Pop: Foreign players are fundementally harder workers

[BballFan422]

I have to agree with Pop. Also its not just sports, other areas are similar. Lets take education, American kids arent learning anywhere near as hard as lets say Asian kids do. Now we hear how smarter Asians are, but its not genetics, its education system and culture.

True. We live in a culture that values entertainment over education. Then we wonder why so many young people are more interested in sports, music and acting. Go figure.

[DMV2]

True. We live in a culture that values entertainment over education. Then we wonder why so many young people are more interested in sports, music and acting. Go figure.

In the cardiac department of the hospital I work for, of the 50 or so M.D.'s, about 30-35 of them are Indians or Middle Easterners.

It's hilarious seeing people with really bad broken English accents "bossing" all the native or well-spoken English-speakers around. I use "bossing" because they're not really bossing us around, they're very respectful and great doctors but it's funny how they're at the top of the chain compared to the rest of the workers who are mostly white.

[sportjames23]

It is interesting all of LeBron's Finals losses have come against teams with a strong foreign influence, an influence that would not exist in previous eras.

So you're saying this era > 90's, right? That's what you're trying to say, right?

You still a salty bitch, claiming to be a Bulls fan, but crapping on the best player in Bulls and NBA history.

[Oly BC]

It is interesting all of LeBron's Finals losses have come against teams with a strong foreign influence, an influence that would not exist in previous eras.

I wonder if this Spurs win, them playing the most beautiful basketball ever and the fmvp going to a "roleplayer" with 17ppg will change the NBA paradigm.


More likely it won't.

[kkb_12]

If you look at countries of origin for players that Pop had, you will notice that no Spurs player comes from old basketball "powerhouses" of Russia, Serbia, Lithuania, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia... Pop gets hard working kids from systems where they were not spoiled by star treatment and makes them basketball players...

[Oly BC]

If you look at countries of origin for players that Pop had, you will notice that no Spurs player comes from old basketball "powerhouses" of Russia, Serbia, Lithuania, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia... Pop gets hard working kids from systems where they were not spoiled by start treatment and makes them basketball players...

Argentina is an "old basketball powerhouse" at this point and Ginobili was a player before Pop. Bellinelli is Italian. Splitter also played in Europe and I don't think the spurs would reject marc gasol if they had a chance to get him with the same money


Also, if someone gets star treatment in Serbia, it's the coach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12LtzBxhqqY

[fandarko]

If you look at countries of origin for players that Pop had, you will notice that no Spurs player comes from old basketball "powerhouses" of Russia, Serbia, Lithuania, Spain, Italy, Greece, Croatia... Pop gets hard working kids from systems where they were not spoiled by star treatment and makes them basketball players...

That is a good observation (though Belineli is from Italy and Splitter has played the Spanish league for ages)... But I don't think it's on purpose, or planned... France has had an incredible development of their basketball in the last 15 years and ironically, the players they have/had in the Spurs are not known for their athleticism (Parker, De Colo, Diaw). The others are just handpicked for their skills and not their nationality. Splitter was excellent in Europe, but far from a star. Mills is the profile of player that doesn't make in the Euroleague (different style), but Pop found him a niche. I'm sure there are other guys in the European league he would have adjusted well to the Spurs' style. For example, when healthy, Nenad Krstic would be perfect for their system, as a smart 7-footer that can bang inside and shoot the 15 footer. But they can't pay him. Ante Tomic, the Croatian 7-2 center would be effective too, but him too is too expensive (cap issues). Hell, a bunch of smart players would blend in well with the Spurs and on the mid term, they're probably considering their options including Europe...

[Oly BC]

If you exclude Duncan, Parker, Manu and Splitter everyone else gets at most 3 million euros gross. Even though playing for the spurs would be a great incentive by itself, it would be hard to get a serbian or spanish player of calibre with 1,5 million dollars gross income. It makes sense that he's looking to France which despite producing good players has no competitive teams and even Australia.

[kkb_12]

If you exclude Duncan, Parker, Manu and Splitter everyone else gets at most 3 million euros gross. Even though playing for the spurs would be a great incentive by itself, it would be hard to get a serbian or spanish player of calibre with 1,5 million dollars gross income. It makes sense that he's looking to France which despite producing good players has no competitive teams and even Australia.

So it means that all Serbian players with exception of Krstic and Teodosic are in this group.
Good points about Argentinians and French - yes they are powerhouses now... But they were not at a time they started coming to NBA... The most important thing is order of things: one has to become basketball player before becoming star, and not the other way around.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Spurs are essentially a pre 2000 NBA team. Know how young kids on these boards act like there was some huge evolutionary advancement in people and athleticism in just 15 to 20 years? On average teams are more athletic today.

But Pop is indicating here the loss of skilled, niche role players who work hard. Not everyone is meant to be a superstar at every level. Thus pre 2000s having skilled, college experienced, intelligent players in roles. Or white boys. They enhance what superstars bring to the table. They're gritty hard working coachable pieces. No ego.

That's why I love guys like Kirk Hinrich, it's becoming more difficult to find American players such as this.

These AAU programs stunt some of our defined basketball skills in favor of athleticism. Role players who work hard, aren't entitled douches, skilled, intelligent and know their role amplify a teams strength giving it more dimension then a bunch of guys who all play the same way from the AAU factory.

Kind of the reason Team USA was getting beat in 2002, 2004, and 2006. Even though we obviously had superior individual talent. 2014 Spurs were a poor man's late 90s Jazz team. They were old, slow, unathletic but smart, skilled, moved the ball well coached and beat a team of younger more athletic players.

[played0ut]

It is interesting all of LeBron's Finals losses have come against teams with a strong foreign influence, an influence that would not exist in previous eras.

.... Are you serious? You seem smart, but how is your reading comprehension so bad? You're obviously implying the 90's.



Pop said foreign kids are less likely to be coddled and entitled and american kids. All the coddled and entitled draft kids came after Jordan's era.



Your point isn't even relevant here.




























































And the irony in that Lebron, who was hailed the king and signed for enormous endorsements at just over the age of tween. The ****ing irony.

[Meticode]

All that more reason for the Spurs to try to add Pau Gasol.

Duncan/Splitter
Diaw/Gasol
Leonard/Belinelli
Green/Ginobili
Parker/Mills

Their whole bench rotation would be foreign players...Brazil, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Australia...

[Purch]

That would be the best passing front court in league history

[SamuraiSWISH]

It is interesting all of LeBron's Finals losses have come against teams with a strong foreign influence, an influence that would not exist in previous eras.

Yea it's interesting he's lost to two teams, with a stacked superstar / athletic roster to teams not athletic, with good big men, and niche role players. Gasp like a perfectly well rounded 90s basketball team.

Greatest era of basketball for it's near perfect mix of offensive skills, ball movement, big men, team intelligence, physical defense, superstars, and the right amount of athleticism. The 2014 Spurs are the '98 Jazz.

[houston]

Man that dude tanked to get Tim Duncan that is all. Actually the second 3 peat bulls started the foreign player thing. Kukoc and Longley etc...