Team USA basketball's chances in Beijing?

Question

Well, Athens was a total disgrace for our team. We did not have the shooters and they didn't play as a team. Someone please give me reasons as to why we will do better this time around. You know, like, someone who can make outside shots perhaps? I have a bet with my friend: If we get gold or silver I win it, if we get bronze or lower he wins it. He is sooo convinced that other countries have progressed so much in skill that we are nowhere near as dominant as we once were. Is there truth to this? Say it aint so! *cry*

Are they really going to boycott? How sure is everyone about that? Because I saw this ad where the team was talking about how they were going to play fair and stuff on TV.

Answer 1

Gold Medal.

Answer 2

He's right the world is catching up, however with regards to the bet I think you have a great chance of winning. (The odds are in his favor due to there being so many more options or places the US could finish) However, there are many reasons that affect how the US as well as the other countries do in the Olympics. 1) Different rules, there are significantly different rules ranging from being able to defensively goaltend after the ball touches the rim, etc 2) Those teams from other countries usually have played for a long time and spend the year playing and preparing. This as opposed to our way which is to pick the best from different teams that have usually never played with each other.

No one in their right mind denies that fact that we have the best most talented basketball players in the world. However by giving them barely any time to prepare not to mention never playing with their teammates, and having just gone through the extremely long grueling NBA season, you have a recipe for disaster. Things are still un-certain, is Lebron going to play? (he was doubtful because his 2nd child is on the way), Kobe is always doubtful he agrees and then pulls out. Shaq never goes. We did need some shooters and unfortunately Iverson was the best one we had in Athens. However I think the bigger problem was the fact that we did not have very many quality big men. The Americans need to control the boards and they'll win gold.

Answer 3

not very good to get Gold for many reasons.. none of which has to do with us not being as good at bball as we once were.


1) NBA players dont care about the Olympics, and the US is 100% NBA players. They get paid MILLIONS to win the NBA championship, not the olympics. Therefore i dont blame them for not wanting to get hurt.
2) The US's best players do not play on the team.
3) Other countries think the Olympic bball Gold medal is their most coveted bball prize.
4) Other countries consider bball to be their fastest growing sport, by far.
5) Other countries focus on fundamentals more then the US, which relies on athletism and team speed/strength, etc.
6) Shaq, Kobe, etc. will not be on the team.
7) We dont practice together as a team, like other countries do. It is just individual greats that come together for the Olympics on the USA bball team.
8) We have a HUGE target on our back everywhere we go, especially in basketball.

Its ok if we dont win the Gold anymore, our best players would rather win the NBA championships.

Answer 4

i think they have a good chance to go pretty far this year, even if it is true that the players don't really care that much about the Olympics, they still have a sense of pride for the game and for this country, so they still put in the same effort, and the team is filled with talented players like amare, lebron, kobe, carmelo, they all are amazing, but what the team needed most was some good points guards, and now with deron williams, who has been amazing the spurs seies, and jason kidd who has been amazing the entire year, they have some strong leadership, and look to get far

Answer 5

Well, in my opinion, a team with Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, and Carmelo Anthony is not a good team. You must have role players and veterans who can play good, sound fundamental basketball. You won't see that with the current USA team. I believe other countries really emphasize TEAM play.

Answer 6

I think they're much better now and set to win it all. Lebron, Melo, and the younger players are more experienced and I think theres Kobe and Redd to shoot from the outside. I haven't kept track of who's in and who's out, but they have to be better, which is debatable w/ the other countries where they got a bit older

Answer 7

Well, we have no shot with the current Coach.

Fortunately, we will be saved further National embarrassment as the players plan to boycott
the Olympics for Dafuur reasons.

Answer 8

I think there's a great chance of us winning... think of this as a lineup
PG JASON KIDD
SG KOBE BRYANT
SF CARMELO ANTHONY
PF ELTON BRAND
C AMARE STOUDEMIRE

RESERVES
PG CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
SG LEBRON JAMES
SF SHAWN MARION
PF CARLOS BOOZER
C DWIGHT HOWARD
1 TYSON CHANDLER
2 CHRIS BOSH
3 BRUCE BOWEN
4 DERON WILLIAMS
5 PAUL PIERCE

we have defense and offense...i am pretty sure we have a better chance of winning now.