[Cusematt23]

In the wake of Team USA's awful loss to Puerto Rico, many have expressed doubts about the style of play in today's NBA translating to international competition. People are saying that the NBA is a "superstar's" league whereas international ball is real basketball.

Now, here's where I am lost. What rules in the NBA really favor the superstar approach as compared to the team approach? I remember that illegal defense helped the superstar style, but this rule has since been nullified.

What exactly is the huge difference between international basketball and NBA basketball? People are saying that internationals play more as a team. I would counter this by saying that the vast majority of NBA champions and successful teams in the NBA employ the superstar approach. If international team ball is so much better than NBA ball, how come it doesn't work in the NBA? What rules make this so impossible to employ in the league but not in international competition???

Get what I'm saying? I'm just confused as hell I guess

Also, would people here be in favor of an NBA that is played more like international basketball? I know that I would. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching teams like Serbia-Montenegro, PR, Italy, and Germany despite their lack of monster dunks and alley-oops. Can't wait to catch Spain either. I look forward to a day when the rules are adjusted in the NBA to favor skills over athleticism.

[jokeaward]

It's just... errgh. Duncan can go 12/15 26 pts or something, but they're beating us like Wilt's Jayhawks.

We should've brought Redd and Barry to stand at the shorter 3-pt line. Jus stand there, shoot, and pressure on D. Hell, even a big shooter like Doleac, he could be a lot like the bigs we've seen.

[Coatesvillain]

What people mean when they call the NBA a superstar league it's the style of play not the rules. NBA is all about the highlight reel plays that you'll see the following morning on sportscenter.

Moving without the basketball, playing team defense, being able to hit an outside jumper aren't as exciting.

I wish the NBA could take the international style of play and utilize more of it, but it would take the players accepting it. Some people though simply will never be able to move off the ball and such (I complained in the playoffs about Marbury's lack of off ball movement).

[Yyzlin]

There is no defensive 3-second rule, I believe. That way, opposing teams can pack the lane and make it difficult for the USA team to drive, which is their strength.

[Azamad Bagatov]

And there are different traveling rules.

It's not allowed to move the main pillar before the dribbling.

[Spriggan]

Originally posted by Yyzlin!
There is no defensive 3-second rule, I believe. That way, opposing teams can pack the lane and make it difficult for the USA team to drive, which is their strength.

doesn't that just make you sick that shaq didn't go?

he would have absolutely terrorized opposing teams.

[Coatesvillain]

Originally posted by spriggan9!
doesn't that just make you sick that shaq didn't go?

he would have absolutely terrorized opposing teams.

With the way they call fouls Shaq would've been nullified. They call more touch fouls in the paint than on the wing, the exact opposite of in the NBA.

[Spriggan]

Originally posted by PhillyPhanatic!


With the way they call fouls Shaq would've been nullified. They call more touch fouls in the paint than on the wing, the exact opposite of in the NBA.

yeah, come to think of it, that's probably true.

shucks.

[HeinzGuderian]

They have traveling in international rules, they dont have it in the NBA.

[sweet_constipation]

^^^^^




Seriously though, as people have said, it's a different game.
Or as many of us like to say, it's basketball and not the NBA.
Just because you drive into the lane doesn't mean you automatically get the call. You can just see it in the body language and eyes of the USA players...."where's the call ref"...

It not all their fault. Since they started playing, they've always been the guy with the ball, the guy that will get the call, the guy that gets special treatment.
Now, you're asking them to play without the ball, play zone team defense, and expect to NOT get the calls they typically get..............


Something else about international play. Ball movement serves a purpose. Watching the few times the USA attemped to move the ball around was just for the sake of moving the ball around instead of finding an opening or an open man.
Another difference is the ability to hit an open shot.
People have been saying this for years, but.......I guess no one listened?

[jazzy1]

Why all this need to psycho babble this thing.

We have a very badly selected bunch of slashers and garbage men. We have no shooters.

This excuse or thinking that International bball is real ball is bogus. Real Ball is what Americans say it is. We are still the best.

These int teams have team chemistry we don't. We don't have the talent with a badly selected team to just cakewalk through these games.

If we sent our VERY BEST teams we would still blow them out ( Shaq,Kobe, Tmac etc)

We have too may underdeveloped players and too many role players.

Boozer,Stoudemire, Okafor are all big men with no real skills other than stick back, finishing and Dunking.

Jefferson,Marion,are slashers


The Rules are having no impact the inability to shoot it is.

When the experience and talent disparity are at the same point with Tmac,Kobe Shaq's etc we would destroy those teams.

AI and Duncan are the only 2 playes who have been through plenty of playoff wars as their teams main players no one else has.

Teams are daring us to take the outside shot daring us to make baskets and we can't.

[sweet_constipation]

Now everyone is a 'garbage man'?



It's been said before........NBA players in general couldn't shoot to save their lives.
15 - 17 feet range we're talking about here, not to mention that the 3-point line is moved a couple feet in.


I don't doubt for one second that a team of Tmac, Kobe, KG, Shaq, and whoever would win, but for a team of second tier talent(plus AI and Duncan) to get dominated is a freakin' joke.
Brazil could send their second tier soccer team and still destroy the US if they wanted to.
We should be the same with basketball.