Thus ends another chapter of USA basketball's fall from grace.
Fielding a team of pitchmen, high school hoop prodigies, former collegiate standouts, and imperfect derivations of past legends - looking at you Dywane Wade, the United States once again collapsed under the weight of massive expectations.
A Greek team, with exactly zero NBA players on its roster, defeated the star-studded Americans 101-95 in the semi-final of the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Of course, before the US team tip off for the bronze medal in Japan, the blame game will be well under way.
Will it be directed at Mike Krzyzewski, who, in spite of preaching defense, allowed this group of purportedly the world's best players to be shredded for 101 points in the semi-final? The words "perimeter" and "defence" are somewhat incompatible for this particular US squad. Greece shot 76 percent from the field, 25-of-33, in the second and third quarters, transforming a 12 point deficit into a 77-65 lead heading to the final period.
Or will the onnus be on Jerry Colangelo, architect of this supposedly new and improved US team?
With all due respect to Chris Bosh, he rode the pine for most of the tournament and would not have helped the team's shooting woes. The US team shot a horrid 9-of-28 from three point territory against Greece, following an equally abysmal 10-for-40 performance against Germany. Which causes one to ask where was Adam Morrison, former collegiate sharpshooter, and soon to be Charlotte Bobcat standout?
He was not in a USA uniform. He possibly was at home punching a hole in a wall while watching US players lay bricks from beyond the three point line as well as at the charity stripe (the Americans shot 59 percent from the free throw line).
Or does the blame belong to BronMeloWade, the co-captains, who combined for 63 points in the semi-final? The spectre of Bird-Magic-Jordan looms large over these three; they have yet to escape, nor will they with anything less than a gold in Beijing. Suffice it to say, Dream Team I is a distant memory. BronMeloWade is no Bird-Magic-Jordan, not yet.
Then who is to blame? Two words: Kobe Bryant. No, that's too easy. It's too easy to hate on Kobe, instead of acknowledging the real reason behind USA basketball's fall from grace.
It might be time to admit that the American "game" is filled with cheap knockoffs, primadonnas, and corporate pitchmen primarily concerned about earning potential and marketability. With global endorsement deals becoming more lucrative than even player salaries, it is not hard to see why players are first and foremost loyal to their brand, then to team and nation. ESPN, showing reel after reel of dunks and acrobatic moves, forgets to mention that a dunk is two points, with exceptions, but a trey is worth three points. 3>2; in spite of the aesthetic of a poster.
In America, the culture of basketball has lost its soul. It values the image, along with its pigheaded, "I'm gonna dunk on you, sucka" mentality. Well, well, the boys who know how to shoot beat the aerial acrobats; there must be a grin on Dr. Naismith's face, whereever he is.
While boys in Argentina, Greece, or Spain play the game without conceit, without an entrenched sense of entitlement or self-promotion, young players in America emulate the moves, the dunks, the swagger, the shoes of a Jordan, but neglect the substance of his game, the strength of his character, and his indomitable desire to win.
Basketball has rediscovered its soul, in the streets and gyms of Rio and Buenos Aries and Athens and Madrid. The game is beautiful, when played by those who love it. Although USA Basketball may take little solace in it, the game of basketball is better off with American dominance dead and buried. Competition makes the sport that much more interesting. The King is dead; long live the king.
