Dream Team

[bender]

what is the deal with the NBA Dream team that competed in the olympic games.

Were they the best of the NBA? Were there lots of defections or unavailable players? Did they mix in college players? or have the rest of the world just caught up a bit in basketball.

 

[El Coconuto]

Pretty much everything there had something to do with it bender. By the way, they aren't called the 'Dream Team' anymore. They're simply called Team USA for obvious reasons.

They didn't have the best mix of NBA players (most of which either defected or got injured before the Olympics). They had no college players (unless you include Emeka Okafor who is a rookie this year). And yes, the rest of the world has definately caught up, big time!

 

[bender]

Pretty much everything there had something to do with it bender. By the way, they aren't called the 'Dream Team' anymore. They're simply called Team USA for obvious reasons.

They didn't have the best mix of NBA players (most of which either defected or got injured before the Olympics). They had no college players (unless you include Emeka Okafor who is a rookie this year). And yes, the rest of the world has definately caught up, big time!

So (I realise there are obviously the usual suspect withdrawals for injuries, like in the NRL) but were they trying to select the best squad available, or were they trying to share it around ie not pick players who had been there before or some other limiting factor.

If a full strength side were picked would most of the current squad have claims or are they a 4th or 5th string side?

And when you say defected, Do you mean defected to other countries or just declared themself unavailable.

 

[El Coconuto]

They were picked on who they 'thought' would mesh best. Oh how wrong they were. Even though they could've picked a better team, the amount of players that declared themselves unavailable was ridiculous. Some of the reasons were so American too (not much pay, better things to do in the off-season etc). They were about a fifth stringed side. If a full-strengthed team were picked, the only players to make it would've been Duncan, Iverson and probably Wade.

And by defected, I mean they declared themselves unavailable. No one went to another country...

 

[CanadianSteve]

I would add that some observers think some of the selections were based more on marketing potential than suitability for the team. It sounds hard to believe, but sales of jerseys are a big thing, and young stars Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony may have been picked more for their popularity. They needed to choose some more complementary players, especially some better shooters.

If all the best players, the first choice selections, had shown up, they may have won fairly handily, as in the past, which would have hidden the fact that the rest of the world is indeed catching up. As it was, the result will hopefully serve as a wake-up call to the Yanks to improve their game.

BTW, good to see you Bender!

 

[Mr Saab]

if they sent the pistons they would have brought home the gold!!!

 

[thewizard1o1]

One Wallace made himself unavilable the other would have tested positive to weed! (Geez AI done well to get through the whole games with out one (or with out getting caught :mrgreen: ) well done AI )

 

[CanadianSteve]

if they sent the pistons they would have brought home the gold!!!

Just Billups and Hamilton would have put them over the top. They needed that mid-range shooting.

 

[Mr Saab]

i am a huge pistons fan...ever since the days of Kelly Tripucka!!
those pistons of 03/04 would have kept the argentinians and lithuanians to 40 points!!!
Defence wins championships.....selfishness causes team breakups

 

[CanadianSteve]

I was a big fan of the Pistons of the Bad boys days. Trading Tripucka for Adrian Dantley was one of the major steps that started them on the road to their 2 titles. I liked Kelly, he was a great scorer, but one of the worst defenders in the league.

 

[Mr Saab]

kelly was a poor defender your right!
they did trade him for dantley and then dantley was traded for Aguire (controversial trade)
Kelly went on to play for the hornets in their 1st yr 88/9.
My favs were Zeke, Dumars, Rodman, Salley

 

[CanadianSteve]

I even liked Laimbeer.

 

[Mr Saab]

I even liked Laimbeer.

i forgot about big bad bill. He was great for the pistons. I can understand why people would have hated him, but he represented what the pistons were all about 1986-1990

 

[CanadianSteve]

Laimbeer is now a very successful coach in the WNBA, coaching Karl Malone's daughter on the Detroit team. He was interested in the Pistons' job a few years ago, and maybe he will coach in the NBA some day.

A bit of trivia I always liked about Laimbeer was that in the early 80s he was the only player in the NBA whose father made more money than him. His dad was a CEO of some big corporation. I think Bill's salary eventually surpassed his dad's though.

 

[Mr Saab]

yeah i saw a doco about bill and how he talked about his career.
I was happy for bill when he won the 2003 WNBA with the shock.
I am glad the pistons didnt sign him as a coach..its better when u get a coach who hasnt played for you in the past.
Bill might get a gig in the NBA one day, and maybe with the pistons, but for now i am happy with Larry B