When I was younger, this never happened.
We trounced everyone. We invented the game – how could a group of shaggy Eastern Europeans have a chance? How could anyone stand up to the best of the best?
The first opportunity we had to give our best, we gave it. We threw out not just the best in the country, but the best to ever play. We gave three MVPs. We lined up an impossibly awe-striking array of talent.
Now? For three straight tournaments, we’ve been shamed. We’ve lost. We’ve been beaten at our own game. We’ve strode in, heads held high and egos higher and assumed we’d walk away the champion. Of the world. And we haven’t. Instead, we’ve looked one-dimensional.
We invented the game, but everyone else has evolved the game.
In the beginning of organized soccer, England was the king. England invented the rules, the terminology, the game itself. They conquered the world through war and on the pitch. The sun never set on the Empire, and likewise, it never set on a group of subjects kicking the ball around a field.
They dominated every contest. But as time went on, other teams began to become more skilled. England is always in the running, but Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Italy have evolved the game to the point that it’s no longer a given who will win. In fact, the tables have turned: England is always seen as the dark horse, not the front-runner. Brazil and Argentina control “the beautiful game,” not the country that invented it. Not the country that was naturally supposed to defeat all comers.
This is our soccer. When we fronted our amateurs, the United States won Olympic gold. When we finally stumbled, we were allowed to not just present our amateurs, but our professionals. And we trotted out a starting lineup of Hall of Fame talent, with four of the 10 best players of all time – Jordan, Bird, Magic, Barkley.
We killed everyone. The other teams fought for second. The biggest international star was Drazen Petrovic. Or Detlef Schrempf. Arvydas Sabonis.
Now? The international game has grown to be better. The talent is slowly seeping into the NBA. Players are choosing to stay behind and become superstars in Europe. Meanwhile, the powerful teams are evolving to more of an outside game, and teams like the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks are focusing on athletic, fast, intense players.
When we go to an international competition, we bring 12 of the top 100 players in the league. When other teams get ready, they bring 12 of the top 15. If we are to win another tournament, we can’t depend on young players like Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. We need to depend on the real superstars.
The only problem is, how do we do that when all of the NBA’s superstars are from other countries?
You’re Wrong. There’s more quality players from the U.S. than other countries by far-the difference is that other countries have a better TEAM. Their players have played together for years, while the U.S. players only start to play together a few weeks before any type of tournament. Other teams have had a lot of time together to know what their teammates tendencies and strengths are. The other countries will be able to use this against us until we get the U.S. to treat this as something more than a glorified exhibition tournament. At least the plan the U.S. has started- to have players commit for 3 years is a good start. We’ll see next year when the U.S. has to qualify for the Olympics if they have grown together as a team.
Two main reasons imo:
1) No superstars we have today match the original Dream Team’s ability and teamwork.
2) Not enough playing time together as a team. That original Dream Team could draw on immense talent. Not these later iterations. Who out there has Jordan’s drive?
There’s a story about how MJ’s squad was down during a Dream Team scrimmage when Coach K on the other team yelled something along the lines of ‘now we got them.’
MJ reportedly turned and yelled back at him that basically he was incharge and say when it was over, and then went on something like a 12-0 run himself to win after being down.
MJ wouldn’t let future HOF’ers win in practice – no way he loses to the world’s second best.
Who do we have that even comes close to that?
We also need to make athletes realize the honor it is to play for their country. Have the NBA shut down if it has to.
As for the Euro game, they are very solid shooters when compared to a decade or longer ago. The NBA is still too much of a run n’ gun game and the streetball Rucker Park menatility will do more to hurt the US game than any 7′ 10″ Euro player.
“We also need to make athletes realize the honor it is to play for their country. Have the NBA shut down if it has to.”
This is exactly what I was trying to get at. Our best players aren’t playing. There was no Garnett, no Duncan, no Allen, no Kobe. Injuries, a lack of desire, etc. Meanwhile, other teams are putting out an “All-Star Country Team.”
Wait — maybe what I meant to say is that our best players aren’t American citizens. In fact, the top two vote getters for MVP were from Canada and Germany.
Though maybe that argument is moot as well — Spain won the championship handily without the services of their best player, Pau Gasol.
Regardless, two things have happened. The world has caught up to us, and we’ve lost the desire to beat the world.
I hope — I really do — that another two years of practice will cause the U.S. team to gel. I’m certainly no patriot, but I’ve got a lot of pride in the U.S. National Basketball team.