So who was cheering for the Men's b-ball team...

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I think this is a legit enough topic to warrant its own discussion outside of the OAO/Chatter/whatever-it's-being-called Olympic threads...

 

So I was flipping between the Iraq/Costa Rica Soccer game and the PGA Championship when I noticed that the U.S. Men's team was playing P. Rico -- and getting their buns kicked.

 

And I couldn't have been any more giddier.

 

Was I the only one?...

[razazteca 0]

You know what! I am tired of hearing the phrase "humble experience" as the excuse for losing.

[alfdogg 0]

Trade Tinsley for Arroyo. NOW.

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

And I couldn't have been any more giddier.

 

Was I the only one?...

I wouldn't say I'm cheering them to lose, however the only player I like is Duncan so I'm not actually cheering them to win either. This team just brings nothing to the table. If they don't win many are going to blame the guys that didn't go, I'm not since it's their choice if they want to go or not. However USA Basketball must realize that if the big guns don't go, then you better assemble a REAL TEAM (with a couple of stars and role players) and not send the B-list All Stars next time.

 

Before the games started I decide was going to root for Argentina and my man Manu GINOBILI!!!! and he didn't let me down yesterday.

[Slayer 0]

I was, sadly enough

 

I'm hoping that this disaster will make the Olympic selection committee rethink their selection process for the team.

[1234-5678 0]

They can soak up all the tears of defeat with their millions of dollars, or perhaps with a hot stripper's g string.

[bob_barron 0]

I was going crazy for the Puerto Ricans the whole game. When that guy hit the 3 with 30 seconds left- I just lost it.

[Vanhalen 0]

That was fucking hilarious, I saw the whole game, and words cannot do it justice, the Americans were just so cocky on that court and the Puerto Ricans fucking OWNED them, and America didnt know how to deal with it, all they could do was whine at the ref, I think you should rename them to the Nightmare team, cos there wasnt much fucking dreaming going on in that match

[Der Kommissar 0]

I am also cheering against them. The US winning the gold is terribly predictable and quite boring. It was quite entertaining back in 2002 during the World Championships when the US ended up finishing 6th. At the very least there, they lost close games, and had a few understandable excuses(weren't sending their best talent, grown complacant, international competition has improved, etc.) I believe, afterwards, the US was beating their collective chest screaming "Just wait to the Olympics! We'll send a REAL team in there then!"

 

I am still waiting for this real team. I am sorry, but the best players in the world should not been getting beat up by weaklings like Puerto Rico and Italy. I thought this team was supposed to be better than the team that lost to the eventual tournament winners by 3 whole points.

 

I just hope by some miracle that they get bounced in the qualifying round, but I can't exactly see them not getting past "power houses" like Angola and Austria, but stanger things have happened.

[Steviekick 0]

Trade Tinsley for Arroyo. NOW.

Why would the Jazz want a third rate point guard?

[JangoFett4Hire 0]

Unpatriotic heathens.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I bet being on the "giving" side of one person calling the other a Commie must be a new experience for you, huh Jango?...

[Hogan Made Wrestling 0]

Unpatriotic heathens.

Given that this is Team NBA and not Team USA I don't see what the problem is.

[Guest El Satanico]

I was actually cheering for them to win.

 

A team full of mega stars like the original dream team is fucking boring. I liked that this team was full of young guys who are stars, but aren't yet mega big name stars.

[Bored 0]

I was, sadly enough

 

I'm hoping that this disaster will make the Olympic selection committee rethink their selection process for the team.

Better yet a complete overhaul of the entire American basketball system. While it's true the rest of world is getting better, basketball in this country has taken a giant step backwards in the last ten years.

[Spicy McHaggis 0]

A few observations:

 

1. Dwyane Wade is NOT Kobe Bryant. Have fun Diesel!

 

2. My opinion of Richard Jefferson is in the toilet.

 

3. We can't shoot.

 

4. LeBron and Melo have a long way to go.

 

5. A complete collapse here may be the catalyst to finally improving the NBA. Shooting, not simply scoring, seriously needs to be re-emphasized.

[OldSchoolWrestling 0]

I was at the A's game. They did this pole, where the fans had to cheer to decide which highlight would be shown. The options were:

 

US/Puerto Rico Basketball

Men's Swimming

Women's Weightlifting

Devil Rays/Rangers

 

Of course Women's Weightlifting won.

So a few innings later they finally showed the men's basketball highlights. And the crowd cheered when it showed that the US got spanked.

[Guest Rrrsh]

I am defiantly cheering for the U.S. to lose

 

 

But I am Canadian so...

[MrRant 0]

[Slayer 0]

I was, sadly enough

 

I'm hoping that this disaster will make the Olympic selection committee rethink their selection process for the team.

Better yet a complete overhaul of the entire American basketball system. While it's true the rest of world is getting better, basketball in this country has taken a giant step backwards in the last ten years.

That's a given at this point in time

 

"You're paying us HOW much for this game?"

[Guest Vitamin X]

Way to represent your country, guys

 

This was definitely not America's best as has been continuously stated, and I think I read a column that went off on the NBA players that declined, saying how we've got absolutely no pride left if we're not even wanting to go represent our country in the event every 4 years which defines which country has the best athletes.

 

Meaning the guys that went at least realize what's at stake, especially the guys that are spent from playing in the NBA postseason (look at Manu for Argentina, or Duncan on our NBA squad for example).

 

But we're missing a LOT of our best players. The question is, who could we have brought in to make this team good enough to compete?

[nogoodnick 0]

I dont know why everyone is knocking the players so much. Its not their fault none of them can shoot and theyve only practiced for 3 weeks. I myself was cheering for the US team the whole way. Who are you cheering for if not the US?

[2GOLD 0]

These are the guys who WANTED to go, I'm not booing them.

[Guest Nanks]

So having finally watched some of this game, it seems to be that these guys can't shoot, from inside or outside, and they can't play D. So what exactly is it that they can do on a basketball court??

 

Mind you, I am giving serious thought to tracking down a jersey from that Boozer guy, that's an excellent name.

[KingPK 0]

I think most of this "anti-Team USA" sentiment is because a lot of people just don't like the style of play and attitude in the NBA right now, and if an Olympic embarassment leads to changes, well, so be it.

 

I think it also stems from the fact that they selected the biggest names to go, instead of the best group of players. The NBA is looking at this as a marketing ploy, no more, no less.

 

And the fact that they are staying on a luxury ocean liner (paid for by the NBA, probably) instead of the Olympic Village like everyone else for "safety reasons" probably irks people too.

[LooseCannon25 0]

I dont know why everyone is knocking the players so much. Its not their fault none of them can shoot and theyve only practiced for 3 weeks. I myself was cheering for the US team the whole way. Who are you cheering for if not the US?

I dont know if I actually read this correctly?

 

Did you just type that it's not the players faults that they can't shoot? Are you serious? Think about what you just said, that was stupid as hell. I'm sorry

 

I'm Puerto Rican so I was happy to see PR beat them. I don't think professionla athletes belong in the olympics anyway. Maybe it's'll make some people realize that this is a TEAM sport. It can't always be 1-on-1 with dunking all the time.

[nogoodnick 0]

What I meant was its not their fault if they arent the BEST shooters. They are still pretty good shooters but not nearly as good as some of their international counterparts. And its not like they dont practice their shooting.

 

And that Puerto Rican guy with the slicked back hair, THAT was stupid as hell.

[A Happy Medium 0]

Why, oh why did Arroyo do so great during the game?

 

Maybe because he learned his position under John Stockton...a guy who knows just what the hell is going on.

 

The Sports Guy wrote on why this team is not going to win in Athens this year. So check it out on page 2 of espn.com or whatever.

 

This all boils down to the fact that they are not a real team...and they don't have a true point. You need this in international play. I know Jason Kidd wasn't available, so why not grab a young guy like Kirk Hinrich, Marquis Daniels (iffy), or maybe...uhm, anyone else know if any good point guards in the NBA that would actually go.

 

Jefferson blows...not enough Wade and Lebron...I honestly see them playing well together.

 

Anyone else think that Michael Redd or maybe Michael Finley would play very well here? Or hell, dig up Reggie Miller and rain down threes with furious anger.

 

They need shooting, defense, and a point guard who gets his teammates involved.

 

Also...part me wishes they would've gotten Steve Kerr on this team...brilliant shooter, who's big in the clutch and gives it one hundred percent everytime. Too bad he'd would've been out of shape...since he did retire after winning hour titles.

[alfdogg 0]

Trade Tinsley for Arroyo.  NOW.

Why would the Jazz want a third rate point guard?

Good point. You can have Scot Pollard too.

[Guest Mindless_Aggression]

I tend to agree that 3 to 6 of these "stars" needed to be replaced by guys who can shoot the damn ball and run the point. Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, Jaric with the Clippers, Andre Miller, SOMEONE who can contemplate running the point and not hoisting up 10 3 pointers. Let's say you remove Wade and Amare Stoudemire for 2 of those guys.

 

Now for shooting. Brent Barry, Jon Barry, Wesley Person, Michael Redd Fred Hoiberg, fuck, Brad Miller's big goofy ass can knock down that 3 point shot all day. Remove Boozer and Okafor. We get it, they're tall and can dunk now please, remove them this instant.

 

The team is just so badly put together. I did feel bad for Tim Duncan however. He's the only one who's playing the game properly and he woulda had 12 assists if Richard fuckin Jefferson could make a jump shot. Replace JEfferson with Kerry Kittles. Just get SOMEONE with a shot in there.