What Dream Team?
Recently the agent for Kobe Bryant announced that his client will be unavailable to play in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Kevin Garnett said that he will not play this summer either. These defections of probably the two best basketball players on the planet could seriously affect the “Dream Teams” chance of winning Olympic Gold. By the way can we stop using the phrase “Dream Team?” My “Dream Team” has Wilt, Jordan, Magic, Larry, Kareem, and Oscar all playing in heaven on the same team. I truly feel that if the NBA and USA Basketball got together and really sent our 12 best players over to Greece we would easily walk away with gold.
I understand that the Europeans, Asians, and Australians have made great strides in the game of basketball. In fact some of the best players in the league hail from other continents, like Peja Stojakovic, Yao Ming, and Dirk Nowitzki. Yet I still believe America has the greatest supply of talent. The Foreign teams can run out a comparable starting five to the Americans, but the overall depth would lead the USA to victory. The overall collection of talent in the NBA is comprised of mostly American born players. Over the last two seasons the All-NBA teams have been comprised of 25 US born players, one Canadian, one German, one Chinese, and one Serbian. This shows that even the great foreign talent is spread out all over the world. I just want the best US Team to go out there and see how well they can play.
When I talk about the best team we can put out there, I am not talking about Karl Malone, Mike Bibby, Richard Jefferson, and Ray Allen, who are all scheduled to compete this summer for the red whit and blue. I am talking about the 12 best players in the league, and those players are; Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Jermaine O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Webber. The last two spots depend on your personal preference of guys like Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Baron Davis, Stephon Marbury and Sam Cassell. Give me that core group of ten players and I guarantee a gold medal winning team. In fact give me those ten guys and throw in the two best college players in the land to reward them, Emeka Okafor and Jameer Nelson.
I am an American and I hate to lose. Realistically I do not mind losing, as long as you go down with your best chance to win. Your best chance in basketball is to run your best players out there and have them give it their all. If you lose doing that than you shake the other guys hand and say great job. I am sick of running third rate NBA ball players out there and losing and wondering why we lost. I want a real “Dream Team” to be back out there in Athens come this August.
I understand that the Europeans, Asians, and Australians have made great strides in the game of basketball. In fact some of the best players in the league hail from other continents, like Peja Stojakovic, Yao Ming, and Dirk Nowitzki. Yet I still believe America has the greatest supply of talent. The Foreign teams can run out a comparable starting five to the Americans, but the overall depth would lead the USA to victory. The overall collection of talent in the NBA is comprised of mostly American born players. Over the last two seasons the All-NBA teams have been comprised of 25 US born players, one Canadian, one German, one Chinese, and one Serbian. This shows that even the great foreign talent is spread out all over the world. I just want the best US Team to go out there and see how well they can play.
When I talk about the best team we can put out there, I am not talking about Karl Malone, Mike Bibby, Richard Jefferson, and Ray Allen, who are all scheduled to compete this summer for the red whit and blue. I am talking about the 12 best players in the league, and those players are; Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Jason Kidd, LeBron James, Jermaine O’Neal, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Webber. The last two spots depend on your personal preference of guys like Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony, Vince Carter, Baron Davis, Stephon Marbury and Sam Cassell. Give me that core group of ten players and I guarantee a gold medal winning team. In fact give me those ten guys and throw in the two best college players in the land to reward them, Emeka Okafor and Jameer Nelson.
I am an American and I hate to lose. Realistically I do not mind losing, as long as you go down with your best chance to win. Your best chance in basketball is to run your best players out there and have them give it their all. If you lose doing that than you shake the other guys hand and say great job. I am sick of running third rate NBA ball players out there and losing and wondering why we lost. I want a real “Dream Team” to be back out there in Athens come this August.
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All-Time Dream Team: Point: John Lucas; Shooting Guard: Vernon Maxwell; Small Forward: David Thompson; Power Forward: Chris Washburn; Center: Stanley Roberts; 6th Man: Roy Tarpley
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