This is basketball, it doesn't take a scientist to realize upsets happen all the time with this game. Did JORDANS Bulls win every game they played? Did they sweep every series they were involved with? Of course not. Some nights the team they played caught breaks and won.. It happens this is basketball
We don't need all that scientific BS to make it sound good!!!!!!!!!!!!
We don't need all that scientific BS to make it sound good!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just my 2 cents. Really, U.S. didn't bring it tonight. They simply overlooked Greece and figured this would be another team they would just demolish and then they'd see who they were playing in the finals. Ever since the tournament has started, all the talk about teams that could contend with America, was about two teams. Spain and Argentina. U.S. was already thinking finals before today and the combination of Greek shooting hot and the lackadasical effort equaled a loss.
Now if someone thinks Greece would win 7 out of 10, you're just flat lying.
Now if someone thinks Greece would win 7 out of 10, you're just flat lying.
The reason I bring up the athletic factor is because it is a huge part of basketball. The insane dunk Lebron had at the end of the game no player on any international team could get that high and do that. Also the offensive rebound and power dunks Dwight Howard had. International teams can have all the teamwork and shooting/dribbling prowess they want but those things can be learned. The athletic ability that USA has cannot be learned. If USA learned the other stuff and combined it with their athletic ability they would be pretty tough to beat.
With the composition of the U.S. team, if they don't get to dunk, it's tough for them to win. But when you have people dishing out $200 a game for courtside seats to see trampoline artists do dipsy-do 180-degree spin, behind-your-back dunks, and ESPN shows nothing but dunks, it's no wonder that's all kids do these days. Railbird is right...U.S. basketball is all show and no substance.
Hard to believe this was just a lucky win for Greece.
Coupled with the debacle in the World Baseball Classic and the influx of foreign players in US professional sports, and you'd have to be blind not to see that the rest of the world has caught up with us in many areas (or that we've declined).
Oh well, we still have football.
Coupled with the debacle in the World Baseball Classic and the influx of foreign players in US professional sports, and you'd have to be blind not to see that the rest of the world has caught up with us in many areas (or that we've declined).
Oh well, we still have football.
the art of shooting in USA has been long gone and it started back in the mid 90's with kids growing up and practicing dunks for the ooohs and aaaaws!
is the USA the only team left not sporting a white guy?
all that dunking a flashy stuff only goes so far. USA basketball is so far off from returning to the top. Right now it is a tossup between a few countries as to who might be the best, but nobody sticks out, especially the USA.
is the USA the only team left not sporting a white guy?
all that dunking a flashy stuff only goes so far. USA basketball is so far off from returning to the top. Right now it is a tossup between a few countries as to who might be the best, but nobody sticks out, especially the USA.
Before the Final 4 USA was -2.65 to win it all, field +2.25. The thing I am pissed about I waited for the line to creep all the way up and passed on the $L, which was +6.50 less than an hour before post. This was a tourney with 3 good international teams, and one question mark. The question mark got answered last night. Their is no such thing as an American Dream Team. Those days are long gone. I circled and circled the +6.50, have had an exceptional week and still passed. I thought the US would squeak by Greece and dump the Final. Both Spain and Argentina are better than Greece, and the USA. Olympics I had Argentina at 8-1. This year I just took points.
I could write an essay on why the US no longer dominates world hoops. Occaisionally I cap hoops. I just took the fat +12 1/2 and never worried, actually went to bed. Oh well, we will get them next time. Go USA!
<TABLE borderColor=blue width=680 border=0><TBODY><TR class=tableText height=30><TD class=accountText vAlign=top noWrap>77360733-1
1
</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom noWrap>11:25pm
31-Aug-06</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom noWrap>1-Sep-06</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom noWrap>Basketball
Spread</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom align=left>Greece (+12.5) vs USA for Game</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom noWrap align=right>-105</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Best Wishes...OF :howdy:
I could write an essay on why the US no longer dominates world hoops. Occaisionally I cap hoops. I just took the fat +12 1/2 and never worried, actually went to bed. Oh well, we will get them next time. Go USA!
<TABLE borderColor=blue width=680 border=0><TBODY><TR class=tableText height=30><TD class=accountText vAlign=top noWrap>77360733-1
1
31-Aug-06</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom noWrap>1-Sep-06</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom noWrap>Basketball
Spread</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom align=left>Greece (+12.5) vs USA for Game</TD><TD class=accountText vAlign=bottom noWrap align=right>-105</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Best Wishes...OF :howdy:
gynecologist said:
How many 3's did they shoot with a hand in their face? How many pick-and-rolls did they run where the guy got an uncontested layup?
This wasn't about Greece simply making contested shots and having circus shots bounce in from half-court. This was a plan that was executed to perfection. This was about a team that was fundamentaly sound and MUCH, MUCH better on the defensive end.
The US is not the team it once was - that is the reality and people need to stop making excuses. It has been a few years since the US actually won a tournament. You can't ALWAYS be unlucky.
As far as winning 8 out 10 is concerned, how about just winning 1 out of 4 international tournaments?
Cincy's absolutely right. If it happens once it is luck. Happens again it is worth noting. Third time is a charm and a trend. They play the exact style of ball, their own, that the US has fits defending. Cutting, laying down screens, movement without the ball. Swinging the ball around the court to the weakside without blinking an eye. They may be shorter, less athletic and have a lot less melatonin, but they play the international game perfectly. Unselfish play and team chemistry are something the NBA has just lost sight of. Kobe would have fit perfectly.
Best Wishes...OF :howdy:
Best Wishes...OF :howdy:
The problem is that kids see all of the slam dunking on tv and that is all they want to do. I coach 9 year olds and they will lower the basket to slam on it. Until these guys get back to the fundamentals of the game, things like shooting jumpers and making free throws they will continue to struggle against good international teams that can shoot and can pack the lane with zone defense.
When I want to motivate my son I accuse him of playing like the USA basketball team and yes, I make the kids raise the basket and cut the dunking bullshit.
When I want to motivate my son I accuse him of playing like the USA basketball team and yes, I make the kids raise the basket and cut the dunking bullshit.
Yes, fundamentals. Like being able to execute the basic play. Or defend it. Timmy is the Big Fundamental, and was a monster last Olympics. But he is not here, and the rest would perform better in a McDonald's Classic. The Greeks just abused the nonexistant USA half court D. When you allow 71% from 2 pt land that is not luck, it is a layup drill. Over and over, same basic plays. Luckily we can blame coach K. That is usually how it goes. Who assembled this defenseless bunch? The Suns? Good news, we have 3 year commit by players. Bad news, they looked like the 4th best team. Good news, it put us in our place once and for all. Excuses get old and that is three straight. In a forum we used to dominate with one arm behind our backs we are now also rans. I am tired of luck, bad officials, bad coaches and bad rosters. Those are all lame excuses for losing. Look up at the scoreboard when the game is over. No Gold medal again.
Best Wishes...OF :howdy:
Best Wishes...OF :howdy:
Agree with alot written here- Greece knew exactly how to beat USA in a ONE-GAME SERIES. All it took was one game to get past them. And they did what they needed to do to win it. The 63% shooting? How many layups did they hit? It wasn't like Greece was hitting fadeaway jumpers from inside the 3-point line all day. No, they ran their set, waited for the US to fuck up (which they did, often) and Greece capitalized.
Anyone see how fundamentally sound Greece was around the basket? USA probably has about 3 times as much talent as Greece does, and athleticism, but when you aren't putting yourself in a position to utilize your advantage, it doesn't matter. Howard and Brand could have killed inside, but they played 12 min. a piece. Bad coaching.
Greece cut to the basket often, and their guards were savvy enough to get the ball to everyoen in positions to make GOOD SHOTS. They weren't taking and making ridiculous shots, like 'Melo had to do throughout the game. Luck had nothing to do with this game. When you have a team that is supier in talent, athleticism, you can get beaten by teams that execute better and finish around the basket. I'm thinking back ont he game and can't think of many shots Greece took outside of the paint and inside the 3 point line. They had GREAT LOOKS. That's not luck. That's good basketball.
All that being said, US could make adjustments in a 3, 5, 7 game set. But you're one and done in this tournament. US forgot how to play defense after the first quarter. Greece didn't learn how to shoot after the first.
Anyone see how fundamentally sound Greece was around the basket? USA probably has about 3 times as much talent as Greece does, and athleticism, but when you aren't putting yourself in a position to utilize your advantage, it doesn't matter. Howard and Brand could have killed inside, but they played 12 min. a piece. Bad coaching.
Greece cut to the basket often, and their guards were savvy enough to get the ball to everyoen in positions to make GOOD SHOTS. They weren't taking and making ridiculous shots, like 'Melo had to do throughout the game. Luck had nothing to do with this game. When you have a team that is supier in talent, athleticism, you can get beaten by teams that execute better and finish around the basket. I'm thinking back ont he game and can't think of many shots Greece took outside of the paint and inside the 3 point line. They had GREAT LOOKS. That's not luck. That's good basketball.
All that being said, US could make adjustments in a 3, 5, 7 game set. But you're one and done in this tournament. US forgot how to play defense after the first quarter. Greece didn't learn how to shoot after the first.
