FIBA AMERICAS

[Namnori]

To choose Team USA over any other AMERICAS team is the most lucrative picking, if not the safest. It was just like preferring Nike over Kaypee, Cadbury over Cloud 9, Pork over fried egg, Coke over Pop cola, or even Black label over Tanduay 5 years that would definitely guarantee delight. A sure shot. Plus of course, a sound choice. Why?

Here..
1. Only few people plays basketball in Argentina, that's why 2004 gold medal seems to be a dream for them today.
2. Basketball in U.S.A. is like soccer in Brazil, U.S.A.'s basketball is like ice Hockey in Canada. And maybe basketball in U.S.A. is like Miss Universe pageant in Venezuela. hehe I'm out of topic.
3. The genes. Don't forget that.. they're like horses when they play. And they'll kick everybody's asses too.
Look at the capital letters. UnStoppAble. I guess that would spell our day.

Hmm, I like fried egg over pork...heheh.

Basketball is NOT like soccer in Brazil, nor ice hockey in Canada. The other major sports have just as big a following. Baseball is America's pasttime and NFL football is America's passion. Basketbal is just one of the big four: MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, even NASCAR has grown big time in popularity.

You're lucky you are not a sports analyst in the U.S., you would be fired for the comment about their genes and that they are like horses when they play. It's happened before, research the name "Jimmy the Greek" and see what happened to him.

I think the USA really wants to get back the Gold Medal and they finally realize they have to plan and work alot harder in the years before the Olympics in order to get back on top. I'm not really talking about the players, it's the U.S.A. basketball organization and the coaches. It's not like the old days where they can just show up and win.

ThanX

[yokam]

I do hope either Duncan or Garnett, would still consider playing for them in the Olympics since they can improve their inside presene offensively/defensively, no disrespect to Chandler,Howard & Stoudemire...

USA is trying to invest in the future that's why younger players like Stoudemire, Howard and Chandler were taken and given more priority than Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. They're building a team that could go for years after all they've learned their lesson during the 2004 Olympics wherein they have underestimated other teams and have given much little preparation time.

I still don't think any other team can beat them the way they're playing especially if they will improve from what they have shown in FIBA Americas...How much more if they have a reliable inside threat like Duncan/Garnett..who can hit outside shots, who doesn't depend from receiving passes from their guards....I still think in any international competition or any FIBA sanctioned basketball tournament, it's still the GUARD'S play who will dictate the performance of the team...

Both KG and Duncan could either make or break the current USA Team. Both players are not as flashy as the younger players suiting up for the current USA Team, even compared to Amare and Dwight Howard. Both KG and Duncan are more of an established big men and they make their living inside, which makes them predictable. USA is now a running and moving team, KG and Duncan are both an established player who would prefer to post up rather than move around without the ball and find open looks. With the emergence of other teams, especially Argentina and a number of European teams, both KG and Duncan is not a good fit in FIBA especially against teams who plays the zone very well.

[borgy1981]

USA is trying to invest in the future that's why younger players like Stoudemire, Howard and Chandler were taken and given more priority than Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. They're building a team that could go for years after all they've learned their lesson during the 2004 Olympics wherein they have underestimated other teams and have given much little preparation time.
Both KG and Duncan could either make or break the current USA Team. Both players are not as flashy as the younger players suiting up for the current USA Team, even compared to Amare and Dwight Howard. Both KG and Duncan are more of an established big men and they make their living inside, which makes them predictable. USA is now a running and moving team, KG and Duncan are both an established player who would prefer to post up rather than move around without the ball and find open looks. With the emergence of other teams, especially Argentina and a number of European teams, both KG and Duncan is not a good fit in FIBA especially against teams who plays the zone very well.

bro i disagree w/ ur second point...have u seen the last NBA Finals? have u seen how many times Tim Duncan would go outside to give Tony Parker screen then would re-attempt if the man guarding TP is able to switch over the screen?! My main point here is that's the most of the open "gaps/holes" that I have observed that's been given to them is the midrange or within 15ft range wherein both players can consistently hit an outside shot...I do understand the importance of building a foundation to ur youth, however, I still don't think they can match what TD & KG can offer to them on the table.. I'm still clinging on the idea of either one or both of them will play in the Olympics...

"With the emergence of other teams, especially Argentina and a number of European teams, both KG and Duncan is not a good fit in FIBA especially against teams who plays the zone very well." <--- what's ur main reason y they don't fit well against those teams? I'm wondering why!?

[thadzonline]

I still don't think bro...Duncan & Garnett can hit perimeter shots within the 15ft radius, kanang for big man nga outside shots bah...I have never seen them take outside shots except for amare stoudemire 3pt shot. which is not part of their offensive scheme...there's a big difference if they can hit outside shots within an offensive scheme since it will open the game for their guards which are far superior to any other team..

Perimeter-shooting big men is the one thing the USA doesn't have, however with the way they are playing as of late, they have compensated for that with quick ball movement and excellent teamwork but still it would be a bonus if they had such big men who can shoot threes

[thadzonline]

bro i disagree w/ ur second point...have u seen the last NBA Finals? have u seen how many times Tim Duncan would go outside to give Tony Parker screen then would re-attempt if the man guarding TP is able to switch over the screen?! My main point here is that's the most of the open "gaps/holes" that I have observed that's been given to them is the midrange or within 15ft range wherein both players can consistently hit an outside shot...I do understand the importance of building a foundation to ur youth, however, I still don't think they can match what TD & KG can offer to them on the table.. I'm still clinging on the idea of either one or both of them will play in the Olympics...

"With the emergence of other teams, especially Argentina and a number of European teams, both KG and Duncan is not a good fit in FIBA especially against teams who plays the zone very well." <--- what's ur main reason y they don't fit well against those teams? I'm wondering why!?

Both Duncan and KG own decent perimeter touch and I have seen KG shoot threes as well, not bad percentage for a 6-11 guy

[borgy1981]

Both Duncan and KG own decent perimeter touch and I have seen KG shoot threes as well, not bad percentage for a 6-11 guy

Yup...and that's why I still think they are better options or let's just say, replace Amare & Tyson, leave Dwight....since he's a beast inside...heheheehe..mao man gud ang kulang sa ilang game mga bro...naay gap gihatag sa mga teams kanang 15ft radius which normally area na sa big man, he can shoot as long as it has a good percentage of going in, dli lang pinugos for the sake bah...if dli magigo ang ilang guards kontra sa Argentina or kato sa Mexico, patay yabo jud sila....

[yokam]

bro i disagree w/ ur second point...have u seen the last NBA Finals? have u seen how many times Tim Duncan would go outside to give Tony Parker screen then would re-attempt if the man guarding TP is able to switch over the screen?! My main point here is that's the most of the open "gaps/holes" that I have observed that's been given to them is the midrange or within 15ft range wherein both players can consistently hit an outside shot...I do understand the importance of building a foundation to ur youth, however, I still don't think they can match what TD & KG can offer to them on the table.. I'm still clinging on the idea of either one or both of them will play in the Olympics...

"With the emergence of other teams, especially Argentina and a number of European teams, both KG and Duncan is not a good fit in FIBA especially against teams who plays the zone very well." <--- what's ur main reason y they don't fit well against those teams? I'm wondering why!?

It's the NBA Finals and not the FIBA. First and foremost, those plays were designed against Cleveland, FIBA basketball is different. USA don't necessarily need some big men who can shoot because they've got almost half of their line-up who can shoot. What USA is looking for is a balanced and more versatile team who can play basketball at any pace and any style.

"With the emergence of other teams, especially Argentina and a number of European teams, both KG and Duncan is not a good fit in FIBA especially against teams who plays the zone very well." <--- what's ur main reason y they don't fit well against those teams? I'm wondering why!?

Do some back reading. I'm pinpointing to Duncan and KG's game style wherein they prefer to post up and bang bodies inside rather move and find some open spots. Other teams are well built on fundamentals and for sure they know how to handle such styles pretty well, KG and Duncan can't dominate FIBA just as how they dominate the NBA. Just take note Tim Duncan was a part of the 2004 disappointing USA Team whom wasn't able to live up with everybody's expectations, and worse, he wasn't able to bring his A-game.

[thadzonline]

Do some back reading. I'm pinpointing to Duncan and KG's game style wherein they prefer to post up and bang bodies inside rather move and find some open spots. Other teams are well built on fundamentals and for sure they know how to handle such styles pretty well, KG and Duncan can't dominate FIBA just as how they dominate the NBA. Just take note Tim Duncan was a part of the 2004 disappointing USA Team whom wasn't able to live up with everybody's expectations, and worse, he wasn't able to bring his A-game.

Duncan was 2004 Team USA's most reliable big man, looking back at that AThens debacle, it seemed like it was the guards who couldn't find their mark(except maybe Richard Jefferson in that shootout with Lithuanian guard Sarunas Jasekevicius), and on hindsight they should have picked Michael Redd in lieu of Emeka Okafor to give them better firepower. Okafor was a disappointment then and Michael Redd was the last cut for that team..

Duncan got fouled a lot then but couldn't hit his sshots from the line and that hurt them. However, I think there is also a reason why USA is going to their young stars who are quicker and more versatile since it will give them flexibility in their offensive sets, maybe soon they can develop big men in the mold of a Yao Ming, Andrew Bogut and Eurelius Zukauskas

[borgy1981]

^^ even though it's not the NBA Finals, it still basketball bro...big men should set screens, they are also an important part in achieving the pick & roll play...look at how other teams play, like mexico, puerto rico, brazil, argentina - their big men or even their guards would set a pick to make their teammates get past their defender... I'm not expecting them to dominate since they dont' have to.. take a look at how their big men (howard, stoudemire, chandler) are scoring - most on dunks (which is good kay high % man) but what if dli magigo ang ilang guards? d nalang sila kutob? have u seen some of the lapses of their big men? butter fingers kaau kay d ka timing sa pagcatch sa pasa coming from the outside...

FYI.. Tim Duncan was nursing a foot injury during the 2004 Olympics...

[borgy1981]

Duncan was 2004 Team USA's most reliable big man, looking back at that AThens debacle, it seemed like it was the guards who couldn't find their mark(except maybe Richard Jefferson in that shootout with Lithuanian guard Sarunas Jasekevicius), and on hindsight they should have picked Michael Redd in lieu of Emeka Okafor to give them better firepower. Okafor was a disappointment then and Michael Redd was the last cut for that team..

Duncan got fouled a lot then but couldn't hit his sshots from the line and that hurt them. However, I think there is also a reason why USA is going to their young stars who are quicker and more versatile since it will give them flexibility in their offensive sets, maybe soon they can develop big men in the mold of a Yao Ming, Andrew Bogut and Eurelius Zukauskas

sakto jud ka ani bro...what I'm thinking is a TD, KG & Dwight Howard combo..what u say?