The Official NBA Season Thread: NBA Cup Night

He had some interesting takes today :lol:


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I've seen some other clips from the 90s that are a mix of HD and non-HD. There's a Sonics highlight reel that was all in HD that I can't find anymore. It was from a local broadcast.
 


Fran Fraschilla is the foremost expert on international hoops, as it relates to the NBA. He knows his stuff.

That being said, the NBA would not be where it is today without people telling David Stern: you need to have your players in this tournament. The game grew so quick that Team USA barely made the gold medal game eight years later in Sydney, and got bronze 12 years later in Athens. That's how quick the game grew internationally.
 
Honestly, I like the FIBA format so much more than the NBA: 40 minute games, five fouls, five timeouts (only on dead balls), no goal tending once the ball hits the rim, some hand checking allowed, no foul baiting, no gather step. The shorter three point line is the great equalizer, as well as no defensive 3-seconds. FIBA does a lot of things right. The only rule I wish the NBA would adopt is the goal tending rule.
 
Watching Team USA since 2004 has been a roller coaster. I remember my buddy and me watching them get pick and rolled to death by Greece in the 2006 World semis. That game started at midnight, and they got worked. The gold medal game against Spain in 2008 in China, which also tipped off at midnight, my roommates and I were going wild because it was so close. Same with 2012, another close game with Spain. They had to really fight to get to the gold medal game in 2016 as well, but the final was lopsided. In Tokyo, Durant, Tatum and Jrue carried them in the final. Basketball is on a different level now, and it's great. It should be competitive. We should not expect blowouts anymore.

A similar thing has happened in women's soccer. Team USA is not dominant anymore. There are a bunch of countries that challenge them now. It's a good thing because it makes for more exciting tournaments.
 
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