watching the USA versus Lith game...

[Tadpole]

and why the fuck did they give the crowd whistles

[vonkaar]

Quite annoying =/. I wasn't allowed to bring my mini-gong in to a Mavs game but when they play in Sacramento, half the crowd has 50lb cowbells. LAME.

[vonkaar]

Aaaaaaaaaaaand we lose again.

Amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't even medal. Granted, Lithuania was our strongest competition in this bracket, but still... 1992 dream team won by an average of 50 points A GAME. What the hell???????!?!?!?!

[Lyion]

Aaaaaaaaaaaand we lose again.

Amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't even medal. Granted, Lithuania was our strongest competition in this bracket, but still... 1992 dream team won by an average of 50 points A GAME. What the hell???????!?!?!?!

We have no shooters. Having a bunch of 'me' inside guys without the team setup is why we suck.

Our team has talent, but we are not setup to play against the zone that the Olympics allow.

Also, its a testament to the popularity of Basketball, and the fact there are so many good, professional leagues and players worldwide. In 1992 it was a blip. Now its a worldwide sport.

[Ouchyfish]

Aaaaaaaaaaaand we lose again.

Amazing. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't even medal. Granted, Lithuania was our strongest competition in this bracket, but still... 1992 dream team won by an average of 50 points A GAME. What the hell???????!?!?!?!

Bring back the quality of the first dream team and we'll win by 50 points a game.

[vonkaar]

I'm not really trying to compare the 92 dream team to the 04 dream-on team... The 92 team was probably the greatest team in the history of organized sports. It's the legacy of US basketball that is being trashed here.

Both Michael Finley and Brent Barry said that they would have loved to have been on this team. There you go, two outside shooters that could have made a big difference in this team. Where do we go from here? Hard to improve a team in the middle of the competition. Do we blame K.G., T-Mac, Ray Allen and Elton Brand for not trying out? Maybe... When it's all said and done, I'm simply going to point at the selection comitte and the coaching-staff for blame.

[Rotj]

Fucking European crowds, absolute cunts. If anyone has seen an Italian or Spanish soccer match..will understand my statement.

[Ouchyfish]

I'm not really trying to compare the 92 dream team to the 04 dream-on team... The 92 team was probably the greatest team in the history of organized sports. It's the legacy of US basketball that is being trashed here.

Both Michael Finley and Brent Barry said that they would have loved to have been on this team. There you go, two outside shooters that could have made a big difference in this team. Where do we go from here? Hard to improve a team in the middle of the competition. Do we blame K.G., T-Mac, Ray Allen and Elton Brand for not trying out? Maybe... When it's all said and done, I'm simply going to point at the selection comitte and the coaching-staff for blame.

I stopped seriously watching NBA a while back, but is there anyone better to throw up on center for our olympic team than shaq? I know the guy can't shoot for crap but isn't he still a dominating center? There has got to be better big name big talent players than the shit they have out there now.

I am thankful that we at least send NBA players to the Olympics. Didn't it used to be mostly college vs. the worlds professionals--or is that another sport I'm thinking of?

Apologies to anyone who knows what they're talking about in modern professional b-ball. Like I said, I haven't been a serious fan since back when Shaq was at LSU.

[Tadpole]

lithuania's best player was a marginal college player...wtf

[Atalya]

too many generals and not enough soldiers. Simple as that. And as to the stake that the US dream team was the best team in organized sports history i think you need to look at like the previous few hockey Olympics and see that every country brings all star teams not just one. The Nagano team Canada hockey team probably has just as much if not more star power as the 94 Dream team did. Gretzky is to hockey what Jordan was to basketball and so on so forth down the line. The difference being the hockey players seem to check their egos at the door and you get guys like Joe Sakic willing to play checking roles if that's whats required to win. No one on the US dream team is making self sacrifices to win. So they wont.

[Rotj]

I don't question the leadership of Duncan and Iverson. Two able guys who can lead any team. I however ask the selection panel, one question. -- What's more important.. selling jerseys like hot cakes or winning the gold?

[vonkaar]

I stopped seriously watching NBA a while back, but is there anyone better to throw up on center for our olympic team than shaq? I know the guy can't shoot for crap but isn't he still a dominating center? There has got to be better big name big talent players than the shit they have out there now.

I am thankful that we at least send NBA players to the Olympics. Didn't it used to be mostly college vs. the worlds professionals--or is that another sport I'm thinking of?

Apologies to anyone who knows what they're talking about in modern professional b-ball. Like I said, I haven't been a serious fan since back when Shaq was at LSU.

Shaq is still the most 'dominating' force in basketball. He would be just as dominating in the olympics. He didn't show up. Tim Duncan is the BEST player in the world, and he's a great center for the US olympic team. He doesn't play center in the NBA though. The other top 5 centers (in no order) are Ben Wallace in Detroit, Jermaine O'Neil in Indianapolis, Erick Dampier in DALLAS(!!!), and Yao Ming in Houston. Yao is on the Chinese team that's getting destroyed... and all of the other guys didn't show up.

If Ben Wallace or Jermaine O'neil (for example) wanted to play in the olympics, Duncan could be the starting power-forward. That's all you need for an inside presence. Fill in the rest of the roster with scrappy defensive players with a great outside shot and we'd be winning every game by 20+.

Larry Brown will likely take the blame in our demise. He's ALWAYS coached an inside game. He built his team around that concept. The rules are so different on the international scene and you simply cannot play like that. What if Ray Allen, Jim Jackson and Allan Houston wanted to represent their country. They are all excellent outside shooters. Ray Allen would have made the team but I doubt the others would have. That's Larry Brown's fault. The fact that Michael Finley (11th in 3pt%) and Brent Barry (2nd in 3pt%) both wanted to play this Summer and weren't invited speaks volumes. He went after a bunch of dunk monkeys.

[Zanchief]

The team has no size and no outside shooting. It's a team full of 6'8 forward guard combos. That's how you play in the NBA but not in the international game.

But if you really think about it, the US should be flattered by the progress of international competition since it’s entirely do to their athletes.

[Diekan]

Stop making excuses. American basketball is full of nothing but a bunch of show boaters who are only concerned about themselves. THIS is why they're getting their asses kicked.

I hate basketball, I've always hated this stupid sport, and quite frankly I hope team USA continues to get their asses handed to them... maybe a nice thick slice of humble pie is what those egomaniacs need.

[vonkaar]

What excuses? It is quite possible to build a team out of current players that would be dominating the olympics. Larry Brown and the selection committe didn't do this. We are pissed.

You infer a lot of knowledge about the players for someone that admits to have "always hated this stupid sport." What makes 'American basketball [players]' in the NBA overly concerned about themselves, but not the foreign-born NBA stars? I mean, with a few exceptions, the main stars on each international team are NBA players. Are they immune to this egomaniac label because they were born outside US soil?

[Diekan]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/wnt/US/n ... dboys.html

In recent years, the NBA and trouble seem to have become synonymous. In the past year alone, some of the biggest names in basketball — Jerry Stackhouse, Marcus Fizer, Darrell Armstrong, Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson — have all had run-ins with the law.

So many members of the Portland Trail Blazers have had problems with the law in recent years, sneering sports commentators have begun calling them the "Jail Blazers."

There was a big article in Sports Illustrated (I *think* it was SI) that had an interview with an "old school" NBA player who pointed out that "todays" NBA players are more concerned about getting the "dunk" for the cameras than they are with helping their team win - as a team.

I am searching for that article now to back this up. And, this isn't the only *time* I've heard similar sentiments (sp).

You, as well as others, may love Basketball and that's all well and good. More power to you. I could never get into it. But, I will stand behind what I say when I say, "I hope they lose every game from here on out." Yes, ALL major sporting teams have their egos, but as far as I am concerned the NBA has by and large the most out of any of them.

And, yes there are the "Robinsons" in the NBA who do the "right" thing, but come on... can you honestly say that majority of NBA players are anything like David Robinson?

[vonkaar]

No, but then the majority of MLB aren't Cal Ripkens... the majority of the NFL aren't Doug Fluties. There are enough community-minded players in every league to balance things out. The NBA may have a higher percentage of 'selfish' players on the court but that doesn't necessarily mean they are bad people in their personal lives.

If you go back and read some of the top ten players lists in some of our other NBA threads, you'll see a group of 'good' people. So what if the 21st ranked small-forward is a me-first player both on and off the court? The 'role-models' in the NBA do a pretty good job at it.

My top-ten list only has 2 people that I wouldn't want to see on posters decorating my sons room (read: if I had kids). AI and Kobe probably aren't the best choices, even though they both do a lot for his community in work and donations. Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan (especially he), Vince Carter, Shaquille Oneal, Tracy MacGrady are all great supporters of the community and have donated an amazing amount of money to charities. So Bonzi Wells is a toolbox... so what if 'Sheed is a huge dopehead? How many cases do we see of that in the NFL?

The thing that's pissing me off are all of the 'bad-weather' basketball nay-sayers I'm seeing lately. All of the sudden, the US team isn't doing so well and EVERYONE instantly becomes a basketball analyst. If you admit to merely being a 'casual' observer of basketball, where do you get off judging the whole sport based on a few opinionated articles? If you only read about the bad stuff, you aren't going to see the good. Go read Kevin Garnett's personal bio if you want a good example of 'positive' role models. And yes, he loves dunking the ball for the photographers. So what?

Yes, ALL major sporting teams have their egos, but as far as I am concerned the NBA has by and large the most out of any of them.

As far as I'm concerned, you aren't in any suitable position to make that judgment. What if I said, "I don't really know anything about stem-cell research, but I read one article talking about how evil it is and I think it should be banned." Would that hold any argumentative merit for you?

[Zanchief]

In the past year alone, some of the biggest names in basketball — Jerry Stackhouse, Marcus Fizer, Darrell Armstrong, Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson — have all had run-ins with the law.

STFU moron. Marcus Fizer is one of the biggest names in basketball. You quote a retarded article that lists 5 players, one of which is an all-star most of which aren't starters and some of them are contract sponges. If you knew shit about basketball you would know that, but you don't.

You hate basketball, that’s great. It's pretty consistent with the every day ignorance we are all witness to in everyone one of your posts, but don't enter a conversation here with me or vonk. It's insulting.

[Rotj]

While that article has elements of truth in it..it doesn't fairly reflect ALL the NBA players. What about the guys who have shown some exceptional kindness to the community?

David Robinson (Ok, so he's retired but while in the NBA he did a ton of good), anyone? Steve Smith? Two guys with huge hearts.

[Atalya]

In the past year alone, some of the biggest names in basketball — Jerry Stackhouse, Marcus Fizer, Darrell Armstrong, Allen Iverson and Glenn Robinson — have all had run-ins with the law.

You hate basketball, that’s great. It's pretty consistent with the every day ignorance we are all witness to in everyone one of your posts, but don't enter a conversation here with me or vonk. It's insulting.

Ha i just seen this today. Lol i been talking bout his ignorance in ever post in the Entertainment Lounge since the day he started. Finally someone else has witnessed the awakening.!