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The token American responds: Be afraid

June 24, 2008

My main man Tobias is, as we’d say in the ‘States, fighting the good fight this morning with his “US national team announced – are you scared?” Mr. T. engaged in some positive cheerleading for Europe in stating that teams like Lithuania, Spain and Russia need not be scared at all of Team USA.

Do European national teams play at Team USA’s level? Absolutely. Should the Europeans be afraid of the American Dirty Dozen? Well, a little creeped out, to be sure; just look at the arsenal one more time. Will Team USA take the gold in Beijing? Yes.

While only now in the ‘States is the mainstream willing to admit that national-level European ball has “caught up with” that of the US, this writer believes the world will learn a valuable lesson about the new Team USA: Namely, that the red, white and blue can in fact play the best team ball in the world.

Blinded by the star power in 1992, people forget that the Dream Team of lore was an incredible team, always making the extra pass, sharing the ball and playing tight D. Along the way to bottoming out in 2004, the Team USA roster had become polluted by the showboating Vince Carters of the world; great leaders like George Karl were at the helm; and USA Basketball the organization just didn’t seem to get it.

It’s different now, though, I’m telling y’all here on The Continent.

Wrote Tobias:

You still need to have a team and really take pride in representing your nation. I do know guys like Dirk Nowitzki are busting their a** off right now, with three or four training sessions a day, just to qualify for the Olympics. Do you really think one of the guys above does care that much?

Yes, I do. Kobe Bryant. On whom do you think Kobe is going to take out his frustrations at barely competing in the NBA Finals? Um, Lithuania, Russia and especially Spain. Today, Kobe reckons that Pau Gasol is soft, and Bryant will be taking it to the hole against the Gasol Brothers all day long in a semifinal matchup.

And please, world in general, make a note of the attitudinal change reflected in some of these post-announcement quotes as well:

“I’ve always seen greatness in the Olympics, but that was never one of my dreams. I never really expected to be on the Olympic team, especially in my first year. I didn’t have a clue what I was getting into. … Now, we respect the game so much. We respect the team basketball that they play internationally so much.” – Dwayne Wade

“Going through that experience [at the 2004 Olympic debacle] really helped me to learn the international game.” – Carmelo Anthony

“We’re a team already. The thing that this program has done is … provide continuity and relationships. … We’ll hit the ground running.” – coach Mike Krzyzewski

Assuming that Team USA can play the team game, here’s how the Continental competition looks on the other side of the Atlantic:

• Germany is Nowitski’s one-man show and German basketball is at an ebb in general. When was the last time a German team placed in the Euroleague Final Four? Or final eight? The 1980s? And how many Germans are playing in the NBA right now?

• Spain lacks stamina. Here’s what the NBA Finals and EuroBasket 2007 taught me: Spanish ballers have a problem with a long grind of games. Check out the Russia-Spain final again. The fresh-looking Team Russia runs rings around haggard and possibly hungover Team Espana while shutting down a much better (and home!) team to eke out the win. This level of slightly less than 100 percent energy doesn’t increase your longevity in the Olympic tournament.

• Russia can’t play Team USA’s game, but Team USA can play Russia’s. In terms of T-E-A-M, Russia has a nice advantage on most teams in the tourney, as many of these guys run with two or three pro teams in the big country; plus, Andrei Kirilenko almost always shows that latent virtuoso ability typically repressed in Salt Lake City on the international stage. But Russia may be the most “American” of all the Euro teams in style, playing a (relative) power game favoring lots of action in post down low. The strongman Russian style has been in effect since the CCCP days, though, and it didn’t work against Team USA back then, either.

• Lithuania … well, they’re a bit of an enigma. But, um, the USA is not afraid.

Tell you what, though, Tobias and I see 100% eye-to-eye on two things:

You might be the best guy in the world, but if somebody wants it more than you do – you will lose…

and

As excited as I am about the start of the Euroleague season, I’m excited about this year’s Olympics…

This American’s pumped as well; can’t wait to see Team USA on the court…

Cheers!

Jun 24, 2008ballineurope
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This post was published on June 24, 2008
US national team announced - are you scared?For Euros, NBA Draft begins in round two
Comments: 5
  1. Kris
    17 years ago

    I am curious to see how well prepared the US Boys will be.Not many tests before the Olympics (Canada might be not the best opponent to test).
    If the chosen ones can leave their arrogance and stardom at home (Which will be pretty difficult) and just focus solely on the game, they may win it all.
    But if Coach K cant get them hungry to suceed in the Olympics, they will fail miserably.Depends on how much money US Basketball is throwing in the pot…

    ReplyCancel
  2. belalik
    17 years ago

    I am honestly far away from being ‘nationalistic’ in any way, and in terms of euro basketball it is true that certainly spain, lithuania (if they have a full roster) and probably russia are better than greece right now.

    However, I ‘m puzzled that the greek national team is not mentioned at all in any analysis about the US team facing international (euro) teams, exactly because it’s only the Greek NT that won the US in 2006.

    I understand that was an exceptional game, in every way, but I remember watching the post-game press conference and US coach could not even name greek players and was talking about ‘number 4 had a great game’ etc.

    In my mind, the only way the US could lost a (crucial) game is if they underestimate their opponent, and if that opponent happens to have a great night. It seems that they won’t do this with Spain or Russia as they already mention and consider these teams carefully – however, they don’t seem to care at all about teams like Greece, or even Slovenia, Serbia etc, teams who could surprise them on a good night..

    We ‘ll see, loking forward to a great olympic tournament with the US probably getting away with gold .. but who knows!

    ReplyCancel
  3. Teo
    17 years ago

    the reason greece isn’t mentioned is because , de facto, they are not qualified for the olympics yet. When and if they qualify, I am sure they will enter the discussion.
    And I wouldn’t even say that greece is weaker right now, they had a lot of…problems last year with the federation and everything which kept them from concentrating on playing. I think the fresh blood and failure of the last Eurobaket might be good for them, because players like these don’t suddenly stop playing good bball.

    And how the americans talk about them is as irrelevant as anything and not even surprising, because they have hurt egos and are only left with their swagger right now and wouldn’t want to talk about non-nba players beating them. I am sure, if (or rather after) they capture gold, they will suddenly start naming everyone and be all nice and respectful because the world is back to where it should be.

    Actually it is funny I was talking to some (agreed: not the brightest) american about the national team the other day and he complained that Nowitzky and Gasol are not on it and that he thinks “they are good ‘nough to play”. I guess the concept of anything non-american in the nba hasn’t really caught on with everyone.

    ReplyCancel
  4. neurosenthal
    17 years ago

    and germany has kaman now to roam the middle. easily the best center on the roster at once. we’ll hopefully make it to the olympics now…

    ReplyCancel
  5. Stephan
    17 years ago

    I probably read the best analysis of why Team USA failed these last times about half a year ago in the USA Today (maybe somebody else read that article as well); to sum it up, it all comes down to defense, the teams succeeding were able to put a defensive stop on their opponents; nobody questions the offensive power especially of the guards (Paul, Wade, Bryant) – although in the favored half-court international game they still have to prove themselves -, but can they defend as a team? I remember Marco Pesic saying once, he never had so many wide open three’s as against Team USA (playing them in Cologne) as they probably were not able to read these offenses.
    If they get this straighten out and have some good scouts for the correct analysis of their opponents’ offenses (and listen to them!!), they will go all the way, otherwise they will probably lose one decisive match again.

    ReplyCancel

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ballineurope
17 years ago 5 Comments FIBA, More, NBA/NCAAAndrei Kirilenko, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Dream Team, Dwayne Wade, Eurobasket 2007, Germany, Lithuania, Mike Krzyzewski, Pau Gasol, Russia, Spain, Tobias, US basketball
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