Olympic B-ball.

Hey, kids;
The Turzman here, and I want to talk about Olympic Basketball.
Just a few minutes ago, the "Dream Team's" hopes of winning Gold were crushed by a well-coached and disciplined Argentinian team.
The loss wasn't due to a lack of talent, but a lack of role players.
In the international style of play, the games go quicker and the 3 point line is closer, and in that regard, it is not unlike American college-hoops.
The USA did not have a threat from beyond the perimeter, and their deadliest player, Tim Duncan was in foul trouble and constantly double-teamed. The USA could not accomidate for the open 3's because this mish mash of over-priced crybabies came into Olympic play with the mindset that all they would have to do is show up.
Well, with some of the NBA's brightest stars being of foreign birth, and many NBA stars not willing to support their country, the talent pool was dry from the start for the selection comittee.
Between those unwilling to play, those injured, and those ineligible due to foreign birth, this year's American team featured only one of the twelve best players in this year's NBA!!
(Tim Duncan). As opposed to dream teams of the past that featured 9 of the 10 best NBA players of the respective time periods.
Bottom line: Our team could not shoot the 3 or defend against it, which is vital to succeed in the style of international play.
But there is a flip-side to that coin...
if we were to invite the Argentines, the Puerto Ricans, or even mighty Lithuania to compete in the style of NBA play with NBA rules and officials, they would not stand a chance...
Let's make sure I'm crystal-clear on this, kids.
Under NBA rules and styles, Tim Duncan would score 45 points, grab 30 rebounds and would not be in any foul trouble against these teams.
If Argentinia had a player that could match up against Duncan one-on-one in the paint, he'd be earning 14 million bucks a year in the NBA.
So don't blame Larry Brown, who missed the opportunity to become the first person to earn Olympic gold as both a player and a coach;
he did what he could with what he had.
This team had less than 3 weeks to prepare, and were not conditioned for this style of play.

And that's my two-cents.

Any thoughts? e-mail me at mike@turzman.com

Until next time, my friends...
Best regards & don't take any shit from anybody.

m.