Obviously, the rest of the world is good at basketball, and congrats to Lithuania outplaying us. The world is AWESOME in many aspects of the game, especially shooting and zone defense, passing etc. But w/all due respect, Coach Brown is responsible for today's loss. If USA lost by 20, then players are mostly to blame. But today's game was lost b/c of two main reasons. Coach Brown shows to much respect for veterans and his own mindset. Case in point, he won't pull a player if they make the same, KEY mistakes. For example, Stephon Marbury consistently goes under the screen, giving up open 3 pointers. It's not rocket science. The commentators have said this over and over. When it happens, bench the player immediately. That get's the point across. I'll give Brown the benefit of the doubt. He's probably told his players to go over the top of screens. When our players defended Lith. players, they missed shots. But whenever they went UNDER a pick, in Marbury's case, Lith. scored. Secondly, what's up w/Brown's playing rotations. Carmelo complains about his P.T., so Brown puts Melo in before Lebron, who clearly outplayed Melo thus far. Sure, Melo went 2-5, but he didn't deserve to play before Bron. Most people admit that Lebron's D has been good, he's created steals, fast break points, he can guard 1's, 2's and 3's, and when he's been in the game, U.S. has consistently had an amazing plus minus ratio in points. Lebron is a better passer against a zone, and the only advantage Melo has is better outside shooting, and Melo hasn't even shot better than Lebron, Melo is about 5 for 25 from the field the last couple games. Coach Collins, who many people respect as a commentator, has said Lebron's playing time should go up, but he plays about 5 minutes.
Coach Brown's strategy or reasons for not playing lebron didn't work, team U.S.A. lost, so don't even think he had a Great reason for not playing Bron. Thirdly, Marbury and occasionally Iverson and Wade are getting burned by other guards, simply because they don't have the length to effectively defend the 3 point shot, Lebron isn't as quick as Iverson or Marbury, but the quickness difference between them isn't much. If you don't believe me, why did Lebron shut down Shane Heal while Heal torched Iverson and Marbury, even Wade???? Why did Brown put Lebron on Heal?? Cuz he knows Lebron is more committed to D than Marbury, Wade, or AI, and at about 6'8" or 6'9", it is very difficult to get good looks against Bron on the wing. It worked. I don't have to argue my points, if u saw the last few games, Lebron clearly did better on d than AI, Marbury or Wade. Mainly Marbury has been the greatest offender on defense.
Lebron also does the little things that don't always get noticed, he seems to make passes that sometimes lead to the assist. He even made a nice post entry pass to Duncan today from out of bounds that Duncan scored on, b/c lebron at 6'8" or 6'9" is able to make passing angles due to height, unlike the 6' Iverson or 6'2" Marbury. Truth is, we dominate against good teams in the Olympics not by winning a Texas shootout from long range, but by playing to our strengths, which is scoring around the rim, which Bron can do, unlike our small guards(wade is decent at scoring at the rim, but only cuz he's 6'5"), getting the ball inside, or getting on the break and dunking, which Bron is best at, he's even had more fast break dunks than Marion in less playing time. And even though Jefferson shot very well, the last few games Brown overdid it by sticking w/Jefferson out of stubborness. Counting todays game(congrats to Jefferson for shooting well), Jefferson is shooting about 25 %. Jeffersons high shooting percentage w/New Jersey is a lot about playing w/Kidd. Jefferson played well w/o Kidd, when Kidd was out, but give him a whole season w/o Kidd, and he'd shoot much lower. Jefferson plays okay defense, but he hasn't forced turnovers like Lebron and Marion can. Marion should have started, or Lebron. Thirdly, why does Brown constantly belittle our players, instead of taking part blame. Because he's arrogant, and full of pride b/c he won one championship in about 25 years. Even coach Popovich and Tomjanovich have won more, I don't see them getting tons of credit for beating LA when they were great, and Detroit beat a bad LA team(Shaq is old and not NEAR the same, Kobe is affected by litigation, Malone was hurt, and GP is OLD). Brown is a solid coach, but not a Hall of Fame coach, although he'll get in for reaons of longevity. Case in point, he plays Melo about 2 minutes, for bad shooting(I guess he didn't get the memo about Jefferson being 0 for 30), and Melo sulks, then Brown lit into Melo. Lebron gets props from everyone including the media for great defense and causing turnovers, Brown says "yeah, when he got here, on the Olympic team, he couldn't guard anybody, but know he can." Read btwn the lines, Brown is insinuating that Lebron's time under Brown's tutelage has transformed him into the defender he is NOW. then, suddenly, after Lebron gets tons of credit as a spark plug, and lebron is mentioned as having starter material written all over him, Brown sits him on the bench for nearly the entire game, despite Lebron's great play. And after Melo goes to the media, and the media talks about how Melo has REGRESSED at the Olympic, suddenly Brown moves him up in the rotation. Brown is in over his head, his decision making is lacking logic and is paying no dividends, it's hurting Team USA and has every player questioning their confidence. If I was Marion, or Lebron, and the guy in front of me goes 0 for 30, and I play great, and next game I get about 5 minutes P.T. in Lebron's case, what does that tell you. I get punished for playing great??? Who knows WTF Brown is thinking. Not only that, Brown has spent half his time w/ the media saying the Olympic organizing committee screwed up. Did you know Coach Brown lobbied for Okafor, over Michael Redd, or a good shooter. Boy, looks like Brown really needed Okafor, what's Okafor's DNP's up to??? Is he even on the team? Yet Brown blames the committee for not giving him a shooter, now, when he had months to complain or say something??? WTF. Case is, Brown took a job he didn't want, has ripped his players, blamed everybody but himself when we lose. Brown has turned into an egomaniac, that clearly isn't focused on the games, which is sad, b/c before Brown won a title, he was more humble, took responsibility for his team's success, and didn't make wild and unpredictable decisions, as in the days of Philly. Brown has changed after winning a title, and getting heaped w/accolades and praise that is overdone. Brown simply has to screw his head on straight, bench players immediately, when they repeat mistakes that are based on decision making, such as going under the pick, forcing shots, like when Melo did, and not play him when he complains about it. He also needs to rely on our speed more by putting Lebron and Marion in together, and Lebron and Marion are better athletes than even AI and Marbury simply b/c they have nearly the same footspeed(if u don't agree, explain all the times Marbury and AI have failed to stay in front of their man, or simply could not rotate out to the open shooter on picks, and switches), and thier size and length allows them to use their hops and reach getting blocks and contesting shots. I don't think Lebron should play point guard, he's quick enough, but his handle isn't good enough at this point(he's 19 yrs old) to use his footspeed and quickness against full court pressure, and puts too much burden on him, he's better getting the ball in the half court, and then using his energy to create defense, block shots or help in zone defense w/his length and quickness. Put Iverson, Lebron, Marion, Odom, and Duncan out there, and see what we can do.
Jefferson isn't working despite todays outburst, cuz he's not as big, a good of passer, and not quite as athletic as Bron(how many dunks or steals has Bron created?), and Marion and Bron are murder together. Odom is versative, and can step outside or do the high low pass down to Duncan b/c of his height, he's got about 2 inches on Booz. Anyway, I'm angry we lost, not b/c of effort, we really tried today, but b/c Brown makes decisions that just don't show any consistency or train of thought, and hasn't had our best players on the floor when they should be. Thanks for letting me vent.
Coach Brown's strategy or reasons for not playing lebron didn't work, team U.S.A. lost, so don't even think he had a Great reason for not playing Bron. Thirdly, Marbury and occasionally Iverson and Wade are getting burned by other guards, simply because they don't have the length to effectively defend the 3 point shot, Lebron isn't as quick as Iverson or Marbury, but the quickness difference between them isn't much. If you don't believe me, why did Lebron shut down Shane Heal while Heal torched Iverson and Marbury, even Wade???? Why did Brown put Lebron on Heal?? Cuz he knows Lebron is more committed to D than Marbury, Wade, or AI, and at about 6'8" or 6'9", it is very difficult to get good looks against Bron on the wing. It worked. I don't have to argue my points, if u saw the last few games, Lebron clearly did better on d than AI, Marbury or Wade. Mainly Marbury has been the greatest offender on defense.
Lebron also does the little things that don't always get noticed, he seems to make passes that sometimes lead to the assist. He even made a nice post entry pass to Duncan today from out of bounds that Duncan scored on, b/c lebron at 6'8" or 6'9" is able to make passing angles due to height, unlike the 6' Iverson or 6'2" Marbury. Truth is, we dominate against good teams in the Olympics not by winning a Texas shootout from long range, but by playing to our strengths, which is scoring around the rim, which Bron can do, unlike our small guards(wade is decent at scoring at the rim, but only cuz he's 6'5"), getting the ball inside, or getting on the break and dunking, which Bron is best at, he's even had more fast break dunks than Marion in less playing time. And even though Jefferson shot very well, the last few games Brown overdid it by sticking w/Jefferson out of stubborness. Counting todays game(congrats to Jefferson for shooting well), Jefferson is shooting about 25 %. Jeffersons high shooting percentage w/New Jersey is a lot about playing w/Kidd. Jefferson played well w/o Kidd, when Kidd was out, but give him a whole season w/o Kidd, and he'd shoot much lower. Jefferson plays okay defense, but he hasn't forced turnovers like Lebron and Marion can. Marion should have started, or Lebron. Thirdly, why does Brown constantly belittle our players, instead of taking part blame. Because he's arrogant, and full of pride b/c he won one championship in about 25 years. Even coach Popovich and Tomjanovich have won more, I don't see them getting tons of credit for beating LA when they were great, and Detroit beat a bad LA team(Shaq is old and not NEAR the same, Kobe is affected by litigation, Malone was hurt, and GP is OLD). Brown is a solid coach, but not a Hall of Fame coach, although he'll get in for reaons of longevity. Case in point, he plays Melo about 2 minutes, for bad shooting(I guess he didn't get the memo about Jefferson being 0 for 30), and Melo sulks, then Brown lit into Melo. Lebron gets props from everyone including the media for great defense and causing turnovers, Brown says "yeah, when he got here, on the Olympic team, he couldn't guard anybody, but know he can." Read btwn the lines, Brown is insinuating that Lebron's time under Brown's tutelage has transformed him into the defender he is NOW. then, suddenly, after Lebron gets tons of credit as a spark plug, and lebron is mentioned as having starter material written all over him, Brown sits him on the bench for nearly the entire game, despite Lebron's great play. And after Melo goes to the media, and the media talks about how Melo has REGRESSED at the Olympic, suddenly Brown moves him up in the rotation. Brown is in over his head, his decision making is lacking logic and is paying no dividends, it's hurting Team USA and has every player questioning their confidence. If I was Marion, or Lebron, and the guy in front of me goes 0 for 30, and I play great, and next game I get about 5 minutes P.T. in Lebron's case, what does that tell you. I get punished for playing great??? Who knows WTF Brown is thinking. Not only that, Brown has spent half his time w/ the media saying the Olympic organizing committee screwed up. Did you know Coach Brown lobbied for Okafor, over Michael Redd, or a good shooter. Boy, looks like Brown really needed Okafor, what's Okafor's DNP's up to??? Is he even on the team? Yet Brown blames the committee for not giving him a shooter, now, when he had months to complain or say something??? WTF. Case is, Brown took a job he didn't want, has ripped his players, blamed everybody but himself when we lose. Brown has turned into an egomaniac, that clearly isn't focused on the games, which is sad, b/c before Brown won a title, he was more humble, took responsibility for his team's success, and didn't make wild and unpredictable decisions, as in the days of Philly. Brown has changed after winning a title, and getting heaped w/accolades and praise that is overdone. Brown simply has to screw his head on straight, bench players immediately, when they repeat mistakes that are based on decision making, such as going under the pick, forcing shots, like when Melo did, and not play him when he complains about it. He also needs to rely on our speed more by putting Lebron and Marion in together, and Lebron and Marion are better athletes than even AI and Marbury simply b/c they have nearly the same footspeed(if u don't agree, explain all the times Marbury and AI have failed to stay in front of their man, or simply could not rotate out to the open shooter on picks, and switches), and thier size and length allows them to use their hops and reach getting blocks and contesting shots. I don't think Lebron should play point guard, he's quick enough, but his handle isn't good enough at this point(he's 19 yrs old) to use his footspeed and quickness against full court pressure, and puts too much burden on him, he's better getting the ball in the half court, and then using his energy to create defense, block shots or help in zone defense w/his length and quickness. Put Iverson, Lebron, Marion, Odom, and Duncan out there, and see what we can do.
Jefferson isn't working despite todays outburst, cuz he's not as big, a good of passer, and not quite as athletic as Bron(how many dunks or steals has Bron created?), and Marion and Bron are murder together. Odom is versative, and can step outside or do the high low pass down to Duncan b/c of his height, he's got about 2 inches on Booz. Anyway, I'm angry we lost, not b/c of effort, we really tried today, but b/c Brown makes decisions that just don't show any consistency or train of thought, and hasn't had our best players on the floor when they should be. Thanks for letting me vent.
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