Predictable.
This bunch stinks. We'd be better served with a talented group of amateurs who learned to play as a team. (Of course that's almost unheard of in the U.S. any longer.)
China throws a hissy fit and won't allow Taiwan, for which it offers nothing but hostility, to do any of these things.
If Puerto Rico goes on to win this basketball game and enough more games for a medal, it will be almost the same as a victory for the United States.
This is what you get when a governing body picks players, no coach input and you think you can just field a team of the guys selling the most in jersey sales and go over and beat the world.
Welcome to reality USA Basketball.
This is the game we USED to play here. Pick and Rolls are now defined in Europe.
This is embarassing for a game that we have absolutely owned.
Next Olympics at least send the college all-stars, at least they play like they care.
To a man, USA Basketball governing body should resign after this Olympics and rethink this NBA-lite approach to international basketball.
Any team with Allan Iverson on it is doomed to failure.
Take note as to what a mod did to the title of your thread.
Team USA Basketball is an amalgam of political correctness. Simply put, White Basketball players need not apply. Get used to the idea that Europeans or Africans will continue to beat Team USA.
Why post a spoiler warning? It's live on TV in the US.
What happened to the FUNDAMENTALS of the game? They seem to have been forgotten!
Yeah, the P.R. team had the nerve to play defense which is like cheating in the NBA.
Forget this bunch of pampered, me-first, losers. The Iraqi soccer team is playing on CNBC.
There's a reason why the NBA folks are drafting high schoolers and Europeans. The Europeans play a team game and drill constantly on fundamentals. The high schoolers are not old enough to be (totally) corrupted by agents and can be taught how to play.
I am actually quite pleased to see that my ultimate dream is being realized: The United States now consistently fields a better team in ice hockey than in basketball for international competition.
I rather watch the Costa Rica/Iraq soccer match. Much more exciting.
USA should have had their act together.
The refs are playing a huge factor in this.
Some really bogus calls. USA should have expected that.
Embarrassing, but much anger should be directed at the lazy, spoiled, gutless, self-centered NBA 'stars' who declined to attend. Zero patriotism, dope-smoking freeloaders, too busy with their rap videos to actually lift a finger to give back a little or show any pride in their country. How about a list of all the 'stars' who were asked but couldn't bother themselves with a little inconvenience to actually make their country look good. Gee Shaq, sorry to interrupt your doobie with Ricky W.
I can't stand that punk Iverson, but at least he went when asked. Don't know if he mailed it in today, but he saved the USA team's butt with an unbelievable shot to win a game a week or two ago.
I recently saw a few games between the 88 and 89 Pistons/Lakers teams. Either of those teams would kick any of the teams' asses today. They had the most talent, played as a team, but most of all - had fundamentals.
The teams across the world don't have the talent for basketball we do in our cities, but the fundamentals aren't there as much as before.
Talent carried us for a few years, but the rest of the world now has top athletes playing basketball as well as soccer - and they are catching up - and they will bring their A game against the US. It would be like beating Kenya in long distance running, Brazil in Soccer, or Canada and Russia in Hockey
ROFL. Leon can't do everything!
This is one time to celebrate a loss of "Team USA". Basketball is a stupid sport anyhow, not a real sport like Football. And these pituitary freak egomaniacs are scum and worthy of our comtempt. Iverson, Bryant et al are detestable anti-role-models for our children to scorn and ignore.
I'll look for follow up, but this morning, Argentina versus Serbia Montenegro, that was a Classic, with Ginobili making a last second, falldown in the lane basket. I'd like to see the US, a good amateur team take it; but to see other countries take Naismith's game so seriously is good to.