来源:Sports Illustrated
By CHRIS MANNIX September 17, 2019
LOS ANGELES — Disappointing.
Embarrassing.
A reason for reevaluation.
Just a few of the words and phrases that flooded the internet in the aftermath o
这段是讲美国这次取得了有史以来最糟的成绩
甚至超越了2002年的第六名。
So: Has Team USA hit a new low?
“You can’t compare the two years,” USA Basketball managing director Jerry Col
It is.f courset is. In 2002, the idea of playing for USA Basketball had lost all
It’s not USA fanboying to submit that this team was snakebitten. The World Cup
Injuries happen. That’s what bothers Colangelo the most. Kyle Kuzma—one of the
总管被问到这次是否创下了新低,甚至超越2002?
Jerry Colangelo认为两者无法相比,2002年的失利归咎于球员打得自私,可怕的罚球命中率以及不擅长管理更衣室的教练Gertge Karl的问题。
这次的问题在于时机点,比赛在奥运的前一年举办,比赛甚至在NBA的季前训练营开始前两周才结束。
还有伤兵问题,这是总管认为最为困扰的,少数外围射手的Kuzma因为脚踝伤势在联赛开始前退出,以及优秀的侧翼得分手Tatum扭伤脚踝缺席了大部分比赛。
“我认为如果没有这些伤势,我们会赢得比赛。”
Colangelo说。
And you know what? The rest of the world isood.rance, which bounced the U.S. from the quarterfinals, is led by Rudy Gobert, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Evan Fournier averaged 15 points for Orlando last season. Frank Ntilikina was a lottery pick. Serbia, which handed the U.S. its second loss of the tournament, has Nikola Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Good players, complemented by a roster of guys who have spent years playing together.
“Basketball is the ultimate team game,” Colangelo said. “The more familiarity that players have with one another on the court, the better. Look at guys on Spain, Argentina. Luis Scola played [for Argentina]. He’s 39, played like he was 20. Manu Ginobili was there, he told [USA coach Gregg Popovich] that he was so proud of the Argentineans … you have to give credit to the rest of the world.”
这段大概是讲其他强势国家队也有着不少NBA球员,也讲到篮球是团队运动,不能轻视其他队伍的配合。
So what’s the solution? A national team comprised of non-NBA players, like the one Jeff Van Gundy coached in the qualifier last fall? Unrealistic. Colangelo is clearly irritated by some of the withdrawals this summer. “The disappointment I feel is not from the guys who said they wouldn’t play,” Colangelo said. “It’s those that said they would, and then backed out.”
Still, Colangelo isn’t about to turn away talent. He hinted that he has had indications that some of the top players will return for the 2020 Olympics. He has a deep appreciation for the players that committed to play in the World Cup, suggesting that there were “2-3 players” who likely punched their tickets to Tokyo. Kemba Walker, Team USA’s leading scorer, is probably one. Donovan Mitchell, who singlehandedly kept the U.S. team in the game against France, is another. Colangelo also went out of his
way to praise Marcus Smart, a defensive menace who can guard multiple positions.
总管表示不会对于一开始表态不参加的人感到不满,但是那些中途退出的就不一定了。
同时他也认为这次参赛的球员或许为自己争取到了东奥的位子-Kemba Walker,这次的头号得分手,Donovan Mitchell,对上法国队的精彩表现。总管同时对于Marcus Smart能够防守不同位置表现给予赞美。
And the late withdrawals, a list of talent that includes James Harden, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard? If they want to play next summer? “We’ll deal with those cases individually,” Colangelo said. “It’s important to field as strong a team as possible.”
Indeed. When the U.S. suits up its A-Team, it’s unbeatable. In 2016, the U.S. routed Serbia in the gold medal game by 30. The average margin of victory in that Olympic cycle: 22.5 points. In 2020, the schedule is ideal; the Olympics open in late July and conclude in early August. The chance to be part of another Redeem Team should be motivating.
It is for Colangelo. Next summer will end his 14-year tenure at the helm of USA Basketball. He oversaw the recovery of Team USA in 2008. He’s hellbent on making sure he leaves with the team on top. “There has not been any disappointment around USA Basketball in a while,” said Colangelo. “This will bother me until the 2020 Olympics.”
这段是讲那些中途退出的明星AD Harden Lillard该怎么处理?总管官腔回应“我们会再看看”。对于Colangelo来说,明年是他最后一次带领国家队,势必得留下些什么,球员名单会持续困扰着他,直到明年。
This summer was disappointing. And there will be disappointment again. The U.S. might never lose another Olympics. But a World Cup, a tournament in between Olympic cycles? They will lose another of those, for sure. The world is too good for the U.S. to scotch tape a collection of good NBA players to a roster and expect to win. It’s not embarrassing or humiliating that Team USA lost—it’s a reality.
Send the best, and it’s a blowout.
Send anything less, and the struggles of this summer will be repeated.
结语,大概是说现在世界的篮球都在进步,必须要精锐尽出,否则今夏的戏码只会再发生一次。