Team Usa basketball

[RZRBack_FAN]

Anybody know what Time Team USA plays 2 morrow. I assume it wll be on NBC but im not positive.

[justmakeit2thebcs]

www.nbcolympics.com

it's called the internets...lol

[webbgem]

I think at 9 am

[RZRBack_FAN]

Yeah well im at work and on my cell phone so searching the net is not a real possibility, but thanks for adding your worthless post.

[RZRBack_FAN]

Thanks webbgem.

[The Realist]

Supposed to be the most watched television event in History. 

[BigSexyHog]

Supposed to be the most watched television event in History. 

No one will be missing much.  I sure won't stop down for LaBronze James and the other band of idiots.  Also who gives a rats tail about Coach K.  Surely their is a better coach out there to coach up the over paid NBA players who can't win a gold medal

[RZRBack_FAN]

Lebron James is a phenom. The guy is fun to watch and im excited to see how far this team can go.

Coach K is a very good coach, not sure why you hate the world but you dont got to try and drag everybody else down with you.

[FBfan]

No one will be missing much.  I sure won't stop down for LaBronze James and the other band of idiots.  Also who gives a rats tail about Coach K.  Surely their is a better coach out there to coach up the over paid NBA players who can't win a gold medal

Step away from the Hater-Aide.

[porky_teh_pig]

I watched the first half of the China game.  China's 3-point shooting kept them in the game through most of the half.  Team USA turned it up towards the end of the half when they needed to.  King James is probably propelling more defensively at this point in his career, he had three awesome blocks in the first half.  Lebron plays a bunch and deserves every minute.

The international basketall style of crowding the paint and making teams shoot from outside may affect this USA team.  They don't shoot well from the 3-point line sometimes.  There will be some good 3-point shooting teams.

I wish I could have watched the second half.  This team is fun to watch and I can't wait to see how they handle better Olympic competition. (hat off to Yao Ming, though)

Team USA plays a mean full court defense with those over active guards and forwards.  I think this team has what it takes to win gold if they don't get into a 3-point shooting contest. 

[BigSexyHog]

Lebron James is a phenom. The guy is fun to watch and im excited to see how far this team can go.

Coach K is a very good coach, not sure why you hate the world but you dont got to try and drag everybody else down with you.

I don't hate the world, just baby Labron...  I like D-Wade and D-Howard.    Don't care much for the rapist on the team, but I know others do.  Kidd is old and not the player he once was, but still fun to watch with the ball.  Bosh is another one that I like.  One player I would want on my team is Redd.  That guy can flat out shoot.   Also like to watch Paul and Williams play both are great players.

I just don't fall all over LaBronze like everyone else does....

[mbgrulz]

Why don't you name a better coach than coach K.

You should also draw up a better roster than the one they have over there.

What do you think would happen if Lebron and Kobe were not on this team?

[PotBelliedPig29]

No one will be missing much.  I sure won't stop down for LaBronze James and the other band of idiots.  Also who gives a rats tail about Coach K.  Surely their is a better coach out there to coach up the over paid NBA players who can't win a gold medal

Talk about someone who got cut from their junior high basketball team.

I nominate you for posting the most idiotic thing on the board. Congrats.

[mbgrulz]

i second that.

[sirhog]

Nice win today. I thought China would give them a better game. I would like to see us regain our dominance in international competition.

[yraciv]

Why don't you name a better coach than coach K.
You should also draw up a better roster than the one they have over there.
What do you think would happen if Lebron and Kobe were not on this team?

There isn't a better college coach than coach K.  They could have small improvements like KG, Tim Duncan, or Paul Pierce.  Maybe another spot up shooter/veteran in Ray Allen or banger in Amare Stoudamire.  I understand some of these guys were unavailable/hurt, but here is my dream team.
PG Chris Paul
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Lebron James
PF Kevin Garnett
C  Tim Duncan

PG Deron Williams
SG Dwayne Wade
SF Paul Pierce
PF Amare Stoudamire
C   Dwight Howard

SG  Ray Allen
PF  Chris Bosh

[hogfan33]

amare duncan and garnett all said no to playing. chris paul is too small to be the predominant point guard

[porky_teh_pig]

Coach K has been a dominant coach at Duke where he gets any recruit he wants.  It will be interesting how he coaches this Olympic team.

[hawgsav1]

Why don't you name a better coach than coach K.

You should also draw up a better roster than the one they have over there.

What do you think would happen if Lebron and Kobe were not on this team?

I hate Coach K, I'll admit it, but frankly, this is more a credit to Jerry Colangelo and the fact that he could whip up more superstars and motivate a team to play FIBA ball instead of trying to force NBA ball on international players.  Coach K is just handling the media attention and doesn't seem to be doing much coaching.  Give Coach K the 2000 or 2004 Olympic squads and I bet you they wouldn't be fighting for the gold right now.

[RZRBack_FAN]

The Tuesday game against Angola should be nothing more than a shoot around for Team USA.

If i were Coach K i would put Boozer, Prince, and Redd in for a big part of this game. Let them get some pt maybe Redd can get hot and carry it over to the next game. Plus it gives you a chance to let Some of the older guys ala Kobe and Kidd to get some extra rest.


They have got to improve their outside shooting. They are getting open shots just not knocking them down. Lebron is the leader of this team he set the tone the other day with 2 incredible blocks. Once he puts the ball on the floor and decides to go to the rack he cant be stopped. Spain is going to be a huge game it should let us know exactly what direction we are headed.

[Billy]

Coach K is just handling the media attention and doesn't seem to be doing much coaching. 

What do you base that statement on? I am dying to know.

Colangelo is no doubt a master at what he does, but so is coach K, never mind the other HOF coaches sitting there with him.

[Billy]

Lebron is the leader of this team he set the tone the other day with 2 incredible blocks. Once he puts the ball on the floor and decides to go to the rack he cant be stopped. Spain is going to be a huge game it should let us know exactly what direction we are headed.

LeBron is the best open court player of all time.

He has a long way to go to be MJ, but when you talk about great transition players, He is tops in my mind.

Nobody has ever had his mix of super-human strength/speed, vision, and ability to finish.

[Tone]

I hate Coach K, I'll admit it, but frankly, this is more a credit to Jerry Colangelo and the fact that he could whip up more superstars and motivate a team to play FIBA ball instead of trying to force NBA ball on international players.  Coach K is just handling the media attention and doesn't seem to be doing much coaching.  Give Coach K the 2000 or 2004 Olympic squads and I bet you they wouldn't be fighting for the gold right now.

I would disagree.  I think he is doing exactly what he and Colangelo intended him to do.  The idea was not to teach these guys how to play one-on-one basketball but team basketball.  Who could do that better?  There is no way a professional coach could do that given the state of the NBA.  They coach the isolation, pick and roll game.  No matter if you think Phil Jackson is great or Popovich is great they still do not understand the international game like Coach K. 

In Coach K, you have a guy who has a system, which he is coaching.  You also has a guy in subtle ways motivates people.  He is not an in your face guy but talks about positives like pride, country etc.  He doesn't treat NBA players like kids, but like men will pride in their country and their game.  Larry Brown couldn't do anything but not play Lebron James and piss everyone off.  Kobe would not probably be on the team if it were not for Coach K. 

I was not a Coach K fan until 2-3 years ago.  He has not produced like he had in the past(tournament wise) and some would even consider his recent teams as disappointments.  He teaches a certain pride and competitive spirit though, even down to the team manager that is infectious.  He also teaches his kids to do the right thing (get on the right bus story).  I have grown to resect him. 

[RZRBack_FAN]

MJ is the best ever in my eyes.

People forget how young Lebron is just because he looks 38 doesnt mea he is. He has several years left to make his case for best ever. I gurantee you if i was building a team and could pick anybody in the world my first pick andmy centerpeice would be Lebron James.

DWade is awesome definatley one of my favorite players ever. He attacks the rim with a vengance and he is a great finisher. Fun guy to watch because you can tell he plays for the love of the game.

[Corkscrew Johnson]

Why isn't Joe Johnson out there?  I would take him over Tayshaun Prince in a heartbeat

[PotBelliedPig29]

Why isn't Joe Johnson out there?  I would take him over Tayshaun Prince in a heartbeat

We already have so much offensive firepower, that we had to go with a defensive stopper like Prince.

[Billy]

MJ is the best ever in my eyes.

People forget how young Lebron is just because he looks 38 doesnt mea he is. He has several years left to make his case for best ever. I gurantee you if i was building a team and could pick anybody in the world my first pick andmy centerpeice would be Lebron James.

DWade is awesome definatley one of my favorite players ever. He attacks the rim with a vengance and he is a great finisher. Fun guy to watch because you can tell he plays for the love of the game.

I agree with everything you said. Very smart poster.

MJ was such a stud. Talk about a winner. People talk about Tiger Woods being a competitor, but He doesn't have anything on MJ.

[sirhog]

 

I agree with everything you said. Very smart poster.

MJ was such a stud. Talk about a winner. People talk about Tiger Woods being a competitor, but He doesn't have anything on MJ.

MJ gets my vote as well. No one could stop him when it counted.

[Hogimus Prime]

We already have so much offensive firepower, that we had to go with a defensive stopper like Prince.

true but Joe Johnson is a good 3-pt shooter and can be a defensive stopper and is able to play 4 positions in the olympics

[yraciv]

true but Joe Johnson is a good 3-pt shooter and can be a defensive stopper and is able to play 4 positions in the olympics

Joe Johnson can't play the post, and I wouldn't consider him a shutdown defender.  Great player, but I'm guessing he is about the 25th best player in the US.

[Hogimus Prime]

Joe Johnson can't play the post, and I wouldn't consider him a shutdown defender.  Great player, but I'm guessing he is about the 25th best player in the US.

international ball he can.   he can be a shutdown defender in the type of ball they are playing right now.

[yraciv]

international ball he can.   he can be a shutdown defender in the type of ball they are playing right now.

I strongly disagree, but whatever.  He can't be a shutdown defender in the NBA, but he can in international ball?  I'd love to see Joe Johnson try to stop Luis Scola or Pau Gasol in the post, both of which have been playing the 4 at times.

[Hogimus Prime]

I strongly disagree, but whatever.  He can't be a shutdown defender in the NBA, but he can in international ball?  I'd love to see Joe Johnson try to stop Luis Scola or Pau Gasol in the post, both of which have been playing the 4 at times.

JJ can be a shutdown defender on the outside.   inside he can defend but Scola and Gasol are hard to stop.  gotta have a Howard/Stoudamire type on those two.

what i was trying to say is that with mix of players Team USA has JJ would've been a really good fit.   JJ may not be the defender Tayshaun Prince is but he is better shooter and thats what Team USA needs.   sorry for the confusion

[yraciv]

JJ can be a shutdown defender on the outside.   inside he can defend but Scola and Gasol are hard to stop.  gotta have a Howard/Stoudamire type on those two.

what i was trying to say is that with mix of players Team USA has JJ would've been a really good fit.   JJ may not be the defender Tayshaun Prince is but he is better shooter and thats what Team USA needs.   sorry for the confusion

Prince is the only guy on the team that I'd replace with him, so I agree there.  You said earlier he could play 4 positions, the 4 is a stretch.  PG to SF though the US has plenty of depth, so Prince is longer, which makes since.  I have no doubt Joe could be effective, but there really wasn't a spot for him imo.  The US team has their specialist in Prince and Redd, and a lot of superstars in Williams, Paul, Wade, and Kobe.  Joe is a SG/SF and there just isn't relly a spot.  I understand the US needs shooting theory, but look at their NBA stats; they can shoot. It just tells me that the team is struggling from 3.  I mean come on how often does Kobe go 0/8.  I guess we'll agree to disagree though.

[Bryan (CHF)]

There isn't a better college coach than coach K.  They could have small improvements like KG, Tim Duncan, or Paul Pierce.  Maybe another spot up shooter/veteran in Ray Allen or banger in Amare Stoudamire.  I understand some of these guys were unavailable/hurt, but here is my dream team.
PG Chris Paul
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Lebron James
PF Kevin Garnett
C  Tim Duncan

PG Deron Williams
SG Dwayne Wade
SF Paul Pierce
PF Amare Stoudamire
C   Dwight Howard

SG  Ray Allen
PF  Chris Bosh

This is mine:

Charles Barkley
Larry Bird
Clyde Drexler
Patrick Ewing
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Michael Jordan
Karl Malone
Chris Mullin
Scottie Pippen
David Robinson
John Stockton

I don't think any team will ever be as good as that one. I'm willing to entertain discussion on it though.

[yraciv]

This is mine:

Charles Barkley
Larry Bird
Clyde Drexler
Patrick Ewing
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Michael Jordan
Karl Malone
Chris Mullin
Scottie Pippen
David Robinson
John Stockton

I don't think any team will ever be as good as that one. I'm willing to entertain discussion on it though.

No crap everyone would take the dream team.    He said draw up a better roster then what they have, and thats what I came up with.

Side note.  Mullin had some years, but I always thought he looked funny in the middle of that roster.

[RZRBack_FAN]

The Dream Team is probably the best team ever. Its really hard to debate though. The other teams around the world have drastically caught up to us. I saw the point margins the other day the Dream Team beat teams by an average of 46 pts a game. At Athens 4 years ago our pt margin was 4.6. That shows you right there that the world has caught us.

This next game against Greece will tell us how good we are.

[Hogimus Prime]

Prince is the only guy on the team that I'd replace with him, so I agree there.  You said earlier he could play 4 positions, the 4 is a stretch.  PG to SF though the US has plenty of depth, so Prince is longer, which makes since.  I have no doubt Joe could be effective, but there really wasn't a spot for him imo.  The US team has their specialist in Prince and Redd, and a lot of superstars in Williams, Paul, Wade, and Kobe.  Joe is a SG/SF and there just isn't relly a spot.  I understand the US needs shooting theory, but look at their NBA stats; they can shoot. It just tells me that the team is struggling from 3.  I mean come on how often does Kobe go 0/8.  I guess we'll agree to disagree though.

yeah Kobe going 0 for 8 is unbelievable.

[hawgsav1]

Everyone wants to compare this team to the Dream Team.  Yeah that team was great, but they just outmatched and outclassed EVERYONE when they played.  No one could put up the players to compete with those guys and none of the younger guys had any experience either.  The thing is, international basketball has improved by leaps and bounds.  Those national teams are nasty good, and they could give the Dream Team a run for its money.  Yeah, we still have the most talented players hands down, but it's a team game, and it's not as easy for us to roll through like we used to. 

[Hogimus Prime]

Everyone wants to compare this team to the Dream Team.  Yeah that team was great, but they just outmatched and outclassed EVERYONE when they played.  No one could put up the players to compete with those guys and none of the younger guys had any experience either.  The thing is, international basketball has improved by leaps and bounds.  Those national teams are nasty good, and they could give the Dream Team a run for its money.  Yeah, we still have the most talented players hands down, but it's a team game, and it's not as easy for us to roll through like we used to. 

but what made the Dream Team so good was how everyone excepted their roles and played as a team.

[RZRBack_FAN]

You can clearly tell that Team USA is on a mission. They dominated Greece today, a team that beat them just 2 years ago.

[Beaverfever]

Wade and Bosh have been incredible thus far.  Chris Paul has looked very average.  I like Deron Williams in the game more.

[Smithian]

chris paul is too small to be the predominant point guard

Oh my God.

Chris Paul is the best PG in the NBA right now. He is the best small guard since Isiah Thomas and a lot of people, including me to an extent, think he may be even better than Isiah.

Prince is the only guy on the team that I'd replace with him, so I agree there.  You said earlier he could play 4 positions, the 4 is a stretch.  PG to SF though the US has plenty of depth, so Prince is longer, which makes since.  I have no doubt Joe could be effective, but there really wasn't a spot for him imo.  The US team has their specialist in Prince and Redd, and a lot of superstars in Williams, Paul, Wade, and Kobe.  Joe is a SG/SF and there just isn't relly a spot.  I understand the US needs shooting theory, but look at their NBA stats; they can shoot. It just tells me that the team is struggling from 3.  I mean come on how often does Kobe go 0/8.  I guess we'll agree to disagree though.

I don't think Joe has a place on this team. I forget if it was 2006 or 2007 when he played, but he really didn't do much. Whenever he played, it wasn't that great. I would take Mike Miller over Joe Johnson since Mike Miller did excellently in the 2006 and 2007 games and his shooting and rebounding(Lead the Grizzlies even as a 3)would be helpful. Tayshaun is there for the first time we find some big time player we can't stop. Ron Artest would be in that spot immediately if we weren't scared what he'd do.

Wade and Bosh have been incredible thus far.  Chris Paul has looked very average.  I like Deron Williams in the game more.

Chris Paul had a horrible game for him. This team by far plays the best when Chris Paul is in, whether it be as a 1 or a 2 with Deron at 1.

This team is stacked at each spot. The only real difference I would make no problem is maybe taking Prince off and and throwing in Brand or Jamison, two guys who played well in the qualifiers. Both are a bit old. I am not sure why we took Amare off. I think it is considering Bosh and howard are both filling our center positions. I am happy, though, with our frontcourt. Using Melo/Boozer at PF has been excellent and Howard/Bosh are a two headed defense/offense monster.

[RZRBack_FAN]

Chris Paul hasnt been a factor at all. He is a great PG but he isnt the reason Team USA is having success. Deron Williams has been the best Pg for the US thus far. Lebron, D Wade, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard have been the best Players for Team Usa so far. Kobe has been very good on Defense but he has struggled shooting the ball. Mello has been crashing the boards and even trying to play a little defense. Im ready to see how we handle Spain, it should be a good game.

[yraciv]

Amare is off cause of injury issues I think.  I would add Brand for Prince, but thats the only realistic difference they should have made.

[Beaverfever]

Chris Paul hasnt been a factor at all. He is a great PG but he isnt the reason Team USA is having success. Deron Williams has been the best Pg for the US thus far. Lebron, D Wade, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard have been the best Players for Team Usa so far. Kobe has been very good on Defense but he has struggled shooting the ball. Mello has been crashing the boards and even trying to play a little defense. Im ready to see how we handle Spain, it should be a good game.

I think your assessment is dead on except I'd like to see a little more from Howard.  There is no denying that Lebron, Wade, and Bosh have been our best three players so far.  Wade, Bosh, and kobe have all been playing really great defense and have been spurring alot of fast breaks, which on this team=automatic points.  Kobe needs to shoot a little less, particularly from deep.  I think this is hard for him to do because he is a volume shooter and an all-star team is not the best way for him to showcase his talents.  Still, he takes some really unadvised shots when you consider the team that he is on and the players that he has around him.  He has been driving and dishing really well though.

[babywhiz]

I just can't believe him and LeBron are hanging around that much...never see D-Wade at the other competitions.... 

[Hogimus Prime]

yraciv, i was wrong.  Tayshaun Prince belongs on the team and is a better fit that Joe Johnson

[Corkscrew Johnson]

Amare is off cause of injury issues I think.  I would add Brand for Prince, but thats the only realistic difference they should have made.

I agree about Elton Brand.  He's one of the best post players around, but I think he still might be cautious about his achilles injury.

I disagee with Joe Johnson's omission.  Anyone who watched him last summer at the World Championships would support his inclusion...he's one of the most versatile athletes on the team.  It's a tough call on who to axe though.   Maybe Tayshaun Prince.  Maybe we don't need three 6 foot point guards.  With our emphasis on smothering, pressure defense, it might not be so bad to have a 6'6" Johnson running the point (or Labron or Wade) as the third option.   But they are looking so good right now, it's hard to argue with any selection... 

[Hogimus Prime]

I agree about Elton Brand.  He's one of the best post players around, but I think he still might be cautious about his achilles injury.

I disagee with Joe Johnson's omission.  Anyone who watched him last summer at the World Championships would support his inclusion...he's one of the most versatile athletes on the team.  It's a tough call on who to axe though.   Maybe Tayshaun Prince.  Maybe we don't need three 6 foot point guards.  With our emphasis on smothering, pressure defense, it might not be so bad to have a 6'6" Johnson running the point (or Labron or Wade) as the third option.   But they are looking so good right now, it's hard to argue with any selection... 

yeah i could see having Johnson instead of Prince, but I see why Prince is in the team.

what really bothers me about this team is only 3 post players on the team.  I know none of the games have been close and it hasnt been a big deal but instead of Johnson or Prince too bad a Brand or someone like him isnt on the roster