What is wrong with USA basketball / why can't we win olympic gold or a world championship?

Question

The Usa team is filled of mega star millionares and we should be the "best" in the world but always fall short. International rules of basketball are a little different than NBA rules. I think we should use some of the American players playing abroad who are stars in those leagues and know how to play the international game. I know this is the nba which is the "best of the best". but we have alot of players playing overseas who are very, very good. Thats just one of the solutions to fixing the problem. What other suggestions do you have out there?

Answer 1

The NBA is set up to showcase star players who can score in a one-on-one situation. Because the NBA uses "Incentive Compensations" in all its contracts with players, it makes basketball an individual sport. In short, players earn more money by scoring more points. Since everyone in the NBA buys into this system, there is a lack of team competition, meaning one player will try to win games on his own. Though this can be accomplished in the NBA, it falls short in international play.

International players now have near the same level of athleticism and skills as the Americans. Now put a team of these skilled players together who buy into a system of ball distribution and role playing against a system like the NBA and the past has shown us what happens. It turns into a game of 5 on 1. One pro athlete cannot beat 5 pro athletes playing together.

International basketball does not respect a player who drives the lane at full speed and elevates over defenders to score. International basketball respects the defensive players who stand their ground and hold their position. How many charges are called in the NBA as compared to FIBA?

Basically its like the USA plays checkers (getting the most chips and points) and the rest of the world plays chess (finding the weakness and winning the game with strategic moves).

Answer 2

First of all the rest of the world caught up with the USA in terms of the quality of the game. Secondly, kids don't stay in school long enough to learn the right way to play the game. Either they go from high school to the NBA or only stay in college a year and then jump to the pros. The consequence of this is that the quality of the NBA is at an all time low. The NBA puts out a very inferior product and will continue to do so unless college athletes become college athletes again!

The NBA was at it's height during the '60's, '70's and certainly in the '80's. I would put any of those championship teams up against today's NBA championship teams. It would be no contest. Today's teams would not stand a chance against the champions from the past.

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with the talent of USA basketball superstar. There is a problem with the system, though. In the "playoffs" for the medal, it is a do or die, all or nothing situation. If they have one bad night, they go home. That is unfair. I think they should change the system to a best of three games setting. That way, there is a chance of redemption. If that were the case, I believe that the USA would own more than half of all basketball gold medals.
It is sad to see a team who worked so hard and exit unexpectedly without an opportunity for vengeance. Personally, I think FIBA should consider turning the series' to best of three. It is more interesting and it would avoid controversy. If a team loses twice in a row, then that means they are not of gold medal caliber.

Answer 4

Basketball is a game. Games are won and lost because of heart , attitude and talent. By this defination, the reason we no longer win is clear.. It is not because we , the US, can not win at international basketball, it is because the nba players do not have the desire to win because they lack heart, attitude.( Do you know how an nba player spells attitude? MONEY!! Do you know how the spells heart? GIMME!!)
There is one more thing to think about. Why does the United States of America not have an international team? Ask the powers at the nba, the money men. They are the same powers who had the houston texans pass on Bush to get an end. Oh, Bush went to N.O. and what was that deal all about" This is all about money. if the nba wanted us to win, believe me we would kick butt.GIVE THEM THE MONEY!!
Give the game back to the teams who always won. Return our tean to the likes of the people who play in March Madness!!

Answer 5

The interantional players that play for the NBA and take american currency are quick to leave and play for their homeland. Those are the people that are more familiar with international rules. They are also good players like Duncan, Ginobli, Parker, Nash, etc... Those players knowhow to play the international game and the NBA. That really help the international teams know someting about us( a scouting report in a sense), bu twe know very little about them. That is why we loose.

Answer 6

The other countries are becoming better in basketball. USA players all they have last years were all scorers. They dont have mix like the one Dream Team with Jordan and the folks in the '96. All the team have scorers and really do not have chemistry as a team. Many players has to adjust their role as either bench player or a passer but clearly they are leading scorers and the star on their team. While other countries has a varity of styles and play together and dont shoot all day like USA team did. USA is probably not to win Gold because players in other countries are underpaid but clearly better players

Answer 7

Yeah, like someone said before they have been putting all scorers on there. Everyone just wants to shoot and not play as a "dream TEAM". Plus the attitudes of the people they have on there is lackluster. It seems like they dont realize that they are playing for the United States.

I would actually like to see them start using college players instead of pros. College players tend to play for the love of the game and not for a check, atleast in my eyes. I think picking up a few of the best college players would make for a much better team. They'd play less selfish and they would have alot to prove for themselves (wanting to build up a resume for the draft) and play very well. Additionally, I think college players play alot better defense than do pros.

Answer 8

Truth is, they don't want to play. The USA team is a volunteer thing, they don't have to play if they don't want to, but I see it as selfish. We buy their jerseys, buy tickets, the least the players can do is represent the US in a world wide compitetion. They have become selfish players, plus they don't get paid as much in the Olympics, so now money controls their life. it's sad and the NBA comis. should make it manditory to play.

Answer 9

because the international players play fundamental basketball. The USA has the better athletes by far they just don't play fundamentals.

Answer 10

No college players. Can you imagine Oden and company playing against Nowitzki, or steve nash and jamal magloire. Or france with tony parker, mikal peitrus, gelable. You want college players to play against Duncan and raja bell?