Great article, Jim. I agree with all of your points. Additionally, I have a question about
Team USA’s poise under the pressure of physical international play. In the last two exhibition games, LeBron James has gotten a bit testy when players from the opposing team have played him very physically. The game will get even more physical when each game counts. We need to take the hits and keep playing. At least Team USA is not a team that has been whining for calls, but they can’t let the international players sucker them into technical/unsportsmanlike fouls.

I also wonder how much the officiating will change in the Olympic games. From all the games I watched, there were times when I thought an international ref would have called a traveling violation or a foul that wasn’t called during the exhibition. Also, in international rules, all timing violations (8 seconds across court, 24 second shot clock, any issue of time) is ultimately decided by the count of the officials. Regardless of what the shot clock, game clock, or scorers’ table stat keepers say, the official has final say over all time issues (it’s in the 2004 and 2006 FIBA Official Rules book, and that’s how we lost to Russia years ago when 3 seconds were put back on the clock—official’s word is the final say regardless of anything else). We can’t let the officials’ calls disrupt our concentration. We have enough trouble in the half court set without getting flustered.

I think that even after the 3-year commitment, the make up of each summer’s team has changed, and we still play too much one-on-one. I’m hoping we have set plays that Coach K was smart enough to hold back during the exhibitions; that’s what the other teams do!

I think we have the talent and the skills necessary; I just don’t think Team USA will blow away the field in the Olympics like they did during the “friendlies.” How much will the additional work needed for victories that count take out of our players? Since they pulled it together last summer in the FIBA Americas to qualify for the Olympics, I am hoping they have that same extra level of play to go to against the better teams.

I am a Tyson Chandler supporter from his performance last summer; I think not having him on Team USA is a mistake. Perhaps Jason Kidd might be a better motivator from the bench than he would be by taking up a roster spot?

USA, Greece, Spain, Argentina-that’s one team too many for three medals. I expect to see USA, Spain, Greece-but how likely are all three medals to come out of the same group (Group B).

Stay healthy, stay strong Team USA, and get that gold!

1. I do worry about the USA guys keeping their cool, particularly Wade and James for some reason. And I buy the argument that they get star treatment in the NBA and don’t like not getting it abroad.

2. I like Tyson Chandler. He rebounds, dunks anything Chris Paul throws his way and will block some shots. But I think big men who will play physical, knock down a jump shot, and pass well are ideal. I guess there are not a lot of them. The NBA game, minus the Suns of the past couple seasons, is simply not a free flowing game. And even Phoenix ran the pick and roll to death. I think that puts Americans in general, and their bigs in particular at a disadvantage.

3. I agree that there is way too much one-on-one. And when Team USA does move the ball it often falls into a Globetrotters, style over substance trap. That works against significantly inferior talent. Not against strong teams.

4. I do wonder if at some point we’ll come to the collective realization that carrying 3 point guards was a bad idea. I’m not a big Jason Kidd guy and don’t buy the “he’ll lead the team to gold story line” but I could be convinced that he was saving himself for Beijing. Perhaps more troubling is the fact that Chris Paul has looked average for 2 straight games.

5. Overall if the Americans win it all they will have to work for it, which would be exciting. I’d love a Spain/USA final.

- Good stuff guys. Thanks for stopping by.

The “glory days are gone” is an intriguing point. I’ve thought of it as it’s only a matter of coaching and effort before we return to dominance. But you’re dead on, the time is probably up where we can dominate even with excellent coaching and hustle.

And your last point reminds me of something I wonder each time the Olympics roll by. How would defending NBA champions fare against the world? Let’s be crazy and imagine that the Celtics roster stayed together after this year’s Finals instead of taking the offseason off and trained for the Olympics. How would they do? How would Detroit have done in 2004? L.A. in 2000? Jordan’s Bulls in ‘96?

BrewHoop asked a similar question in its Team USA versus the Celtics post. The NBA squad would definitely have defined roles and most likely good chemistry. At the same time the champs would be just as tempted by the shorter 3-point shot and would probably rely more heavily on isolation than ball movement and a free flowing offense. The international teams seem to have the chemistry and clearly defined roles that a NBA champ has as well as some great talent.