Comebacks
by Dave on Mar 6, 2007 12:55 AM PST
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PrintWith all the talk surrounding Scottie Pippen and Reggie Miller lately, I'm pondering this whole comeback thing and whether it's properly focused. In my view the chances of any 40-year old coming back into the league after a few years off are very slim. I can understand why guys would want to lace it up one more time, but it's going to be, at best, a short-lived, low-minute and impact endeavor.
Which got me wondering...do they have to come back to the NBA? Obviously those who are only in it for money would not find much satisfaction anywhere else but the Association, but what if a guy just felt the need to play competitive ball at a high level on a national stage? For those purposes wouldn't the U.S. National Team work just as well?
Our international squad's travails have been well-publicized over the past decade. How long has it been since we actually won a major competition world-wide? Most seem to think our decline relates to the NBA players on the squad who lack fundamentals, smarts, and the time and desire to devote to being a unit. Wouldn't these be attributes that a Pippen, Miller, Stockton, or whoever would have in spades? I'm not saying you could fill the team with ex-NBA geezers and expect to win against 20-something active professionals from other countries, but what about one or two of the old timers? They could be team captains, almost coaches on the court. They could also put in time with other year-long non-NBA players with interest in making the team...college guys or folks from other leagues who might have time to devote to the project. They would work, travel, and play to make the team more cohesive. Maybe you have a hand-picked half dozen active NBA guys, a couple of old timers, and a few assorted others on each National Team, the NBA guys folded in later and all of the others practicing and playing more often. I don't think it could hurt. If you lacked athleticism it's not like those six NBA guys couldn't handle playing almost a whole game on their own. But right now we don't need more duplication of jumping, juking, and dunking, we need some of those other attributes filled in.
The retired guys get their national spotlight. The National Team gets their smarts and extra practice time. It seems like everybody wins.
Just a thought...
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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I agree totally
I would much prefer the system outlined above and it wouldn't hurt me at all if they lost because we took 3rd even with an all star laden roster. Take some guys from the D-league and train them all year long with some vets and we might not only see some positive results but people might actually start caring again
I can see it now...
Just kidding...but any expectations of former glory will go unrewarded. You're right, in that they can bring a mental aspect to the game and still a decent physical aspect if they work hard. But it's always been my personal opinion that knowing when to leave the game and bowing out gracefully is the way to go. I even understand when an athlete wants to step down at the peak of his game, not settling for anything less than the best.
I do love the heart of these warriors. Just shows you how much they love the game.
Not sure that's a good idea
Do you really think guys like these are more likely to win medals?
The problem facing USA Basketball is the international game is influenced by soccer concepts like passing to space that US players do not understand.
Until USA Basketball hires coaches that understand this, and teach this stuff to US basketball players, USA Basketball is are going to continue to struggle in international competition.
by Blazers Nation on Mar 6, 2007 9:47 AM PST reply actions
It seems to me that...
...passing to space is a far riskier maneuver in basketball than in soccer, and more effectively defended. Compared to the size of the playing area, the ball travels much slower in soccer, and friction between the pitch and the ball can cause many passes to stop in-bounds. Plus Possession of the ball in soccer is far more fluid; and having a pass stolen by an opponent or go out of bounds is far less of a big deal--steals frequently lead to dunks at the other end; stolen passes in soccer are far less likely to lead to a breakaway goal against a prepared defense.
Passing to an area can be an effective strategy against an unprepared opponent. But if the opponent is prepared for it, it's dealt with easily.
Consider this: There is one "passing to an area" play common in US hoops--the alley-oop. When it is executed properly, it's a spectacular play. But--alley-oops are rare in professional games, especially against a set and competent defense. Why? They're easily broken up if the defense is expecting them. And a busted alley-oop is not necessarily a turnover--an uncaught alley-oop pass frequently hits the backboard and stays inbounds; whereas an uncaught pass to the wing is guaranteed to land in the stands.
In short--being able to pass to area (in basketball) isn't necessary IMHO to win in international hoops. Being able to DEFEND such passes, however, is. And since international hoops allows handchecking, there are many techniques the defense can use.
by EngineerScotty on Mar 6, 2007 11:40 AM PST up reply actions
Steve Nash says you are wrong.
Passing to space is only risky if the player being passed to doesn't move to the space being passed to. If the passer knows this target is always going to move to a certain spot in a certain situation because practice has made such a move second nature, then there is no more risk from the pass to space than a pass to a stationary target.
An alley oop play is a terrible example of a standard passing to space play. Until players are capable of running above the rim in the same way they can run on the court, it's a false comparison.
by Blazers Nation on Mar 6, 2007 12:10 PM PST up reply actions
Henry Posted your Suggestion
Mr. Abbot posted your suggestion in the daily recap.
Oh, and by the way, leadership is probably one of our major weaknesses on the Olympic squad. I think that your idea would probably have the biggest impact on our squad and give a little bit of the dream team something to think about...
How about a hybrid?
Scottie Pippen, Reggie Miller, etc.
6 U-22 players about to destroy the league.
Julian Wright, Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Chase Budinger, OJ Mayo, Spencer Hawes.
On the court you could see the proverbial torch being passed. What a great experience for the young guys to play with the legends that they grew up watching.
Full-time US National team may compete better
Franchises with deep rosters would allow young players who wouldn't be getting big playing time to join team. A lot of veterans with expiring contracts would be willing to play for national team for a year, too.
US National Team could earn money to pay players via exhibition schedule against NBA team, Euro pro teams, other national teams.
I think the only way we are going to get a US National team to understand what Euro teams are doing in those Euro style offenses is by being coached on those systems for a full year before heading to major Int'l tournaments.
by Blazers Nation on Mar 6, 2007 11:23 AM PST reply actions
Money
No, but they can get some wicked hookers and dope.
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