來源:Sports Illustrated
By CHRIS MANNIX September 17, 2019
LOS ANGELES — Disappointing.
Embarrassing.
A reason for reevaluation.
Just a few of the words and phrases that flooded the internet in the aftermath o
這段是講美國這次取得了有史以來最糟的成績
甚至超越了2002年的第六名。
So: Has Team USA hit a new low?
“You can’t compare the two years,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Col
It is.f courset is. In 2002, the idea of playing for USA Basketball had lost all
It’s not USA fanboying to submit that this team was snakebitten. The World Cup
Injuries happen. That’s what bothers Colangelo the most. Kyle Kuzma—one of the
總管被問到這次是否創下了新低,甚至超越2002?
Jerry Colangelo認為兩者無法相比,2002年的失利歸咎於球員打得自私,可怕的罰球命中率以及不擅長管理更衣室的教練Gertge Karl的問題。
這次的問題在於時機點,比賽在奧運的前一年舉辦,比賽甚至在NBA的季前訓練營開始前兩周才結束。
還有傷兵問題,這是總管認為最為困擾的,少數外圍射手的Kuzma因為腳踝傷勢在聯賽開始前退出,以及優秀的側翼得分手Tatum扭傷腳踝缺席了大部分比賽。
“我認為如果沒有這些傷勢,我們會贏得比賽。”
Colangelo說。
And you know what? The rest of the world isood.rance, which bounced the U.S. from the quarterfinals, is led by Rudy Gobert, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Evan Fournier averaged 15 points for Orlando last season. Frank Ntilikina was a lottery pick. Serbia, which handed the U.S. its second loss of the tournament, has Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Good players, complemented by a roster of guys who have spent years playing together.
“Basketball is the ultimate team game,” Colangelo said. “The more familiarity that players have with one another on the court, the better. Look at guys on Spain, Argentina. Luis Scola played [for Argentina]. He’s 39, played like he was 20. Manu Ginobili was there, he told [USA coach Gregg Popovich] that he was so proud of the Argentineans … you have to give credit to the rest of the world.”
這段大概是講其他強勢國家隊也有著不少NBA球員,也講到籃球是團隊運動,不能輕視其他隊伍的配合。
So what’s the solution? A national team comprised of non-NBA players, like the one Jeff Van Gundy coached in the qualifier last fall? Unrealistic. Colangelo is clearly irritated by some of the withdrawals this summer. “The disappointment I feel is not from the guys who said they wouldn’t play,” Colangelo said. “It’s those that said they would, and then backed out.”
Still, Colangelo isn’t about to turn away talent. He hinted that he has had indications that some of the top players will return for the 2020 Olympics. He has a deep appreciation for the players that committed to play in the World Cup, suggesting that there were “2-3 players” who likely punched their tickets to Tokyo. Kemba Walker, Team USA’s leading scorer, is probably one. Donovan Mitchell, who singlehandedly kept the U.S. team in the game against France, is another. Colangelo also went out of his
way to praise Marcus Smart, a defensive menace who can guard multiple positions.
總管表示不會對於一開始表態不參加的人感到不滿,但是那些中途退出的就不一定了。
同時他也認為這次參賽的球員或許為自己爭取到了東奧的位子-Kemba Walker,這次的頭號得分手,Donovan Mitchell,對上法國隊的精彩表現。總管同時對於Marcus Smart能夠防守不同位置表現給予讚美。
And the late withdrawals, a list of talent that includes James Harden, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard? If they want to play next summer? “We’ll deal with those cases individually,” Colangelo said. “It’s important to field as strong a team as possible.”
Indeed. When the U.S. suits up its A-Team, it’s unbeatable. In 2016, the U.S. routed Serbia in the gold medal game by 30. The average margin of victory in that Olympic cycle: 22.5 points. In 2020, the schedule is ideal; the Olympics open in late July and conclude in early August. The chance to be part of another Redeem Team should be motivating.
It is for Colangelo. Next summer will end his 14-year tenure at the helm of USA Basketball. He oversaw the recovery of Team USA in 2008. He’s hellbent on making sure he leaves with the team on top. “There has not been any disappointment around USA Basketball in a while,” said Colangelo. “This will bother me until the 2020 Olympics.”
這段是講那些中途退出的明星AD Harden Lillard該怎麼處理?總管官腔回應“我們會再看看”。對於Colangelo來說,明年是他最後一次帶領國家隊,勢必得留下些什麼,球員名單會持續困擾著他,直到明年。
This summer was disappointing. And there will be disappointment again. The U.S. might never lose another Olympics. But a World Cup, a tournament in between Olympic cycles? They will lose another of those, for sure. The world is too good for the U.S. to scotch tape a collection of good NBA players to a roster and expect to win. It’s not embarrassing or humiliating that Team USA lost—it’s a reality.
Send the best, and it’s a blowout.
Send anything less, and the struggles of this summer will be repeated.
結語,大概是說現在世界的籃球都在進步,必須要精銳盡出,否則今夏的戲碼只會再發生一次。