US vs Lithuania

With Angola beating Austrailia the US continues on to next bracket. No more losses and the Americans can still get gold

 

No.

Unfortunately it means the four year college players, the ones that stay in school, do the right thing, work on their game to keep getting better will get pushed further down the first round, into the second round or go undrafted.

Because the NBA is still going to continue drafting the high school players, the one year and done college phenoms and the European players. You watch, Raymond Felton will end up being a mid to late round draft pick whenever he comes out. If he stays four years he will fall even further. Probably lower or about the same as if he had gone pro out of high school or turned pro after either of his first two college years. Just like it happened to duhon. Duhon would have been a lottery pick if he had turned pro after his first or second year.

Not saying that either Felton or Duhon deserve a lottery pick - but it is apparent that this kids going to the draft early are doing the smart thing - getting the high draft pick, money and contract when they can.

The NBA is not far from being a bunch of European players and 18-19 year old USA players. That is the future of the NBA.

That's why I'll always be a college b-ball fan first. Just tell me when the NBA finals start - thats about all I'll bother watching.

 

It's both. Drafting more Europeans and youngsters are taking up roster spots that were once held by the Rick Fox's, Chucky Browns and others out the door. They draft the youngsters and have to keep them on rosters to let them mature and learn the game. If a college player has game he will get drafted accordingly. 4 year or 2. David Stern is pushing hard for a 20 year old limit

 

The Rick Fox's of the world won't even get drafted these days.

Fox would be lucky to even make a roster if he was graduating today. Not because he doesn't have skills. But he would already be considered too old - not enough potential as a JR Smith or a Sebastian Telfair. I mean if he had to hang around college for four years obviously something is wrong with him.

 

What, so 4 year players like Tim Duncans, Carlos Boozers, and (damn the Duke player playing for the Grizzlies) are marginal players? College players stock rises and falls depending on lots of stuff. Skill, injuries, performance, team mates getting hurt so more attention is paid to them.....

 

a Tim Duncan will be the exception - a four year player better be tall as shit - because if he's a "high riser" he should have been good enough to go early - by the time he spends four years in college he'll have all the early commitments and high school kids to contend with.

The league is going to keep drafting younger and more Eurpoean - Boozer barely got drafted - doesn't mean he can't play - but hanging around dook all those years didn't exactly help his draft status - guys like him are going to make the league as free agents - not as high draft picks.

The earlier they jump into the draft the better off they are - staying four years sure didn't help whats his name from St Joe's - player of the year no less and he was well out of the lottery - taken after ALL the high school kids. It's stupid and it sucks - but thats the way it is and getting worse all the time.

 

Do we care? it's basketball afterall. Nothning that really matters. Hell they can draft em in 8th grade and they still won't be able to beat a bunch of polacks.

 

i thought boozer came out after 3 years... didn't he?

the NBA drafts on what works. the top nba players are all underclassmen with an exception for every 1 out of 10.

who are the top players in the league and how many years did they go to school?

 

He came out after the third year and was drafted at the top of round two, barely got drafted was a bit of hyperbole.

If I remember correctly (more ammo for the Cavs Boozer haters) they gave him a three year guaranteed contract like if he was a first rounder. He really screwed the pooch on that team.

 

Wow...our perimeter D is GREAT!!!!!!