Comments on: Break Out The Olive Oil http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/ slangin' knowledge... since 2003. Sun, 04 Jul 2010 20:59:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Thom York http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17923 Thom York Mon, 04 Sep 2006 05:48:11 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17923 Look, the whole idea was a success, albeit at a level that fell one game short. We represented ourselves as a basketball country, we showed a great set of nuts in putting away whay was widely thought to be the best team in the tournament. We weren't playing Lithuania, we were playing the defending World and Olympic Champs. Stew on that for a moment. Significant effort was placed into learning their game, and that is an important thing to remember that we are entering a tournament that is their game. Their court, their ball, their rules, their differences in rules. So for our nba players to play in this environment includes a large learning committment, and one of the most difficuly things to do in athletics is change instinctual reaction. Foreign players ahve a relationship with the officials, as they see them all the time, much like our players do with the NBA officials So as you can see, there are many areas to be addressed to ultimately make this a successful project over the long haul. But let me pose this question to you, had we missed only 8 instead of 15 freethrows, we would not be having this conversation. There would be no questions about appropriate coaches which players wee "should have taken". We are talking about free throws, and no coach, management, or any remote issue can affect that point. It is up to the playerrs, and they know it. Let's remember it is basketball, and while we can point to all types of organizational decisions, once they are between the lines, it comes down to execution of fundamentals, every single night. That is why from what I seem in the demeanor of these players and the coaches that they have committed, this is hte beginning af a new era about what we think about this team. Mark my words. Look, the whole idea was a success, albeit at a level that fell one game short. We represented ourselves as a basketball country, we showed a great set of nuts in putting away whay was widely thought to be the best team in the tournament. We weren’t playing Lithuania, we were playing the defending World and Olympic Champs. Stew on that for a moment.

Significant effort was placed into learning their game, and that is an important thing to remember that we are entering a tournament that is their game. Their court, their ball, their rules, their differences in rules. So for our nba players to play in this environment includes a large learning committment, and one of the most difficuly things to do in athletics is change instinctual reaction. Foreign players ahve a relationship with the officials, as they see them all the time, much like our players do with the NBA officials

So as you can see, there are many areas to be addressed to ultimately make this a successful project over the long haul.

But let me pose this question to you, had we missed only 8 instead of 15 freethrows, we would not be having this conversation. There would be no questions about appropriate coaches which players wee “should have taken”. We are talking about free throws, and no coach, management, or any remote issue can affect that point. It is up to the playerrs, and they know it.

Let’s remember it is basketball, and while we can point to all types of organizational decisions, once they are between the lines, it comes down to execution of fundamentals, every single night.

That is why from what I seem in the demeanor of these players and the coaches that they have committed, this is hte beginning af a new era about what we think about this team. Mark my words.

]]> By: asilv http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17679 asilv Sun, 03 Sep 2006 02:14:19 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17679 "they were Hellas good" haha the picture quotes are great “they were Hellas good”
haha the picture quotes are great

]]> By: Mr. Bojangles http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17509 Mr. Bojangles Sat, 02 Sep 2006 06:04:50 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17509 Full-time coach is a great idea. It's worked very well for the World Cup. Full-time coach is a great idea. It’s worked very well for the World Cup.

]]> By: UIUC-Chief http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17461 UIUC-Chief Sat, 02 Sep 2006 03:22:25 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17461 That last sentence should have read as follows: (Im just atoning for all of the semi-drunk, grammatically incorrect typing that i am responsible for, across all the internet.) "That being said the only players I would keep from our current team are: Melo, Paul, Hinrich, Brand and Bosh, maybe Wade. That last sentence should have read as follows: (Im just atoning for all of the semi-drunk, grammatically incorrect typing that i am responsible for, across all the internet.)
“That being said the only players I would keep from our current team are: Melo, Paul, Hinrich, Brand and Bosh, maybe Wade.

]]> By: UIUC-Chief http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17395 UIUC-Chief Fri, 01 Sep 2006 22:03:06 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17395 I agree with Bouj. We need a full time coach running the US program, as soon as he is back from Japan Coach K will only be worried about Duke recruiting, getting Duke ready to underachive at next years tourney etc..etc... We are now less than 2 years away from the Beijing olympics, our final 15 need to be named now, and this group has to work together for the next 21 months, they need to play exhibition (more like practice) games with top college teams, play European and South American national teams in the summer, hell even play an exhibition game during All Star Weekend, Team USA against Argentina for example (non of this US vs. the world non-sense the NHL does). That being said the only players I would keep off this current team are: Melo, Paul, Hinrich, Brand, and Bosh. Maybe Wade. I agree with Bouj. We need a full time coach running the US program, as soon as he is back from Japan Coach K will only be worried about Duke recruiting, getting Duke ready to underachive at next years tourney etc..etc…
We are now less than 2 years away from the Beijing olympics, our final 15 need to be named now, and this group has to work together for the next 21 months, they need to play exhibition (more like practice) games with top college teams, play European and South American national teams in the summer, hell even play an exhibition game during All Star Weekend, Team USA against Argentina for example (non of this US vs. the world non-sense the NHL does).

That being said the only players I would keep off this current team are: Melo, Paul, Hinrich, Brand, and Bosh. Maybe Wade.

]]> By: Arthur http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17391 Arthur Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:41:04 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17391 As much as we talk about how the team has too many scoring superstars, I really think Gilbert would have helped us in that game. There was a point where only Carmelo could score, and that's pretty shocking on a stacked team like this. And yeah, the pick and roll was obviously a huge problem. But I was more surprised by the fact that Spanoulis could just take our guys off the dribble, drive to the hole, and lay it up... seemingly with ease. Our D had some serious problems. And Ryan - I was surprised to see him too, and immediately came out with the "no way he's Greek" reaction. But his name is Sofoklis Schortsanitis, and according to Google he has a Greek father and Nigerian mother. Which makes him legit. This isn't like Santos, the Brazilian left back on the Japanese soccer team... As much as we talk about how the team has too many scoring superstars, I really think Gilbert would have helped us in that game. There was a point where only Carmelo could score, and that’s pretty shocking on a stacked team like this.

And yeah, the pick and roll was obviously a huge problem. But I was more surprised by the fact that Spanoulis could just take our guys off the dribble, drive to the hole, and lay it up… seemingly with ease. Our D had some serious problems.

And Ryan – I was surprised to see him too, and immediately came out with the “no way he’s Greek” reaction. But his name is Sofoklis Schortsanitis, and according to Google he has a Greek father and Nigerian mother. Which makes him legit. This isn’t like Santos, the Brazilian left back on the Japanese soccer team…

]]> By: KP http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17389 KP Fri, 01 Sep 2006 21:38:11 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17389 Thank God it's over. Maybe now basketball will stop hogging all of the posts. Bring on the NFL. PS, I take back what I said in a previous post about stereotypes. Blacks are not better at basketball than whites. Thank God it’s over. Maybe now basketball will stop hogging all of the posts. Bring on the NFL.

PS, I take back what I said in a previous post about stereotypes. Blacks are not better at basketball than whites.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17376 Ryan Fri, 01 Sep 2006 20:08:36 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17376 Ya know, I don't want to say that I'm better than coach K or anything, but one of the first things I taught my middle school team was how to defend the pick and roll.....And they picked it up fairly quickly.....But like I said, I don't want to say that I'm better than coach K. P.S....I had no idea there were black people in Greece. I got a bruh man in Greece. word Ya know, I don’t want to say that I’m better than coach K or anything, but one of the first things I taught my middle school team was how to defend the pick and roll…..And they picked it up fairly quickly…..But like I said, I don’t want to say that I’m better than coach K.

P.S….I had no idea there were black people in Greece. I got a bruh man in Greece. word

]]> By: the mighty mjd http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17372 the mighty mjd Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:33:55 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17372 You're right about that, UC, but the difference is that it's the same guys, year after year, and in competition after competition. They've got a ton of experience in that system, with that coach, with those teammates. We have a new group of guys and a new coach every time another tournament comes along. You’re right about that, UC, but the difference is that it’s the same guys, year after year, and in competition after competition. They’ve got a ton of experience in that system, with that coach, with those teammates. We have a new group of guys and a new coach every time another tournament comes along.

]]> By: UC http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17369 UC Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:05:18 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17369 I don't buy the argument that says we lose to teams like Greece because they have more experience playing together. Their schedules aren't that much different than that of the U.S. They play for their club teams in a long Euroleague season just like NBA players. And then they get together here and there for an international competition. Just like NBA players. Granted, I'm sure the Greek players have played with each other more than the Americans. But too many people make it sound like these guys play for Greece - and only Greece - year round. That isn't true. (Same goes for other countries. Spain, Turkey, etc) These players play with their club teams first and their country second. Just like NBA players. I don’t buy the argument that says we lose to teams like Greece because they have more experience playing together. Their schedules aren’t that much different than that of the U.S. They play for their club teams in a long Euroleague season just like NBA players. And then they get together here and there for an international competition. Just like NBA players.

Granted, I’m sure the Greek players have played with each other more than the Americans. But too many people make it sound like these guys play for Greece – and only Greece – year round. That isn’t true. (Same goes for other countries. Spain, Turkey, etc)

These players play with their club teams first and their country second.

Just like NBA players.

]]> By: Socraticsilence http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17362 Socraticsilence Fri, 01 Sep 2006 18:21:15 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17362 One more thing, out of curiousity does anyone think if we just sent an actual NBA (obviously not the Mavs what with Dirk) and just added the All-Stars to fill in the holes Foriegn BOrn Players left we'd do better? I mean maybe not this years Heat, because obviously you can't count of Ref's giving us a title in International play, but what about the Spurs, with say Chris Paul and Melo for Manu and Parker?; or the Pistons, then we'd have a fully gelled team (something which if we just tinker a little bit we might not have to worry about in '08) anyway. One more thing, out of curiousity does anyone think if we just sent an actual NBA (obviously not the Mavs what with Dirk) and just added the All-Stars to fill in the holes Foriegn BOrn Players left we’d do better? I mean maybe not this years Heat, because obviously you can’t count of Ref’s giving us a title in International play, but what about the Spurs, with say Chris Paul and Melo for Manu and Parker?; or the Pistons, then we’d have a fully gelled team (something which if we just tinker a little bit we might not have to worry about in ’08) anyway.

]]> By: Socraticsilence http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17360 Socraticsilence Fri, 01 Sep 2006 18:15:58 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17360 Am I the only one who finds it a little bit ironic that we contiune to lose to team that have all the earmarks of K's Duke teams: realtivley unathletic, tight teamwork, good outside shooting, I mean for gods sakes you think a man who contiually drill this shit ad nauseum at the college level would have considered carrying a shooter, (admittedly Micheal Redd and J.J. were out due to injuries and they as well as Gilbert might now get a shot in the Olympics if for god skaes we at least trim Jamison's sorry ass) why isn't Ray Allen on this team (in 08' he might be too old but right now he would have been great off the bench). Am I the only one who finds it a little bit ironic that we contiune to lose to team that have all the earmarks of K’s Duke teams: realtivley unathletic, tight teamwork, good outside shooting, I mean for gods sakes you think a man who contiually drill this shit ad nauseum at the college level would have considered carrying a shooter, (admittedly Micheal Redd and J.J. were out due to injuries and they as well as Gilbert might now get a shot in the Olympics if for god skaes we at least trim Jamison’s sorry ass) why isn’t Ray Allen on this team (in 08′ he might be too old but right now he would have been great off the bench).

]]> By: charlie http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17349 charlie Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:40:20 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17349 I was mostly rooting for the US to win just so I wouldn't have to hear people rant on and on about how we've "lost our fundamentals." It's an international game now and that's a good thing and doesn't mean necessarily that the NBA has gone bad. Whether b-ball was better in 1992 we don't know and won't know b/c their international competition sucked. Does England still freak out every time their cricket team loses? Another thing, I think it should be factored in that these tournaments are single-elimination. I don't know if US would've beat Greece in a 7-game series, but they probably would have at least figured out the pick and roll at some point. In general though, it makes me uncomfortable to crown a single-elimination champion "the best" (or the 76ers and Mavs would be NBA champions now). I was mostly rooting for the US to win just so I wouldn’t have to hear people rant on and on about how we’ve “lost our fundamentals.” It’s an international game now and that’s a good thing and doesn’t mean necessarily that the NBA has gone bad. Whether b-ball was better in 1992 we don’t know and won’t know b/c their international competition sucked. Does England still freak out every time their cricket team loses?

Another thing, I think it should be factored in that these tournaments are single-elimination. I don’t know if US would’ve beat Greece in a 7-game series, but they probably would have at least figured out the pick and roll at some point. In general though, it makes me uncomfortable to crown a single-elimination champion “the best” (or the 76ers and Mavs would be NBA champions now).

]]> By: Mr. Bojangles http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17346 Mr. Bojangles Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:06:45 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17346 Hey, is that Ryan Reynolds going for the lay up? Anyway, fuck this tournament. When Americans don't win.. it's just unAmerican. Basketball is now on my terrorist shit list, with soccer. Hey, is that Ryan Reynolds going for the lay up?

Anyway, fuck this tournament. When Americans don’t win.. it’s just unAmerican. Basketball is now on my terrorist shit list, with soccer.

]]> By: Fan's Attic http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17345 Fan's Attic Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:01:37 +0000 http://www.themightymjd.com/2006/09/01/break-out-the-olive-oil/#comment-17345 i thought pick-and-rolls were basic offensive plays. how come our players/coaches can't even defend this simple play? i thought pick-and-rolls were basic offensive plays. how come our players/coaches can’t even defend this simple play?

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