2004:Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Amar'e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, Stephon Marbury, Richard Jefferson, Lamar Odom, Emeka Okafor (Coach: Larry Brown)

2008:Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Deron Williams (Coach: Mike Krzyzewski, Assistant Coaches: Jay Triano, Mike D'Antoni, Jim Boeheim, Nate McMillan)

It is asinine to compare the two rosters and claim that one succeeded and one failed because of coaching.

Laley,

That's basically what I meant by saying K was responsible for changing the culture of the Olympic team by getting them to forget about their personal success and buy into the principle of "team" and play for a greater cause. This is half of the job of an NBA level coach -- being a great manager of talent. Some can do this reasonably well -- Phil Jackson, Chuck Daly, Greg Popovich, Larry Bird, etc. -- while others can't. With the job he has done with the USA men's team since 2006, K has proven that he could be very successful at that level.

But yes, the players also have to play the games. And Kobe, LeBron and company can certainly do that better than anyone in the world.

It is asinine to compare the two rosters and claim that one succeeded and one failed because of coaching.

I'm not claiming that Larry Brown is the sole reason that the 2004 team lost. I am saying that I think there wasn't a togetherness with that group to really play as one, in the spirit of their country, that needed to be there in order to acheive the ultimate prize. There was a TON of talent in Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, LeBron, DWade and Carmelo, but the cohesiveness of the group was severely lacking.

One of the first things Coach K did when he first sat down with the 2008 group -- at the beginning, before they began practicing and playing together, he referred to them only as a "group," because he said they weren't yet a "team," an important barrier they would need to overcome to become successful -- was instill within them the pride of playing for country. One of the ways he did this was by inviting wounded warriors to speak with the team. This might seem small, but it was about building a culture of a FIST and putting selflessness aside.

Here's a great video of K speaking on rebulding the Dream Team.

reclegend22;1004202 wrote:Do you just intentionally read right through facts, or do you seriously not see them? You should consult an optometrist, because you may have glaucoma.

Did you not watch the Olympics that year? Lebron and Carmelo rode the bench as well as any of the superstars of today's era. All coach K did was simply say "Hey, 5 league super stars, go win". Real impressive.

The level of talent on those 2 teams isnt even close.

Iverson and Marbury running the point as compared to Kidd, Williams and Cp3? seriously

Adding Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Chris Bosh along with Melo and Bron coming into their prime, its a no brainer that Coach K would of had to do little to no coaching for that team to run through everyone

reclegend22;1004420 wrote:I'm not claiming that Larry Brown is the sole reason that the 2004 team lost. I am saying that I think there wasn't a togetherness with that group to really play as one, in the spirit of their country, that needed to be there in order to acheive the ultimate prize. There was a TON of talent in Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, LeBron, DWade and Carmelo, but the cohesiveness of the group was severely lacking.

One of the first things Coach K did when he first sat down with the 2008 group -- at the beginning, before they began practicing and playing together, he referred to them only as a "group," because he said they weren't yet a "team," an important barrier they would need to overcome to become successful -- was instill within them the pride of playing for country. One of the ways he did this was by inviting wounded warriors to speak with the team. This might seem small, but it was about building a culture of a FIST and putting selflessness aside.

Here's a great video of K speaking on rebulding the Dream Team.

you are such a loser.

Well, I think he probably deserves at least a little credit, but to each his own. Am I wearing a giant blue devil head on my shoulders as I type, yes, but that's far from the point. Coach K was able to manage that team of stars very well, and that's the sign of an efficient coach at that level.

Stars alone don't win championships. Look at the early 2000s Portland Trailbazers squads. Some of the most talented teams in the NBA over the past 15 years -- Rasheed Wallace in his prime, Bonzi Wells, Damon Stoudamire, Scottie Pippen, Steve Smith, Arvydas Sabonis, Detlef Shcrempf, Shawn Kemp -- and yet, like the Iverson and Marbury-led USA team, they were combustible. Mike Dunleavy Sr. did pretty well with them in '00, the year Portland let a 3 to 1 series lead slip away to the Lakers in the conference finals, including a 15-point fourth quarter lead in Game 7, but proceeding coach Maurice Cheeks was just overwhelmed. And thus, some of the most disappointing finishes in recent memory despite loads of talent. It takes somebody special to manage that talent (ala Phil Jackson).

sleeper;1004455 wrote:Did you not watch the Olympics that year? Lebron and Carmelo rode the bench as well as any of the superstars of today's era. All coach K did was simply say "Hey, 5 league super stars, go win". Real impressive.

I wonder why they didnt ask Thad Matta to coach the Olympic team, after all he has 300 wins. Oh wait let me answer that its over 600 wins shy of the Coaching legend Coach K and also no national titles. Nevermind I figured it out on my own!

Red Rider Nation;1004924 wrote:I wonder why they didnt ask Thad Matta to coach the Olympic team, after all he has 300 wins. Oh wait let me answer that its over 600 wins shy of the Coaching legend Coach K and also no national titles. Nevermind I figured it out on my own!

Another bandwagon Duke fan. Awesome. Hey, did you catch the 22 point blowout that Thad put on an all basketball school? LOL

sleeper;1004927 wrote:Another bandwagon Duke fan. Awesome. Hey, did you catch the 22 point blowout that Thad put on an all basketball school? LOL

Hahahaha you Buckeye fans never cease to amaze me. Its now been 7 days and you still talk about it. I can assure you the Duke team moved on and Im sure the Buckeyes team has done the same. Now I just suggest you do the same!!! Once again championships arent won in November so judging by you still celebrating this win, this may have been your 2011-12 National title. Congrats I guess???

Red Rider Nation;1004934 wrote:Hahahaha you Buckeye fans never cease to amaze me. Its now been 7 days and you still talk about it. I can assure you the Duke team moved on and Im sure the Buckeyes team has done the same. Now I just suggest you do the same!!! Once again championships arent won in November so judging by you still celebrating this win, this may have been your 2011-12 National title. Congrats I guess???

Uh I believe you brought up OSU first there bud

Red Rider Nation;1004934 wrote:Hahahaha you Buckeye fans never cease to amaze me. Its now been 7 days and you still talk about it. I can assure you the Duke team moved on and Im sure the Buckeyes team has done the same. Now I just suggest you do the same!!! Once again championships arent won in November so judging by you still celebrating this win, this may have been your 2011-12 National title. Congrats I guess???

You aren't an Ohio State football fan and you are a bandwagon Duke fan. Enjoy!

sleeper;1004957 wrote:You aren't an Ohio State football fan and you are a bandwagon Duke fan. Enjoy!

Hahaha thats just funny. Ive been to over 40 Duke games in my life including the National Championship in 2010. Ya bandwagon! Yes I am an ohio St football fan and a Duke basketball fan! I wouldnt have it any other way!!! Oh and I do enjoy! I have witnessed 4 National titles in hoops and 1 National title in Football since I have been a fan of both which dates back to the late 1970's SO SUCK IT!!!

Red Rider Nation;1004961 wrote:Hahaha thats just funny. Ive been to over 40 Duke games in my life including the National Championship in 2010. Ya bandwagon! Yes I am an ohio St football fan and a Duke basketball fan! I wouldnt have it any other way!!! Oh and I do enjoy! I have witnessed 4 National titles in hoops and 1 National title in Football since I have been a fan of both which dates back to the late 1970's SO SUCK IT!!!

we do not want you as a buckeye football fan.

Red Rider Nation;1004961 wrote:Hahaha thats just funny. Ive been to over 40 Duke games in my life including the National Championship in 2010. Ya bandwagon! Yes I am an ohio St football fan and a Duke basketball fan! I wouldnt have it any other way!!! Oh and I do enjoy! I have witnessed 4 National titles in hoops and 1 National title in Football since I have been a fan of both which dates back to the late 1970's SO SUCK IT!!!

Wow 40 games? SUPER FAN ALERT

DeyDurkie5;1004969 wrote:we do not want you as a buckeye football fan.

Who's we? You and the other 6 OSU fans on here? Deal with it Pal!!!

Red Rider Nation;1004961 wrote:Hahaha thats just funny. Ive been to over 40 Duke games in my life including the National Championship in 2010. Ya bandwagon! Yes I am an ohio St football fan and a Duke basketball fan! I wouldnt have it any other way!!! Oh and I do enjoy! I have witnessed 4 National titles in hoops and 1 National title in Football since I have been a fan of both which dates back to the late 1970's SO SUCK IT!!!

Holy shit. So you are, at least, 32 years old?!?!? Good God our country is a mess.

Laley23;1005002 wrote:Holy shit. So you are, at least, 32 years old?!?!? Good God our country is a mess.

LOL reps. Duke Bball/OSU football fans are the worst. Especially the ones who get pissed at OSU bball fans. What a fucking paradox that is.

chicago510;1005082 wrote:LOL reps. Duke Bball/OSU football fans are the worst. Especially the ones who get pissed at OSU bball fans. What a ****ing paradox that is.

+1 million

sleeper;1005087 wrote:+1 million

You're an OSU football fan.

Hahahaha you Buckeye fans never cease to amaze me. Its now been 7 days and you still talk about it

dukies talk about games that happened decades ago.

ernest_t_bass;1005096 wrote:You're an OSU fan.

Fixed.

I don't pick and choose good teams and pretend I'm a fan in fragmented segments.

Red Rider Nation;1004924 wrote:I wonder why they didnt ask Thad Matta to coach the Olympic team, after all he has 300 wins. Oh wait let me answer that its over 600 wins shy of the Coaching legend Coach K and also no national titles. Nevermind I figured it out on my own!

Coach K - Has averaged 26 wins per year, a .761 winning %. Matta - Has averaged 30 wins per year, a .771 winning %. That will go down after this year for Coach K and go up for Matta.

Big Gain;1005122 wrote:Coach K - Has averaged 26 wins per year, a .761 winning %. Matta - Has averaged 30 wins per year, a .771 winning %. That will go down after this year for Coach K and go up for Matta.

Theres a useless stat. Let me give you one: Coach K 4 titles, Thad Matta 0 Titles. Enough Said!!!! You guys are trying to put up a fight for a program that is not what Duke's is and never will be. You all are IGNORANT!

Red Rider Nation;1005198 wrote:Theres a useless stat. Let me give you one: Coach K 4 titles, Thad Matta 0 Titles. Enough Said!!!! You guys are trying to put up a fight for a program that is not what Duke's is and never will be. You all are IGNORANT!

Why did you come on a Dook thread, talk shit about OSU, then get upset when people respond?