Looking Back On - U.S.A. Men’s Basketball at the World Championships

Top Five Comments Regarding Team USA’s loss to Greece

4) I’m shocked that Coach K’s team couldn’t beat a bunch of Euroleague players, especially since most of Duke’s best players usually end up riding the pine on European teams after flaming out in the NBA.

3) I bet we will kick ass in the Olympic Dunk Contest.

2) Maybe if Coach K ate less children…or we hit some 3’s…whatever.

1) Apparently ACC refs did not do the game.

 (Courtesy, Deadspin.com) 

Now for the serious commentary…

What did the U.S. team’s bronze medal performance at the recently completed FIBA World Championships leave us with? Well, a lot of the same questions that existed when the team was assembled a few months ago.

Is Kobe Bryant really the answer? What about a perimeter threat like J.J. Redick? Are we in need of a complete overhaul in basketball philosophy? Or just the talent on the floor? Are we still the world’s premier basketball power?

To say that the American team was a total failure because it failed to bring home a gold medal is nothing short of asinine. The U.S. team lost one game, to a Greek team that couldn’t miss from the field. Compare that to the multiple and sometimes embarrassing losses, both in Athens and at the 2002 FIBA World Championships in Indianapolis, and the improvement has been obvious.

The team does seemingly have the right head coach on the sidelines in Mike Krzyzewski.

The style of play he emphasizes at Duke, which focuses on ball movement and perimeter shooting, fits the International game perfectly. He also has the respect of some of the NBA’s most talented players, including the aforementioned Bryant, who nearly lured him to the bright lights of L.A. in 2004. The hope is, that when it comes time to make the final decisions concerning the 2008 Olympic Team, many of the NBA’s top American talent won’t decline the invitation from Coach K.

Name to Watch - Nastia Liukin (Gymnastics)

If 2004 USA Gymnastics coach Marta Karolyi had her way, she would have taken Nastia Liukin with her to Athens, but she wasn’t age-eligible at just 14 years of age.

That’s the downside of being a child prodigy.

Liukin, who defended her U.S. All-Around title last month in St. Paul, has both immense talent and great genetics. As the daughter of 1988 Olympic gold medalist Valery Liukin, and 1987 Rhythmic World champion Anna Kotchneva, Nastia was exposed to the gym at a young age….very young; Meaning her gymnastics career started almost immediately after taking her first steps. 

Next month, both Liukin and teammate Chellsie Memmel will take to the floor at the World Gymnastics Championships in Germany, looking to continue their recent string of dominance in the sport. Memmel is the defending All-Around Champion, Liukin is the defending champion on the balance beam and the uneven bars.