Can you believe this we lose to Italy 95 - 78? How the mighty have fallen?

My opinion is that the NBA style of basketball is killing our fundamentals. We are focusing too much on dunking, running the floor and finding the next Michael Jordan that fundamentals are being neglected. Instead of having good shooters in the league, there are a bunch of streak shooters. Italy killed us with three point shooting. It is time for the NBA and US basketball in general to get back to the fundamentals of the game.

uhmump95 Wrote:Can you believe this we lose to Italy 95 - 78? How the mighty have fallen?

My opinion is that the NBA style of basketball is killing our fundamentals. We are focusing too much on dunking, running the floor and finding the next Michael Jordan that fundamentals are being neglected. Instead of having good shooters in the league, there are a bunch of streak shooters. Italy killed us with three point shooting. It is time for the NBA and US basketball in general to get back to the fundamentals of the game.

That, and maybe pick some of our better three point shooters to be on the team...

Then again, you would think that someone would be able to make more outside shots since the line is closer than in the NBA

The demise of american basketball is prehaps the most over hyped subject of the last decade. We lost because our roster was set within the last month, not because Americans can't play basketball anymore. The NBA stars of today would be just as dominant in any other basketball era. Granted the rest of the world is getting better, I don't think the gap is as close as hyped. Basketball is a team game, therfore unless you have an overwhelming talent gap (ex: the Rockets vs the Katy tigers) a team will outperform a collection of individual talent (see Detroit Pistons).

All that being said, the US still has a ridiculous winning percentage vs the world in Olympic play because the gap is almost THAT big. (see Darko vs Lebron)

It may be overhyped, but it is still a fact that our skills are deteriorating. When you look at an NBA game today all they play is isolationist one on one ball. A superstar runs into the defender and the defender is called for the foul. I thought a foul was where the defender initiated the contact for an unfair advantage, not where an offensive player runs at the defender and the defender is not quick enough to get out of the way and get hit. I think charging has been removed from the NBA rule book.

I have fell out of love with the NBA, but I may watch the Piston more as long as they play team ball. I hope the Rockets can take a page from their book.

uhmump95 Wrote:A superstar runs into the defender and the defender is called for the foul. I thought a foul was where the defender initiated the contact for an unfair advantage, not where an offensive player runs at the defender and the defender is not quick enough to get out of the way and get hit. I think charging has been removed from the NBA rule book.

Its always been that way, The next time the showtime Lakers are on ESPN classic see how many times Magic does the same things or gets away w/ carrying ....

I remember watching Buck Johnson try to guard Reggis Theus and them letting Reggie get away w/ murder while Buck picked up ridiculously cheap fouls. Look at old tapes of Rodney McCray going against Larry Bird, you'll see the same things you see today.

prettyricky Wrote:The demise of american basketball is prehaps the most over hyped subject of the last decade. We lost because our roster was set within the last month, not because Americans can't play basketball anymore. The NBA stars of today would be just as dominant in any other basketball era. Granted the rest of the world is getting better, I don't think the gap is as close as hyped. Basketball is a team game, therfore unless you have an overwhelming talent gap (ex: the Rockets vs the Katy tigers) a team will outperform a collection of individual talent (see Detroit Pistons).

All that being said, the US still has a ridiculous winning percentage vs the world in Olympic play because the gap is almost THAT big. (see Darko vs Lebron)

I agree with this. I think the US still has the deepest pool of talent. It's just a matter of getting guys to play the right way and getting them to play together more rather than pulling names out of a hat at the last minute.The guys we have this year may be the 3rd and 4th choices, but if they play the right way they should still be able to beat everyone if they can get it together in time.

This isn't to say that people from other countries haven't gotten better, but I still think their teams being able to compete with us closely still has something to do with our guys not doing what they are supposed to. Also, so many players come to America, hone their skills over here, and then take them elsewhere so that has something to do with it too. The only time our guys go play in their leagues is when they can't hack it over here.

No gold for you!!!!

Well the fabolous team USA went down again to a team playing team ball. I guess they will have to pick up the bronze.

I noticed in the last few games that Tim Duncan was always in foul trouble. What is he doing that is causing him to be called for a lot of fouls?