Using All Five Guys

[George O'Brien]

CHRIS BROUSSARD of ESPN Insider mentioned D'Antoni in talking about the Greek win over USA. You have to go to ESPN Insider for the entire article.

You know what, though? I bet the fourth and fifth starters on an NBA squad could cut off a back screen and hit a layup if a coach dared put in such a play. But it's easier to just give it to my flashy, dunking, dribble-happy, maxed-out swingman and let him do his thing.

I mean this from the bottom of my heart: if I were an NBA GM and I was looking for a head coach, I'd look to Europe.

It's becoming clearer every day why Mike D'Antoni, who cut his coaching teeth in Europe, consistently overachieves in Phoenix. His offense uses all five players.

Actually, I think many of the Suns players still struggle with this style. Adding Diaw has been huge, because he brings such a strong team orientation to his play.

 

[Louis]

From Charley Rosen at foxsports.com

Here are the final grades for the players and the coaches:
LeBron James — Too many bad decisions and bad defense to rate a higher grade: B
Carmelo Anthony — Worked unusually hard on defense and was a reliable scorer: A-
Dwyane Wade — Was out of synch in half-court offense. Gambled too much on defense. Scored most of his points against Argentina when game was already decided: B-
Elton Brand — Disappeared against Greece. Was cramped by zonish man-to-man defenses. Played poor positional defense: C
Dwight Howard — Didn't play well against the better teams: C-
Kirk Hinrich — Made some shots. Moved the ball. Played acceptable pressure defense, but also made numerous mistakes: C-
Chris Bosh — Played no defense. Was useless in the second round.: D-
Shane Battier — Played his role well. Even hit some shots early. Didn't play enough later: B
Joe Johnson — Made some shots. Missed some. Had little on-court presence: C-
Chris Paul — Was less effective as the competition and the pressure increased. Wound up making too many mistakes: D+
Antawn Jamison — No defense. Not enough makes. Didn't belong on the team: F
Brad Miller — His job was to play the high post versus zones, but most teams played man-to-man: INCOMPLETE
Mike Krzyzewski — Instilled an unselfish, non-arrogant attitude. Usually did a good job of distributing playing time. Maintained a positive attitude. but his game plans on both ends of the court were inadequate: C
Mike D'Antoni — His take-the-first-available-shot philosophy was ruinous. He was reputed to be an expert on the international game, but when Team USA was denied the chance to get out and run, their half-court sets were just as ineffective as were the Phoenix Suns: F
Jim Boeheim — His expertise is the zone, both offense and defense. Team USA flunked the defensive aspect and barely passed muster against the few zone defenses they encountered: C-
Nate McMillan — He was presumably responsible for man-to-man defense. If not, he gets a PASS. If so, he rates an F-

The overall grade for the entire Team USA is a gentleman's "C." While that might be an acceptable qualification for a president, it isn't nearly good enough in international basketball competition where nothing less than a Dean's List rating will suffice.

Accordingly, Team USA has been left back and is compelled to attend summer school next summer in Venezuela. Unless their game shows a drastic improvement, they will be unceremoniously expelled from the Beijing Olympics.
Charley Rosen is FOXSports.com's NBA analyst and author of 13 books about hoops, the current one being "The pivotal season, How the 1971-72 L.A. Lakers changed the NBA."

 

[George O'Brien]

This grading of D'Antoni is idiotic. No half court offense? The Suns were a team without the best low post threat in the NBA, but averaged 108.36 ppg - just under 6 ppg more than the number two team AND did it by averaging 47.9% from the field (#1 in the NBA) and 39.9% for three (#1 in the NBA) and 26.57 assists per game (#1 in the NBA) and had the best free throw shooting team at 80.6%. Some of that kind of offense might have made a difference against Greece.

 

[Chaz]

The problem with USA's offense was they didn't have Steve Nash making decisions at the PG.

I don't know how D'Antoni's offense was ruinous. Team USA scored more points, by far, than any team in the tournament.

 

[CaptainInsano]

What an idiot, D'antoni's offense is the only thing that kept the team afloat. It was supposed to be the defense that got the championship and that didn't show up at all, so whos fault is it?

Not even 1 percent D'antoni's he did his job which was offense and it was great considering there is not much you can do when team USA is made up of a bunch of short range jumpshot and primarily slasher superstars who can't shoot the 3 worth crap.

No low post super-threat or even a threat AT ALL + crappy 3 point shooting and we still put up great offensive numbers. Kudos to D'antoni's work.

 

[Sunshooter]

The final decision is STILL made by coach K, so other assiatants should not receive any marks for the tournment.

I like the team's selection but they did not have chance to prove themselves.

 

[The Commish]

I love it. Charley Rosen still manages to find ways to hate on us. If I ran into Rosen I would punt him. I would be worth the anger management classes and probation.

 

[basketballfan]

I love it. Charley Rosen still manages to find ways to hate on us. If I ran into Rosen I would punt him. I would be worth the anger management classes and probation.

To be fair though, Charley Rosen hates on everybody. That guy is the most negative person in the world. All of his articles focus on all the things that certain players and coaches can't do and why certain teams won't win. The only person he likes is Phil Jackson cause Rosen sucks up to him every chance he gets. I would actually be interested to know what you guys think of Charley Rosen and his articles. I just can't see why anyone would like this fool. RedStripe, I hope you get your chance to meet this guy and punt him. Good luck.

 

[Mainstreet]

Why do I think Eddie House could have helped this U.S. team?... because he can hit an open jump shot.

IMO, the U.S. team appears to need more role players or certainly more shooters although I think poor defense ultimately did them in against Greece.

 

[basketballfan]

They definitely need more shooters, but when the olympics actually start, Team USA will probably have Michael Redd and Kobe Bryant on the team which will help. Also, Shawn Marion and Chauncey Billups will probably make it which will help with their defense against teams like Greece.

 

[Mainstreet]

They definitely need more shooters, but when the olympics actually start, Team USA will probably have Michael Redd and Kobe Bryant on the team which will help. Also, Shawn Marion and Chauncey Billups will probably make it which will help with their defense against teams like Greece.

I agree.

However, it appeared obvious to most outsiders the U.S. Team needed more shooters for this World Championship and this team was supposed to pride itself on defense. I am left a bit perplexed when most of the Greek and Spanish team players can't make an NBA roster.

I know the FIBA game is different, but when is the U.S. supposed to catch up? I know the Olympics appears to be the benchmark for the U.S. but the World Championship, as I understand it, is highly valued by the rest of the world as well if not more so.

 

[Chaz]

I think the US players are good enough shooters if they are getting good open shots from offensive execution. When they are taking contested threes off the dribble they don't look so good.

These aren't NBA threes.

Granted it will be nice to have three more guys that can shoot well in Billips, Redd, and Bryant.

 

[George O'Brien]

The primary reason the Greeks won was because they had only 11 turnovers inspite of the USA press. It is not clear the Spanish team would have handled the USA press so well considering they barely beat Argentina. The Greeks were ideally suited to play a USA team that relied too much on the press and had not really developed good half court defense.

The Greek game was not the first game where their interior defense was being shredded. What kept saving the USA team was that it could press for 40 minutes and simply wear down teams that lacked good guard play. With the press, USA was constantly creating turnovers and easy open court buckets to the degree that the USA team did have to develop its half court offense as well as it should have.

They have a lot to work on.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I am left a bit perplexed when most of the Greek and Spanish team players can't make an NBA roster.

I wanted to clear something up. Player's on other countries national not in the NBA doesn't mean that they "can't make an NBA roster"

The fact is, many of these players make too much money in Europe. All their contracts are reported as post tax, unlike American contracts. NBA teams don't want to spend their entire MLE on a guy they know little about (and even less about how their game would translate to the NBA) to get him over here.

The only player to really do that was Sarunas - and he had one of the most ridiculous resumes I have ever seen from a basketball player.

Even when you get past the money part, big name players in Europe are treated like gods in some cases. They would never get that here unless they became superstars. Also, not everyone wants to come to the US to play basketball - just like lots of Americans don't want to go to Europe to play. It is far away from home, and an unfamilar environment.


Also, these teams have been together for years. That is why the US went to a 3 year commitment system. We are trying to emulate the team feeling and chemestry built up on other national teams. I personally think it is good in the long run we didn't win the WC, it means the team has to play together again at least once before the olympics.

Teams in the NBA that are new to each other rarely succeed (sans the recent Suns). Teams need to grow together to be really great. Why should it be different in international play?