RAYRAY's team USA FAQs

Q-SHAQ in red-whiteNblue?
A-in world games there are only 5 fouls before you foul out

Q-how do US refs compare to WORLD refs?
A-US refs are an absolute FRAUD, world REFS are well REFS

Q-RAYRAYS dream team startig 5?
A-KIDD, MAMBA, T-MAC, KG, TIMI

Q-how is WORLD hoops different from NBA hoop?
A-In world hoops you actually need to have TALENT and be SMART in the NBA you have to be ATHLETIC

Q-why did team USA lose to GREECE?
A-the USA team "CORE" consisted of bunch of high paid BOYS (I am not saying overpaid), led by a disgustingly SELFISH MELO, a lost LBJ that people in his country have told him his the KING and he's not even the palace CLAWN, and a WADE who doesn't get handed 89 FREE throws a game. GREECE team consisted of MAN basketball players playing as a team. US wins as a team loses as bunch of loosers, world wins and looses as a team.

Q-what has to change in our NBA language?
A-need to STOP calling NBA champs WORLD champions, its more of a NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPS if you wanna make it sound good.

Baywood -

There is a chance that Baby Shaq (aka So Fat) will come to Los Angeles, but it would be as a Clipper, not a Laker. The Clips drafted him in the second round in 2003. They actually made him an offer this summer, but he turned it down in exchange for a 3 year $17Million contract w/ some Euro team.

Baywood:

I believe that NBA draft rights only last for two years so the Clippers no longer hold his rights. He is a free agent if he wants to come to the NBA or have an NBA team buy out his rights in Europe.

Tom

Now wait just a minute Laker Tom. Let me get this straight.

You're actually glad that Team USA lost. Correct?

And essentially, this is because the class of 03' had so much good press?

And Kobe had too little?

And because your boy Kobe got short-changed, by extension, you did too, so you're glad Team USA lost? Please explain if I've got it wrong.

Can you even be certain that Team USA wouldn't have lost by an even wider margin had Kobe, and let's say Bowen, or even Ron Ron had played?

I think in that situation, Team USA might have won, but I don't know, and neither do you.

Maybe it is time to assign credit where credit is due and applaud Greece for its accomplishment. Not because we didn't have a team of some of our very best players on the floor. We absolutely did. We didn't have all of them. We never will. It's probable that Greece didn't either.

Last night, Greece was the better team and they beat America, literally and figuratively at its own game. It is quite possible that Greece hasn't even faced its toughest opponent yet.

Where future Teams USA are concerned, it might be a good idea if people with your outlook take a back seat.

There is no great leader; a Kobe, Chamberlain, or even Jordan who's going to come along and save the day. That's not a solution. A lack of superstar players is not the problem.

You have a Laker who is a superstar. Yet it is not for a lack of other great players on your team (he has played with) that the Lakers haven't and won't go any higher than a 6th or 7th seed.

It is this -superstar first- mentality that will always get your goat.

Talking of international players to the Lakes, our Front Office is 10 years late in tapping the best players outside of USA. During the reign of Shaq and Kobe, they stopped scouting international players, if ever, they were too frugal in just going for role players like Sasha or Medevenko tho' lately they got Vlad Radmanovich after seeing him play with Sonics and Clippers not in the Euroleague. It is only now Vlade Divac, a local now at work 24/7 in convincing young players to play with the Lakers, let's evaluate the progress of other NBA teams: Spurs had Parker, manu, oberto and scola and formerly nesterovich; Raftors they have lot starting from Bragnani, parker (israel), garbajosa, rodriguez and then calderon; Memphis gasol & tzakalides; Suns Nash, barbosa, Diaw; and on and on.....Golden State, Bulls, Pistons, Bobcats, Cavaliers etc. Lately, who did we recruit from the international scene, an ex NBA who is now cheap, Shammond Williams. Can the Lakers compete for Rudy Fernandez of Spain and Marco Binnelli of Italy? You need change, change that Front Office philosophy.

Mike T,

In my opinion, Phil's unconventional ways of doing things are what makes him such a great coach. I'm not sure if he's defying basketball logic, but the Zen Master has ways of managing that are effective in a short term situation.

Subtle signals such as standing out of his seat when it's getting crucial. Players get used to him sitting down ALL OF THE TIME. So when he gets up and starts yelling during the game, it's got to send a strong psychological signal to the players. In the past, that has been a good thing for him. He had to use that technique a little too often last year, hopefully this year he'll be able to save it for the playoffs.

Or more direct signals such as taking a player like Kobe or Shaq Or Wade or Lebron out of the game for playing out of the team context.

Phil has a lot to offer in his coaching bag of tricks. His bag of tricks is amazing really, his credentials prove it. But most of all, his best asset that team USA needs to take advantage of is his ability to get these inflated ego's under control. It's a monstrous job and there's only one guy with the credential's it takes to get the job done.

Just out of curiosity, those upset with the Team USA guys not congratulating Greece, were you as mad when Kobe walked off the court without saying a word to anyone on the Suns?

I'm not saying this to call out Kobe, mind you. It wasn't the classiest move in the world, but frankly, by the end of that game 7 fiasco, Kobe may have been drained to the point of not knowing what planet he was on, much less to shake hands. I certainly don't hold it against him in the slightest. I'm just asking if the same standards apply, even among the Kobe faithful.

AK

Why don't some of you just get off it, instead of getting off on it?

What does Saint Kobe have to do with Team USA losing against a better team, with or without him on it?

Shady's headlines (above) epitomize your problem, and the problem with Team USA for that matter.

AK,

No they don't apply but how about that...what everyone predicted...taking a shot at Kobe for something that happened in Japan. I think we expected it to come from outside of his basketball hometown.

Anyway it's different because not isolated to the United States. This is about representing America not the Lakers.

mike

Sorry, I just don't share the doom and gloom opinions you guys have on USA basketball. Yes, congratulation to Greece for beating Team USA. I'm not making excuses for Team USA. They've got a lot to work on and to think about before the Olympics. But, one game does not superiority makes. My opinion, USA is still dominate in basketball, much like the Lakers dominate the Queens. I still think the US put together a pretty good team...definitely the best team competing right now. And if the world championship games were decided by a best of 7, 5, or even 3 series....we will win hands down, slam dunk, no way we lose, I'll put money on it! Sometime in one game the ball can bounce the wrong or right way, depending on your prespective. That's why they call the NCAA playoff March Madness..anything can happen and it often does. Just think about it, even the weeping Queens were able to push the Spurs to six playoff games before order and dominance was finally restored.

Mike T,

First of all, I didn't take a shot at Kobe for something that happened in Japan. What I was questioning regarding Kobe happened in Phoenix, Arizona. Taking a shot at Kobe for something that happened in Japan would be me saying that the example Kobe set in Phoenix is was what directly caused to Team USA eschew handshakes. A theory, by the way, that's beyond ludicrious.

Secondly, are you saying sportsmanship only applies when traveling overseas? Here on American soil, we don't have any standards? We don't expect a certain code of conduct/grace among NBA players? Espeically with games that are watched by billions worldwide? That seems like a stretch to me. Plus, each player in a purple and gold uni is representing the Lakers, so it definitely matters on some matter.

Again, as I said before, I didn't ask this as a means of taking a shot at Kobe. I was just wondering why this didn't seem to bother Laker (and Kobe fans) when he did the same thing, but it's apparently condemnable when done by Wade or LeBron, who are often compared to Kobe, much to the annoyance of Kobe fans.

AK

Lakofan,

Again, I disagree. Guys at the end of NHL playoff series, which typically breed more animosity, physicality, cheap shots and fighting than anything from the NBA, still congratulate each other at the end of a series. And it doesn't matter if it's the NBA, FIBA or little league softball. And either way, the players are representing both the NBA (a league of global coverage and influence) and (in this particular case) the Lakers. So I think it's a little bigger than you're making it sound.

And I don't understand why Kobe (or any NBA player) wouldn't be expected to do it after an NBA series, since it's something that we've absolutely come to expect. You're acting as if I questioned Kobe not doing something that nobody ever does. It's commonplace to congratulate the team afterwards.

Also, the issue isn't whether the media didn't call out Team USA enough for it. I haven't read a ton of FIBA coverage, but if they haven't taken the team to task, they should take a look at themselves. But that's not what I'm even talking about. I'm asking why it wouldn't bother Laker fans not to see Kobe not doing it.

I'm not even calling Kobe out. I'm just curious.

AK

if you want to talk about coaches that would be great fits for team usa how about jerry sloan or greg popovich. pops got great experience working and implementing international players such as parker, ginobili, etc. and he doesn't take any crap from his players and demands their utmost effort. I think he would be the perfect coach to get the most out of this team. many of you are saying "why don't we run more pick and rolls?" and "we need to learn how to defend the pick and roll" well who better to implement that type of offense as well as defend against it then the coach that made a career out of using it, jerry sloan. and he is also one of a few coaches in the league that just about all the players respect and will listen to. and of course if you want you can always have d'antoni with all his knowledge of the intl game.

all this talk about how great of leaders lebron, wade and melo are throughout the summer in leading team usa really got to me. yeah, a leader needs to have a good relationship with his fellow players and demand the respect through their hard work and talents which i believe all three did. but that only gets you so far. when push comes to shove a leader needs to be able to say "give me the ball and i'll get us the win" and for all the talk of teamwork and their obvious lack of a killer instinct those three were unable to get the job done. there is no way kobe lets that team lose. and the 10-40 shooting from 3 against germany? yea kobe doesn't have the greatest 3 pt % but 80% of his 3's are contested with the clock running down. if he got the open looks that wade and lebron got there's no doubt he would have converted and it would have been a blowout. you do all remember he made 12 3's in a game before right? yea a shooter like michael redd would have helped but what else can he do? you have to bring in well rounded players not a bunch of specialists and there is not a player that has all the tools like kobe does.

Mike T,

I won't deny I'm a fan of both Wade and LBJ. They're great players. But me liking their gamnes has nothing to do with the issue. This was simply something that popped into my head that I wanted to ask people about. That's all. And I'll bring Kobe's name into any topic I feel like, thank you. As you often like to say, if you don't like it, don't read it.

Any by the way, before anyone thinks my opinion is otherwise, Wade and LBJ should have shaken hands before walking off the court, too. Ain't right no matter who's in question.

AK

Edwin:

I do agree with you that the Lakers were late to the ball as far as finding good top level international players for the team. Other than Vlade Divac and hopefully Vladimir Radmanovic this year, the international players we have drafted – Slava, Sasha – have not been great. Part of the reason has been that we have not had early draft picks but a bigger reason was probably not getting good scouting information. You have to give the Spurs and Mavs credit for doing a better job. Hopefully, with Vlade working for us in Europe, things will begin to change.

As far as Team USA goes, I do think that the basketball overseas has obviously improved dramatically over the last decade, as evidenced by Team USA’s difficulties as well as the number of international players in the NBA today. But I also think it is ludicrous to say that the USA does not still have the best players and teams in the world. Our problem is that we just don’t send the best possible team to represent us. Were we to send the last NBA championship team, we would crush the international competition, even considering the differences in the rules.

Finally, the FIBA games really didn’t have any real meaning for me other than a remote sense of nationalism. Had Kobe and Lamar played, I would have felt differently. However, the dominance of the squad by the 2003 pseudo superstars and the media’s unwarranted sniping at Kobe left me totally not interested in watching any of the games, including the loss against Greece. I would have even preferred to watch a Lakers’ preseason game than a Tivo recast of Team USA. If that makes me at traitor or guilty of treason, then so be it.

As I said earlier, my only reaction to the game was a smug sense of satisfaction seeing LeBronze, Wade, and Melo – all guys whom they media has unfairly elevated above Kobe and who didn’t get Kobe’s back when the media dumped on him – go down in defeat. To me, it just sets up a perfect opportunity for Kobe and Lamar to win an NBA championship in 2007/8 and then show up the rest of the world and the media by leading the USA to the Gold in Beijing in 2008.

More Kobe. Less LeBronze, LeWade, and LeMelo.

Tom

P.S. Those of you who say that Kobe would not have made a difference in a 6 point loss plagued by poor defense, foul shooting, and no leadership in the clutch should think again.

From my interpretation AK's point isn't whether or not Kobe was wrong for not shaking the Suns' hands after the series, his point is that a lot of posters here are blatant hypocrits when it comes to Kobe v. LeBronze and DWade.

He wasn't trying to pull Kobe down per se, just trying to point out the lack of objectivity on this board.

AK,

Sure you can bring in Kobe's name as you please. But in this case it just makes your biases clear. That is not a good thing. So go ahead and continue to make a fool of yourself bring Kobe's name into this when it's your darlings who are guilty of your version of morals and ethics in sports. Don't you just love Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods, and Kobe Bryant? What? Phil who...O the guy who choked at the US OPEN...LOL! Don't tell me you're not a Mickelson fan...you're too obvious not to be. LOL! Fool!

mike

AK's darlings, James and Wade, have made his view on morals and ethics in sports a joke. So instead of writing one of his seething posts about his boys he deflects to Kobe. Wow! Kobe did it first! LOL!

mike

AK,

Not only did your boy violate your view on morals and ethics in sports but they didn't bring home the Gold. YOUR BOYS let the country down. Not Kobe.

mike

Taliq,
"Let's home they win third place, perharps then they'll stop calling Lebron the King, and just call him LeBronze ... chuckle ..." LOL, props.

I have to say I knew this was coming...the fact of the matter is we were using our "gifts" the wrong way. We're an athletic, fast and young team...we should have put more focus on defense rather than offense. They said they would, but it never really came to fruition. At the end of the day, we relied on flash (no pun intended) instead of gritty defense. Explain to me why Elton Brand...a veritable MVP candidate that plays well on both ends of the court was not a 40 minute game player...explain to me why great defenders, which in all honesty would have helped tremendously was cut (Bowen anyone?). Yes Kobe would have made a whole lot of difference, after all he's a difference maker...but our players are "thinking the wrong way" much like Larry Brown (who I thought was a horrible Olympic Coach) wanted his players to play "the right way" and no that's not unselfish basketball...that's defending basketball. I saw it coming throughout all the high scoring games...we're too focused on offense, D would have gotten the job done. That said..I think Coack K is the best coach there could be for this young team...if for no other reason than he's a college coach, and most of our players should be in college (lol).

P.S. AK...why you gotta stir the pot? Isn't it enough we've got 200 comments here? LOL...totally kidding. I know you're just asking for curiosity purposes, and I'll admit honestly, I think it's not the same cause I'm biased (how's that for an answer lol).

P.P.S. Congrats Greek Dude...you should be proud of ya boys.

With regard to AK and others remarks about poor sportsmanship, any player who isn't the first to congratulate an opponent for a victory, or even a job well done should be chastised.

If it fits, they must wear it, I don't care how hard they played or emotionally spent they were. Shame on them and screw them. They are an embarrassment to all of us, even you Tom.

"My opinion, USA is still dominate in basketball..."

which is why they lost to Greece

"much like the Lakers dominate the Queens"

Yes ya big Oaf,

Have you checked some scores in recent times?
Or are you just another typically boastful broke-backer living in past glory?

Better lay off of that Fantasyland tap water.
It obviously contains too much E-coli.

Please, tell us again, why you are happy Team USA lost Tom. Is it still the Kobe thing?

Guity: "My speculation is that what AK was getting at in his most recent post is that the Lakerville bloggers aren't showing much if any fair appreciation, graciousness or class in their reaction to the USA loss. For many, the loss has no relevance except to serve as an excuse to attack players who they suspect might be stealing Kobe's limelight. I think that might be part of the reason AK somehow brought Kobe into a discussion that otherwise has little to do with Kobe."

Ford: "He wasn't trying to pull Kobe down per se, just trying to point out the lack of objectivity on this board."

I'd like to congratulate you both for picking up on exactly what I was getting at. In truth, the question I posed has little or nothing to do with Kobe himself. It's about whether fans treat identical incidents the same way when it comes to him.

Faith: "I know you're just asking for curiosity purposes, and I'll admit honestly, I think it's not the same cause I'm biased (how's that for an answer lol)."

It's actually a great answer. I like to congratulate you on simply being truthful.

Mike T.

Phil Mickelson? It's nice to see you're not rambling.

Water Boy-

I would agree. Kobe has no obligation to shake Raja Bell's hand. But I would think he could shake Pat Burke's.

AK

Everyone is so emotional! Never expected this from an LA crowd. Calm down Kobe fans (me), the bulk of the press from this loss is still good for Kobe. The softy tricaptains came up short after all. Most so-called experts now grudgingly admit Kobe to be a welcome and necessary addition the US squad. Lebron is already taking some serious heat for his bonehead play. D-Wade too. Dinner is served folks! Kobe gets to clean up in 07. Calm down and savor in the anticipation. And though it may have been an unconscious error, AK, it sure was fishy that you brought up Kobe as a negative the very instant your boys compared unfavorably.

After a game, players who had been lambasted by Ronnie Lott, if they could still walk, would come up to him in pure admiration with compliments and congratulatory expressions of respect. Oh yea, I can hear it now: The differences between football and basketball. Go on...

I've watched the clotheslining incident over and over. While Raja was out of line (and the citation was levied), the whole event reminded me more of Vlade Divac than anthing else.

The man-child hopped to his feet, and soon afterwards sported his pointy little smirk.
He got away with yet another one.