USA lost again

[PacersGM]

even this kind of group can´t win it anymore.

kirk did everything he could but it wasn´t enough. how could the greece one of the worst shooting teams in europe score 100+pts against team US?

Again they shot 10+ 3pts more than the opps, had 12 more offensive rebs but this time the greece guards did a good job with ballhandling (Tos and steals were even). Greece shot 71% from inside the arc 
Sofo the 2nd rd from the clips had a great game from the bench for the greece team.

[BlazersGM]

 

[WizardsGM]

I really thought they would win. I thought if they lost, it would be to Spain.

[BlazersGM]

they're too arogants still, and you cant expect either for a team to play as a team after 3 weeks of preparations, european teams play for years with more or less same lineup, it would be better if they sent some NBA team like Heat or Pistons, then USA would win for sure 200 %.

[WizardsGM]

I agree, more preparation is needed. I think they will be better prepared for the Olympics because of the same group practicing each summer.

[BlazersGM]

they need to play with more or less same players, not change complete team every time, or bring the strongest possible team with Shaq,KG,Kobe,AI,"3 violins" etc.

[MavsGM]

The best solution is to send the Philadelphia 76ers.

[PacersGM]

i disagree. even some college guys knew how to defend the pick and roll and it was an incredible good performance by both teams at the offense. guess the US team should have given more LB the ball at the top of the key where he is at his best.

[BlazersGM]

USA also missed a center here, Dwight played poor whole tournament, its better they used Brad Miller all the time then him.

[MavsGM]

They can surely use Sam Dalembert.

[BlazersGM]

they either need to send the strongest possible team or send one NBA team that plays teamgame and they would win easily for sure.

[SpursGM-old]

Center isn't as imnportant in international play.  Team defense and 3 pt shooting are the keys....which just happen to be the 2 biggest weaknesses on this US team.  Team defense should improve over the next 2 years as they play together more.  

The 3 pt shooting will continue to be miserable until the idiots who pick the team figure out they need one or two spot up shooters.  This team actually has too many slasher-types for their main scorers (LBJ, Melo, Wade) and no high percentage shooters.  Billups may have helped but in 2 years should be on the decline.  Kobe will help some but is still more of driver than a spot up shooter.

As far as sending a NBA team you would have to get all the players to agree.  Miami - Shaq has said repeatedly he will never go.  Spurs have too many international players.  Detroit would face some of the same problems that the current team has...no dependable perimeter scoring.  Phoenix loses Diaw & Nash to other countries.

[BlazersGM]

but having Shaq for example helps a lot, that's why i dont understand why Arenas didnt play, USA needs guys like Arenas who can shot 50 % 3PT.

And team is best solution and easy to find, LAC(All USA), Pistons(All USA), Heat(they have Zo), Philly, Nets, Hawks  etc.

[SpursGM-old]

Arenas was hurt during the trials and pulled out.  Just like Marion.

Team sounds good but just isn't practical.  Most teams do have some international players.  Also there are some players that do not want to represent the US (Shaq - which would decimate the Heat)...international play isn't as big of a honor in US as in European/SA countries.  And finally many teams have players (i.e. "ugly" Americans) that the US does not want to represent us on the world stage.

And IMO Argentina, Spain & probably Greece would beat Sixers, Nets, Hawks.  Those international teams are just better TEAMS.

But also those teams still have key players that are non-US:  Nets (Krstic), Pistons (Delfino, Arroyo...for half of year), Sixers (Dalembert - Born in Port-Au-Pince, Haiti and lived there for 14 years before moving to Montreal), Clippers (Radmanovic, Rebraca)

[BlazersGM]

European teams are better because they're always with same players who play for years together, thats why i think
sending a team in which players know each other would be best, or to keep this USA Team and train the exact guys for
few years with maybe 1-2 changes, but core should be always same + Arenas and Marion.KG would definitely help.

But you think if Clippers sent their team of Cassell/Livingstone - Mobley/Ewing - Maggette/Thomas - Brand/Baker -
Kaman/Davis wouldnt be enough to beat any team ?? i think it would.

Or even better Bulls send their great D team Hinrich/Duhon - Gordon/Deng - Tyrus/Griffin - Sweetney/Allen - Ben/PJ

PAcers would be perfect if they had ARtest on SF still.

Nuggets perhaps with Boykins/Miller - JR/Hodge - Melo/Ricky - KMart/Sampson - Camby