Things that hurt team USA1. High pick and roll2. 3 Point shooting (offense and defense)3. Lack of shot blocking around the rim. These are the things USA needs for them to be the top team again. I think the biggest priority on making team USA is your defense. This leaves Lebron, Wade, and Carmelo out. Howard was the only defensive prescence I saw and he didn't play much in the second half.
I won't be watching the Finals game. I am only interested if U.S.A. is playing..<_<Does U.S.A. still have a matchup with the other semi-final loser for 3rd place? How do they determine the 3rd place winner?
I think this was only a matter of time, USA was skating through most of the teams and finally met up with a fellow undefeated team and lost. Having all the talent in the world doesn't mean anything if you can't play within one another. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>but the thing is that they played pretty poor ball a lot of the time, and I noticed that they seem to shoot way too many threes.</div> Pretty much agree, even though the international style does revolve around the long ball. This USA team's strength is not the three pointer and they got caught up in heaving shots from long range. Should have pounded and driven the ball more. Oh well, did anyone see the Spain/Argentina game. Great basketball game.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Does U.S.A. still have a matchup with the other semi-final loser for 3rd place? How do they determine the 3rd place winner?</div>Argentina vs. USA for third place. Possibly a chance USA doesn't medal.
I think in 08, they should talke the 08 championships to the games. They'd be fimilar with eachother and would win. They'd run plays, effective plays.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Michael Bryant @ Sep 1 2006, 08:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It's part of the process. This is a three year team building for 2008, this should be a lesson. They still need to fix some things.</div>There shouldnt have to be a process. They should be able to go out there, show up, and dominate everybody that they play. This is just flat out ridiculous.
Vassilis Spanoulis came off the bench to lead Greece with 22 points, hitting 6-10 from the floor and 3-5 from long range.
NBA.com:"Como Dios Manda"<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Posted by Tim Shea on September 1, 2006Greece 101, USA 95 (and it's not a shock)http://www.nba.com/media/schortsianitis_188_060901.jpg After winning the 2005 European Championship, Greece could become the world champs.Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images I don't want to say it, I really don't want to, but I must. I told you so. Team USA committed the same mistakes as they did against Germany. A misunderstanding, perhaps a denial, of where they are and who they are up against. The U.S. was unable to control the rhythm of game, which was Greece's for 35 minutes. Team USA couldn't create a rhythm convenient to its interest. The Greeks maintained control the entire game, and when the USA wanted to change it, they could not. Mention has to be made of Team USA's shot selection. One word: Terrible. Team USA's defense was terrible as well, particularly weak on the pick and roll from all offensive locations on the court, especially the high post. They tried trapping, with poor results. They tried switching, which Greece exploited for mismatches. Finally, they tried "straight up" defense. The American on-the-ball defenders avoided the on-the-ball screens, going behind them. The result was all useless against the well-prepared Greeks. Once again Greek head coach Panagiotis Yannakis demonstrated his abilities as a leader and as a coach. The Greek team prepared for every contingency. Diamantitis, Papadopoulos, Spanoulis and Schortsianitis all stood out for Greece. Greece making it a point in closing out the U.S. outlet-transition passes thereby effectively cutting off and denying USA fast break opportunities. The U.S. free throw shooting by the third quarter was 19-of-32. Horrible. <u>The bottom line is the U.S. failed its mission by abusing the dribble, forcing individual efforts, thereby demonstrating a lack of understanding of team concepts, showing poor floor organization and balance, which consequently fed into its inability to perform as a team. Team USA never was in the game. It was a repetition of the previous performance versus Germany.</u> If this game had been a boxing match, then it would have been a unanimous decision. Maybe even a TKO. And an honest question; Is anyone in the USA capable of coaching these wonderful athletes/players? Is there someone out there who can get inside these millionaires psyches and explain to them that the world knows how to play the game, respect the game and execute the game? Is anyone able to raise them? There is a wonderful phrase used in Spain. it refers to doing things the right way -- the universal way. The phrase is "Hacerlo como Dios manda." It means do it the way "God intended it to be done."</div> Finally someone says it, me too i was very hyped up about seeing the USA in the finals at FIBA, but leave it to them to screw it up. Just becuase they have D.Wade, Lebron, and Melo doesnt mean they own FIBA, one of the main things the teams that beat the USA over the years had was the fact that they were a team. These guys are not teammates, actually their more worried if Lebron, Wade or, Melo will be captain. That is so like the USA to underestimate their opponent, and then lose the game. It's what i think all the other country's coaches tells their players before games, that USA without a doubt will underestimate their opponents. You can have MJ, Kobe, Lebron and so on, on the same team, but if you don't give it your all and act like your the best, you won't win anything.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>There shouldnt have to be a process. They should be able to go out there, show up, and dominate everybody that they play. This is just flat out ridiculous.</div> Couldn't have said it better, who says these mistakes won't happen in 08' as well. I mean no one was really saying anything bad about USA basketball until this loss and of course the we'll win it all in 08' responses pop up at the same time.
Interesting fact of the day: China held Greece to less points than U.S.A.Owch...U.S.A. played terrible defense, and wasnt able to guard the pick and role at all.Also, "Baby Shaq" had a huge game, going 6 for 7, I believe...
I said that the US' defense was terrible when I watched the first exhibition game. Everyone else was like "OH EM GEE IT'S SO GOOD!" Now everyone can side with me.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rok @ Sep 1 2006, 09:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Couldn't have said it better, who says these mistakes won't happen in 08' as well. I mean no one was really saying anything bad about USA basketball until this loss and of course the we'll win it all in 08' responses pop up at the same time.</div>i say these mistakes won't happen in 08, why;1. they're a couple of years older (more experiece)2. they have kobe and chauncey (maybe redd and amare too)3. they will have more time to practice (learn from their mistakes)and yes that is good enough.......
We are the only ones to blame, We didn't send any pure shooters, We dont run any set plays, We dont play the right players, Brad Miller is PERFECT for International basketball. He is an active big man who can bang down low as well as hit the jump shot. On a positive note the odds were stacked against us, Most of these teams we play have been together for years we have been together for a few months. All the players on the International rosters are used to playing International ball... We are NOT. If we had 1-2 years to play a few seasons with FIBA we would be winning each game by 20 points.
I can't wait for the NBA season to start so we can stop talking about this worthless crap aka The World Championships.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BCB @ Sep 2 2006, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't wait for the NBA season to start so we can stop talking about this worthless crap aka The World Championships.</div>Everything is worthless to you, Why dont you try watching a few games.
