ScottieQuitting
07-26-2021, 08:51 AM
Every team with professional players needs a hierarchy. Because otherwise you have a lot of players were the best player on their team all coming together, and then they play to tentatively and hot potato but not in a functional team manner.
Team USA had no definitive alpha in 2000, 2002, 2004 (was it Iverson or Duncan) and 2006 (was it LeBron or Wade, both young)
It wasn’t until 27 to 28-year-old Kobe came on the team, because he couldn’t join them in the summer of 2006 due to knee surgery, in summer 2007 that he quickly in the blue versus white game established alpha dominance over everybody. Specifically at the time over 22-year-old LeBron, who might’ve considered himself leader of the 206 that finished third. But everybody behind the scenes thought he was a massive diva and poor leader. Almost didn’t get invited back even. It was the Nike connection and USA contract that kept him there. And given so close in age and draft class with Dwyane Wade, who just came off a finals MVP, there wasn’t a true separation there yet of who was better.
Kobe however made it a point to do establish lead dog dominance.
He put in the intimidation, and fear factor. For teammates and opposition. Mystique. Plus he instituted the competitive spirit to want to play defense. And it trickled down to everybody else.
He was clearly the best player on the 2007 and 2008 teams. The latter, he focused much more intently on being the teams best perimeter defender, much like Mike in 1992, didn’t put up as good of raw stats as Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. But he was willing to do the dirty work, but also was the one the young guys turned to organically when things got tight in pressure situation.
Same thing happened with the 1992 team. You had all these big massive egos, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, David Robinson. But it was in the scrimmages and practice, that said Michael was organically clearly the dominant alpha dog of the team. With Charles Barkley as the number two.
Somebody on this team needs to establish dominance. The way Kevin Durant did in 2010, clearly the teams best player. The way LeBron did in 2012, clearly the teams alpha and best player. The way Harden did on the 2014 team, and Kevin Durant again on the 2016 team.
It seems like there’s a juggling between Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant, where neither wants to step on the others toes of masculinity, but one of them needs to define who the absolute go to guy and best player is.
I mean they also need a facilitator and somebody who can move the ball. Which all those other teams did a point guard. Whether it was Jason Kidd, or Chris Paul. There’s no true distributing point guard trying to get everybody involved on this team.
It’s also an odd mix of veterans. Just thrown together. I would’ve preferred a predominantly younger squad, with one definitive best player and a definitive second best player. Who complement one another.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this because I didn’t like them at first, but he was kind of surprising this year, and given he has such experience with international players in the international game. I actually would’ve put LaMelo Ball on this team as starting PG.
I would’ve had a bunch of young guys. I would’ve asked Zion Williamson. I basically would’ve done a bunch of under 26 year olds and under, and then like a Damian Lillard or Kevin Durant has the cherry on top as the teams definitive best player. Establishing a hierarchy.
This might end up oddly is the worst performing professional team USA. Maybe not as bad as the 2019 FIBA team, but close
Team USA had no definitive alpha in 2000, 2002, 2004 (was it Iverson or Duncan) and 2006 (was it LeBron or Wade, both young)
It wasn’t until 27 to 28-year-old Kobe came on the team, because he couldn’t join them in the summer of 2006 due to knee surgery, in summer 2007 that he quickly in the blue versus white game established alpha dominance over everybody. Specifically at the time over 22-year-old LeBron, who might’ve considered himself leader of the 206 that finished third. But everybody behind the scenes thought he was a massive diva and poor leader. Almost didn’t get invited back even. It was the Nike connection and USA contract that kept him there. And given so close in age and draft class with Dwyane Wade, who just came off a finals MVP, there wasn’t a true separation there yet of who was better.
Kobe however made it a point to do establish lead dog dominance.
He put in the intimidation, and fear factor. For teammates and opposition. Mystique. Plus he instituted the competitive spirit to want to play defense. And it trickled down to everybody else.
He was clearly the best player on the 2007 and 2008 teams. The latter, he focused much more intently on being the teams best perimeter defender, much like Mike in 1992, didn’t put up as good of raw stats as Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. But he was willing to do the dirty work, but also was the one the young guys turned to organically when things got tight in pressure situation.
Same thing happened with the 1992 team. You had all these big massive egos, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, David Robinson. But it was in the scrimmages and practice, that said Michael was organically clearly the dominant alpha dog of the team. With Charles Barkley as the number two.
Somebody on this team needs to establish dominance. The way Kevin Durant did in 2010, clearly the teams best player. The way LeBron did in 2012, clearly the teams alpha and best player. The way Harden did on the 2014 team, and Kevin Durant again on the 2016 team.
It seems like there’s a juggling between Damian Lillard and Kevin Durant, where neither wants to step on the others toes of masculinity, but one of them needs to define who the absolute go to guy and best player is.
I mean they also need a facilitator and somebody who can move the ball. Which all those other teams did a point guard. Whether it was Jason Kidd, or Chris Paul. There’s no true distributing point guard trying to get everybody involved on this team.
It’s also an odd mix of veterans. Just thrown together. I would’ve preferred a predominantly younger squad, with one definitive best player and a definitive second best player. Who complement one another.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this because I didn’t like them at first, but he was kind of surprising this year, and given he has such experience with international players in the international game. I actually would’ve put LaMelo Ball on this team as starting PG.
I would’ve had a bunch of young guys. I would’ve asked Zion Williamson. I basically would’ve done a bunch of under 26 year olds and under, and then like a Damian Lillard or Kevin Durant has the cherry on top as the teams definitive best player. Establishing a hierarchy.
This might end up oddly is the worst performing professional team USA. Maybe not as bad as the 2019 FIBA team, but close