Keep in mind many players turned down an invitation to this team. The best player in the league, Tim Duncan, was on the team, but low-post play is not as big of a factor in the outcome of the game internationally as it is in the NBA. There was no true point guard (Marbury is a lousy point for the international league; too much of a ball hog), and no perimeter shooting 2-guard. Role players were needed, but the American team is not set-up for those conditions. I still say they could have won wqith the right kind of players taken from the colleges.

First off, we know they sent the wrong players when three of the players (Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, and Emeka Okafor) have a combined two-years experience. I mean, Boozer? Jefferson? Odom? Of course, it isn't our/their fault though. The real players were too big of wimps to go. And then, and worst of all, we didn't send a team. We didn't really have any real position players. There was no clear-cut point guard (like Jason Kidd). There was no dominant center (no, Tim Duncan doesn't count). And, most obvious of all, there was no one who could actually shoot. And finally, we sent the wrong players because we didn't send anyone who played with anyone else, or who would at least have time to learn to play with anyone else. We sent the wrong players. We shouldn't have had a few rookies. We should have had a team.

Can't blaim the US here coaching staff here, many just refused to play for their country.

Should have sent a team, not a commercial for the NBA's up and coming talent.

No question. I played ball yesterday against a real baller. 6'7, 230 pounds or so - and a spectacular dunker. His game was exactly the kind of game that failed in Athens. One on one, overwhelming physical talent, and it was clear that he wasn't used to having to play team ball. His analysis of the USA's failure was simple - They should have sent Hoiberg. Fred Hoiberg is a sub for the Minnesota Timberwolves - relatively unathletic, and definitely will never be an NBA all star. One thing Hoiberg can do is shoot the ball. The fact that this dominating pick-up player whose game was much more similar to Carmelo's than to Hoiberg's would say that the U.S. sent the wrong players says a lot. While there are not many pure shooters in the NBA, there are some - Hoiberg, Kyle Korver, Michael Redd, Reggie Miller and even some college players... Reddick, McNamara, etc. The fact that all of these players were left off the roster cost us the Gold.