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It wouldn't have mattered who went in 2004. Team USA was increasingly ill-prepared for international competition. They were a bricked three away from no gold in 2000 (you know, with Vince, Ray, Kidd, Garnett, Payton, etc.), and the final wasn't a cakewalk either. They finished 6th at Worlds in 2002. Granted it wasn't the greatest collection of talent in the world, but the writing was on the wall for 2004. They still finished third in 2006 with a stronger team.Originally Posted by dmbrhs
False.Originally Posted by 23ska909red02
nawlinsjunkie:
Don't underestimate how good other national teams have become. That's the mentality that got us the bronze medal in 04
What got us bronze in 2004 was not being able to send our original roster, because they bailed, for various reasons. Of the original 12 we were supposed to send to Athens in 2004, the only 2 that went where Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan. Players like Kidd, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Jermaine O'Neal, and Kevin Garnett bailed, some at the last minute, and that forced the Team USA powers that be to put together a roster of players who were basically 'willing and good enough'.
LeBron, Wade, and Carmelo were all on the roster, after just one year in the NBA. Emeka Okafor ain't have a damn clue what he was doing with himself.Richard Jefferson and Stephon Marbury were out there for crying out loud.
Until Coach K and Colangelo came along there was no real USA Basketball managing organization so there was never ANY continuity
2006, although we lost, the team learned a whole lot about each other, Coach K, and the international playing style. If anything the loss to Greece probably taught the biggest lesson to Coach K on how to coach and grind em out, p&r p&p offense and basically how to adjust to the international style of play.