RE: U.S. loss and Travis Best

["Wright, Cecil" <Cecil.Wright@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't agree with you, Lance, that the Lakers play International ball.

Cecil Wright, Nova Scotia Community Coordinator
National Crime Prevention Centre
Suite 1400 - Duke Tower 
5251 Duke Street
Halifax, NS  B3J 1P3
Tel: (902) 426-5950
Fax: (902) 426-8532
Email: cecil.wright@justice.gc.ca 
Web: www.crime-prevention.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Lance Jacobson [mailto:lancejacob@attbi.com]
Sent: September 05, 2002 12:24 PM
To: Berry, Mark S; celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Re: U.S. loss and Travis Best


Contrary to what Lance keeps spouting  you don't just
decide to play great team basketball. It takes a lot of practice time. The
U.S. team is a collection of great players who really have no understanding
of
how to play with each other.>>Mark Berry

OK, Mark, you're making your point.  What if the USA turns around and wins
the
remaining games for the Gold?

All these players know how to cut and pass, they just choose not to.  You
can
condemn the NBA for making stars and promoting individual play, but these
players do know HOW to do the work to get open and get the ball.

You say that the NBA doesn't play international-style ball.  I don't agree.
The Nets, Lakers and the emerging Hawks do, and it's appealing.  Guys know
this, but those who want many minutes for big stats don't want to expend the
energy on defense and work hard without the ball on offense.  I've seen the
same things here at Indy.

I disagree with you that the USA team can't play more as a team.  You say we
can't do it without the practice time. Their mindset was shifted yesterday
and
I'll challenge you that we'll win the rest of the games with the
intensity--not shoving or tripping--on both ends of the court that was
lacking.
You don't like what I've got to say, and that's fine.  Let's see who's right
about what we both claim to know.