a0x0a0x0ax00 <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> omg are you realy that stupid as they say?? if we play basketball here??? better ask your NBA players for that!!!! ====>hellas
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sTa-4:</div><div class="quote_post">omg are you realy that stupid as they as at us?? if we play basketball here??? better ask your NBA players for that!!!! ====>hellas</div> Just out of curious what does the reference to Hellas come from?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Just out of curious what does the reference to Hellas come from?</div> hellas=greece at our language
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KfrumHTOWN!:</div><div class="quote_post">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.</div> You better rethink that statement... domination days are over.. They might win... but certainly not dominate against teams like Argentina, Spain and Greece. By stating that adding a couple of big names will do the trick you still don't understand that team USA was beaten by a team, not by names.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sTa-4:</div><div class="quote_post">hellas=greece at our language</div> Thanks .. you learn something new everyday. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting magicfrankie:</div><div class="quote_post">You better rethink that statement... domination days are over.. They might win... but certainly not dominate against teams like Argentina, Spain and Greece. By stating that adding a couple of big names will do the trick you still don't understand that team USA was beaten by a team, not by names.</div> I disagree, talentwise this group should dominate. However, it's not going to happen overnight. This is a three commitment for this group of players so they can actually practice and work together to be considered a team. I think three years is an adequate amount of time for Team USA to dominate again.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I disagree, talentwise this group should dominate. However, it's not going to happen overnight. This is a three commitment for this group of players so they can actually practice and work together to be considered a team. I think three years is an adequate amount of time for Team USA to dominate again.</div> Man, I hope so, its painful to watch, I miss our glory days...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Flashback:</div><div class="quote_post">Man, I hope so, its painful to watch, I miss our glory days...</div> I don't find it painful to watch, it's great the sport has become popular all over the world and other countries are producing NBA caliber players. Overall it's better for the league to have so many outlets to find talent and helps diversify the league. Besides don't you prefer watching these competitive games?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't find it painful to watch, it's great the sport has become popular all over the world and other countries are producing NBA caliber players. Overall it's better for the league to have so many outlets to find talent and helps diversify the league. Besides don't you prefer watching these competitive games?</div> I'm not sure, lol. I love watching those kind of games when its not my team, but I enjoy a good old-fashioned blow out with Team USA. I guess its just what I'm used to, heh. Kinda like the Lakers, enjoy NBA close games, dislike close Lakers games. I dunno, maybe I'm just odd, lol.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Flashback:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not sure, lol. I love watching those kind of games when its not my team, but I enjoy a good old-fashioned blow out with Team USA. I guess its just what I'm used to, heh. Kinda like the Lakers, enjoy NBA close games, dislike close Lakers games. I dunno, maybe I'm just odd, lol.</div> I don't mind a huge blowout every now and then either. Especially when it's the Lakers handing it out. But it gets old fast watching one team run people out of the gym over and over again.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't mind a huge blowout every now and then either. Especially when it's the Lakers handing it out. But it gets old fast watching one team run people out of the gym over and over again.</div> ala six years of Bulls Championships. That was the most boring years of NBA basketball I ever watched! You always expected the Bulls to win... It got boring fast.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sTa-4:</div><div class="quote_post">omg are you realy that stupid as they say?? if we play basketball here??? better ask your NBA players for that!!!! ====>hellas</div> Apparently everyone on this forum has never heard of sarcasm I obviously know that Greece and all of Europe for that matter have caught up to the US my question was whether Kobe being on the roster would have made a difference seeing how he did play in Italy when he was a kid and even partially owned a team once he knows european attitudes and style of play. Lay off Im not as ignorant as I come off.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting bruin007:</div><div class="quote_post">Apparently everyone on this forum has never heard of sarcasm I obviously know that Greece and all of Europe for that matter have caught up to the US my question was whether Kobe being on the roster would have made a difference seeing how he did play in Italy when he was a kid and even partially owned a team once he knows european attitudes and style of play. Lay off Im not as ignorant as I come off.</div> I think alot of the misunderstanding and flaming on this post was due to misintrepretation of when and who is being sarcastic..lol...anyways everyone has caught up..and now US needs to respond...Kobe would've helped, but won them the game. NO. Reason: he cannot stop every pick n roll they put out there and i doubt he can body up Mr. Chunks (sorry for the disrespect I really dont know that guys name)...I thought we missed a pure shooter (ala Redd for example) as in a reliable one...as well as a big man WITH post moves (NOT just pure strength)...I think one thing that Kobe might help in if he plays next summer is the demoralizing factor he can bring where you can play so well and he will always have an answer...plus as a leader he has grown and he can mesh well with the young guys as he has done with the young Lakers. (Btw any little joke or whatever I meant it in a nonoffensive manner)
<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> How dare you? I am Greek and I am VERY insulted by this message. Compared to the Americans, Greece just started playing basketball yesterday. I was just yesterday that Panagiotis Giannakis and Nikos Galis were playing basketball, and sport that wasn't very familiar to the Greeks, and young children such as Demetrius Diamantidis, Theodoros Papaloukas picked up a soccer ball and hung up a basket and tried to do the things they saw on TV. If you go to Greece, you will RARELY see a basketball hoop anywhere, and in the United States, every home has one! I knew that Greece was going to beat Team USA because Greece works as one unit, rather than the American team who plays individuals! Did you watch the European Championships last year, or did you decide 'Hey, USA isn't in it so why is it worth watching?' If you were watching it, you would know that Diamantidis stole the ball from Tony Parker 6 times, and held Dirk Nowitzki to below 30% shooting, and MANHANDLED every team in Europe. You want to talk about NBA? Lets talk NBA. Germany has Dirk Nowitzki, an NBA superstar. France has Tony Parker (well, now he's injured), another NBA star. And Team USA, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, etc. While, check this out, the NBA players on Greece, Antonio Fotsis (NBA nobody) and soon to be Vassilis Spanoulis (soon to be NBA nobody) and Sofoklis Schortsianidis. The thing with the Greek players is every second they player with all their heart, soul, muscle, and balls. Before you make any remarks like you just did, make sure you are knowledgeable about the sport around the rest of the world. Yours truly, Lakerman34
Okay, I'm sorry its off topic but man, Trench, that Reggie Miller sig is delicious, lol. Alright, just so it isn't just spam, I'll say that the blow out thing is only good when its your team. And agreed. Bulls days were lame from a Laker fan stand point (well, the last couple, I was kinda young for the early ones )
everybody saying that every team needs Kobe is either a big homer or a fan of his. but i don't think the USA team needed Kobe bryant. When they passed the ball for an entire game and played team basketball, they blew the other team out. Why would they need another star who'd rather take a shot then pass the ball? What i think they needed was more defensive minded players.
It's quite stunning actually, seeing the parallells between USA basketball and Canadian hockey. Both countries are the birthplaces of the sport and, at some point, were used to dominating the sport. Both teams now have seen the competition rise to the point that winning is no longer guaranteed, while still having huge expectations from the home media/fans. And, most importantly, both teams are struggling to choose a team of players accustomed to North American rules (NBA/NHL) that can excel playing under International rules. Kind of o/t, but interesting, nonetheless.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Gametime?:</div><div class="quote_post">everybody saying that every team needs Kobe is either a big homer or a fan of his. but i don't think the USA team needed Kobe bryant. When they passed the ball for an entire game and played team basketball, they blew the other team out. Why would they need another star who'd rather take a shot then pass the ball? What i think they needed was more defensive minded players.</div> What are you implying? That Kobe Bryant is not defense minded? 6-time All-Defensive Selection: First Team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006 Second Team: 2001, 2002 How many does Lebron have? Melo? Wade? hmmmmm.... If anything, Kobe will be an asset on the defensive end of the ball. Kobe hasn't even been on Team USA's roster and everyone is already saying TEAM USA doesnt need Kobe. I've mentioned this time and time again. Let Kobe try out like everyone else. He deserves a shot at it. If he gets CUT, so be it... Dont hate.
Man some of you guys need to stop making excuse and grow up seriously. I'm not really surprise that we lost. Greece outhustled us and their pick n roll is up to perfection. We couldn't stop their pick n roll and on the offensive side, too much 1-1 and missing free throws are killing us. To answer the original poster question, would Kobe makes any difference? Definitely! The fact is D-Wade, Lebron, and Melo did not get the job done. All three are the captain of team USA and expected to lead USA to victory but they didn't. There is no excuse whatsoever! Let wait for 08 and see if Kobe can helps USA.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I disagree, talentwise this group should dominate. However, it's not going to happen overnight. This is a three commitment for this group of players so they can actually practice and work together to be considered a team. I think three years is an adequate amount of time for Team USA to dominate again.</div> Sure, based on talent Team USA should win every game, and the gap on athleticism is even bigger. One on one they will dominate, but not 5 on 5, not against the TEAMdefenses Spain, Argentina and Greece are able to throw at them. I don't see this team (or whichever 'dream'team USA will send to the Olympics) dominate the teams I mentioned, they surely won't beat these teams by 20+ points.
^ Yea if basketball was only decided on talent, US would dominate every game. But Greece has teamwork, and people humbling themselves to play whatever role is needed by the team. That is harder for a group of superstars who usually have their own role players to fill whatever niche is needed.
