Since it's the off-season and we're in need of good topics, Here's something that I hope will be of interest to Celtic, and most specifically <font color="DarkGreen">Paul Pierce</font> fans. Who's the next Scapegoat? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"In a "Friendly", as soccer fans would call it, Team USA Basketball got beat By Team Italy". Final:95-78[/I][/B] Wait,..<font color="DarkRed"> <font size="5">Cut!</font></font> Let me start over. "In pre-Olympic competition play, Team USA got smoked by Team Italy today by 17 points". Ok, now I feel better and more honest about the situation.</div>
My guess... Allen Iverson, well actually, I already heard it blamed on AI. Accepting the Captain's job and then being late to a team meeting and getting suspended a game has upset people enough to put the blame on him already. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it yet. I think this was what needed to happen to this team. It's obvious that they thought they were unbeatable, but it's great now that they know they aren't even close!
Paul Pierce is my favorite player, and I expect a big turnaround this year. However, in my opinion Paul was not exactly an innocent bystander in the Team USA fiasco last time around. Please back up a bit and fill me in on your take on the situation. Thanks
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Allen Iverson, well actually, I already heard it blamed on AI. Accepting the Captain's job and then being late to a team meeting and getting suspended a game has upset people enough to put the blame on him already.</div> Allen Iverson? I'm aware that he was suspended, and as co-captain of this Olympic Team it was unacceptable. However, that was the game against Puerto Rico which is long and forgotten. Instead why not we talk about this afternoon game against Italy? Allen Iverson actually had one of the best performances against Italy. I noticed that he turned the ball over quite a bit, but who hasn?t? The US combined for a total of 26 turnovers. Not to mention, the US also struggled tremendously around the perimeter while Allen Iverson was virtually the only one who was actually knocking down the perimeter shots. The real scapegoat is Iverson AND Duncan, Wade, James and everyone off the bench including Okafor. This was a team loss, and everyone should be blamed. BTW I thing this whole thing is being blown WAY out of proportion. Yes, they lost in a humiliating manor and it was the US first Exhibition lost since NBA players played in the Olympics, but it was only an Exhibition game. The last US Olympic Team lead by Paul Pierce lost in the World Championship and didn't take the Gold back to the US. And on the other hand, this years? team hasn?t even started the Olympics yet. Once or should I say If, they get the Gold none of this won?t really matter.
I can't say that I disagree with you Avery. But you know the way people are. Allen Iverson has had trouble follow him his entire career. He is the easiest one to pick out of this group. They were talking about it on WEEI in Boston today, and they all seemed to be putting blame on AI. I, along with you, don't think it is justified at this point, but that will not stop people from trying to pin this team's troubles on Iverson. If this team doesn't perform to it's abilities, AI will take much of the blame for it. It's sad that it has come to that, but the general conception of Allen is that of a problem child. And the fact that he is a captain will just make it easier for people to make him the scapegoat.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I can't say that I disagree with you Avery. But you know the way people are. Allen Iverson has had trouble follow him his entire career. He is the easiest one to pick out of this group. They were talking about it on WEEI in Boston today, and they all seemed to be putting blame on AI. I, along with you, don't think it is justified at this point, but that will not stop people from trying to pin this team's troubles on Iverson. If this team doesn't perform to it's abilities, AI will take much of the blame for it. It's sad that it has come to that, but the general conception of Allen is that of a problem child. And the fact that he is a captain will just make it easier for people to make him the scapegoat.</div> Well, if that the way you put it, Allen Iverson is the scapegoat. He?s gets blamed for everything because of his bad reputation, so it?s nothing new. I expected the media to label Allen Iverson as the scapegoat, but it would be completely wrong if the fans labeled Iverson as the scapegoat. Like I?ve said before the TEAM is the scapegoat. But if anyone would be singled out as the scapegoat it would have to be Tim Duncan. He is their best player and arguably the best player in the world, and he is majority of the people favorite as the one who would best represent the US, so it would make more sense if he was the scapegoat.
What a thriller against Germany! AI comes through in the clutch silencing his critics. Also, How did you like that camera work by ESPN? We didn't even get to see the game winning shot! It was terrible!
How do you like that 44caliberThrila? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Also, How did you like that camera work by ESPN?</div> Yes, it was indeed a horrible job by ESPN. We all just missed Iverson first career buzzer beater. But what the hell, we got the win.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">How do you like that 44caliberThrila? Yes, it was indeed a horrible job by ESPN. We all just missed Iverson first career buzzer beater. But what the hell, we got the win.</div> True, but we got to listen to the brilliant Bill Walton announce!
