The United States completed their five game exhibition schedule undefeated- challenge only once by Brazil. The U.S. team is
looking to have a strong showing in this year's World Championship of Basketball after a bronze medal finish in the 2004
Olympics and a sixth place finish in the 2002 World Championship tournaments.
With this new focus, a new will, determination, and strategy towards achieving gold in international play came. Gone
is the ideal that a group of American NBA players can get together a few days before the tournaments, show up, and win. Now,
the idea is to get a group of players, committed to the team for three years, who want to be playing basketball over the summer
and want to bring the gold home to America. LeBron James, Carmelo
Anthony, Dwyane Wade highlight the new idea of the "Dream Team" as they travel to Japan for this "World Cup" of basketball.
The U.S. by far has the most basketball talent of any team that will be participating in the 24 team tournament
beginning this weekend. However, the differences in rules hamper U.S. player and presents an interesting argument of basketball
styles. Is the guard-heavy, attack the basket, one-on-one style of the United States superior? Or is the team-oriented, three
point shooting, zone defense style of the international game superior?
Whenever the U.S. goes overseas, especially now that teams have begun to compete and even defeat the United States
basketball teams, this clash of styles comes to the forefront. We've even see it creep into the NBA as more international
players come to the league and put their own mark on the game. The NBA will never change into the international game because
of the rules that are in place and the direction the NBA wishes to go- such as the marketing of individual players.
When FIBA allowed NBA players to compete in international play for the 1992 Olympics, the U.S. brought their fast
break basketball overseas. The best teams, who had formerly competed and sometimes defeated the best American college players,
were blown away and reduced to just spectators in jersey on the court. With each Olympic games, they closed the gap
establishing their own unique playing style.
The division between the U.S. and the international game is first rooted in the different rules between the NBA and
FIBA. The trapezoidal lane promotes big men to move to the perimeter. The closer three point line promotes more perimeter play.
The NBA's rectangular lane, farther three point line, and the restricted area (that semicircle below the basket) promotes big
men to dominate both offensively and defensively. Not to mention international referees have more a tendency to call traveling
violations. The 2004 Olympics showed the world more than ever that the United States is playing a different style of basketball
than the rest of the world.
You'll see it a lot in this year's World Championship of Basketball. Teams will be trying to stop the fast break,
playing zone defenses, pounding the ball into the ground, letting their centers and big men step behind the arc and take
threes. The things that the U.S. values are simply the opposite overseas. Dwayne Wade,
LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony are all about getting out on the
break, creating quick offense- whether it be a fast break, a quick shot, or a drive and kick. The big men the U.S. are bringing
over are there to dominate the boards and control the paint. The trapezoidal lane will try to move the U.S. big men out of the
way and the zone defenses will try to counteract the athleticism that U.S. players possess.
As the team finished their five game exhibition schedule, it was apparent that the U.S. style of basketball can
survive and succeed against international play. However, international teams are famed for their ability to hide their hands
before big tournaments. The United States team defeated Puerto Rico handily before the 2004 Olympics. The first game of the
2004 Olympics resulted in a 19 point victory by the Puerto Rican team. The U.S. team has displayed certain problems that
could hurt them in this tournament.
The U.S. team had stretches where they played NBA basketball- where the superstar walks the ball up the court and
takes the first shot available. When the fast break is not working, the offense seems to stop and this struggle on offense
hurts the defense. American players also do not play against zone defenses often. The zone defense is allowed in high school
and college, but most teams still prefer to play man-to-man defense. The international teams prefer, especially when facing
superior teams, to use the zone defense and make teams take quick jumpers- something the U.S. have a tendency to do.
American players are also brought up in a society that rewards one-on-one play and the individual in basketball. Top
international stars are raised with the team concept in mind and playing for country before the individual. This basic
difference is why these international competitions have been viewed as an afterthought until the disappointing finishes.
American players, I feel, would not succeed in the long run against international teams and players. The rules and the
mindset of the international game are fundamentally different than that here in America. The United States should still be able
to win the World Championships of Basketball this year based on their commitment and talent alone. But international play will
never be the main goal of American players. After this initial wave of basketball patriotism passes, the international teams
will thrive under their international rules.
