captainpec Posted August 3 Report Share Posted August 3 They need to start smacking these bitches and waking them up... absolute disgrace that they should lose to any of these teams in the Olympics. I say get the original dream team back on the court including the HIV positive Magic... they would do a hell of a lot better, even with walkers... COLOGNE, Germany - The U.S. men’s Olympic team did more than merely lose. It was embarrassed and exposed like never before in international competition.Losing an exhibition game for the first time when using NBA players, the Americans were completely outclassed by lightly regarded Italy, never even making it close in the fourth quarter of a 95-78 upset Tuesday.“This is a wakeup call for us,†Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson said. “I think we need something like this to understand it’s not going to be easy.â€The Americans were sloppy with the ball and couldn’t handle Italy’s zone defenses and 3-point shooting. Italy not only made 15 from behind the arc but also showed superior ball movement and poise in handing the Americans their most lopsided defeat since pros began competing in 1992.“They’re going to be in for a lot of lessons for the next few weeks,†U.S. coach Larry Brown said. “It’s a young team, and it’s a different game internationally.â€Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony led the Americans with 19 points, and two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan added 15 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.Italy, whose roster is filled entirely by players from that country’s league, was led by Giacomo Galanda’s 28 points and Gianluca Basile’s 25.“We took them by surprise,†Italian coach Carlo Recalcati said. “They didn’t expect us to be such good shooters. They didn’t know us.â€While the Italians were fifth at the Sydney Olympics, the United States is unbeaten at the Summer Games and in Olympic qualifying since NBA players were allowed in 1992, taking four straight gold medals. It will seek a fifth in a row at the Aug. 13-29 Athens Olympics.But the United States is sending its youngest team to the Olympics — the average age is 23½ — since the door opened for NBAers.“We need more time together,†new Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. “These teams play together for years, and we have to put it together in a couple of weeks.â€At the 2002 World Championships, an American team with NBA players was beaten for the first time, 87-80 by Argentina. The United States went on to lose twice more in that tournament and finished sixth.In an effort to avoid a similar display, the current U.S. squad is touring Europe before heading to Greece. On Wednesday, it will face Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany, which beat Italy 85-77 Sunday.On Tuesday, Iverson’s jump shot trimmed Italy’s lead to 56-52 with just under three minutes left in the third quarter. But the Americans never got closer. On Italy’s next two trips down the floor, Basile made 3-pointers that stretched the underdogs’ lead to 62-52.Iverson winced when Massimo Bulleri made a 3-pointer despite falling down and having the past NBA scoring champion’s hand in his face late in the third quarter.“We just didn’t communicate well on defense,†Iverson said.The Americans had all sorts of problems on defense and offense, getting called for three shot-clock violations and several traveling calls in front of 14,831 spectators.The Italians were 15-of-35 from behind the line, while Americans went just 4-for-13, justifying Brown’s fears that his team might be short on pure shooters.Word of the stunning result spread quickly.“That was a surprise,†said Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, who watched the game on TV after China lost to Argentina in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro. “I think they will get better in a few weeks, few days. So, no problem.â€At Belgrade Arena, the crowd at the Diamond Ball Tournament for Olympic teams let out a loud cheer when the score was announced over the public address system.“The competition out here is a lot tougher than people think it is,†said Del Harris, China’s Olympic coach and an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mindfaqd Posted August 4 Report Share Posted August 4 what a fuckin' embarassment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bxbomb Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 heheheheh you said "Swollen heads" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicman Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 lol. beat germany on a last second 3 pointer yesterday. germany isn;t even in the olympics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pookie23 Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 Italy hit 15 3's...FIFTEEN!! When you shoot lights out that like, you'll beat pretty much any team! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicman Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 they should stop calling it the "dream team" unless truly the best go. imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainpec Posted August 5 Author Report Share Posted August 5 Spragga - that's a good arguement, but when you don't d-up and respect players... you are giving them space to perform. If the defense would have been tighter, those opportunities wouldn't have all been there.They need to wake up soon either way. A team with as much talent as they have, shouldn't be shut down on the offense end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonStephen Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 lol. beat germany on a last second 3 pointer yesterday. germany isn;t even in the olympics.they are the biggest disgrace in American sports Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bxbomb Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 they are the biggest disgrace in American sportsno that would be this teamyou set that one up perfectly ...thanks jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfitz73 Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/040804Makes a lot of sense.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pookie23 Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 Spragga - that's a good arguement, but when you don't d-up and respect players... you are giving them space to perform. If the defense would have been tighter, those opportunities wouldn't have all been there.They need to wake up soon either way. A team with as much talent as they have, shouldn't be shut down on the offense end.The problem is they're just not used to the intenational game where ball control, pinpoint cuts and passes and a packed in zone is key. When someone drives the lane on them, their instinct is to help, just like in the NBA, and it'll leave the 3 open all day. I don't think they enough time to shake that habit.I was playing ball with some college players while I was in the UK and the style of play is soooo damn different - no one on one...people moving constantly and there are never any clear out plays...zone defense there is the toughest I've ever played against. It's no joke and it'll take a while to adapt. It's the same play that Princeton uses in the NCAA and you know how they give bigger programs fits!On top of that - it's kinda hard when a good majority of our team had very little college experience where they would've learned the fundamentals of zone defense and playing against motion offense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonStephen Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 no that would be this teamyou set that one up perfectly ...thanks jonmakes sense....a team full of all-stars that continually underperform and havnt won the championship in 4 yearsno wait, that would be the Yankeesthanx for bringing that up sparky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismakk69 Posted August 5 Report Share Posted August 5 I love how every single sports thread always turns into something about the Yanks-Red Sox...There could be a thread about synchronized swimming, and somehow someone will bring up the Yanks or Sox...I love it...lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kfitz73 Posted August 6 Report Share Posted August 6 The problem is they're just not used to the intenational game where ball control, pinpoint cuts and passes and a packed in zone is key. When someone drives the lane on them, their instinct is to help, just like in the NBA, and it'll leave the 3 open all day. I don't think they enough time to shake that habit.I was playing ball with some college players while I was in the UK and the style of play is soooo damn different - no one on one...people moving constantly and there are never any clear out plays...zone defense there is the toughest I've ever played against. It's no joke and it'll take a while to adapt. It's the same play that Princeton uses in the NCAA and you know how they give bigger programs fits!On top of that - it's kinda hard when a good majority of our team had very little college experience where they would've learned the fundamentals of zone defense and playing against motion offense.These are all very good points. The only thing I'd add is that the NBA did a very poor job picking this team. They picked a team full of stars instead of picking players that would be best suited to playing this type of ball. Even if they weren't stars. They even could have sent the Pistons and they would have been much better off... (I know that would never fly because that would put the Pistons at a disadvantage during the regular season) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonStephen Posted August 6 Report Share Posted August 6 I love how every single sports thread always turns into something about the Yanks-Red Sox...There could be a thread about synchronized swimming, and somehow someone will bring up the Yanks or Sox...I love it...lolI think its great personally......just reaffirms why I follow baseball amist all the inflated egos and bullshit, its because of the rivalries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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