Watching clips of this Olympic team

[NuggetsFan]

F*ckin kids

NBA is the only sport people can't move on from the past. Probably because of the importance of individuals and fans seem to have a far greater emotional attachment to the individual rather than the actual team like the NFL. NBA is all about what's better as opposed to the truth that things are different. The game has evolved with shooting, defensive changes.

People appreciate the past in other sports but with the NBA you get guys that are obsessed and can't move on from it. It's crazy. It's like you actually believe in 2016 a sport like basketball has regressed in a major way despite more people playing it, technology advancing, having the the past to build on. Something as simple as improved traveling probably has an impact on fatigue and stamina

[NuggetsFan]

So you're saying American players have either declined or stayed the same for almost a decade?

No I think they sent over there B team and the international game has grown to the point where they can't destroy the competition anymore with zero chemistry and a team with alot of issues. A college team would lose against these teams.

International teams not only have more talent but they take the competition more seriously.

US has the talent and could dominate this tournament if they wanted too. Everybody skipped this year and they sent a flawed team that most likely wins gold but they just won't do it in a crazy dominating fashion. Even than they still could.

[andgar923]

NBA is the only sport people can't move on from the past. Probably because of the importance of individuals and fans seem to have a far greater emotional attachment to the individual rather than the actual team like the NFL. NBA is all about what's better as opposed to the truth that things are different. The game has evolved with shooting, defensive changes.

People appreciate the past in other sports but with the NBA you get guys that are obsessed and can't move on from it. It's crazy. It's like you actually believe in 2016 a sport like basketball has regressed in a major way despite more people playing it, technology advancing, having the the past to build on. Something as simple as improved traveling probably has an impact on fatigue and stamina

Some aspects of the game have obviously advanced, but that isn't drastic unless we're talking about today to the 70s and before.

But the actual 'style' of play hasn't evolved, it's just different and different doesn't make it better. So more people are taking more 3s, how is that better than players taking shots in the high .500 range?

Let's see here...

On one hand, there are more players taking shots that are in the .300 range. On the other hand there's an era where they take shots in the .500 range.

Oh gee. I wonder which style is better?

It's late in 4th quarter NBA Finals and the game is tied with 10 seconds to go, which style do you go with.

One that'll give you a .300% chance of going in, or one that gives you .500 chance of going in?

Shit, even if we wanted to round up for today's era and round down for past era today's style is still the least favorable.

Aside from a few teams, aside from a handful of plays, proper team/ball movement is ghost today. Not to say that every play back then was a fundamental highlight reel, but it was indeed more common. And that's the brand of basketball that is the more stable, not some And1 wannabe chucking up fadeaway 3point shots while everyone clears out.

B... b...but. 'evolution' LOLLLL

[andgar923]

No I think they sent over there B team and the international game has grown to the point where they can't destroy the competition anymore with zero chemistry and a team with alot of issues. A college team would lose against these teams.

International teams not only have more talent but they take the competition more seriously.

US has the talent and could dominate this tournament if they wanted too. Everybody skipped this year and they sent a flawed team that most likely wins gold but they just won't do it in a crazy dominating fashion. Even than they still could.

Our B team still consists of Franchise players, All Stars, ROY winners, etc.

Their team consists of perhaps 2-3 NBA bench warmers.

Pathetic excuse.

92 Croatian Team had 5 NBA players and others with legitimately Euroleague creds. Stop the silly excuses.

So again.... is it the 'style' of play or have Americans Arrested Development?

[NuggetsFan]

Some aspects of the game have obviously advanced, but that isn't drastic unless we're talking about today to the 70s and before.

But the actual 'style' of play hasn't evolved, it's just different and different doesn't make it better. So more people are taking more 3s, how is that better than players taking shots in the high .500 range?

Let's see here...

On one hand, there are more players taking shots that are in the .300 range. On the other hand there's an era where they take shots in the .500 range.

Oh gee. I wonder which style is better?

It's late in 4th quarter NBA Finals and the game is tied with 10 seconds to go, which style do you go with.

One that'll give you a .300% chance of going in, or one that gives you .500 chance of going in?

Shit, even if we wanted to round up for today's era and round down for past era today's style is still the least favorable.

Aside from a few teams, aside from a handful of plays, proper team/ball movement is ghost today. Not to say that every play back then was a fundamental highlight reel, but it was indeed more common. And that's the brand of basketball that is the more stable, not some And1 wannabe chucking up fadeaway 3point shots while everyone clears out.

B... b...but. 'evolution' LOLLLL

This just ridiculous filled with exaggerations. How the fck do you deem one shot .300 and one .500? Each individual player hits shots at different rates. The shot I'd choose would depend on the player in question and the team he plays for. Curry? Give the me the 3 point shot over an average midrange guy or an inside shot vs a tough defensive team.

It's different. Doesn't make it better or worse. Just different. Rules, reffing, analytics have all changed the game. 1991 was over 25 years ago. Your just being naive if you don't think that's a big deal. Coaching, scouting, defense, offensive skillset, statistics, talent pool have all came a long way. Is it annoying to watch 3's being chucked and people taking advantage of the FT line? Yep. Was 1991 more entertaining? Subjective.

I loved 90's hockey about 10x more than I do modern. It's not better tho, just different. NBA is the only sport where some fans can't accept that and constantly feel like the need to attack the current game in order to prop up the past let go of your childhood hero bro.

[NuggetsFan]

Our B team still consists of Franchise players, All Stars, ROY winners, etc.

Their team consists of perhaps 2-3 NBA bench warmers.

Pathetic excuse.

92 Croatian Team had 5 NBA players and others with legitimately Euroleague creds. Stop the silly excuses.

So again.... is it the 'style' of play or have Americans Arrested Development?

And those franchise players, All-Stars etc. aren't in the same role nor getting the same usage on the current Olympic squad. International teams have way more time to practice and put together a cohesive unit. US is doing everything on the fly more so than other teams. This year just has a less talented team team with no chemistry and some serious flaws.

It's not an "excuse". I don't care about the team nor a single player on the squad. Just really obvious. The international game has grown to the point where you need to put in a little effort if you want to dominate them. US will still win, just have had a few close calls because of this.

So you think because of the '92 Croatian team that international game isn't leaps and bounds more developed in 2016 than it was in '92?

[Lebron23]

They are arguably the worst US team in quite some time. And they aren't familiarize with the FIBA Rules.

We had better international competitions in the 2000's and 2010's compared to the 1990's.

[Lebron23]

Our B team still consists of Franchise players, All Stars, ROY winners, etc.

Their team consists of perhaps 2-3 NBA bench warmers.

Pathetic excuse.

92 Croatian Team had 5 NBA players and others with legitimately Euroleague creds. Stop the silly excuses.

So again.... is it the 'style' of play or have Americans Arrested Development?

2016 Cavaliers would beat the 1996 Chicago Bulls under the current rules.

[Sarcastic]

Please elaborate on how the game has developed so much? Which plays or defensive sets do you think are ones that have never been done before?

[andgar923]

And those franchise players, All-Stars etc. aren't in the same role nor getting the same usage on the current Olympic squad. International teams have way more time to practice and put together a cohesive unit. US is doing everything on the fly more so than other teams. This year just has a less talented team team with no chemistry and some serious flaws.

It's not an "excuse". I don't care about the team nor a single player on the squad. Just really obvious. The international game has grown to the point where you need to put in a little effort if you want to dominate them. US will still win, just have had a few close calls because of this.

So you think because of the '92 Croatian team that international game isn't leaps and bounds more developed in 2016 than it was in '92?

Let the excuses fly away.

Other American Olympics teams had the same amount of time together and they still usually whooped the competition.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...national_teams

Just goes to show that international basketball has always been competitive vs established NBA teams. But it wasn't until the mid 90s (as I stated, coinciding with the And1 'me' culture) that the NBA teams began to lose more and more. Coincidence?

So based on that one can assume the following:

A. International basketball has always been a 'thing' and could be competitive. It wasn't something that just sorta happened over the past 10 years or so.

B. It was in the mid-late 90s that either the US players stopped getting better while international players took a huge leap.

C. The 'style' of play made it easier for international teams to compete and beat us than ever before.

So see, one can't use the "Oh... We haven't had time to play together!" Or "It's just a rag-tag assembly of B players".

Once again, either international players have improved and we haven't or the 'style' of play leaves us vulnerable.

So if international teams give NBAa teams fits, imagine past teams?

I used to think the Bulls vs the Warriors would be a 4-1 victory for the Bulls, with most of the games being very competitive.

Now Im starting to think the Bulls would not only mop the Warriors, the 90s LA Clippers would be title contenders if they played vs today's teams.

If Bogut can give the US and NBA players so many fits, imagine Stanley Roberts?

[andgar923]

Please elaborate on how the game has developed so much? Which plays or defensive sets do you think are ones that have never been done before?

They can't.

They'll point to a variation of what used to be ran back then, but instead of players taking shots from inside 3pt line, it's outside.

And even then, those plays aren't even ran with much sort of consistency and success. Most players abandon all resemblance of proper basketball to the more ill advised iso/one on one style of play.

I clicked on two highlight videos, one from this era and one from the past.

When both games first started one could see that they were both running set plays. Both videos showed player and ball movement, but as you watched the clips current era abandoned this more frequently than their predecessor. Not only did they abandon the more effective old school approach, they had trouble running it when they did attempt. It wasn't the defense, it was the players themselves playing too eager wanting to make something happen instead of being patient. Instead of letting a play develop or swing the ball around one more time, they chucked with a hand in their face. And it wouldn't even be a drive, it would be a contested shot from the 3pt area.

Not to say past eras didn't do this, but their approach overall was vastly different.

[TAZORAC]

You do know that they're not playing a bunch of f*ckin All Stars out there right?

Shall I remind you of this...



We sent some of our very very best, guess what happened?

In 08 it came down to final clutch plays to save the game.

Many instances to list.

Larry Brown was the reason USA got bronze in 04. He basically only played 6 players..odom jefferson iverson marbury duncan and I think Marion. Lebron, Wade, Stoudermire Anthony rarely played, even back then they were better then Marion and Jefferson. Larry Brown has this old school college mentality where you only play the older guys...and it failed...Little Iverson and Marybury couldn't hit a 3 to save their lives.

[NuggetsFan]

Let the excuses fly away.

Other American Olympics teams had the same amount of time together and they still usually whooped the competition.

Because the competition was far less competitive and took far less serious. It's not even arguable. Countries have sunk more money into development, more scouting, more international kids are playing basketball at a competitive level. Just two examples from the Nuggets would be Jokic who was a fat kid who played PG that wouldn't exist in '92 and Nurkic who's dad was like a 7 foot police guy that a scout saw and asked if he had children. They were than developed at a competitive level that wouldn't have took place 25 years ago.

So basically the US sending a team that has no chemistry, less talent vs international player that's at an all-time high = a few close calls. Not even losses but just some oh shit moments.

But whatever. I honestly don't even care. Like I said people prefer different things. I prefer 90's hockey so I get it, just not naive enough to think the game has become worse. If you wanna believe that basketball has went backwords in 25 years and guys like Stanley Roberts and the Clippers would dominate a different kinda league than have it. Preserve those childhood memories and praise Jordan the one true god of the NBA

[NuggetsFan]

Please elaborate on how the game has developed so much? Which plays or defensive sets do you think are ones that have never been done before?

With modern day technology, analytics, more coaching experience and a larger sample size to draw from the game hasn't developed at all? The 3 point shot becoming so valuable and creating more space for players and forcing defense's to guard the perimeter closer than ever has an affect on what coaches try to do. Specifically I'd say guarding the P&R has become much different.

One thing specifically this tournament I've noticed is the international game is far more physical than the NBA. NBA has cut down on physical play and has went towards a more skilled game the past decade. Bogut is a much better international player than in the NBA because he's allowed to mug guys. 90's basketball was far more physical. Does it make it better? Can you assume that modern players wouldn't be able to adapt? Can you assume that 90's players wouldn't be able to develop a 3 point shot? Of course not. We'll never know so there's no point in ever discussing it.

The only thing that's 100% certain is the NBA talent pool has grown over 25 years. There's far more players to select from. That travelling has become easier. That with the explosion of sports media players are held to a higher standard with rules/curfews etc. That with technology advancing using an Ipad makes it easier to study a playbook wherever you are, create defensive notes, and studying film is 10x easier. That with the advancement of statistics players can dissect an opposing players game to an exact science. All these things are facts. How it affects the game? Obviously subjective.

[Sarcastic]

The increased talent pool excuse is so overrated. The best players in the world have always been, and continue to be African-American men, and that population hasn't increased. More people playing in China doesn't mean shit. The only talent pool that matters is the American one, and that one has actually decreased.


Participation in the US has gone down.
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=406562