Dennis 37 wrote:Calinks wrote: North Americans don't feel the need as strongly to have to represent their countries as so many European teams do either. Team USA had to put A LOT of work in to get to where it is now where you have people actually wanting to go.
Look at what you wrote.
First you claim to speak for me, a fellow North American. You do not. Canada's victories in hockey, be it the 1972 war on ice victory against the Soviets, or the 2010 Olympic victory, as well as many others, are sweeter than any Stanley Cup won by a Canadian NHL team. The 1972 victory will never be matched in terms of Canadian team sporting achievement . And yes I am old enough to have watched it and experience the collective pride of the nation.
Secondly, you state that Americans have put in a lot of work and their players actually want to participate. Well it is a chicken and egg dilemma isn't it.
If you don't have your best players available, how exactly do you put in the work to make it attractive for the younger ones coming up? If you don't field a team that will enjoy at least some success, what is the incentive for others? Tristan Thompson has had a long playoffs. If he were to choose to participate, his rest this summer would be minimal. How is he to feel inspired to join, when lazy asses, already having 6 weeks of time off, take a pass?
I am not speaking for you personally. I am speaking for North American NBA players in general and their attitudes towards international competition. After the Dream team came in smoked everyone, then the next few Olympic teams did much the same, playing in the Olympics or any kind of world basketball games did not have a lot of meaning for specifically US players. It wasn't taken very seriously and then "The world caught up" and US struggled for some time to dominate. That's when they got very serious, brought in some of the best coaches in the world and really grew the desire to compete on an international level.
I think some of that has fallen off and we see players in the US decline a lot of competitions including Canadians. It just doesn't mean the same to the average NBA NA star as it does to a guy like Ricky Rubio. Team USA has increased that desire in recent years for the US but its still not at that level. Canada doesn't seem to be there either, doesn't mean it cant improve.
That is a problem the people running team Canada have to solves. As I said the US put lot of effort into getting Team USA back to an indomitable force. Of course, we in the US have an abundance of basketball resources when it comes to coaches and and talent. It is much easier to turn Team USA around than Team Canada. Canada is getting the talent though they just need the people running the show to be up to task as well. Maybe they should look to more coaches/organizers outside of Canada. There is nothing wrong with that as Canada is a great melting pot country. Canadian players will play, maybe not this time around but they will answer the call.
The wolves fans in here trolling, just ignore them. They are responding because they fee like Wiggins is being unfairly attacked and of course the "HAHA 25 win team!" posts will piss them off too. Funny thing, I think at least a couple of the trolls don't even live in Minnesota or the US XD.
The reality is, that the wolves are trying to be a playoff team and make some noise next season. As I said, it was a poor choice of words to talk about a championship team, that's not happening but a shot at a playoff berth is real and a HUGE deal over here. We haven't been to the playoff since 2004, this is the most promising team we have had from the players to coach possibly ever. As fans of a team that has reached new milestones and done their fanbase proud this season you should be able to appreciate that. I greatly enjoyed seeing the Raptors run and posted here right along with you. Us fans are looking forward to a run we can be proud of and that's why we are behind Wiggins' choice. Team Canada isn't going anywhere, not going to Rio doesn't diminish what they have become over the last few years. They will be back, hell they still have an outside chance to make Rio despite all the players, not just Wiggins, who decided not to attend.
When luck shuts the door skill comes in through the window.
