By now, you know about the US bronze medal at the FIBA World Championships. This was an outstanding opportunity for all players, coaching staff and managers of USA Basketball to recover the lost glory.
But they are back from Japan with a bronze medal on their necks. Someone with a bit of malice has coined this team as LeBronze's team. The US team lost against Greece and now everybody from players to coaches are wondering what the secret of success can be when they under international rules. As a non-american guy I find some reasons to be mere excuses. For instance:
1. FIBA rules are different: Yes, they are, but previous american teams had no problems to play under FIBA rules and win easily.
2. Players need to adjast their styles to the new rules. Yes, but this year they started to prepare the Worlds with time enough to adjust to the rules. Even Lbron told that be it NB or FIBA it is basketball and he likes it.
3. International players are more adapted to FIBA rules. Yes, but a team like Greece had no individual star in their roster. And a star is supposed to act as a star.
4. FIBA championships are not very important for the americans. Ok, as Pau Gasol put it last weekend, if they prefer to lose the games it's their problem.
I think there are two main reasons that explain the failure of the US team and the success of the spanish, the gold medallists.
1. The US team does not play as a team. I posted a similar commentary about the last All Star game. I keep thinking the same way. And I don't like the way they play, it seems rather a Slam Dunk than a basketball game. Clyde Drexler or Dr. J. were outstanding dunkers but they played basketball.
2. The spanish team is a bunch of friends. They are, first of all, amigos. Most of them were Junior World Champions and they know each other since a very young age. It is this special atmosphere that makes a star like Gasol resound as a leader and be a source of energy for his teammates.