2016 Olympic Team wins Gold medal, while 2004 Team wins Bronze

[kawhileonard2]

What's the difference?

We have more international players now, but the 2016 squad goes undefeated but 2004 with an all time great coach and supposedly two top 10 players all time, arguably two top 5 players all time win bronze medal

https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/16540347/nba-team-usa-roster-2016-rio-olympics

[kawhileonard2]

What's the difference?

We have more international players now, but the 2016 squad goes undefeated but 2004 with an all time great coach and supposedly two top 10 players all time, arguably two top 5 players all time win bronze medal

https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/16540347/nba-team-usa-roster-2016-rio-olympics

Guys!

[DABIGSALSISHA]

Easy , On The 2016 team they removed the Weak link, LeSalsisha Jamesen that's why they smashed the competition so easily.

Well, on the 2004 team there was some guy there that hated listening to coaches. You know who he is. LefakePointGuard. :facepalm:facepalm:facepalm

[Spurs m8]

LeGiveMeAllTheGlory!!!!!!

[JoeImmoji]

The only great players the US had were Duncan and AI. Marbury was pretty good but needed the ball a lot, which clashed with AI, who also needed the ball.

All the famous stars/superstars we know....were coming off their rookie years, in which they were still inefficient players (ex. Wade, Melo, Lebron), or they were 2nd/3rd year players (Boozer, Amare, Jefferson).

[pandiani17]

Actually, the 2004 team originally was going to be some sort of Dream Team (to avenge the 2002 World Cup debacle in Indianapolis) with Vince Carter, T-Mac, Jason Kidd, Duncan, AI, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, etc. They sent that roster to the 2003 Pan Am games and boy was that showtime. However, one by one they went dropping for the Olympic games and only AI and TD stayed loyal. The roster had to be completed with young, young players, most of them rookies or sophomores, who used to play for themselves instead of for the team, and disaster struck. However, maybe it was a blessing in disguise as since then Team USA takes much more seriously International competition, preparing for them for years, instead of choosing the players at the last minute and prepring them for a couple of weeks beforehand.

[Xiao Yao You]

The only great players the US had were Duncan and AI. Marbury was pretty good but needed the ball a lot, which clashed with AI, who also needed the ball.

All the famous stars/superstars we know....were coming off their rookie years, in which they were still inefficient players (ex. Wade, Melo, Lebron), or they were 2nd/3rd year players (Boozer, Amare, Jefferson).

and Iverson isn't a guy you want on the team

[WhiteKyrie]

2016 team had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and I believe Steph Curry.

Who all have skill sets that just dominate in international play which has become more physical but also more skill-based in the half court due to the physicality allowed.

Same reason the 2014 team was surprisingly good by comparison to the 2019 team, even.

Kobe and Coach K were the sole reasons for the culture change in USA basketball in 2007, bringing it back to it’s dominant winning culture.

And while not as good as the 1992, and 1996 teams … did however face the stiffest international competition in that 2007 - 2012 era. With peak Spain and Ginobili’s Argentina crew.


and Iverson isn't a guy you want on the team

You keep saying this and you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.

Allen Iverson was the second best player on the 2003 team after McGrady, that essentially molly whopped everyone. Argentina, the 2002 FIBA champ included. They had a better roster and a better team chemistry and fit. They had defenders and shooters though.

Iverson also was the best player on the 2004 Olympic team, when it should’ve been Tim Duncan’s overrated gay ass. Who was unexpected dog shit in that entire tournament.

Allen Iverson wasn’t the reason that team underachieved. It was like a C team roster talent wise, with bad coaching fit, and bad player fit. And no shooters. Hell, even a problem child like Stephon Marbury who clashed with Larry Brown, probably was team USA second or third best player.

And even if you want to play the card that Allen Iverson was a loser and didn’t belong on that team, even though he did. And should’ve been on the 2000 team, even in his worst showing led the USA to a more respectable finish than Donovan Mitchell or what Rudy Gobert did for France.

Learn the game, you dirty foreigner.

[mehyaM24]

iverson gets a lot of disrespect. he wasn't the most efficient scorer, and could be a liability on defense. but could also get you a bucket from anywhere on the court. under duress and against tough defense too. he definitely wasn't the reason usa lost. larry brown and ai mesh well. marbury did not like larry brown though. and the team didn't play lebron/wade enough.

[WhiteKyrie]

iverson gets a lot of disrespect. he wasn't the most efficient scorer, and could be a liability on defense. but could also get you a bucket from anywhere on the court. under duress and against tough defense too. he definitely wasn't the reason usa lost. larry brown and ai mesh well. marbury did not like larry brown though. and the team didn't play lebron/wade enough.

Those two guys wouldn’t have made much difference at that point yet anyway. And at that point Dwyane Wade was the better player. But just look what they did three years later, as they entered their prime. That 2006 team under performed as well. They needed that intimidations factor from Kobe, who pushed all of them to actually play defense, as well as being the definitive alpha and closer.

[mehyaM24]

Those two guys wouldn’t have made much difference at that point yet anyway. And at that point Dwyane Wade was the better player. But just look what they did three years later, as they entered their prime. That 2006 team under performed as well. They needed that intimidations factor from Kobe, who pushed all of them to actually play defense, as well as being the definitive alpha and closer.

maybe. maybe not. but even as rookies, lebron & wade were already more mature. carried more impact than marbury as well. agree about kobe though. in another thread, i mentioned his work ethic & leadership on team usa. and he should be credited for the cultural change. kobe elevated their lackluster effort & ailing pride.

[And1AllDay]

The only great players the US had were Duncan and AI. Marbury was pretty good but needed the ball a lot, which clashed with AI, who also needed the ball.

All the famous stars/superstars we know....were coming off their rookie years, in which they were still inefficient players (ex. Wade, Melo, Lebron), or they were 2nd/3rd year players (Boozer, Amare, Jefferson).

/ t h r e a d

[Xiao Yao You]

2016 team had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and I believe Steph Curry.

Who all have skill sets that just dominate in international play which has become more physical but also more skill-based in the half court due to the physicality allowed.

Same reason the 2014 team was surprisingly good by comparison to the 2019 team, even.

Kobe and Coach K were the sole reasons for the culture change in USA basketball in 2007, bringing it back to it’s dominant winning culture.

And while not as good as the 1992, and 1996 teams … did however face the stiffest international competition in that 2007 - 2012 era. With peak Spain and Ginobili’s Argentina crew.



You keep saying this and you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.

Allen Iverson was the second best player on the 2003 team after McGrady, that essentially molly whopped everyone. Argentina, the 2002 FIBA champ included. They had a better roster and a better team chemistry and fit. They had defenders and shooters though.

Iverson also was the best player on the 2004 Olympic team, when it should’ve been Tim Duncan’s overrated gay ass. Who was unexpected dog shit in that entire tournament.

Allen Iverson wasn’t the reason that team underachieved. It was like a C team roster talent wise, with bad coaching fit, and bad player fit. And no shooters. Hell, even a problem child like Stephon Marbury who clashed with Larry Brown, probably was team USA second or third best player.

And even if you want to play the card that Allen Iverson was a loser and didn’t belong on that team, even though he did. And should’ve been on the 2000 team, even in his worst showing led the USA to a more respectable finish than Donovan Mitchell or what Rudy Gobert did for France.

Learn the game, you dirty foreigner.

If Iverson was their best player it explains why they were mediocre. Anything other than gold is a fail for the USA

[WhiteKyrie]

If Iverson was their best player it explains why they were mediocre. Anything other than gold is a fail for the USA
No it was “Tim Duncan” who was supposed to be their best player. Iverson became it in reality.

How do you not get this?

You’re blaming it on Iverson who over performed his expectations within the team hierarchy. Where as Duncan was supposed to be their best player, and dramatically underperformed. It’s an indictment on him. Not Iverson. You moron.

Iverson was second best on the best international team in 2003. Became best player on 2004 out of happenstance due to underperformance from their supposed lead dog.

And yes gold or nothing. But 3rd place is better than 7th place. And 2004 team faced better peak international competition.

Bronze was embarrassing. 7th place is appalling.

[Xiao Yao You]

No it was “Tim Duncan” who was supposed to be their best player. Iverson became it in reality.

How do you not get this?

You’re blaming it on Iverson who over performed his expectations within the team hierarchy. Where as Duncan was supposed to be their best player, and dramatically underperformed. It’s an indictment on him. Not Iverson. You moron.

Iverson was second best on the best international team in 2003. Became best player on 2004 out of happenstance due to underperformance from their supposed lead dog.

And yes gold or nothing. But 3rd place is better than 7th place. And 2004 team faced better peak international competition.

Bronze was embarrassing. 7th place is appalling.

I blame it on the people who put together the team and picked the coach. Iverson should have been no where near the team

[Gougou]

Btw the 2016 team actually almost lost few games tho. KD/Melo are beasts in the Olympic games.

2004 team had few young players, Brown was just not the right coach, he doesn't give them enough minutes. The 2004 teams also have high ego players and don't move the ball well... (same as 06 team)

[light]

What's the difference?

We have more international players now, but the 2016 squad goes undefeated but 2004 with an all time great coach and supposedly two top 10 players all time, arguably two top 5 players all time win bronze medal

https://www.espn.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/16540347/nba-team-usa-roster-2016-rio-olympics

Americans started to take Olympic basketball for granted by 2004. We thought we would win just by showing up while international players were getting better and better and working harder and harder.

We returned to form once the complacency ended.