U.S. Hoops

Sporting Goods

You hope the reason the U.S. team fininshed fifth in the under-21 world basketball championship is because they don't practice together as a team. Needless to say, the same reason the Pistons and the Spurs made the finals this is reason why the U.S. teams don't fare well in international play, the international teams play together as a team and put their teams together with the best complementary parts available. Sooner or later the American teams will figure this out. It starts young. Every team, from young kids to the NBA needs complementary players. Sooner or later coaches will figure out what this means, more Ray Allens, LeBron James', Tim Duncans, Steve Nashs, and fewer Stephon Marburys and Kobe Bryants.

I was trying to find out how UConn's Rudy Gay and Marcus Williams played, but ESPN isn't really reporting on the games. It may be irrelevant, at least for Williams.