I'm sitting here watching the men's basketball medal ceremony, and I've got a feeling that it's going to be a while until we see the Americans back on top of the podium. Not because the US is sending lousy players, but because the rest of the world has finally caught up to the level of basketball in the US. The focus is on why the US team is so bad, but people need to give the rest of the world props as well. Once they started sending pros to the Olympics and other countries could compare their programs to the best in America, they had something to shoot for, and it was only a matter of time before the rest of the world could be competetive.
And, in other news, there's another hurricane out there heading for Florida. Oh joy.
Posted by kathryn at Agosto 28, 2004 06:08 PM | TrackBackIt's actually a bit of both.
It is certain that teams from other countries have greatly improved --- otherwise, why would the NBA seek out the best of these international players. But our players, who are used to the American professional style which has become more tilted toward individual "showtime" play, are simply not used to playing a strictly TEAM game. Also, they are not used to the more open international style and rules.
Gotta also look at the coaching.
Posted by: Robert at Agosto 29, 2004 02:25 PMCoaching was fine. The players we sent were not. No Shaq. No Kobe. No Kidd. No Jermaine O'Neal. Neither of the Wallaces. Nothing.
Posted by: B-ball at Septiembre 2, 2004 10:39 AM