Basketball: USA Olympic Basketball

They're playing in their first preliminary game today against Puerto Rico.

I just watched the first half, they have absolutely no chemistry and they've taken a third of their shots behind the arc. They dont look so good, they are down by 20 with 8 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. They're going to have to make adjustments if they are going to have any chance to comeback in this game.

ATHENS (Reuters) -- The United States was staring defeat in the face Sunday when it went into the locker room at halftime of its Olympic men's basketball game against Puerto Rico trailing 49-27.

Puerto Rico thoroughly outplayed the three-time defending gold medalists and deserved its lead. Elias Ayuso had 12 points and Eddie Casiano added 10 to put the underdogs in control.

The United States has not lost since the NBA began sending players to the Olympics in 1992, but a lack of outside shooting and team chemistry were obvious to the near-capacity crowd at the Helliniko Indoor arena.

The U.S. missed the basket on several shots, while one went off the side of the backboard and another jammed between the basket and the backboard.

San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan led the U.S. with nine points.

Dont close the book on this one yet.

They have closed the gap to 8 points with 6 minutes remaining.

Ohhh a suddenly burst into life.. You think they could do it?

USA wont win, i know i should be cheering for them but face it they play selfish basketball, and they dont play team defense, and PR is playing great TEAM ball right now and have the lead with 4 min to go and a 12 point lead.

I wouldn't say they played selfish, I would attribute this performance to their dismal 30% FG percentage, they couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat.

So are they out?

Or is it a league basis?

[Edited on 15/8/04 by TRD]

No, they're not out. It ws a preliminary game but if they keep losing they wont make it to the medal rounds.

They play host Greece on Tuesday.

The basketball team took shots when they shouldnt have taken shots, when tehy shouldve passed and made a better looking shot.

Originally posted by Ben
The basketball team took shots when they shouldnt have taken shots, when tehy shouldve passed and made a better looking shot.

I second this.

final score

Puero Rico 92 - 73 United States

I think Team USA will rebound from this setback. The way I see it, these kids over there should be proud to be representing their country in the Olympics no matter how they do and us Americans should be proud of them. There are better players that are back home watching, but they were the ones who declined their invitation so we dont really need them. I'd rather see Shaq and KG than Marion and Jefferson, but the latter are two guys who are honored to represent their country and I'll support them no matter how they do.

Yes i do support them being there and such, but i dont support who is there. YOu have to question how hard they are playing when players that are supposed to score PLAIN OLD DONT. They rather take the hard shot and miss then to pass and make an easy shot. Or drive to the lane and attempt a shot than to drive and pass.

This is clearly a group that shouldnt have been there. College players should have been chosen they would have been playing much harder. Plus Brown is teach these players now a colelge system all over agian, and a college system is playing team ball and an NBA system is teaching them about being selfish.

The shots the Puerto Ricans were taking were not simple layup. Some shots fell in and I was in awe, and these were near the half way line. There is no limit to the Puerto Rican side.

its a shame how nba players cant shoot or defend very well anymore, if i was in charge of picking players i'd pick based on specialised skills and not all superstar players, thats our weakness because everyone thinks they can do everything and they dont think before shooting.

NBA players dont think at all like you said that want self glory over all.

Ben

thats why i said "everyone thinks they can do everything".

its a major reason they cant shoot well and defend or play as a team.

one reason i'd prefer specialised players(or college) instead of all star players.

i think we are on the same page namehere, i think that the USA wont win another game.

I can imagine it already. Canada on the podium in Basketball. what a joke the U.S. team is.

Originally posted by namehere
i'd prefer specialised players(or college) instead of all star players.

I'm with you. They just got the biggest names that would actuallygo to the games, and didn't think about what spots were needed on the floor. I just saw on sportscenter that Duncan (that's Tim Duncan) led this team in perimter shooting.

How can that be???