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But aren't the Euros kicking the butts of NBA players in international competition? Just asking.

Exactly--- the Euro game is team basketball not isolation dribble for most of the shot clock and then either try a ridiculous three or drive to the rim out of control and yell at the ref when a charge is called

Colangelo's right. "Back in the Day" players went to LA or Philadelphia and played in the summer league to develop their game. Todays' player lacks fundamentals. They can dunk with the best of them, but can't knock down a 15 footer or a free throw. As a result we have dozens of players on the bench with no opportunity to contribute because he doesn't know how. I'm not sure Europe is the answer, but if a player wants to survive in the league, he is going to have to develop his natural ability into something more than a 360.

If you want to enhance the basic fundamentals of your game you go and play in Europe. They seem to understand the concept of the game a lot better then in the U.S

And European basketball is so much better to watch

And European basketball is so much better to watch

icouldnt

dunks are exciting but so is defense and a well executed play in which the basket is created due to an amazing assist

icouldnt
There is no comparison. The European game is certainly more fundamentally sound, but you can't be serious about it being more fun to watch as opposed to the best, most highly skilled athletes in the world. I agree that our players need polishing, but as a spectator, I want to see the best.

Thank you Hllywd!!!! These other guys are on crack!!!!! These Euros cant play this game like us period!!! Thats why the Raptors suck, Thats why Memphis sucks!!! Look Guys that team basketball is all fine and good, but when youre in a game 7 with 20 seconds to go, down by 2 with a chance to go to the Finals you need THAT GUY!!!! That guy is a guy who's selfish, who doesnt care what anybody thinks, has incredible athleticism, He wants to show you up, and he's just determine to score and get all the glory!!!!! Those are the guys that get the respect from the refs, get their calls, and everybody knows them!!!! Tony Parker wasnt anything until he got that attitude(thanx to Eva) Yao is starting to get so is YI!!! ak-47 has it too!!! Thats what Paul Gasol doesnt have, thats what Dirk doesnt have, Thats what none of the euros on the Raptors have, In the NBA you have the most cut-throat, driven, most athletic, tallest, greatest athletes in the entire world!!! In other sports you can cheat to get to the top, not in the NBA!!!

I like Mitchell defending the NBA its nice to hear for a change. A lot of players that come over from Europe are pretty good and for the most part the international players and teams do have sound fundamentals.

Problem is everyone gets such a hard on for these european players and then next thing you know Nikoloz Tskitishvili getting drafted fifth overall by Denver in 2002.

i agree with sam, heck chris webber was a big fat greek contract (10-12 million)

btw, watch as USA destroys every team in the olympics now that paul, arenas, wade, johnson, pierce, brand, bosh, and oden are healthy

Macdamien,

You are on crack, period. What Colangelo (the reigning Executive of the Year) said is that NBA players lack fundamentals. If you argue this point, you are a moron. Most NBA players cannot pass or play team defense to save their lives. So many of them are one-dimensional it's sickening. What you guys have forgotten is that basketball is a TEAM game, not walking the ball up the floor, clearing out and letting a neandrathal dribble twice, knock a guy down and dunk. Euro-ball is much more fluent, passing to an oopen man (what a concept!) and knocking down a jumper (way less sexy than a dunk that ends up on ESPN). Euros play unselfish ball, something only a few NBA players know. Colangelo wants to infuse his team with players that are unselfish and play for the team... I agree. You can keep your Vince Carters, Allen Iversons and Kobe Bryants and every other superstar jacker that plays mediocre defense and sulks every time a losing streak finds them.

sorry forgot to add webber has not accepted the contract

Sam Mitchell personifies what's wrong with American sport, esp NBA. While we have better athletes, there is nothing wrong in going to Europe, learning team ball, passing skills. Mitchell's like his ego has gotten hurt 'coz someone else may be a bit better than you in some areas?

Yeah I agree with most here, we do wanna see the best athletes, but isn't there SOMETHING we could learn from the euros? What's the harm in a 1 yr stint with those teams?
This kinda attitude beats me!

Hey, has anyone ACTUALLY watched a Euro leage game? I'm not talking about the international competition, I'm talking about the actual leagues without the nationalism. The players are not as good as in the NBA, but it's an exciting game, not just dunks. They play defense, good ball movement, it's more of a team game, maybe because they don't have dominant players like Duncan or LeBron. On top of that, the fans make the Knicks fans look like sissies. Ever play when the fans are showering the court with coins? It's tough.

I don't agree with you, MacaDamien. Obviously, you have never seen a Euro league game, or you would agree that it is superior to the NBA game in every way. Nobody gives a care whether or not that American player you mentioned can be selfish and score to win. People care about the quality of the game. That is what is going to bring fans to the NBA is the quality of the game. Nobody cares who wins what in the playoffs. I live in Phoenix, and I would never, ever drive to LA to see Kobe play, because I don't want to see a guy jack up 40-50 shots a night.

Funny how you mentioned AK-47 has having that "Killer Instinct" you praise when he is probably the only European player who you could say (along with Boris Diaw) had a terrible season last year unrelated to injury.

If I had a choice of courtside tickets to an NBA Finals contest, and "NoseBleed" tickets to a pre-season Euro League game, I would choose the Euro League game. That is the difference.

San Antonio is the only team that knows how to pick them. All these other foreigners just don't cr

...crack the rotation, they aren't quick enough or strong enough, the Parker's and Barbossa's are few and far between.