Not an alternative take, but I'd add a wrinkle... Coach that wins the final four gets to draft his team from all four rosters that make it to the last weekend. That coach will likely bias toward his guys anyway.
That 08 squad with rose, brandon rush, kevin love, chalmers, shady, and Russell Westbrook woulda been epic
I'm here Corb! I like the NCAA champion idea from a continuity perspective, but I guess I'd rather start from the foundation that we want the best American players competing and work from there. A couple questions:
1) Why was this moved to odd years? Avoiding competition with the FIFA World Cup seems... totally misguided. Is that really the reason? Maybe there's something else I'm missing.
2) Does the U.S. finishing seventh incentivize some of the stars to get back in the fold next time? Maybe expectations for international competition are falling back in line with reality and winning gold for the U.S. again means something.
If we accept that we aren't sending our best guys, I think the NCAA champs are better than a ragtag bunch of honorable mention All-Pro guys.
1. lol, great point (and yes the next World Cup is 2023 in Indonesia). my perception is that they tried to raise the FIBA stakes, but it didn't work (at least for the US—Giannis and Jokic both played!)
2. I wonder how much will change by 2023. I think a big part of the NBA future is players getting equity somehow that's tied to the rising fortunes of the league, and if you're getting more and more buy-in every year, would you risk it for a FIBA gold?
Re: #2 - seems like a good point. To me, it's one of those where do you draw the line situations. Like the second leg of a back-to-back in Sacramento in December probably isn't worth the risk either, but maybe since the NBA is the gold mine, the players are willing to oblige (*cue Scrooge McDuck gif*). I also think of the Ryder Cup, where golfers don't get paid but still take it very seriously. No injury risk though.
wow no alternate takes here?! how about if I suggested "start with Melo and build from there"
Not an alternative take, but I'd add a wrinkle... Coach that wins the final four gets to draft his team from all four rosters that make it to the last weekend. That coach will likely bias toward his guys anyway.
That 08 squad with rose, brandon rush, kevin love, chalmers, shady, and Russell Westbrook woulda been epic
Or we could just send the warriors
I'm here Corb! I like the NCAA champion idea from a continuity perspective, but I guess I'd rather start from the foundation that we want the best American players competing and work from there. A couple questions:
1) Why was this moved to odd years? Avoiding competition with the FIFA World Cup seems... totally misguided. Is that really the reason? Maybe there's something else I'm missing.
2) Does the U.S. finishing seventh incentivize some of the stars to get back in the fold next time? Maybe expectations for international competition are falling back in line with reality and winning gold for the U.S. again means something.
If we accept that we aren't sending our best guys, I think the NCAA champs are better than a ragtag bunch of honorable mention All-Pro guys.
1. lol, great point (and yes the next World Cup is 2023 in Indonesia). my perception is that they tried to raise the FIBA stakes, but it didn't work (at least for the US—Giannis and Jokic both played!)
2. I wonder how much will change by 2023. I think a big part of the NBA future is players getting equity somehow that's tied to the rising fortunes of the league, and if you're getting more and more buy-in every year, would you risk it for a FIBA gold?
Re: #2 - seems like a good point. To me, it's one of those where do you draw the line situations. Like the second leg of a back-to-back in Sacramento in December probably isn't worth the risk either, but maybe since the NBA is the gold mine, the players are willing to oblige (*cue Scrooge McDuck gif*). I also think of the Ryder Cup, where golfers don't get paid but still take it very seriously. No injury risk though.