2014 Team USA (Fiba) Vs 2004 Team USA Who do you got?

[Im so nba'd out]

Time Machine game who do you take to win?

2004
Allen Iverson
Steph Marbury
Lamar Odom
Shawn Marion
Tim Duncan
Carlos Boozer
Richard Jefferson
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Amar'e Stoudemire
Carmelo Anthony
Emeka Okafor

2014
Kyrie Irving
Steph Curry
James Harden
Kenneth Faried
Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Demarcus Cousins
Derrick Rose
Rudy Gay
Mason Plumlee
DeMar Derozan
Andre Drummond

[Xiao Yao You]

2014. not really close

[SamuraiSWISH]

2014 is better built for FIBA. And Anthony Davis > Duncan in international competition.

[Xiao Yao You]

Duncan wasn't the problem with that team. He'd be welcome on any team

[SamuraiSWISH]

Duncan wasn't the problem with that team. He'd be welcome on any team
Actually he was one of the problems. He was horrendous.

[Xiao Yao You]

Put a different team and coach around him instead of a bunch of young knuckleheads and he'd have been fine.

[oarabbus]

Actually he was one of the problems. He was horrendous.


No, he really wasn't the problem. The team construction and coaching was the problem

[SamuraiSWISH]

Put a different team and coach around him instead of a bunch of young knuckleheads and he'd have been fine.
So what was the problem w/ the 2004 team?

Iverson was the best player. Duncan's ability to not get in foul trouble, score, and defend consistently is entirely dependant not on Tim himself, but his teammates / coaches? No wonder his rings are overrated.

[secund2nun]

So what was the problem w/ the 2004 team?

Iverson was the best player. Duncan's ability to not get in foul trouble, score, and defend consistently is entirely dependant not on Tim himself, but his teammates / coaches? No wonder his rings are overrated.

Iverson better than Duncan? Lol wtf. Duncan is way better even at his old age now that the overrated no efficiency no defense player known as Iverson.

[Nowitness]

duncan scored a couple less points total than AI and shot 20% better from the field, even though every opponent double teamed and trippled him because the outside shooters sucked (among them, the 35% shooting AI).

Is this kid even serious right now?? :facepalm

[SamuraiSWISH]

No, he really wasn't the problem. The team construction and coaching was the problem
I didn't say THE problem. I said his performance was a problem. And it was, he was our best player but wasn't performing like it. How is that not one of the issues that plagued us?

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Duncan was shit in the summer of '04. No way around it.

Team USA in 2004 and 2006 are absolute embarrassments. Just a shameful exhibition of basketball. Glad they decided to bring in the big guns post 2006, dramatically changing the culture into what once was #winning

[Xiao Yao You]

So what was the problem w/ the 2004 team?

Iverson was the best player. Duncan's ability to not get in foul trouble, score, and defend consistently is entirely dependant not on Tim himself, but his teammates / coaches? No wonder his rings are overrated.

AI would be on no team I was building nor would Marbury(outside the Chinese league anyway I guess! LOL). The team was way too young. Larry Brown was the wrong guy for the gig.

[SamuraiSWISH]

duncan scored a couple less points total than AI and shot 20% better from the field, even though every opponent double teamed and trippled him because the outside shooters sucked (among them, the 35% shooting AI).

Is this kid even serious right now?? :facepalm
We expect more out of our best players, don't we son?

:facepalm

Always with the excuse making for Tim Duncan. He played bad in the summer of 2004. No amount of back pedaling can change that, just accept it, and acknowledge it. He wasn't the problem, but he didn't help matters.

That's the point I was making.

[Nowitness]

We expect more out of our best players, don't we son?

:facepalm

Always with the excuse making for Tim Duncan. He played bad in the summer of 2004. No amount of back pedaling can change that, just accept it, and acknowledge it. He wasn't the problem, but he didn't help matters.

That's the point I was making.

so...give me specifics.

he didnt perform like the world's best player.

but he put up a good performance that did nothing to hurt his legacy. like i said, teams were trippling him because AI, jefferson, wade, whoever couldnt hit a shot.

duncan averaged 13 points on 56 % shooting and hes a miserable failure.. kobe averages 15 points on 46% shooting and hes a god. jordan averages 15 points on 45% shooting and hes a god. :oldlol:

[Xiao Yao You]

so...give me specifics.

duncan didnt perform well. no getting around it. he didnt perform like the world's best player.

but he put up a reasonably good performance that did nothing to hurt his legacy. like i said, teams were trippling him because AI, jefferson, wade, whoever couldnt hit a shot.

duncan averaged 13 points on 56 % shooting and hes a miserable failure.. kobe averages 15 points on 46% shooting and hes a god. jordan averages 15 points on 45% shooting and hes a god. :oldlol:

Kobe was supposedly their defensive stopper in '08. He couldn't even slow Navarro or Fernandez down in the gold medal game. If Spain hadn't dug a big hole early they probably lose that year too.

[RedBlackAttack]

Would be helpful to actually compare rosters. Here are the players for each team in order of the rotation.

2004
Allen Iverson
Steph Marbury
Lamar Odom
Shawn Marion
Tim Duncan
Carlos Boozer
Richard Jefferson
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Amar'e Stoudemire
Carmelo Anthony
Emeka Okafor

2014
Kyrie Irving
Steph Curry
James Harden
Kenneth Faried
Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Demarcus Cousins
Derrick Rose
Rudy Gay
Mason Plumlee
DeMar Derozan
Andre Drummond


No doubt in my mind this year's squad is infinitely better suited for the international game. They've pretty quietly been the most dominant American team in quite a while.

[Xiao Yao You]

Would be helpful to actually compare rosters. Here are the players for each team in order of the rotation.

2004
Allen Iverson
Steph Marbury
Lamar Odom
Shawn Marion
Tim Duncan
Carlos Boozer
Richard Jefferson
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Amar'e Stoudemire

2014
Kyrie Irving
Steph Curry
James Harden
Kenneth Faried
Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Demarcus Cousins
Derrick Rose
Rudy Gay
Mason Plumlee
DeMar Derozan
Andre Drummond


No doubt in my mind this year's squad is infinitely more suited for the international game. They've pretty quietly been the most dominant American team in quite a while.

since 2012?

[RedBlackAttack]

since 2012?
Did that team win every game by 20+ points? I don't totally remember, but I don't think they did. The 2014 squad has yet to play a really meaningful minute in the 4th quarter. It has been complete domination.

[Legends66NBA7]

I want DeRozan to make the 2016 team.

[navy]

Would be helpful to actually compare rosters. Here are the players for each team in order of the rotation.

2004
Allen Iverson
Steph Marbury
Lamar Odom
Shawn Marion
Tim Duncan
Carlos Boozer
Richard Jefferson
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Amar'e Stoudemire
Carmelo Anthony
Emeka Okafor

2014
Kyrie Irving
Steph Curry
James Harden
Kenneth Faried
Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Demarcus Cousins
Derrick Rose
Rudy Gay
Mason Plumlee
DeMar Derozan
Andre Drummond


No doubt in my mind this year's squad is infinitely better suited for the international game. They've pretty quietly been the most dominant American team in quite a while.
That 2004 squad is worse then I remembered. Especially considering ages. :biggums:

[Xiao Yao You]

Did that team win every game by 20+ points? I don't totally remember, but I don't think they did. The 2014 squad has yet to play a really meaningful minute in the 4th quarter. It has been complete domination.

This year's team has played no one and won't the rest of the way. Not having to beat Spain puts an asterisk on it for me.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

This year's team has played no one and won't the rest of the way. Not having to beat Spain puts an asterisk on it for me.

I feel the same way about Greece and Argentina beating the US from 2004-2006.

No:
Garnett
Shaq
Kobe
McGrady
Pierce
Carter
Allen
Kidd
(^at the time, all in their primes, and best players in the league).

[RedBlackAttack]

This year's team has played no one and won't the rest of the way. Not having to beat Spain puts an asterisk on it for me.
That's completely absurd. It isn't the US Team's fault that Spain was flat-out beaten and isn't even going to medal. They've destroyed every team that has been put in front of them. The 2012 team only beat Lithuania by 6 points in pool play.

No one thought they'd be within 20 points in that game. This year's team has actually exceeded expectations with blowout after blowout. The way the 2014 team is dismantling the competition is the way people thought the 2012 team was going to shine.

People expected this team to struggle. They haven't.

[Xiao Yao You]

I feel the same way about Greece and Argentina beating the US from 2004-2006.

No:
Garnett
Shaq
Kobe
McGrady
Pierce
Carter
Allen
Kidd
(^at the time, all in their primes, and best players in the league).

USA should win regardless. They don't have to have their best players. Look what France just did without their best.


That's completely absurd. It isn't the US Team's fault that Spain was flat-out beaten and isn't even going to medal. They've destroyed every team that has been put in front of them.

And Spain was the only team that had a chance. Takes away from it for sure.


This year's team has actually exceeded expectations with blowout after blowout.

Should be expected always.


People expected this team to struggle.

Who? Spain was the only team even close to them talent wise and it wasn't that close.

[stalkerforlife]

2004 team sucked donkey balls.

[Im so nba'd out]

Would be helpful to actually compare rosters. Here are the players for each team in order of the rotation.

2004
Allen Iverson
Steph Marbury
Lamar Odom
Shawn Marion
Tim Duncan
Carlos Boozer
Richard Jefferson
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Amar'e Stoudemire
Carmelo Anthony
Emeka Okafor

2014
Kyrie Irving
Steph Curry
James Harden
Kenneth Faried
Anthony Davis
Klay Thompson
Demarcus Cousins
Derrick Rose
Rudy Gay
Mason Plumlee
DeMar Derozan
Andre Drummond


No doubt in my mind this year's squad is infinitely better suited for the international game. They've pretty quietly been the most dominant American team in quite a while.
updated OP ill take 2014 in a very high scoring game

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

USA should win regardless. They don't have to have their best players. Look what France just did without their best.

France wasn't expected to win against Spain.

Regardless, without a teams BEST players (plural), there is a bit of an asterisk. 2004 and 2006 are no exceptions.

[Xiao Yao You]

Co-sign.

I actually think that's do to our front court being the biggest, bruising, most physical, and talented it's been in quite sometime. International ball is bigger, more physical, and has bruisers down low.

Combined with shooters to spread the floor. Even though the "shooters" outside of Klay have been somewhat inconsistent. It's a team tailor made for International style ball.

The big line-up is certainly the big change. Coach K seemed to be in love with 6'8" guys before this year.


France wasn't expected to win against Spain.

exactly! USA is expected to win regardless and should be post '90.

[RedBlackAttack]

USA should win regardless. They don't have to have their best players. Look what France just did without their best.



And Spain was the only team that had a chance. Takes away from it for sure.



Should be expected always.



Who? Spain was the only team even close to them talent wise and it wasn't that close.
The 2012 team struggled several times relative to this year's team, not just against Spain. Brazil gave them everything they wanted and more. This team destroyed Brazil. Lithuania was actually right down to the wire. This team just destroyed Lithuania.

And, no one was expected to compete with that 2012 team. Not Spain, not Lithuania, not Brazil... no one. They definitely underperformed relative to expectations. This team has not.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

exactly! USA is expected to win regardless and should be post '90.

Nah, only to those with limited basketball knowledge. Many, as RBA pointed out, thought Team USA would struggle in this tournament. You know, since this is basically our B/C squad?

[GimmeThat]

if Fiba rule was still 30 seconds shot clock I think the 2004 team got a pretty good chance even with the lack of outside shooting with the extra time for passing.

without going in depth, I feel like the 04 team has more players that needs to touch the ball or have the ball in their hand in order to raise up their play.

[Xiao Yao You]

When were they not expected to win? Some people have been thinking Spain at home especially the way they were playing before they ran into Gobert would have a chance but USA was still the favorite to anyone with basketball knowledge I'd think.

[Xiao Yao You]

if Fiba rule was still 30 seconds shot clock I think the 2004 team got a pretty good chance even with the lack of outside shooting with the extra time for passing.

without going in depth, I feel like the 04 team has more players that needs to touch the ball or have the ball in their hand in order to raise up their play.

And a coach that doesn't like them to have that kind of freedom.

[gabepizza]

Not even close. The 2004 team lost 3 games (4 if you include friendlies) and bought home bronze.

This team has beaten everyone by 20+. Even if they lose the gold medal game (which they won't) they will still be leaps and better then the 2004 team. In fact depending on how they do in the gold medal game this might be the best Team USA since the Dream Teams.