEM AMATEUR RULES??? COZ THEY REALLY ARE AMATEUR RULES!!! the 3pt line is shorter you're out of the game if you get 5 fouls the travelling and double drible calls are very strict 10 mins per qtr DUDE!!! AMATEUR RULES just like the rules in the olympics! AMATEUR RULES!!!! that's why in olympic boxing they wear head gear coz it's amateur rules also in taekwondo with the armor! and also in basketball with the rules
^noob. Just my opinion, but it seems like the Americans also got outcoached. Greece was able to limit their turnovers (probably USA's first opponent that could), and basically nullified their pressure D. They forced a half court offense, knowing that they worked better as a team and were more fundamentally sound in that type of game. And it worked. They exploited the USA's poor defense with the pick and roll and controlled the tempo. The worst part of this loss is that now we're going to have to hear all the "What If?" questions. What if Iverson was allowed on the team? Or Gilbert Arenas? Or Kobe Bryant, etc.? Of course a player like Kobe could have helped them: he's a faboulous player on both ends of the floor. But, I don't think he could have completely reversed the USA's fate.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe23:</div><div class="quote_post">WHY CALL THEM AMATEUR RULES??? COZ THEY REALLY ARE AMATEUR RULES!!! the 3pt line is shorter you're out of the game if you get 5 fouls the travelling and double drible calls are very strict 10 mins per qtr DUDE!!! AMATEUR RULES just like the rules in the olympics! AMATEUR RULES!!!! that's why in olympic boxing they wear head gear coz it's amateur rules also in taekwondo with the armor! and also in basketball with the rules</div> cause you obviously have no idea what you are talking about, if you think about it arent the nba ameture rules, SINCE THE WHOLE WORLD PLAYS BY FIBA RULES OTHER THAN THE NBA! also back to the boxing statement they wear head gear so they dont get hurt that bad, the olympics is spoce to be clean sports not two guys killing each other, a punch to the right spot can kill anyone and thats not what the olympics is, the boxing in the olmypics is about technique <font color=""Red"">Edit -- Warning PERSONAL ATTACKS are not welcome here. Do it again and you're getting suspended! ~ Shapecity</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chutney:</div><div class="quote_post">^noob. Just my opinion, but it seems like the Americans also got outcoached. Greece was able to limit their turnovers (probably USA's first opponent that could), and basically nullified their pressure D. They forced a half court offense, knowing that they worked better as a team and were more fundamentally sound in that type of game. And it worked. They exploited the USA's poor defense with the pick and roll and controlled the tempo. The worst part of this loss is that now we're going to have to hear all the "What If?" questions. What if Iverson was allowed on the team? Or Gilbert Arenas? Or Kobe Bryant, etc.? Of course a player like Kobe could have helped them: he's a faboulous player on both ends of the floor. But, I don't think he could have completely reversed the USA's fate.</div> kobe wouldnt of changed it or iverson ro arenas, when they are running a pick and roll every time and wade is going down on a 6-11 315lb guy in the post, what makes you think kobe who would of been in proabably at wades spot would of stopped him
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thedude9990:</div><div class="quote_post">cause you obviously have no idea what you are talking about, if you think about it arent the nba ameture rules, SINCE THE WHOLE WORLD PLAYS BY FIBA RULES OTHER THAN THE NBA! also back to the boxing statement they wear head gear so they dont get hurt that bad, the olympics is spoce to be clean sports not two guys killing each other, a punch to the right spot can kill anyone and thats not what the olympics is, the boxing in the olmypics is about technique</div> <font color=""Red"">Warning - PERSONAL ATTACKS are not welcomed here!</font> Traditionally the Olympics were created for amateur athletes. kobe23 is just drawing the wrong comparison, because this the World Championships and not the Olympics. FIBA is a professional league, and eventhough they have a different set of rules, it shouldn't be labeled amateur. No one should be shocked by this loss. Greece is a great team and have been playing together for a few years now. This USA team has a great future ahead of itself and they should be expected to win the Gold in 2008.
Wow, some of you Kobe fans need to SERIOUSLY get off the guy's back. I'm a humoungous Kobe fan but you're acting as if he's the only reason they didn't win the gold. As Kobe himself said, "it's not talent, its hard work" that wins these games in the tournament. If Kobe was on the team, they would have been stronger, but a gold is still not guaranteed. That depends on set roles for each player and everyone collaborating towards a common goal rather then having one player (or a bunch) chuck 3's to "carry the team". Also, Coach K needs to give the big men some minutes. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> WHY CALL THEM AMATEUR RULES??? COZ THEY REALLY ARE AMATEUR RULES!!! the 3pt line is shorter you're out of the game if you get 5 fouls the travelling and double drible calls are very strict 10 mins per qtr DUDE!!! AMATEUR RULES just like the rules in the olympics! AMATEUR RULES!!!! that's why in olympic boxing they wear head gear coz it's amateur rules also in taekwondo with the armor! and also in basketball with the rules </div> .... *crickets chirping* Yes, just because the rules don't match NBA rules, they're amateur
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thedude9990:</div><div class="quote_post">kobe wouldnt of changed it or iverson ro arenas, when they are running a pick and roll every time and wade is going down on a 6-11 315lb guy in the post, what makes you think kobe who would of been in proabably at wades spot would of stopped him</div> I don't think that. I actually agreed with you, and I was saying that it was a shame that these type of questions are probably going to start coming out now. Read what you reply to next time. --- I actually understand kobe23's logic, but it's still incorrect and comes out of ignorance. It's true that boxing in the Olympics uses amateur rules, but that's not the same as basketball. Amateur basketball, at least in the US, basically uses NBA rules. There are only two sets of rules: NBA and International. Both are used by professional leagues and neither should be considered amateur.
i know but i was just saying because people are gunna start to mention it so people think about it and dont say it
for the guy who asked if they actually play basketball in Greece, please take a look how serious their fans take the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0rMe2Vyb9E
that amateur thing is ignorant. Swimming, Track and Field, wrestling, and skiing just name a few in the olympics all use the same rules as their professional counterparts.
the U.S had open looks from 3 but couldn't hit. If they could have spread the floor by hitting 3's, they would have opened up the paint for the big men. i think with kobe and a better post player like duncan or KG and more time together, we will dominate the olympics.
The fact is, TEAM USA had no answer to the pick n roll which was used every damn play! another fact: TEAM USA only forced 10 turnovers. The fewest all tourney...
