<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Our arrogance has no boundaries when it comes to international basketball, though it ought to by now, after yet another loss in a major competition. Even Americans who pay fairly close attention to world basketball, people who should know better, took one look at the Greek roster and dismissively figured, "No NBA players on the roster? Then no chance for Greece." As dumb as it is for American fans to be so presumptuous, especially after a string of losses dating from 1987, it's even dumber for anybody actually involved in international competition to be dismissive. But that's exactly what I heard in the words of Team USA's Joe Johnson earlier this week. The Atlanta Hawks guard, asked if the United States is unstoppable when the team shoots well, answered: "No doubt, when our shots are falling and when they're not falling. I think our biggest opponent is ourselves right now." This was after beating up on the likes of Senegal and Australia, teams that were never going to challenge the world's top teams anyway. But you know how we roll; one foreign basketball team is the same as another. China, Senegal, Greece and Spain . . . they're all the same, right? They are to most Americans, fans and players alike, which is one of many reasons U.S. teams, first the college boys and now the pros, are getting whipped in these international competitions.</div> Source
That has to be the most retarded article I've ever read. We lost because we couldn't defend a high pick n roll, not because we know nothing about international basketball. Infact, the Greeks beat us by running a standard basketball play over and over...and over...and over... and over... and over... (I used basketball instead of NBA/USA since it really doesn't belong to any nation or league and because apparently basketball is different from "international basketball") Even though an "american" wrote this article, saying America can't play international basket ball is typical foreigner stereotype.
I agree. This article is very ignorant. (Don't know if an article can actually be ignorant; but it is.) Your right they lost b/c they couldn't defend the pick n roll and they couldn't knock down their outside shots. Plus they missed A LOT of freethrows!! And then the writer calls Joe Johnson dumb b/c he said the U.S. are unstoppable when they make their outside shots........................well...............they are!! But looking at the roster it's probably not something they wanted to do & couldn't do against Greece. But if they did, they would have won. Along with making their dang-on freethrows!!!!!!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe24girl:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree. This article is very ignorant. (Don't know if an article can actually be ignorant; but it is.) Your right they lost b/c they couldn't defend the pick n roll and they couldn't knock down their outside shots. Plus they missed A LOT of freethrows!! And then the writer calls Joe Johnson dumb b/c he said the U.S. are unstoppable when they make their outside shots........................well...............they are!! But looking at the roster it's probably not something they wanted to do & couldn't do against Greece. But if they did, they would have won. Along with making their dang-on freethrows!!!!!!!! </div> What else did you expect from Michael Wilbon? He's sensitive and follows the flavor or idea of the moment constantly.
the usa lost because they couldnt defend a pick ad roll or make they're free throws. i hate to say this, but coach k made a bad decision by not playing his big men enough in that game. but by 2008, him and his coacing staff will have the team ready to go up against these guys, he'll have them well scouted, and we'll make some free throws.
