KWebb5
All-Star
Defensive Player Of The Year Canidate
Posts: 455
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Post by KWebb5 on Aug 23, 2004 12:01:42 GMT -5
If what were doing right now is making everyone think that the rest of the world is catching up, you are smoking crack. This should put fear into the rest of the world because we are contending with other coutries 1st best players, while we are playing with out 3rd and 4th.
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Post by PJ520 on Aug 23, 2004 14:58:11 GMT -5
U.S. slaughtered Angola 83-59. In an upset China beat Serbia to get the last quarter final spot 67-66. Yao had 27 points. The U.S. will now play either Italy, Spain, or Argentina.
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Post by fullforce11 on Aug 23, 2004 21:01:22 GMT -5
You guys need to give Lithuania credit though. They haven't lost yet and that Javescious was unconsious from three. You all know what school he played for right? I wish the USA had won, but i gotta love my Terps.
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Post by PJ520 on Aug 23, 2004 21:03:13 GMT -5
You all know what school he played for right? I wish the USA had won, but i gotta love my Terps. Yep, went to Maryland. He should go pro.
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Post by fullforce11 on Aug 23, 2004 21:05:00 GMT -5
Supposedly he's had a number of contract offers, but he's enjoying playing in Europe where he's a star and makes pretty damn good money anyway.
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Post by soonerfan07 on Aug 23, 2004 21:08:47 GMT -5
Supposedly he's had a number of contract offers, but he's enjoying playing in Europe where he's a star and makes pretty damn good money anyway. well id rather not be a star and make millions sitting on the bench
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Post by PJ520 on Aug 23, 2004 21:10:14 GMT -5
Supposedly he's had a number of contract offers, but he's enjoying playing in Europe where he's a star and makes pretty damn good money anyway. The way he played against the U.S. why cant he become the next Peja?
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matt
Veteran
Roy Williams is a Fraud! And Sean May is FAT!
Posts: 89
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Post by matt on Aug 24, 2004 12:31:29 GMT -5
The best solution is one that surprisingly nobody is talking about: Take the best American players who are playing overseas and assemble them as a group that plays internationally in tournaments. Because let's face it, Team USA is flat out confused with the zone defenses and the way the rest of the world plays the game. Who better to beat the European teams than the American players who are playing that style on a regular basis.
Sure the NBA is getting some good players from overseas every year, but those overseas teams are also getting some good American players who either had a brief stint in the NBA or failed to make the league. They are great players and they know the competition.
Guys such as Tyus Edney, who played three years in the NBA with Sacramento and Boston and is lighting it up for Benetton Treviso. Edney was the Eurobasket Import Player of the Year for the European League in 2002. Edney's teammate Maurice Carter was a huge part of Treviso's success last season. CSKA in Russia has two American players, J.R. Holden and Marcus Brown, who helped it get to the Euro finals the last two years.
The names are endless. In Spain guys like Matt Santangelo, Reggie Slater, Andrae Patterson, Travis Hansen, JR Bremer and even old veteran J.R. Reid. In Turkey former Blue Devil Trajan Langdon and Khalid El Amin are making a nice living. In Greece Scoonie Penn, former Sun Toby Bailey and former Sun Devil Michael Batiste. In Italy Mario Austin, Brett Blizzard, Matt Bonner, Dante Calabria, Randloph Childress, former Sun Dan Langhi, Luke Recker, Cory Violette and Jeff Trapangier are still playing ball. Former Sun Alton Ford is playing in France, as are Hollis Price and David Rivers. Charles O'Bannon is in Japan. Trevor Huffman is in Poland, as are Ed O'Bannon and Shawn Respert. In Belgium there is Scooter Barry.
Many of these players are excelling. It shouldn't be too hard to find 12 of the best who would love nothing more than to continue playing and make a living in Europe and also represent their country in international competition. Playing for the USA would give them the exposure in the states that they don't get playing in Europe. Most basketball fans have long forgotten about those names and had no idea where they are or if they were even still playing. Those fans have no idea how much better these players have become. How much they know the international game. The NBA is the best league, but it's not the only league with talent.
The selection committee can work with the European teams to allow for the players to represent the U.S. when the time arises. - the same benefit that is given to the NBA star players from overseas. There can be yearly tryouts for the players to make Team USA. During the off-season they can come back to the states and scrimmage college and pro teams.
Can you imagine Team USA coming to your Arena for an exhibition game against your team? Could be fun, a lot of fun. The players can garner valuable chemisty with each other during the off-season and will be better prepared for events such as the World Championships and the Olympics. Plus knowing the competition and knowing how to play that style can only benefit them. When you break it down player versus player, that collection of athletes may not match up with the current Team USA. But as a team, they may be better. And you won't have to worry about them not showing up for practice or taking their opponents lightly.
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Post by BrewCityBuck on Aug 24, 2004 12:45:27 GMT -5
I'm getting over us not playing well. Were the best in the world, what do we need to prove?
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Post by bballfan21 on Aug 24, 2004 14:45:54 GMT -5
I'm getting over us not playing well. Were the best in the world, what do we need to prove? "That we are the best, bar none"
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Post by BrewCityBuck on Aug 24, 2004 14:57:39 GMT -5
If we took our best athletes and had them play together all year we would detroy international basketball. When you have Larry Brown making every excuse for the team possible to eliminate himself from blame and you have a team put together and have then practice for two weeks and then put Emeka Okafor on the team, eh.
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Post by PJ520 on Aug 24, 2004 15:18:08 GMT -5
What time does the U.S. play Spain?
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Post by BrewCityBuck on Aug 24, 2004 15:49:55 GMT -5
Check ESPN or NBC.
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Post by bballfan21 on Aug 24, 2004 16:15:40 GMT -5
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Post by CheesyChaz on Aug 24, 2004 18:19:25 GMT -5
If what were doing right now is making everyone think that the rest of the world is catching up, you are smoking crack. This should put fear into the rest of the world because we are contending with other coutries 1st best players, while we are playing with out 3rd and 4th. that's a good point
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