QuasiMondo

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/...ory?id=3001170

With a decisive 135-91 victory over Puerto Rico in the semifinal round of the FIBA Americas Tournament, the U.S. men's olympic basketball team has secured a berth in the 2008 Summer games.

I think that unlike the 2004 men's team, this team will bring back a gold medal. The change in philosophy of having a coherent team instead of 12 NBA superstars makes what I think will be the best lineup since the original '92 Dream Team.

I think the world will come to fear the U.S. men's basketball team once again.

__________________
Cameron originally envisioned the Terminator as a small, unremarkable man, giving it the ability to blend in more easily. As a result, his first choice for the part was Lance Henriksen. O. J. Simpson was on the shortlist but Cameron did not think that such a nice guy could be a ruthless killer.

-From the Collector's Edition DVD of The Terminator

Cross-Over

I think that international players have better fundamentals and play better team basketball. Yes, this American team is more experienced and has practiced together, but I think that is overrated. Last year's team was hand picked and had more practice time than the 04 Olympic team, but still lost to Greece in the World Championships.

I think the lack of success in 04 and last year is due more to the international rules and the "1 loss and you're out" format in the medal rounds, as opposed to lack of cohesion. With a shortened three point line and shortened quarters, games are ultra competitive. Moving screens are legal in international play, which means less athletic players who are better shooters get enough time to release their shot. Again, to reiterate, when a team catches fire from a shortened three-point line in a shortened game, they can win that single game and knock out any team in the medal rounds. Greece was a shock to make it to the finals last year.

This isn't saying the American team isn't the favorite to win in 08, but let’s not let a watered down FIBA tournament where Argentina was missing three NBA players bring us back to 1992. The international game is competitive, and there are tons of great players outside of the U.S. For example, I would take Manu Ginobili over almost any other guard even in an NBA playoff scenario. He is fearless, highly skilled, and has an uncanny ability to finish over big men in the lane.

QuasiMondo

I think the greatest fault of previous Men's basketball teams was the lack of cohesion. They figured the success of the original Dream Team would follow on with every other team they drafted. Get 12 guys, sit back, let the smoke settle, collect gold. I could go on with other reasons this didn't work. They didn't have good teamwork, they didn't get accustomed to FIBA rules, they couldn't cope with officials who were more keen on calling traveling violations than a NBA ref would, other teams didn't see it as an honor to get slammed on by an American player, the rest of the world stepped up their game, and ultimately, the US men's team didn't adapt and paid for it.

But since they have a select group that will play not only the world championships, but the olympics, those disadvantages won't work against them since they're accustomed to international play.

That and I'm sure Coach K will do a much better job managing his talent than Larry Brown did.

__________________
Cameron originally envisioned the Terminator as a small, unremarkable man, giving it the ability to blend in more easily. As a result, his first choice for the part was Lance Henriksen. O. J. Simpson was on the shortlist but Cameron did not think that such a nice guy could be a ruthless killer.

-From the Collector's Edition DVD of The Terminator