An idea for team USA

[I. Cold]

My friends and I were talkin last night about how the "dream team" isn't what it used to be. We came to the conclusion that the reason for team USA's decline in international basketball doesn't have anything to do with a lack of talent or coaching skills. The rest of the world is just catching up.

When you look at international teams that have been successful in the past 10 years (argentina, spain, lithuania, greece, france), you will notice none of these teams have superstars. I mean, there are very good players on these teams, but they dont have any lebrons or kobes or garnettes. They're success lies within team work and chemistry. They're unselfish and humble. And they're changing the game of basketball.

Meanwhile team USA is busy scrambling to recruit these european players have are experiencing success thinking that's the answer. It's not.

I think if USA wants to send out a gold medal team, they shouldn't fuck with any international players. Strictly homebred. And I don't think they should have any NBA players either. Start recruiting in the hood. Get the rawest, grimiest, hungriest ballers from the streets of the US and mold them into champions. These dudes shouldnt have any other commitments whatsoever. They need to live together as a team, eat as a team, go out as a team. They need to eat, sleep, shit and live basketball and nothing else. Round up 15 of the sickest ballers from the streets, dangle a carrot in front of them in the form of hope of being the nation's greatest basketball squad ever, and see what happens.

To me, motivation is everything. And while Lebron may be the greatest ball player in the world... or Kobe... and while they may really want a gold medal just so they can say "ya, I got the US another gold medal", how much motivation do you think they REALLY have? they already got EVERYTHING in the world they could dream of. How hungry can you be?

Who's gonna want it more? guys that got nothing to live for BUT basketball, or these internationally famous superstars that have everything already?

 

[UCDgreek]

Meanwhile team USA is busy scrambling to recruit these european players have are experiencing success thinking that's the answer. It's not.

I think if USA wants to send out a gold medal team, they shouldn't fuck with any international players.

i dont understand this. what international players are they going after? what international or europeans are on team usa?

 

[I. Cold]

i dont understand this. what international players are they going after? what international or europeans are on team usa?

None, it's just something that's been discussed over the past 6 years. It just doesnt seem like an euro players want to play for USA.

I remember when lithuania beat the US to go to the championship game a few years back, there were a lot of talks to get a couple of their best players in the NBA.

 

[enserio]

This current Dream Team is gonna show the world how dominant we still are when we get serious. It took a few years of losing and looking bad to get here, but their minds are set on crushing the world.

All this speculation on what went wrong and how we should fix it will end in the next Olympics.

 

[AC Transit]

Round up 15 of the sickest ballers from the streets, dangle a carrot in front of them in the form of hope of being the nation's greatest basketball squad ever, and see what happens.

youre kidding me right? There is a reason why these players are 'street' players and not playing professionally somewhere whether it be the states or overseas. They might have the talent but not the discipline to make it to that next level.

A game of your players vs any international team would be the biggest joke in the world. The international teams would be wayyyyyyy more fundamentally sound then this US team and would embarrass them. The whole reason we were losing before is because we were picking all star teams that would be a good fantasy basketball team but in terms of chemistry and a general team concept, were terrible.

my 2 cents - not with your idea.

 

[REdRUM]

I agree with AC Transit; this is a dumb idea. You answered your own question in your first post. Here, let me refresh your memory:

They're success lies within team work and chemistry.

You can't expect team work with a line up, for example, of Kobe, Iverson, Arenas, Baron, and Marbury (I understand these players all play essentially the same position, but...superstars who want the ball every possession won't coexist successfully on a court/team.

Role players are essential, and I think the players selected have been too many of the same, hard headed individuals looking at the small picture, instead of the big picture.

I like the team that's been assembled this time around, and the coaching is perfect, too, IMO.

Also, enserio's first post sums up my feelings.