USA basketball is missing something ... or someone

[jlove]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/080807&sportCat=nba

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FANTASTIC article. Scoop is a great write and IMO hit the nail on the head with this USA squad. We all know that Amare just can't be stopped offensively. He is as close to a master of intimidation on the offensive end of the floor that there is (at least from the PF position).

 

[slinslin]

Unfortunately I feel like he never watched Amare play, Amare is a monster dunker and offensive player but he hasn't been a tough guy throwing around elbows or anything like that at all. I wouldn't call him soft but not tough either.

 

[Irish]

Unfortunately I feel like he never watched Amare play, Amare is a monster dunker and offensive player but he hasn't been a tough guy throwing around elbows or anything like that at all. I wouldn't call him soft but not tough either.

I think Amare's intimidation comes from his ability to score after being fouled HARD.

There hasn't been a pick and roll combination like Amare and Steve since Malone and Stockton (both on the real Dream Team). Steve can thread the needle like no one else (and pull up for a jumper when it is not available) and Amare has amazing hands, quickness, and explosiveness. But what sets him apart is his upper body strength that can accept a lot of contact and still dunk with power. All you can do is hope the call is charge rather than blocking/undercutting because there is no other way to stop him. I'm sure he'd have a bit more trouble going against the Euro zone, but he's still quicker than anyone these guys have ever seen.

 

[Bufalay]

haha Amare is awesome, but not that awesome.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I think Amare is the most offensively dominating forward in the league and feel this article was overblown.

He doesn't bring intimidation, he brings an inevitability factor that the other players can't obtain.

When he gets the ball within 15 feet of the rim, it's going in. While that surely dampens the spirits of the competitors, I feel intimidation is a whole different level.

The "feeling" scoop is trying to describe could only come from a LBJSTAT genetically modified organism.

 

[sunsallday]

Even though people will attack Amare for his weakness on defense, his offense is damn near impossible to stop. I have seen a lot of Amare's games, and his ability to just dunk on people and make jumpshots with such ease is amazing. The reason why some people underestimate Amare's offensive game is because many believe he gets most of his points from Nash's assists(like the pick and roll bounce pass). However, if you look at all the great big men, they had people who helped them get good looks.

Kareem had the Big O and Magic
Shaq had penny and kobe(when he was less selfish)
Dirk had Nash
Malone had Stockton
etc.

Heck most points comes off from a good pass by a teammate when you are open. Yes Nash gives Amare good looks, but he also finishes with perfection and can create for himself. I have seen him shoot over people or post them up(though rarely) and cut through the lane. So yes Amare is intimidating. He slams you(having somebodies nuts in your face is never fun) and smiles back or gives you a stare. I have seen players confidence demolished after getting posterized by Amare. I could of sworn Tim Duncan was crying when Amare dunked on him(even when he blocked it, it still went in) during the last game vs the Spurs in the regular season.

 

[arwillan]

I think Amare is the most offensively dominating forward in the league and feel this article was overblown.

He doesn't bring intimidation, he brings an inevitability factor that the other players can't obtain.

When he gets the ball within 15 feet of the rim, it's going in. While that surely dampens the spirits of the competitors, I feel intimidation is a whole different level.

The "feeling" scoop is trying to describe could only come from a LBJSTAT genetically modified organism.

disagree. lebron > amare

 

[WuRaider]

What Scoop is really trying to say is Amare's dunks =

You must be registered for see images

 

[shazaam6]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRj6jN-6K0w&feature=related

 

[Sovereignz]

I agree, but I don't think he'd be able to make that kind of impact playing with those particular players. It doesn't matter that against international D you could give him the ball and expect him to either score or get fouled 70-75% of the time, the shots that go up on that team are coming from Carmelo, Kobe, Lebron or D-Whistle 95% of the time.

How can you be afraid of a guy who you know is only going to shoot 3 times a game?

 

[HooverDam]

I can't stand that Scoop Jackson writes like he's borderline illiterate, and I believe he does it on purpose. Ellipsis everywhere, half written words, what a buffoon.

 

[Hat]

Lol

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

disagree. lebron > amare

Lebron is the most offensively capable and complete player, but amare is much more dominating.

Lebron can shoot, dunk, pass, slash. Amare can dominate.

 

[arwillan]

Lebron is the most offensively capable and complete player, but amare is much more dominating.

Lebron can shoot, dunk, pass, slash. Amare can dominate.

seems like an adequate assessment, i'll give you that. but other teams fear lebron, at times, the same way they do amare. they know that both are freakishly athletic and will slam the ball down someone's throat regardless of any contact. both can dominate the game, just in different ways. lebron will score 28 straight points on you if needed to win (see pistons- 2007 playoffs). amare may not do that, but he certainly sends a message when he scores.

 

[dodie53]

What Scoop is really trying to say is Amare's dunks =

You must be registered for see images

suryuken!

 

[CardinalsFan11]

I disagree with this article. I really don't think Amare would have had much of an impact on the Olympic team.

Not because he isn't a talented player, but because his game is very limited against solid zone defense. International teams like to pack the paint and force the offense to take contested mid-range shots (that's why the 3 pointer is so dangerous). When you look at Amare's offensive game, his mid-range shot is usually open because most bigs have to slack off so they don't give up the dunk. Without the threat of him getting to the rim, those open jumpers become much more difficult.

What the "Redeem Team" is suffering from right now is a lack of aggression. They're all playing to unselfish. Someone needs to say "Give me the ball, and get out of the way."

 

[Irish]

This team has guys who should be able to hit threes against the zone, but in the Aussie game were way off (something like 3 of 18).

It they hit 8 of 18 for three like we should have expected, thiat game would have been a total blowout.

 

[arwillan]

This team has guys who should be able to hit threes against the zone, but in the Aussie game were way off (something like 3 of 18).

It they hit 8 of 18 for three like we should have expected, thiat game would have been a total blowout.

yeah i noticed that stat too. you'd think with a team with as many 3 point threats as team usa, there would never be a night where they go 3/18. let's hope when we play teams like spain or argentina we don't go cold.

 

[CardinalsFan11]

This team has guys who should be able to hit threes against the zone, but in the Aussie game were way off (something like 3 of 18).

It they hit 8 of 18 for three like we should have expected, thiat game would have been a total blowout.

I think this is the area where they miss Joe Johnson the most. JJ is a guy who can create his own shot when necessary (or whenever he's playing in a hawks uniform) but has the shooting ability to complement guys like LBJ, Melo, Wade and Kobe.

 

[Joe Mama]

Couldn't disagree with this article more. No doubt Amare Stoudemire is a fantastic offensive player, but everybody knows that whatever he scores on offense he won't give up on defense. I don't think he really intimidates anybody in the NBA for that reason. Just take a look at the scoring for mediocre power/cheer against the Phoenix Suns. Throw in the fact that most of these teams know how to play a good zone, and this article is just way off.

I'm glad Amare Stoudemire decided to rest his knees.

Joe

 

[Lorenzo]

the dream team lacks MJ. he is the most dominant player of the modern era. he would never allow his team to lose in the olympics. easy for me to say I know...sorry. but I think seriously that's what this current team lacks is leadership. I don't know if kobe can fill that role. but I hope he does in this tournament.

I don't think this team will miss amare that much because they have a lot of other guys that can dominate other foreign players inside at the rim. like dwight howard to name one. could they use amare...of corse. I wish he was on the team. amare is definitely the most dominant forward in phoenix. I have to agree totally there.

 

[arwillan]

amare is definitely the most dominant forward in phoenix.

that's a bold statement.

 

[Lorenzo]

that's a bold statement.

at least it's not debable.

 

[shazaam6]

Barkley was dominant on the 92 dream team.

http://www.angelfire.com/falcon/basket_1992/

Barkely's shooting was very good. Jordan had a ton of steals.

http://www.realclearsports.com/video_log/2008/07/top_10_plays_from_the_1992_dre.html

 

[Irish]

Barkely's shooting was very good. Jordan had a ton of steals.

http://www.realclearsports.com/video_log/2008/07/top_10_plays_from_the_1992_dre.html

I think this is the one area where international basketball has had it's biggest improvement. 1992 other teams had no idea just how important making crisp, accurate passes are when dealing with the kind of athleticism the USA teams present. In that seals lead to automatic two points, that is something that the USA team can kill teams off if they aren't careful. But the good ones are careful and the USA players end up gambling too much trying to force turnovers.