Saw his development skyrocket after being on the select squad a couple years back. For the john walls and kyrie irvings and cousins and drummonds of the world, this is an invaluable experience practicing against this caliber talent all summer
of course I'm trolling because I don't agree with 100% of the people on the thread. Absolutely.
It was a horrific injury, not debating that, I'll even admit it was grotesque, but it didn't require the censorship IMO. Some of the "i almost puked when I saw it" replies, yeah, I found those over the top.
call me radar, call me a tough guy, whatever, I hope he recovers, and if anyone wants to see what he's dealing for the next 12 - 18 months or whatever it takes, google it, you will be expecting worse like I was based on the replies.
and my reaction is most likely this way, because I found out about it first here and all the what I'll call hyperbole, so naturally I was expecting a theisman or stamkos.
really hope they dont overreact to this. A lot is being made of the placement of the stansion being closer too. But these guys ball all summer long in gyms and on campuses across america in pickup games, and not every where is nba regulation in every facet. This could have happened anywhere.
Agree that a freak injury can Absolutely occur anywhere. But, when you have 10 nba stars playing on one court at a time it is not the same as showing up to the West 4th st courts for a surprise pickup game. The nature of this injury is directly related to the organized professional competition, speed/intensity of the game, and yes, the placement and wrapping of the basket.
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I have a weak stomach, I'm including a link that has a replay of the vid but a little blur over the lower leg. You can definitely get an idea of the snap, but it's veiled and the reaction of the team and K are on there. Pg-13 Replay of the injury - ( New Window )
But rose and durant both saw team usa action for the first time in 2010. Built off that experience and took major jumps the ensuing season, both leading teams to the conference final as infants and rose became the youngest mvp ever. All of those seeds were planted in summer 2010 which no doubt accelerated their development. Look at lebrons year 1 to 2 jump after his first olympic experience, his next big breakthrough didnt occur again until the next olympics 4 years later when he finally embraced the defensive end of the floor. Melos arguably two best seasons came after olympic campaigns, only years he ever won anything at least. Anthony davis historic level of play for his age was no doubt helped by summers with team usa. Kevin love, cp3, there are so many examples. Wade had his best season after an olympic summer too
its the best work these guys can do in an offseason, especially the young players
This sort of competition is an opportunity for stars
To develop their game as regular members of a team. For once these guys aren't the biggest star on the floor and don't have to carry their team completely. Practice isn't all about getting so and so the open look. I'm sure a ton of the typical pressure is lifted off these guys and it's back to basketball fundies with Coach K. The style of play reflects this as well, IMO.
Anthony Davis was on the '12 team, I remember articles and commentary that playing for USA was like grad school for basketball.
He is playing against other nba players in the summer time somewhere. Hes going back to his college campus and running with d1 talent too. Growing up every offseason I would read about the legendary pick up games at georgetown when all the hoya centers would get together and go back. Guys play to improve their game, maintain conditioning and they go hard. Maybe chase down block attempts are less apt to take place, but anything can happen. Basketball players play basketball. Kevin durant is showing up on concrete playgrounds across america
is probably the safest route many of these guys can go. Between work outs, pick up games, 5-5s.... NBA players play a TON of basketball during the offseason..
At least with team NBA. Minutes are limited, better coaching, and now better medical staff on site.
I'm agreeing with you, mostly. This was a showcase game and
as you just said, this play probably isn't happening in other situations.
I think having a full 5 on 5 superstar talent is a unique situation. They may go off and play with some other pros or top prospects, but the motivations and circumstances probably don't match this particular billing.
Any way you slice it, it's a horrible, but freak, injury.
is probably the safest route many of these guys can go. Between work outs, pick up games, 5-5s.... NBA players play a TON of basketball during the offseason..
At least with team NBA. Minutes are limited, better coaching, and now better medical staff on site.
They also don't wear targets on their back. Taking on pros and "proving yourself" is a great past time of loudmouths.
is probably the safest route many of these guys can go. Between work outs, pick up games, 5-5s.... NBA players play a TON of basketball during the offseason..
At least with team NBA. Minutes are limited, better coaching, and now better medical staff on site.
They also don't wear targets on their back. Taking on pros and "proving yourself" is a great past time of loudmouths.
1. His injury happened on a routine play.
2. I guarantee some pick up games have more intensity than the games team USA plays.
1. His injury happened on a routine play.
2. I guarantee some pick up games have more intensity than the games team USA plays.
Even routine plays aren't always routine, and this wasn't USA vs Fiji, these guys were playing against themselves and trying to impress. Again, only saying that this specific injury resulted from a specific set of circumstances.
Tim. Hardaway rj wrote an article before the injury
If it were more competitive. While all the points you bring up MoM are valid, the FIBA and even olympic basketball doesnt intrigue me that much and I consider myself a huge basketball fan. Just knowing that the top 15 players in the world are on one team makes it less interesting. If the USA team was full of top rookies or even college players it would make it more intriguing for fans here and abroad to watch.
The point you bring up about players like Melo and Wade having their best seasons in olympic is a good one, but don't you think it could just be coincidence that they are in their prime of their careers and are only getting better? And if it helps stars develop into better players, don't you think it would be even more worthwhile to play rookies and sophomores who don't see as much playing time early their careers to take on bigger roles against fierce completion. At least keep it like that until international competition improves enough where it would be nearly impossible to have a team of rookies to compete with other countries.
I doubt this happens but I think it would make it more interesting.
Most of the developmental benefit im talking about doesnt actually occur in the games, but in the training camp and practices battling against each other and working with top coaches. A guy like paul george benifitted from his select team experience battling guys like lebron and durant daily heading into the 12 olympics, observing their work ethic up close, picking their brains etc. Im not sure him having battled with similarly developing prospects would have nearly the same benefit
I cant speak for every single occurance of accelerated development and tieit directly to the experience. But I have zero doubt that it has benefitted careers. And its the guys themselves making these claims. And it makes nothing but perfect sense that daily competition amongst the best in the world would do nothing but help a guys game
what I was suggesting was irrelevant of the injury. Even if more stars withdraw in the future I can't see all if them doing so. I would just like to see the young guys in the US competing with the rest of the world though.
of course I'm trolling because I don't agree with 100% of the people on the thread. Absolutely.
It was a horrific injury, not debating that, I'll even admit it was grotesque, but it didn't require the censorship IMO. Some of the "i almost puked when I saw it" replies, yeah, I found those over the top.
call me radar, call me a tough guy, whatever, I hope he recovers, and if anyone wants to see what he's dealing for the next 12 - 18 months or whatever it takes, google it, you will be expecting worse like I was based on the replies.
and my reaction is most likely this way, because I found out about it first here and all the what I'll call hyperbole, so naturally I was expecting a theisman or stamkos.
really hope they dont overreact to this. A lot is being made of the placement of the stansion being closer too. But these guys ball all summer long in gyms and on campuses across america in pickup games, and not every where is nba regulation in every facet. This could have happened anywhere.
Agree that a freak injury can Absolutely occur anywhere. But, when you have 10 nba stars playing on one court at a time it is not the same as showing up to the West 4th st courts for a surprise pickup game. The nature of this injury is directly related to the organized professional competition, speed/intensity of the game, and yes, the placement and wrapping of the basket.
---
I have a weak stomach, I'm including a link that has a replay of the vid but a little blur over the lower leg. You can definitely get an idea of the snap, but it's veiled and the reaction of the team and K are on there.
Pg-13 Replay of the injury - ( New Window )
its the best work these guys can do in an offseason, especially the young players
Anthony Davis was on the '12 team, I remember articles and commentary that playing for USA was like grad school for basketball.
I really hope they dont overreact to one injury
At least with team NBA. Minutes are limited, better coaching, and now better medical staff on site.
I think having a full 5 on 5 superstar talent is a unique situation. They may go off and play with some other pros or top prospects, but the motivations and circumstances probably don't match this particular billing.
Any way you slice it, it's a horrible, but freak, injury.
At least with team NBA. Minutes are limited, better coaching, and now better medical staff on site.
They also don't wear targets on their back. Taking on pros and "proving yourself" is a great past time of loudmouths.
Quote:
is probably the safest route many of these guys can go. Between work outs, pick up games, 5-5s.... NBA players play a TON of basketball during the offseason..
At least with team NBA. Minutes are limited, better coaching, and now better medical staff on site.
They also don't wear targets on their back. Taking on pros and "proving yourself" is a great past time of loudmouths.
1. His injury happened on a routine play.
2. I guarantee some pick up games have more intensity than the games team USA plays.
1. His injury happened on a routine play.
2. I guarantee some pick up games have more intensity than the games team USA plays.
Even routine plays aren't always routine, and this wasn't USA vs Fiji, these guys were playing against themselves and trying to impress. Again, only saying that this specific injury resulted from a specific set of circumstances.
Link - ( New Window )
The point you bring up about players like Melo and Wade having their best seasons in olympic is a good one, but don't you think it could just be coincidence that they are in their prime of their careers and are only getting better? And if it helps stars develop into better players, don't you think it would be even more worthwhile to play rookies and sophomores who don't see as much playing time early their careers to take on bigger roles against fierce completion. At least keep it like that until international competition improves enough where it would be nearly impossible to have a team of rookies to compete with other countries.
I doubt this happens but I think it would make it more interesting.
I cant speak for every single occurance of accelerated development and tieit directly to the experience. But I have zero doubt that it has benefitted careers. And its the guys themselves making these claims. And it makes nothing but perfect sense that daily competition amongst the best in the world would do nothing but help a guys game