Is The US Men’s Basketball Team Soft Compared To The Rest Of The World?

Is The US Men’s Basketball Team Soft Compared To The Rest Of The World? | Sports Takes & News | TooAthletic.com

Click Here For The Best Twitter Reactions

The United States Men’s Basketball Team have not begun their quest for another Gold Medal in the Summer Olympics like they normally do. Thankfully for the Red, White and Blue the two losses they suffered were only friendly affairs designed to allow them to become more familiar with their new teammates. There has been, however, a pattern identified in how NBA players play and how their international competition does. The difference is clear as Team USA is looking for officials to blow their whistle when those from other countries play through the pain. Which makes it appear that unlike the NBA, basketball for the rest of the world is a physical, contact sport.

After suffering a three-point loss to Nigeria this past weekend, the US Men’s Basketball Team lost to Australia 91-83 Monday night. The loss marked their second loss in their pre-Olympic games with a trip to Tokyo and the Summer Games coming in a matter of days. 

Several players on Team USA are still adjusting to FIBA officiating, per @ChrisBHaynes

"Throughout the games, multiple players, from Jayson Tatum to Bradley Beal, have been staring down the officials following no-calls as they’re accustomed to receiving touch fouls." pic.twitter.com/XZzm44UYqa

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) July 13, 2021

The reason why the Men’s Team may be struggling in their tune up games may not be the late-night shows on the strip or the lure of the casinos, but something more basketball related. As pointed out by Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports and TNT Sports who posted this observation on Twitter Tuesday morning, the problem might be the style of play being allowed:

“Throughout the games, multiple players, from Jayson Tatum to Bradley Beal, have been staring down the officials following no-calls as they’re accustomed to receiving touch fouls.”

At long last we can say there’s proof that NBA players are spoiled and bailed out way too often by the whistle of officials during their regular and postseason games. While no one besides Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer is calling for a return of the “No Blood, No Foul” days of the 1980’s and 1990’s game, it is clear that the NBA has done its best to remove physical defense from the league.

Perhaps this is the influence of daily fantasy sports players and everyday bettors who want to see more action not less, with ratings seemingly supporting this belief … or perhaps this is the NBA just trying to get away from its ugly reputation of a bygone era and allowing its players to perform miracles on the court. Either way between the three-point shot and little defensive contact allowed, the NBA has created their own type of game, with the rest of the world holding fast by still allowing physical contact, players on the US Men’s Team are just not use to dealing with.

Some may be willing to sound the alarm after two losses away from the Olympic Flame, while others are saying it is too early to panic about how Team USA will do in Tokyo. For me, the bigger reveal here is how soft the NBA players have become when compared to the rest of the world’s basketball players. To think that professional hoopsters are looking for whistles to be blown in a friendly tune up game that is more of a workout than a contest worthy of keeping score says all you need to know about the mindset of NBA players.

This mindset will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks, with San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich clearly having his work cut out for him between now the start of the Olympic Games. Reprogramming NBA players to the international style of basketball will need to be quick and painful if Team USA is to avoid an embarrassing outcome in Tokyo … and it should also be a wake up call to the rest of the NBA that while points may be up, the quality of basketball that the league is producing may not be up to international standards if every player can turn around and get a whistle after contact.

The NBA is already looking to stop abnormal ways shooters jump when they get off their shot in an effort to draw fouls; perhaps now it is time to reward, not punish defenders for holding their own, not blow a whistle because the wind moved the shooter’s jersey on a block attempt. The NBA needs to start playing hoops like the rest of the world, because unlike 1992, the world game is superior to that of America’s league, something Team USA may soon find out in Tokyo. 

Click Here For The Best Twitter Reactions

About TooAthletic
TooAthletic Takes is the News division of TooAthletic. Launched in 2019, TooAthletic Takes is a source for all your sports takes. TooAthletic Takes will make you laugh, cry, get mad, and even call us “idiots.” We strive to give our readers another viewpoint on any sports situation, and we look forward to disagreements with the hopes that it leads to healthy discussions and debates.

TooAthletic Takes aspires to be the #1 source for all sports takes, and become a leader in sports media.

Categories

“What If” Takes

Boxing Takes

Dumb Sports Takes

Either/Or Takes

ESPN Takes

Fantasy Football Takes

Fox Sports Takes

Funny Sports Highlights

Funny Sports Takes

High School Highlights

Lists

Memes & GIFs

MLB Takes

NBA Highlights

NBA Takes

NCAA Sports Highlights

NCAA Takes

NFL Highlights

NFL Takes

NHL Takes

Predictions

Question Takes

Racing Takes

Rafael’s NFL Betting Picks

Sports Gambling Takes

Sports Movie Reviews

Sports News

Sports Quotes

Survivor Pool Picks

TooAthletic Takes

UFC Takes

Voting

Worried/Not Worried About Takes

XFL Takes

Is The US Men’s Basketball Team Soft Compared To The Rest Of The World? | TooAthletic.com

The post Is The US Men’s Basketball Team Soft Compared To The Rest Of The World? appeared first on TOOATHLETIC TAKES.

----------------------------------------

By: Rafael Thomas
Title: Is The US Men’s Basketball Team Soft Compared To The Rest Of The World?
Sourced From: tooathletic.com/is-the-us-mens-basketball-team-soft-compared-to-the-rest-of-the-world/
Published Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2021 03:32:26 +0000

Read More