Olympics: Failure to win gold could help Team USA in 2008

Failing to win the gold medal at the Olympics in Athens has the potential to be the best thing to happen to American basketball since Michael Jordan retired. Of course, there's an if... a big if... IF the Americans learn from the mistakes they made at Athens and figure out why they were so ineffective. Here are some of the lessons that should be applied: 1. The world has caught up to the USA in basketball. Are we still the top basketball power in the world? Absolutely. But the difference between the USA and the rest of the world is no longer so pronounced. When the original "Dream Team" took the court in 1992, they could win without putting forth much effort. The talent level was so incredible that when they played other countries, it was like Duke or UConn taking on a very average JV high school team. The opposition had maybe one NBA player on its roster. Now, there are a few NBA caliber players on every team and the caliber of the US team is not what it once was. Nobody is in awe of the Americans anymore and Team USA cannot take anybody for granted. They can't expect to just show up and win. This year, they did and it showed. 2. The majority of American players tend to be more "me" oriented than team oriented. It was almost beautiful to watch the team from Puerto Rico pass the ball to the open man, set picks and play team defense. Too many of today's NBA stars are more worried about getting on SportsCenter or promoting themselves at the expense of the team. Even Michael Jordan couldn't win championships until he was surrounded by talented role players. There is no substitute for good team play, especially in international basketball. Showboating and ball hogging may work against the Clippers or help at contract time, but truly great teams need to work together. Unless a player is willing to sublimate his stats for the good of the team, he shouldn't play for Team USA. 3. Today's NBA player may have more athletic ability than his predecessors, but they have to learn the mental game of basketball as well. Leaving college early or skipping college altogether does hurt the NBA product as players do not have the same fundamental skills that NBA players had in the past. Sure, they can make a fancy dunk, but can they execute a team strategy properly? If you want to win at the Olympics, concentrate on fundamental skills like boxing out, precision passing and working for a higher percentage shot. The Americans were more talented than their opponents, but didn't win the gold because they are not as well versed on the fundamentals. This is not playground basketball, it's the Olympics. Do the simple things well and you win. Team USA forgot that lesson. 4. Many people in the press were critical of the large number of players who were invited to join the USA Olympic Team but decided not to play. I can't agree with that logic. Yes, it would be nice to see NBA players, who are among the most privileged members of our society, be patriotic and represent their country, but it's not mandatory. The average NBA player makes millions of dollars per year and to risk injury at the Olympics and potentially lose that future income is a lot to ask of anybody. I know I would have serious reservations about competing in the Olympics if it put my income in jeopardy and I make a hell of a lot less than $10 million dollars a year. That being said, however, those players who do decide to represent their country owe it to their country to take the games seriously and give 100%. It is obvious that not enough of this year's Olympic team did that and that's what American basketball fans should be angry about. The Americans bronze medal finish at the 2004 Olympic games was a disappointment to all involved. Yet the bigger disappointment would be if the Americans fail to learn from their mistakes and repeat them in 2008. Then, this loss would have been in vain.