Greece?

[kiwiref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

One guy.

I guess that proves the point.

Peace

Vlade Divac...Joins Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar as the only players in NBA history to amass 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots. And coming from Serbia, he also never played college ball in States.

Yes, it proves the point, although not the one you are thinking of.
My argument was that having five great individuals does not mean you have a great team, and as basketball is a team sport you need a great team to win consistently.
Not that I want to poke any more holes in your story, but Yugoslavia won 5 WC titles. Which is kinda more than the old Soviet Union, or USA for that matter.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by kiwiref

Vlade Divac...Joins Hakeem Olajuwon and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar as the only players in NBA history to amass 13,000 points, 9,000 rebounds, 3,000 assists and 1,500 blocked shots. And coming from Serbia, he also never played college ball in States.

I do not think Valde Divac is going to make the Basketball Hall of Fame anytime soon. We was a decent player, but not a Hall of Famer. He was not even a dominate player or a go to guy on any of his teams.

Originally Posted by kiwiref

Yes, it proves the point, although not the one you are thinking of.
My argument was that having five great individuals does not mean you have a great team, and as basketball is a team sport you need a great team to win consistently.
Not that I want to poke any more holes in your story, but Yugoslavia won 5 WC titles. Which is kinda more than the old Soviet Union, or USA for that matter.

Where have you been? Did I not already make the "team" point?

My main point is you are not going to get many foreign players that are considered the best in the world. You should have referenced Drazen Dalipagic who is Yugoslavia born and never played in the USA or the NBA. Also understand the Basketball Hall of Fame is not about the NBA only. College players and coaches, NBA players and coaches, international players and coaches and contributors to the game all can be inducted.

Either way it goes, the USA is where basketball is played at its best. I do not know how FIBA officials see any better talent on a night in and night out basis like an NBA official.

[kiwiref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I do not think Valde Divac is going to make the Basketball Hall of Fame anytime soon. We was a decent player, but not a Hall of Famer.

Hall of Fame is the criteria for greatness? I mean, the place is a museum, and sure, it's dedicated to basketball, but you can't make this a world-wide measure of greatness.
There are 12 referees inducted, and only two in the past 20 years (Earl Strom 1995, and Zigmund Mihalik in 1986). Are you suggesting that the world has seen only two great referees in the past 20 years?
Hall of Fame is not an international institution, it is an american organization, and it's primary focus will be always on the american game, which is fair enough. But rest assured that if, say, europeans were to form their basketball hall of fame, it would not include most of the 70 coaches in the US version, but would include many europeans who have helped develope basketball in europe.
I would find more credibility in looking at the stats and saying, hell, this guy can play! IMHO

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by kiwiref

Hall of Fame is the criteria for greatness? I mean, the place is a museum, and sure, it's dedicated to basketball, but you can't make this a world-wide measure of greatness.
There are 12 referees inductedo and only two in the past 20 years (Earl Strom 1995, and Zigmund Mihalik in 1986). Are you suggesting that the world has seen only two great referees in the past 20 years?
Hall of Fame is not an international institution, it is an american organization, and it's primary focus will be always on the american game, which is fair enough. But rest assured that if, say, europeans were to form their basketball hall of fame, it would not include most of the 70 coaches in the US version, but would include many europeans who have helped develope basketball in europe.

First of all it is very rare that any officials in any sport ever make the Hall of Fame. At least that is the case in this country. It is not like officials have stats that are easily measurable. Unless you say how many big games they worked and how long they have worked, then that is not something I can answer easily.

Secondly, I do not think most would care from this country if they were in a European Hall of Fame.

Peace

[kiwiref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Secondly, I do not think most would care from this country if they were in a European Hall of Fame.
Peace

Exactly... And that's why so very few people outside the US give a rats *** about the HoF. The goal is not to find a universal element of greatness, but to document mainly local history.

And to answer Dan at the same time, you can't compare leagues with tournaments. I never questioned the quality of players in NBA (or, for that matter, of the officials). My response was to comments how WC and other international competitions suck both in terms of the quality of the basketball, and in terms of officiating.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by kiwiref

Exactly... And that's why so very few people outside the US give a rats *** about the HoF. The goal is not to find a universal element of greatness, but to document mainly local history.

If you knew anything about this country you would realize that no one gives a damn about the HoF here either (as it relates to basketball). I bet most basketball fans have very little knowledge as to who is actually in the HoF.

The Pro Basketball HoF is a far 3rd to Football and Basketball.

Peace

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The Pro Basketball HoF is a far 3rd to Football and Basketball.

Peace

Did you mean baseball's HoF?

Actually, 4th, if you count the Rock 'n Roll HoF in Cleveland as well.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by kiwiref

.
I would find more credibility in looking at the stats and saying, hell, this guy can play! IMHO

Me too.

When was the last time someone couldn't get a Euro league contract & had to move to North America & settle for the NBA as a place to play pro ball?

tia.

[REFVA]

The simple fact is the Greece and other international teams play with heart and not with the pocket$$$$. Even some of the runaway games those team still gave it all they had. I'll bet anyone one team combined doesn't have the payroll that just any one player on the US team has. Yes the US is somewhat superior to most teams, but nitty gritty, get down to the best in the world, It could have been a 10 games series the US would have lost again and agian. They don't play with guts but the $$$$$$$$$.