Here's the problem for the NBA players. With the shooting arc set at 23' 6", the court gets spread out as teams try to defense the three point line. This allows for the cutting and slashing that is the hallmark of the NBA. With the shorter line in international competition, a team can pack their players back under the basket and not allow the ball to get inside as easily as it does in the NBA. The other killer for the NBA players, is that International competition requires that the rule book be followed. Any contact with the shooter in an NBA game will almost always result in the defender getting hit with a foul. The international players are coached to take the charge, and guess what, the officials call it like the game was originally designed to work.
Who knows about the shooting though. Why USA Basketball did not bring a balanced team to this games is a real mystery. Most of the guys on the team are post up players who play with their back to the basket. Why there are not 3 or 4 shooters on this team who can hit the outside jump shot is beside me. One would probably have to look at the endorsement contracts to figure that one out.
Who knows about the shooting though. Why USA Basketball did not bring a balanced team to this games is a real mystery. Most of the guys on the team are post up players who play with their back to the basket. Why there are not 3 or 4 shooters on this team who can hit the outside jump shot is beside me. One would probably have to look at the endorsement contracts to figure that one out.It's a good analysis. I'm surprised that after the 88 loss, it wasn't completely obvious to USA BB that 3 pointers are the key to this international game...they've made the same mistake, twice. Shame on them.