BuzzerBeater Forums

To Everyone but specifically Shot City:

What do you think is the most disappointing thing about Team USA basketball over the last 8 seasons and what specific instance/game/decision was the most disappointing and why?

That we haven't won the championship, plain and simple.

#1. Several of you have mentioned scouting. Having worked with Juice on this aspect of the team some, I can tell you that he tracks literally hundreds of players, playing in all leagues around the world. This includes an extensive list of 18yo guys each year to get in touch with managers as early as possible to suggest training strategies that benefit both the NT and their club team. Given the extent of this, how do you think you can improve on the scouting that is currently being done?

I really don't think we can - we literally track any viable player and communicate with every owner about training, etc.

I think scouting under me is a well-oiled machine and is pretty much set for now.

#2. Every election there's noise about how to get more involvement, and yet we're always left with the same basic problem: if we rely on an offsite forum, many users just won't visit, and if we rely on these boards, we can't post any real detail, leaving users unable to make informed contributions. Specifically, the things you mention, "taking the input of every USA Manager, by listening to your voice, you can contact me" are passive and certainly already true, so how do you think you can improve involvement given the constraints we face?

The chat room we're going to release soon should drive some interest - people always enjoy real time discussion.

1a- how many USA NT and U21 games have you watched COMPLETELY this past season?

Every NT game, hardly any U21 games.

1a- what USA NT coach's errors have you seen in those games?

A real cluster of a lineup against Spain (ran a default when the lineup came in too late).

1c- in USA NT games, what tactics would you have changed?

Really wish we had played a 3-2 Zone against Germany in the semifinals, but Man To Man was a defensible choice.

2- how many non-USA NT and U21 games have you watched COMPLETELY this past season (estimate if not sure).

50ish, maybe more.

3a- are you a member of the off-site forum? if so, how long have you been a member?

I created it, so late October-early November 2007.

3b- if you are a member, how many posts have you made

1652

3a) been a member/lurker long time. Posted a few times, never got a reply, the site blew up and re invented itself. I didnt check in there much at all this season, and won't post at all if i lose. If i do lose Juice deserves the chance to defend his ideas. The one thing no one can accuse Juice of is incompetence, which is why its an uphill battle. I know I personally and a few others feel that there were mistakes, but hes not a f-up at the level of say... rpeters in hattrick (for those who play that game). Whoever wins deserves the chance to put their philosophy in without people sniping at them over every decision they would make differently.

I completely disagree.

We want ideas and thoughts to come in from all corners, positive or negative.

Criticism is essential to improvement. If one isn't criticized, even harshly if need be, they become complacent and never improve. We need improvement - 2 games improvement, to be exact.

Your statement regarding not posting if I win gives the impression that you're not all that interested in the USA NT unless you win the election. I'm not sure that's what you're trying to achieve.

Finally, whoever gets elected SHOULD be under a microscope - that person represents the 2625 strong USA community on the world stage.

Now you are being petty. In spite of my disagreements with you over alot of things, i always thought you were at least a decent guy in hattrick and here.

How do you figure I'm being petty?

As for the infamous patient offense game, i had no intention of winning the game.

An important part of NT play, given the small number of games in a given round, is to be able to effectively judge whether or not you can win a game, or whether or not you need to win a game.

The 1st Round of the Worlds played out perfectly in that regard:

- Loss to Australia

- Must win against Italy, played a CT and won by 2

- Punted game against Iran as it was not a game that would determine advancement or any 2nd round records

- Beat Morocco on an obvious TIE

- Beat Germany with a Normal and a 2-3 Zone (against advice of many - one of the few times I've done that but I felt was absolutely necessary, and it was) to ensure a 2-1 record for the beginning of the 2nd round. A loss there and the subsequent events leaves us out of the semis.

Also, our last 2nd round game against Argentina was essentially a must-win, but we were able to TIE comfortably.

Would you be able to read the situation for 4-5 games and and possibly beyond and adapt each game plan to that, while adjusting on the fly as other games affect the needs of the USA?

lastly, the south americans being the incident where you gt baited because they beat you with a foolish CT.

Who? Do they even exist? I have no idea who this team is, but I remember about 50 seasons ago when Brazil actually mattered. Maybe this has to do with that, perhaps?

as for the activity, make it more exciting, be bolder in statements and trashtalk to the other teams. get all the managers involved. find translators to see what they are posting in the italian forums, etc etc

Although I prefer the more subtle route (as referenced a few times in this debate with a team in South America that used to be relevant), I'm not a prude either:

(76412.1)

find translators to see what they are posting in the italian forums

We do that already, especially in Italy, as our U21 coach is a native Italian speaker.

Thank you for the interesting question? over the past couple of seasons, one thing that affected the outcome of our team were injuries, which unfortunatley happened to our best players. I now have a great understanding of this game, and im pretty positive in what im doing for my team, within a week I'm making extremley big moves that will take my team to the top,and also i beleieve we will be a power house. Also I believe my dedication to this game will take Team USA to the top

Last edited by Shot City at 6/5/2009 6:14:00 PM