I commend Sweet Lew from turning down the invitation to "try out" for the Olympic team. It is a stupid idea from the beginning. I have no problem with having to have a three year commitment to the national team to be able to be on the roster but to have these accomplished NBA stars have to go through a training camp in order to make the roster is ridiculous. If this is a tryout than why does Shaq have a standing invitation to be on the team if he chooses. Does he not have to try out? Were certain players given the assurances that there was no way that they'd be cut from the team? Sweet Lew has a good understanding of his market value in the league--that is why he has been able to maximize his earning potential since he was drafted in '98. I don't understand where the honor is of being selected as a player who could be named to the Olympic team. I don't think that the top countries in the World are having tryouts for their national team nor do I think that they are selecting role players over their established stars in their country for the sake of team unity. In the 2002 World Championships the U.S. team came in sixth place composed of a veteran roster filled with some stars and some role players with good character. The excuse for losing then just like the excuse for losing in 2004 was that we didn't send our best players. Now you look at Colangelo who is saying that he'd rather have Bruce Bowen, Luke Ridnour, Josh Howard, and Brad Miller over the likes of Iverson, Lewis, Artest, Hinrich, and even a guy like Zach Randolph. In all of the instances where we have won a gold medal we've always selected the most talented players to fill the roster--and we will be in for a huge let down if these role players find a way on our roster over established NBA stars. What people fail to realize is that a star normally can do everything that a role player can do but refuses to do it b/c it will take away from the aspects of their games that make them stars. Carmelo could be one of the best rebounding forwards in the game if he put his mind to it, but he doesn't b/c it would require too much energy that could take away from his scoring. Paul Pierce could be a lock down defender--but again he chooses to decide when he should assume that role. Gilbert Arenas could be one of the league's premier assist guys but for his team he is better suited to try to score. No one is getting paid for this event so I'm sure that many of these stars will have no problem looking for the extra guy if the opportunity arises. It is the threat of these stars that will have the opposition worried sick b/c they know that they will have to pick their poison when trying to figure out who they want to stop. Colangelo is an idiot and I have a feeling that even with this preparation we will still have a very difficult time winning the gold against nations who really have a better understanding of how to construct a roster and how to execute a complicated game plan. Hopefully Coach K has a better understanding of how to coach this team than the coaches did before him (Larry Brown and George Karl).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Shiek:</div><div class="quote_post"> In the 2002 World Championships the U.S. team came in sixth place composed of a veteran roster filled with some stars and some role players with good character.</div> I'm going to disagree here - the 2002 team had a lot of stars in it, certainly the best in the world at their position. Guys like Jermaine O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Elton Brand and Paul Pierce should win games regardless of the opposition. International basketball is a completely different game - in the NBA, guys like Iverson, LeBron and Wade can beat their man off the dribble all day long. In International competition, teams aren't going to let them play like that. They're going to force the ball to be passed around and they're going to make the US beat them with shooting and fundamentals. That's why Lithuania made a mess of the States in the 2004 Olympics. Hell, even Puerto Rico beat a star studded US team simply by playing organised defense and not allowing them to play NBA style basketball. Someone like Brad Miller is a perfect fit, because not only can he score, he is also an outstanding passerand a very intelligent player. Luke probably doesn't deserve the call-up on merit, but I can see exactly why he's been invited; because he is an excellent passer of the ball and can spread the floor from the point. He's not going to get opposition point guards attacking him off the dribble one-on-one either like he does in the NBA. Bruce Bowen comes from probably the best organisation in the last 15 years in terms of playing to a gameplan and being able to adapt to different situations. I think the selection committee has gotten it spot on. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In all of the instances where we have won a gold medal we've always selected the most talented players to fill the roster</div> Yep, and now the rest of the world is catching up to the USA on the international stage, as the last two major tournaments have proved. Gone are the days when you can pick all the biggest stars and watch them win automatic gold.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Rashard's become a bit outspoken this season. I would have given him a really good shot of making the roster too, because the international game is all about good shooting and ball movement, not beating your man one on one everytime. He'd kill it from the shorter three-point lines.</div> agreed there, I would've liked to see him on the team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Gone are the days when you can pick all the biggest stars and watch them win automatic gold.</div> You tell me if, under the guidance of a competent head coach, this team would not win the gold. Billups Kobe Pierce Brand Stoudamire Hinrich Wade LeBron Carmelo Sweet Lew Randolph Howard That list took me all of 15 seconds to make and it addresses all of the needs of our Olympic team. There is veteran championship leadership, outside shooting, rebouding, low post scoring, and youth for upcoming Olympics. Everyone of those players (w/ the exception of Randolph) are All Stars or will be All-Stars in the future (in Hinrich's case). The only players with character issues on the team are Kobe, Pierce, Melo, and Randolph and each have been model citizens the past two seasons. Why would a guy like Bruce Bowen be necessary if we go zone with a line up of Billups, Kobe, Sweet Lew, Stoudamire, and Howard? That length alone will ensure that every shot is contested. All of the guys mentioned would accept the invitation to play and I can imagine that they would all be committed to ensuring that we keep the gold medal in the birthplace of basketball. What we need is a coach who accepts this position as a full time job instead of someone whose primary focus is to get the best high school recruits in the country. Had Stu Jackson named Chuck Daly our National Team coach in 2002 and 2004 there wouldn't be any discussion as to whether or not the world was catching up to the U.S. Two inept (or underprepared) coaches will always equal two underachieving performances in the world of international basketball. The jury remains in deliberation about Coach K.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting anadagirlballer4strt:</div><div class="quote_post">where is...Ray Allen on this roster???</div> He declined.
