Puerto Rico 92, USA 73

The "Basketball for Thought" is a commentary by Kris Gardner.

August 15, 2004

This time I was not surprised. The loss didn't surprise me nor did the 19-point margin. Puerto Rico blasted Team USA 92 to 73 in a preliminary round game in the 2004 Olympics. The loss was the first defeat (in the Olympics) suffered by Team USA since NBA players have been selected to participate. Heck, it was 1988 when the United States' Men's Basketball Team last lost a game in the Olympics (82 to 76 to Russia). Basketball has definitely changed since then; and, the world has clearly caught up to the US in men's hoops. I'm not surprised by the loss; but, I am disappointed. I'm disappointed at a bunch of people.

I'm disappointed in the USA Basketball selection committee. I'm disappointed in the NBA players who declined invitations to play for Team USA. I'm disappointed in coach Larry Brown and his coaching staff. I'm disappointed in the NBA; but, mostly, I'm disappointed in the apathy of today's American players to get better.

The USA Basketball selection committee put together a team that is not suited for international basketball. Richard Jefferson is the only member of the 2004 team to rank in the top 50 (he ranked a robust 47th) in the NBA in three-point percentage. Where are the shooters? I know the committee originally invited Ray Allen, Mike Bibby, Tracy McGrady, etc. to represent Team USA; however, each of them declined (for whatever reason.) However, why did the committee select athletes like Shawn Marion, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade without choosing shooters like Brent Barry, Jon Barry, Aaron McKie (this season) or Michael Redd?

I am not going to judge the reasons given by players who declined to play for Team USA because it's a waste of time; but, I am disappointed in any player who said "No." because he was tired. In the summertime, NBA players play basketball for hours just about everyday; so, being "too tired" does not cut it with me.

Larry Brown and his coaches know this team does not have good, let alone great, outside shooters. Therefore, why isn't the coaching staff implementing more traps and full-court pressure to disrupt the opponents and provide more easy basket opportunities for Team USA? The U.S. has the athletes; so, like some of my friends say, "unleash the hounds!"

Today's NBA is a big-time marketing machine. I feel quite certain LeBron, Wade, and Carmelo Anthony were chosen for Team USA as a marketing tool to help promote the "future of the NBA". Deciding to market the NBA instead of putting together a team is backfiring because many people are questioning aloud "You mean to tell me these guys can't make 20-footers!" or "These guys don't know how to play basketball".

After the debacle by Team USA in 2002 at the World Championships in Indianapolis, I assumed players (high school, college, and pro) would have decided to work on improving their perimeter shooting and their passing skills. Unfortunately, I was wrong. American players have no idea how to attack a zone defense. Think about that. Since the NBA legalized zone defenses, NBA players still react dazed and confused against a zone defense. Perimeter shooting is a bad joke in America; and, it has been for years. However, young kids would rather "break someone's ankles" or dunk the basketball instead of knocking down perimeter shots all day long. Today, ball players in the U.S. spend more time on flash instead of substance; yet, when someone offers to help, they laugh and continue playing the game the wrong way. Fundamentals is a dirty word in American basketball; however, until people finally start realizing the need for fundamentals in basketball, the losses will continue to mount and so will the disappointments and the denial.