What a Failure (USA Mens Basketball)

[duckb32]

Did anyone watch the game today against Puerto Rico? It was Terriable!
This team in no way is a "Dream Team"! A loss like that...they might want to think about calling it quits and come home and forfeit the remaining games. I just cant believe how poorly they played! All those players (the most of them) care about is the Millions and Millions of dollars they get paid to play a game. I have lost all respect for that team...Its so hard to believe that a band of talented players like that can play so poorly like that? Well like I said they are more worried about the money they get to play..and the other countires players dont get paid like that...So they have everything to prove, they hustle, play hard, play team ball, etc, unlike the USA team were most of the players are out to get their own, and not to play team ball. Does anyone know if they get paid to play in the olympics? Please let me know if you know! Well on the positive note the Womens team looks great! Go Team USA in all other olympics sports!

[England]

you are very right this is a great failure. They were not shooting well and they were not playin defense at all. The effort was just not there. ESPN called this loss embarrassing but that is an understatement. Nothing against Puerto Rico but the US is a better team. If the US pulls there heads outta there butts then they will have a chance at a medal but if they dont they will be out very quick. Personally i think they will lose their next game against Greece due to the home crowd and the US will make an early exit from these Olympics.

[Gunner18]

first loss for USA mens basketball since 1988 and only 3rd loss in history...yea im pretty sure that this team falls along the lines of pathetic, waste of time money and energy, embarrasing...and quite a few more adjectives that im not allowed to say on this public site

[once a runner]

Looks like the sky is indeed falling! The USA played a horrid first half, but showed signs of life in the 2nd half. They have hopefully learned that they can't afford any lackluster moments to beat the rest of the world.

However, I still believe they will win the gold medal. They certainly can't shoot any worse than they did against Puerto Rico (3/25 from a short 3 point line). I still believe they will rebound to win the gold, but it certainly won't be an easy road.

Give Puerto Rico credit for employing some excellent strategy. Let the USA take the outside shots and foul them any time they have a clear lane to the basket. Plus, they shot incredibly well. Yes, they had some open looks, but they hit some big shots with guys in their face.

[voncap]

Once a runner - Your optimism is admirable. Unfortunately, I don't share your optimism. This team, simply put, just isn't that good. When an NBA all-star team only scores 27 points in a half of basketball, that is a bad sign. They may still win the Gold, but they had better find their game soon or forget it.

[captain dean]

I personally think its pretty funny. I hope they continue to suck and lose out. Not that i'm anti-american, i just dont like basketball. Who cares about the gold medal for basketball anyways. This isnt hockey. Getting spanked by a bunch of pale white guys from countries that dont even have "hoods" is awesome. It doesnt say much for the NBA. Its pretty tough to have any kind of pride in these guys and it might give them a whole new image once they're back in their regular NBA seasons.

[theoneandonly]

First of all this is not an NBA all star team... it's certainly not the best the USA has to offer. Imagine what the team would be like if Shaq, Kobe, TMac, Garnett, Kidd and such had accepted invitations to play... with players of that caliber they could afford to not play great team basketball. With that being said there is still no excuse at all for the USA to lost to anyone... let alone to Puerto Rico by 19! If the USA doesn't find someone to hit an open jumpshot teams will kill them by playing the zone. If they can quickly overcome this loss and play better team defense and hit some shots then I too think they have as good a shot as anyone at the gold.

[Gunner18]

the thing about the short 3-point line, if thats messing our guys up becuase they arent used to shooting so close, then i got some advice for them......take a step back, amazing i know, but im pretty sure u dont have to b rite next to the line for it to count for 3, u can b on the other side of the court.....boy i should work for ESPN with all this knowledge i possess!

[TarHeelHopeful]

Thats not all thats hurting them. Their are many international rules that change the way the US mens basketball team is playing. The teams the are playing are playing a lot of zone defense which they arent used to. The referees call a much tighter game. It doesnt help that we dont have the best possible team out there where a lot of these teams have their best country men out playing for pride.

[TarHeelHopeful]

If these other teams were playing man to man defense against us i would guarantee gold for the US our athletes would tear them apart. We also arent forcing enough turnovers which is killing us