USA Olympic Basketball

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

I do not care who is on or who is off the Olympic team, but I do not understand how Paul Pierce could not be considered. A team he played on with Jermaine O'Neal (on team) finished sixth in whatever tournament that was, I understand this, putting that aside which they have done for for Jermaine O'Neal, I don't understand at least why there is not some talk about Pierce being on the team. I guess these are good enough numbers:
2002-03 STATISTICS
PPG 25.9
RPG 7.30
APG 4.4
STL 1.8
He led his team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002.
To the playoffs and past Indiana this year.
I have heard Richard Jefferson is being considered, give me a break!!

[Andrew]

I guess they felt that Paul Pierce was either too selfish or too uncoachable based on his stint in the World Championships. With Kobe and T-Mac, they already have two of the best swingmen in the league, so they don't really need Pierce - though I agree, he'd be a better choice than Jefferson. However, the league does seem to be opting for 9 core players, 3 role players setup - not the Dream Team formula that was originally expected.

Also, the squad is only for the qualifying tournament. Pierce could very well be included on the team that competes in Athens.

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

If they are going to tinker around with who goes and does not based on whatever politics happen to be in the air at the time, they should just pick twelve non-NBA players and be done with it.

If the following players on are not on the team, they have screwed it all up in theory.

Chris Webber (legal issues or whatever, Isn't Allen Iverson a thug?)

Shaquille O'Neal (apparently can't have him because of Mike Bibby or he understands like I do that it's all political junk)

Paul Pierce (is he not better than Mike Bibby?)

Elton Brand (I think Karl Malone is on the team??)

This whole thing is so freaky.
Don't give me this thing about roll players and point guards.
Mike Bibby can't do anything better than Tracy McGrady or Kobe Bryant.
Having McGrady or Kobe run the point is not a problem, besides that they could have Jason Kidd.
Making Mike Bibby a member is a joke that will not hear laughter, because Kobe, Garnett, Duncan and McGrady will win the gold, inspite of the crazy "role" player selections.
It gets to the point of crazy when you say this needs to be a squad to win, having Duncan, Garnett, Kobe and McGrady on the court will amount to some nasty blowouts no matter who is standing there watching them, this is why you must put the best players there, so play never decreases, so the players want to go, I guess having Mike Bibby is more important than having Shaq or Pierce.

[Andrew]

Read my post carefully. I did not say Paul Pierce did not deserve to be on the team - I offered an explanation as to why he was not selected. I did not say I agreed with the possible reasoning, I just mentioned it as a possibility, since it's strange that they'd offer a spot to Jefferson and not Pierce, since Pierce is an All-Star and plays well enough to warrant an invitation.

Don't give me this thing about roll players and point guards.

Again, please read my post again, I didn't even mention point guards. The article related to Jefferson and Brand's expected invitations over at ESPN.com mentions that the plan in putting together the team is basically to have 9 core players and then 3 players to basically just fill out the roster to 12. That's what I was referring to - nothing about point guards or Paul Pierce's position.

Mike Bibby can't do anything better than Tracy McGrady or Kobe Bryant.

I never said he could. I never mentioned Mike Bibby at all. He fills a spot on the roster that Kobe and T-Mac don't - point guard. He's got nothing to do with the issue at hand.

Having McGrady or Kobe run the point is not a problem, besides that they could have Jason Kidd.
Making Mike Bibby a member is a joke that will not hear laughter, because Kobe, Garnett, Duncan and McGrady will win the gold, inspite of the crazy "role" player selections.

If the team will easily win gold with what they have, then why include Paul Pierce, apart from the fact he appears to be your favourite player? I'm not disputing the fact Mike Bibby is overrated at times, but I will dispute the fact that he's not a good player just because you say so. And again, his selection has nothing to do with Paul Pierce not being selected.

It gets to the point of crazy when you say this needs to be a squad to win, having Duncan, Garnett, Kobe and McGrady on the court will amount to some nasty blowouts no matter who is standing there watching them, this is why you must put the best players there, so play never decreases, so the players want to go, I guess having Mike Bibby is more important than having Shaq or Pierce.

I never said that, nor words to that effect. Again, I never even brought Mike Bibby into the discussion. I simply offered reasons as to why Paul Pierce wasn't selected, none of which mentioned Mike Bibby. Nor did I say "Paul Pierce should not be on the team". I just suggested reasons why a player like Paul Pierce would be overlooked, while a player such as Richard Jefferson is expected to receive an invitation.

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

I didn't say you said anything actually.

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

You don't mind if I just speak my mind here do you?

I was not speaking to you to the first time or at anytime.
I was covering areas I thought might be covered in further discussions.

[Andrew]

Of course you are allowed to speak your mind. But your second post was in response to mine, therefore it appeared as though your points were directed at me, especially since I'm the only other person in this discussion thus far. The way in which you wrote it also suggested you were responding to my post, which is why I countered with arguments of my own - all part of the discussion.

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

i never want to appear that i am fighting or something rude, sorry....

[Andrew]

There's no need to apologise. I was just defending my point of view and responding to the discussion, as I thought some of your points were direct reponses to my post.

That's the problem with being the Site Admin, sometimes my opinions and arguments in a discussion come off as being attempts to moderate, rather than just another point of view in the topic.

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

I didn't know your role with the forum/site actually, I thought you just like to be the boss or something. No biggie, sorry if we got going on the feet.

I want to submit my opinions, not state them as fact.

I hope everyone understands me, I do not say anything is right or wrong in general, just to the way I see them.

[Andrew]

Yes, I am the webmaster of the main site and administrator of the forum, but that doesn't mean everyone has to agree with everything I say about basketball. Any moderating I do is part of being the forum admin, not because I like to order people around.

[GloveGuy]

I say put Gary Payton on the team. He's still the second best PG in the league, if not the best. I hear Nick Collison is invited which is just bullshit. He might not even be a lottery pick this year. How does he deserve to be on the US team with all the best. Either Paul Pierce or Antoine Walker should be on the team. Pierce said that if Walker had been on the WC team, than that could've made all the difference. Pierce is arguably the best fourth quarter player in the league right now. But having guys like Richard Jefferson, Nick Collison, and Mike Bibby on the team is a joke. They don't deserve it. After the US made such a poor performance last year, they shouldn't put even worse players on the team.

[Colin]

Nick Collison, eh?........Guess they're just after the standard white pf from college *coughChristianLaetnercough*

[Nel]

u guys don't understand the selection of players. do you think paul pierce would be happy if he comes of the bench and play just 20 mins a game. remember that pierce and walker complained about playing time in the all-star game. right now the team is fully loaded with firepower. they have kobe, A.I. t-mac whom are all on the same position. i just can't imagine how will the coach rotate them. if you add pierce in the mix who is also a great player the coach would have a hard time mixing them. mike bibby, rj, karl malone, nick collison, elton brand are on the team because they can sacrifice by playing less minutes that's why.

[Rens]

Nick Collison, eh?........Guess they're just after the standard white pf from college *coughChristianLaetnercough*

Wasn't Laettner college player of the year?

[Andrew]

I remember reading he was once thought of as being the next Larry Bird, so I'd say it's likely he was college player of the year at some point during his time as a Blue Devil.

[Rens]

Then I guess he was obviously selected for his skin color

[Colin]

Wasn't Laettner college player of the year?

Yea, I think so, but still there were much better nba players they could've taken instead.

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

There was another College player they could have selected to the original dream team, some 7'1" center from LSU named Shaquille O'Neal.......

The Olympics should invite and pay respect to the best players, USA will not lose with the previously mentioned players on the team anyway. WILL NOT LOSE, so adding Bimbo Coles wouldn't hurt the team, but would it hurt Paul Pierce? I am just saying do not tell me in any way shape or form that Mike Bibby or Richard Jefferson makes more sense than Paul Pierce. I understand they might be willing to play 4 minutes, but at least give Pierce and Steve Francis among others some earned respect, this is freaking nuts. Nick Collison!!!!!!!!!! How about adding Carmelo Anthony, the guy who actually won the NCAA Championship? Anthony will probably be the second American taken in the June Draft, certainly it will not be Nick Collison. This is political counter-common sense.

If Allen Iverson can be on the team, anyone can, he has broke every rule, law and standard known to mankind. Not to mention all he ever does is ballhog and bitch about minutes.

[Andrew]

There was another College player they could have selected to the original dream team, some 7'1" center from LSU named Shaquille O'Neal.......

That was definitely a weird choice, taking Laettner over Shaq. Mind you, by choosing to include a college player they ended up snubbing guys like Isiah Thomas and Dominique Wilkins.

I agree with the rest of your post as well. It started out with the "best 12 players in the NBA" concept, but they've skipped over a few players for reasons which we can only speculate.

[Venom]

i'll say only this...you had all stars on the world championships...and you lost...you were 6th to be exact

so if you come to the olympics with two weeks of training,you'll lose again...there,i said it! Huh hah!

[Boyk]

wtf????
are u stupid venom???

there world championships team did not have the A team in
in the Olympics, as much as i'd like to see australia get somewhere
USA are gonna walk all over everyone!

[Power And Proud]

I don't understand why Karl Malone is on the team. Elton Brand is better. Hell, even give an upcoming All-Star like Kwame Brown or Tyson Chandler a spot on the team. Hell, even throw in LeBron James!

[.]

This team is waaay better then the last team: Last year was a B team with players like Ray Allen, Michael Finley, Andre and Reggie Miller, Antonio Davis, Elton Brand ect........

Look at the players they have now: Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan (the MVP), Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady ect....

[Venom]

yeah and you're forgeting Jermaine O'Neal and Baron Davis...are they not all stars? are they not leaders on their playoff teams? yes they are

i say USA had the best team in the WBC,they didn't win because:

1)they practiced for a week
2)they underestimated everybody

so if they play on the olympics with that attitude,i say there's a strong chance of them losing

if you expect everybody to bend over when playing "DreamTeam",you're in for a surprise