Lets talk about the Dream team....shall we

[nets1]

I watched this game, and today in China the nba stars who played for America truly were a Dream Team! Every aspect of their game was near perfect. First thing that i noticed was the intensity of all the players. This was not just another exhibition game like the all star game, or preseason. No, this was played like game 7 in the finals. Every possession counted, there were very few bad shot selections. The team reminded me of a college team playing as a team. Coach K should be commended for what he has done, especially with nba players who are young millionaires.

On Offense they were led by Jason Kidd who stated in a recent article i read that he wanted everybody there to take it serious, and make sure they made the extra pass. Well it appears the team got the message. I was so impressed with the passing and teamwork of this dream team. Kobe's shot was off at first, but made up with his defense and fast break points. LBJ was also impressive and played within the team system. It didn't appear that there was one superstar on this team cause they all played evenly and correct, yet all played at a superstar level. I really felt sorry for China!, and for any other team in this Olympics for that matter if the dream team continues to play at this team level.

BTW, has anybody seen the stat line for Jason Kidd? Its laughable, but it proves what a leader he is. His team wins by 31 pts, and he didn't even take a single shot. I wonder out loud if he will even take a single shot during the whole Olympics“ Something maybe true point guards around the world should take notice. He is truly a selfless player and a leader.

The Defense was smothering at times, the hands that deflected passes not only on presses, but during the half court sets was with playoff intensity. And, they didn't let up until there was maybe 6 seconds left in the game. What a feat it was to watch to have this many superstars all playing on the same team, with such a purpose or mission, and that was to restore the glory back to American Basketball. And today they took the first step in doing so!

With the exception of maybe Redd, all the players showed extreme team work. I know now why coach K uses Redd to be a zone buster, and for garbage time. I don't think he will ever be a team player, but he does have a purpose on this team.

I also enjoyed the fast break from the dream team and it looks unstoppable.

I am looking forward to watching this years version of the Dream Team storm thur the Olympics and are convinced they will bring home the gold. I also get the impression we haven't seen the best of this team yet. But if defense is to be the rule of this team there is nobody who can stop them. I also think when this is over this team could be rated up there with the best dream teams, time will tell..

Your thoughts............




oh yeah, go nets!!!!

 

[GMJ]

My thoughts? We haven't done anything yet, and we've still got a lot of weakness that can easily be taken advantage of. China kept it close with better shooters and our poor perimeter defense (along with defensive schemes to double Yao). We won't be able to strive through against teams with better depth than the Chinese like we did today.

 

[nets1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Aug 10 2008, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>My thoughts? We haven't done anything yet, and we've still got a lot of weakness that can easily be taken advantage of. China kept it close with better shooters and our poor perimeter defense (along with defensive schemes to double Yao). We won't be able to strive through against teams with better depth than the Chinese like we did today.</div>


it was close at first and i found myself actually routing for the china team cause of Yi. However i must agree with what Doug Collins was saying during the first quarter of the game that China was able to stay in it because of the adrenion charge . Once that wore off the shooting came back down to earth. Also in the second half you could see china continue to settle for outside shots and they were tired. You knew there was no way they could keep it up.

also, i took from the china team settling for outside shots cause the defense was so smothering, they shot whenever they got open. They didn't run set, or even try to get to their big men. Thats a team in panic, and a team thats being intimidated by great defense.

So, i guess i really don't see the negatives here,




oh yeah, go nets!!!!

 

[GMJ]

Our smothering defense was what allowed them to get on fire from 3? C'mon now.

I heard this during the broadcast, not sure who said it, but that the fall off of the Chinese shooters could be better attributed to their lack of depth. The good shooters just got tired, and were replaced with non-shooters.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

This is the Dream Team.

The current USA men's basketball olympic team is NOT the Dream Team.

(and don't call them the Redeem Team either, that's what the Germans would call DAS UBERGEIGH)

 

[MaxaMillion711]

extremely boring. this is the 1st time in my nba life where i dont care about the olympics. also, last year was the 1st year i didnt watch the all star game. something about when all these punks get together...just makes me want to go watch/do other things. i hate melo and his whole attitude and dwight howard took off his hat during the country intros....such disrespect. yeah they will probably win gold but they will be very boring doing it in the process.

 

[farouq710]

i completely disagree, this team looks very vulnerable. the chinese team isn't that great. the only player that played ok was Yao and that was because he was being smothered and Team USA refused to let Yao beat them. Yi and Wang were both very well guarded, everyone else was allowed to shoot. What i saw today was that USA is great in transition and plays great pressure D. But I also saw a team that can't shoot from outside consistently and that includes Mike Redd. When they play against a seasoned team with more talent and more experience in playing against high level competition this team will be challenged. The fact is that Team USA took advantage of the poor ball handling and overall weak talent of the chinese guards. Sun Yue and Liu Wei were the only two guys that could handle the pressure but when those two guys sat the team was in trouble.

Spain has the guard talent, ball handling and discipline to not get flustered by Team USA's defense. Calderon and Navarro are both legitimate nba players. Calderon is a borderline allstar (If we can call RJ an allstar then you can definitely call Calderon an all star). Those two guys with their great handles and shooting can give USA big problems and I totally expect them to. I can see Team USA losing to Spain easily with the size from the Gasol brothers giving our "Power forwards" lebron, melo and Bosh big problems. Rudy Fernandez had a great first game as well and if he plays well against Kobe/Wade then watch out for Spain.

 

[nets1]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (farouq710 @ Aug 10 2008, 11:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i completely disagree, this team looks very vulnerable. the chinese team isn't that great. the only player that played ok was Yao and that was because he was being smothered and Team USA refused to let Yao beat them. Yi and Wang were both very well guarded, everyone else was allowed to shoot. What i saw today was that USA is great in transition and plays great pressure D. But I also saw a team that can't shoot from outside consistently and that includes Mike Redd. When they play against a seasoned team with more talent and more experience in playing against high level competition this team will be challenged. The fact is that Team USA took advantage of the poor ball handling and overall weak talent of the chinese guards. Sun Yue and Liu Wei were the only two guys that could handle the pressure but when those two guys sat the team was in trouble.

Spain has the guard talent, ball handling and discipline to not get flustered by Team USA's defense. Calderon and Navarro are both legitimate nba players. Calderon is a borderline allstar (If we can call RJ an allstar then you can definitely call Calderon an all star). Those two guys with their great handles and shooting can give USA big problems and I totally expect them to. I can see Team USA losing to Spain easily with the size from the Gasol brothers giving our "Power forwards" lebron, melo and Bosh big problems. Rudy Fernandez had a great first game as well and if he plays well against Kobe/Wade then watch out for Spain.</div>


Hummmm, well we shall see, can't wait to watch that game. Now that being said sure it may not be a 30 point blow out, but i believe the Dream team will win by 20 plus. Pure speculation on both of our parts, but this is why they play the games...



oh yeah, go nets!!!!

 

[farouq710]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nets1 @ Aug 11 2008, 12:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (farouq710 @ Aug 10 2008, 11:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>i completely disagree, this team looks very vulnerable. the chinese team isn't that great. the only player that played ok was Yao and that was because he was being smothered and Team USA refused to let Yao beat them. Yi and Wang were both very well guarded, everyone else was allowed to shoot. What i saw today was that USA is great in transition and plays great pressure D. But I also saw a team that can't shoot from outside consistently and that includes Mike Redd. When they play against a seasoned team with more talent and more experience in playing against high level competition this team will be challenged. The fact is that Team USA took advantage of the poor ball handling and overall weak talent of the chinese guards. Sun Yue and Liu Wei were the only two guys that could handle the pressure but when those two guys sat the team was in trouble.

Spain has the guard talent, ball handling and discipline to not get flustered by Team USA's defense. Calderon and Navarro are both legitimate nba players. Calderon is a borderline allstar (If we can call RJ an allstar then you can definitely call Calderon an all star). Those two guys with their great handles and shooting can give USA big problems and I totally expect them to. I can see Team USA losing to Spain easily with the size from the Gasol brothers giving our "Power forwards" lebron, melo and Bosh big problems. Rudy Fernandez had a great first game as well and if he plays well against Kobe/Wade then watch out for Spain.</div>


Hummmm, well we shall see, can't wait to watch that game. Now that being said sure it may not be a 30 point blow out, but i believe the Dream team will win by 20 plus. Pure speculation on both of our parts, but this is why they play the games...



oh yeah, go nets!!!!
</div>

i expect the US to win but it won't be easy, I see a close game til the end. Team USA hasn''t looked good in the half court. I dunno I think Mike D'Antonio has had too much influence on this team, they need to learn how to play with the trapezoid lane and they've avoided it by just running and fast breaking.

 

[nets1]

Well when you mention the head to head match ups against spain, to me what i thinking is a team with a few good nba players, and a slew of international players to make up the squad. This dream team is different cause they've been together for 3 years, and have 12 great nba players. Today they played a china team that has a good nba center, not the best but top 3 to 5 center, with a rookie nba player, and sun will probably be a nba player, with a slew of international caliber type players. It was no contest. So maybe thats why i'm not concerned.

Now normally in the past like 2004 the american team had 12 good nba players but not the desire this team has. The last american team played like it was an exhibition series. This years team is playing with a purpose. I really can't see any team with only a few nba players beating this 12 man team playing at the level i saw today. Plus this team is led by Jason Kidd and that to me speaks volumes.


oh yeah, go nets!!!!

 

[NJNetz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 11 2008, 12:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is the Dream Team.

The current USA men's basketball olympic team is NOT the Dream Team.

(and don't call them the Redeem Team either, that's what the Germans would call DAS UBERGEIGH)</div>


I was just watching a short version of the USA vs Angola game. Completely destroyed that team. 116-48. It was just child's play.

 

[ghoti]

I don't believe in Coach K or the way this team was built or run, and what I've seen so far hasn't changed my mind about that.

I'm rooting for them, but I'd rather watch the Nets win a first round playoff game than watch the USA win gold.

 

[lukewarmplay]

I'm so disappointed in the Olympic Committee's decision to censor it's athletes from speaking out on Darfur, it's sullied this Olympics and probably all future ones.

 

[tim]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 10 2008, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is the Dream Team.

</div>

Fixed

 

[farouq710]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nets1 @ Aug 11 2008, 12:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well when you mention the head to head match ups against spain, to me what i thinking is a team with a few good nba players, and a slew of international players to make up the squad. This dream team is different cause they've been together for 3 years, and have 12 great nba players. Today they played a china team that has a good nba center, not the best but top 3 to 5 center, with a rookie nba player, and sun will probably be a nba player, with a slew of international caliber type players. It was no contest. So maybe thats why i'm not concerned.

Now normally in the past like 2004 the american team had 12 good nba players but not the desire this team has. The last american team played like it was an exhibition series. This years team is playing with a purpose. I really can't see any team with only a few nba players beating this 12 man team playing at the level i saw today. Plus this team is led by Jason Kidd and that to me speaks volumes.


oh yeah, go nets!!!!</div>

spain has
juan carlos navarro (former grizzly, left the nba because he didn't like it, not cuz he can't play),

Jose calderon (starting PG for Toronto)

Pau Gasol (Starting PF for laker, All Star caliber)

Marc Gasol (former MVP of Spanish ACB league, Rookie for Grizzlies this year

Rudy Fernandez (Trailblazers rookie, 1st round pick, Is a star in the same league as Marc Gasol)

Ricky Rubio (A lottery pick/potential number 1 pick in next years NBA draft, Is the teammate of fernandez)

Raul Lopez (has played for the Jazz and was 1st round pick in 01 NBA draft

Jorge Garbajosa (former Toronto Raptor, left because team didn't want him to play for Spain)

The rest of the team consists of high level players that play in the Euroleague aka the 2nd best league in the world which is above the NCAA. Spain has a lot of talent and they aren't simply a few nba players, they're top 7 are all nba level talent. Basically this team and all the talent is the equal of a devcent NBA team. Combine the FIBA rules with their talent and the Americans inconsistency with their shots in FIBA play and you can see that it;s not a stretch to see this team beating Team USA. Yeah I know they've been together for 3 years but they still lost during the world championships.

 

[nets1]

ok, seven players either in the nba or about to be, but still against 12 of the best nba players playing like a team will still be tough. Possible, but very tough to beat.

 

[cpawfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 11 2008, 12:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is the Dream Team.

The current USA men's basketball olympic team is NOT the Dream Team.

(and don't call them the Redeem Team either, that's what the Germans would call DAS UBERGEIGH)</div>

My favorite thing about that team - No Zeke

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tim @ Aug 10 2008, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 10 2008, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This is the Dream Team.

</div>

Fixed
</div>

I was thinking the exact same thing lol

 

[Astral]

USA looked horrible. They're still apathetic on defense and give up a ton of open looks. Against a sweet shooting european club this was a 10 point game at the very best.

Maybe by 2012 Olympics they'll finally learn that basing their whole game plan on "forcing turnovers by those silly foreigners" isn't going to cut it anymore.

 

[farouq710]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nets1 @ Aug 11 2008, 02:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>ok, seven players either in the nba or about to be, but still against 12 of the best nba players playing like a team will still be tough. Possible, but very tough to beat.</div>


Again, I didn't see great teamwork in today's game. They played great pressure defense. the guards manhandled the chinese guards but the team as a whole was sloppy in defending in the half court. the chinese had a lot of open looks from three and they weren't even moving the ball around that well. My point is that all this praise for team USA is premature. the chinese team also had no depth and eventually couldn't keep up the intensity, Yao was also playing when he wasn't in game shape.

 

[soul driver]

I saw this post on talkhoops myspace bulletin, and I agree:
The 101-70 victory over team China was great on the surface but China showed the initial concerns for Team USA.

1.) We don't rebound well and don't keep teams off of the offensive boards. That's going to be a HUGE problem against teams like Argentina, Australia, Greece, Spain, and Germany.

2.) We guard the 3 pathetically. China got a lot of wide open threes and hit 10 of 27 overall in the game. We simply don't play that smart in zone defenses. Dwyane Wade in particular (who had a fantastic offensive game and looks to be back) was awful in his decision to double-team players and leave open three-point shooters. This will be a huge problem against Greece, Spain, and Lithuania.

3.) Not smart in pressuring the ball in the half court. When we pressured the Chinese guards in a full court press and full court trap, we dominated their guards. But when we let them get into their sets in the half court and tried to play that over-extending pressure defense on the ball, our players often got blown by. China was phenomenal for most of the game in protecting the ball. That will be a big problem against Greece, Russia, Spain, and Lithuania.

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lukewarmplay @ Aug 11 2008, 02:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm so disappointed in the Olympic Committee's decision to censor it's athletes from speaking out on Darfur, it's sullied this Olympics and probably all future ones.</div>

Oh no, but what China is doing with Darfur is okay, because the US steals oil.

 

[Black Republican]

What was the starting line-up? I didnt watch the game

 

[Chutney]

If any team gives the US that many unforced turnovers and long rebounds, they'll run away with it. It was a win, but not an overly impressive win. And certainly not good enough to deserve a mini-feature voiced by Chris Collinsworth.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Republican @ Aug 11 2008, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What was the starting line-up? I didnt watch the game</div>


Kidd/Kobe/Bron/Melo/Dwight

 

[Netted]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (farouq710 @ Aug 11 2008, 03:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>spain has
juan carlos navarro (former grizzly, left the nba because he didn't like it, not cuz he can't play),

Jose calderon (starting PG for Toronto)

Pau Gasol (Starting PF for laker, All Star caliber)

Marc Gasol (former MVP of Spanish ACB league, Rookie for Grizzlies this year

Rudy Fernandez (Trailblazers rookie, 1st round pick, Is a star in the same league as Marc Gasol)

Ricky Rubio (A lottery pick/potential number 1 pick in next years NBA draft, Is the teammate of fernandez)

Raul Lopez (has played for the Jazz and was 1st round pick in 01 NBA draft

Jorge Garbajosa (former Toronto Raptor, left because team didn't want him to play for Spain)

The rest of the team consists of high level players that play in the Euroleague aka the 2nd best league in the world which is above the NCAA. Spain has a lot of talent and they aren't simply a few nba players, they're top 7 are all nba level talent. Basically this team and all the talent is the equal of a devcent NBA team. Combine the FIBA rules with their talent and the Americans inconsistency with their shots in FIBA play and you can see that it;s not a stretch to see this team beating Team USA. Yeah I know they've been together for 3 years but they still lost during the world championships.</div>
Why no Sergio Rodriguez?

 

[farouq710]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netted @ Aug 11 2008, 02:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (farouq710 @ Aug 11 2008, 03:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>spain has
juan carlos navarro (former grizzly, left the nba because he didn't like it, not cuz he can't play),

Jose calderon (starting PG for Toronto)

Pau Gasol (Starting PF for laker, All Star caliber)

Marc Gasol (former MVP of Spanish ACB league, Rookie for Grizzlies this year

Rudy Fernandez (Trailblazers rookie, 1st round pick, Is a star in the same league as Marc Gasol)

Ricky Rubio (A lottery pick/potential number 1 pick in next years NBA draft, Is the teammate of fernandez)

Raul Lopez (has played for the Jazz and was 1st round pick in 01 NBA draft

Jorge Garbajosa (former Toronto Raptor, left because team didn't want him to play for Spain)

The rest of the team consists of high level players that play in the Euroleague aka the 2nd best league in the world which is above the NCAA. Spain has a lot of talent and they aren't simply a few nba players, they're top 7 are all nba level talent. Basically this team and all the talent is the equal of a devcent NBA team. Combine the FIBA rules with their talent and the Americans inconsistency with their shots in FIBA play and you can see that it;s not a stretch to see this team beating Team USA. Yeah I know they've been together for 3 years but they still lost during the world championships.</div>
Why no Sergio Rodriguez?
</div>

Ah I knew I forgot someone. thanks netted. So that's 8 Nba caliber players with a few being exceptional. Like I said before Spain is basically an above average NBA team. The international rules play in their favor however, China put up a hell of a fight and nearly beat them today. I love FIBA ball absolutely anything can happen, China gets drilled by the US but almost beats the number 3 ranked team.

 

[farouq710]

Scratch that, it looks like Sergio isn't on the Spain team. Odd but I guess they felt they had more than enough PGs with Calderon, Navarro, Lopez and Rubio.

 

[gobillsdeep]

I'm rooting for them, but I'd rather watch the Nets win a first round playoff game than watch the USA win gold.
[/quote]

Well put. I completely agree.

 

[kobe23]

As much as i like Team USA and coach K... they havent really proven anything with the 2 blowout wins they had against China.

If they dont win the Gold then it will all be for nothing.

Gold = Redemption

Anything else = Failure