Debate 1 - Team USA: Will The Dream Be Redeemed?

As another new installment here at After The Anthem, we will be conducting weekly interviews and debates, discussing the most current and pressing sports news. The debates will be conducted with a mediator who regulates the discussion, and will be recorded here on ATA for your reading pleasure. Also, debaters will NOT be restricted to only staff members, and is open to anyone who has something substantial to say about a given week's topic of discussion. If you are interested in participating in a weekly debate or interview, please contact Brian Pham.

For our first debate, our very own Brian Pham (Olympics editor) and Adriel Carolino (miscellaneous sports editor) discuss various aspects of Team USA basketball. I served as the mediator. Here's what they had to say:


Brian Chen: Today's topic of discussion, Olympic Team USA. Pham, what do you think about our Redeem Team?

Brian Pham: I believe the Redeem Team is, hands down, one of the greatest teams ever assembled.

Brian Chen: Really, even better than the Dream Team that featured Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird?

Brian Pham: I don't think they're at that level yet, because they're all young. But Chris Paul is going to be one of the greatest point guards of all time, and people forget what Dwyane Wade is truly capable of because he hasn't been completely healthy since the '04 finals. And as hard as it is for me to admit, Lebron is already one of the greatest players of all time. Nobody can guard him now, nobody could've guarded him then.

Brian Chen: Adriel, what do you think about Pham's opinion?

Adriel Carolino: ...about what?

Brian Pham: YOU DOUCHEBAG, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DEBATE, AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN F*ING LISTENING TO ME.

Adriel Carolino: Well if I actually respected your opinion, maybe I would have paid attention. I'm just kidding Pham. So what were we talking about again?

Brian Chen: Pham believes the '08 Redeem Team is one of the greatest teams ever assembled. What do you think?

Adriel Carolino: Based on talent alone, they are one of the strongest teams of all time, especially defensively.

Brian Pham: I think the Reddem Team's defense is pretty good, but we sputter on offense. Especially when it comes to shooting free throws. It's outrageous, when you consider that this is supposed to be the best assembled team from America. But if there's one person holding back the Redeem Team, it's Tayshaun Prince. They need to kick him off the team. He's useless.

Adriel Carolino: Honestly, I think the player holding the Redeem Team back is Kobe Bryant. At his best, he's the greatest player on the planet. But recently, he's been missing all his 3's, and has been trying to do way too much on offense. I feel like he's trying to win All-Star games instead of trying to win Olympic gold. And against Angola, our entire team was sloppy as hell.

Brian Pham: I really don't see Kobe trying to be too flashy so far in the Olympics. And that's not even to say that flashiness is a bad thing. Dwade is pretty damn flashy, but I think it actually helps our team. And the best teams in basketball usually adjust their play to the competition. You think that Team USA was sloppy against Angola, but that's because Angola was a weak team. If tehy were to play against Argentina, they would for sure step up their game.

Adriel Carolino: But if you think about it, Team USA isn't even a real team, but a collection of the best ballers in the league. So they pretty much run street ball. And if you look at where their offense comes from, most of it comes from breakaways. If you look at their offensive sets, most of it is from isolation through Kobe, Lebron, and Dwade.

Brian Pham: But that's what the Hornets do, that's what the Spurs do, and that's what the Lakers do. The triangle offense simply opens up space and that's where Kobe Bryant is able to flourish.

Adriel Carolino: What the hell are we even arguing about anymore?

Brian Chen: Ok, let's just discuss Team USA in general.

Brian Pham: I think their style of play resembles that of the Phoenix Suns. They like to play fast.

Adriel Carolino: They try to play fast, but they're not that successful because international games are so much slower. If you watch the games, Team USA plays hard and runs hard. At this rate, they will get tired. If they revolve their offense around fast breaks, fatigue will be inevitable.

Brian Chen: What do you guys think about Jason Kidd and his starting role?

Adriel Carolino: Chris Paul and Deron Williams are way better shooters, and they can facilitate the offense just as efficiently, if not more efficiently. It seems like Jason Kidd is only concerned with padding his assist numbers, regardless of whether or not it's helping or hurting his team. And he doesn't shoot anymore. In fact, he's scored just two points the entire Olympic games. He doesn't try to shoot, and that impedes the offense because if you have an open shot, you should take it. Otherwise, you're hurting your team.

Brian Pham: I agree. Team USA can easily bench Jason Kidd, and be better for it.

Brian Chen: So my question is, why does Coach K still start Jason Kidd when either Chris Paul or Deron Williams is clearly a better option?

Brian Pham: It's completely out of respect. Jason Kidd was the original point guard that was invited to join Team USA.

Brian Chen: Ok, so they faced a relatively strong team in China, and Coach K still opted to start Jason Kidd. Do you think he will still start Kidd against even stronger teams such as Lithuania and Argentina?

Brian Pham: Jason Kidd will start, but I still think Chris Paul is the best point guard on the team.

Adriel Carolino: I honestly think Jason Kidd is only here because of his experience and his leadership. He serves as a role model to the younger point guards.

Brian Chen: But do you honestly think Chris Paul and Deron Williams need a role model, especially one in Jason Kidd? Quite frankly, I think Chris Paul is already better than Jason Kidd ever was.

Brian Pham: I don't think Paul has surpassed what Jason Kidd was in his prime just yet, but he'll get there.

Brian Chen: Ok, next topic. Who should be here who isn't, and who shouldn't be here who is?

Brian Pham: I'd rather have Shane Battier than Tayshaun Prince.

Adriel Carolino: I'd rather have Prince. Shane Battier brings absolutely no offense.

Brian Pham: But when you put Prince in the game, you're not putting him in there for his offense.

Adriel Carolino: But he gives you the possibility of offensive production, and that's where he's better than Battier.

Brian Pham: But Battier gives you the same spot up shooting ability as Prince, and in my opinion is an even better shooter than Prince.

Adriel Carolino: Also, I think Tyson Chandler would have been a better choice than Carlos Boozer.

Brian Pham: Ok, NOW let's talk about offense. Boozer has infinitely more offensive skill than Chandler has. And putting aside his offensive ineptitude, I even think Chandler's defense is overrated.

Adriel Carolino: But one of Team USA's greatest weaknesses is our lack of size. I think we should have invited David West to join.

Brian Pham: Isn't David West even smaller than Boozer? I'd rather have Andrew Bynum than David West. I don't think David West knows how to play defense. I think West and Boozer are both weak on defense, but Boozer gives you a lot more variety on offense. In fact, I think Boozer is one of the most underrated passing big men in the league. He averages what, 3 or 4 assists as a power forward? That's pretty solid.

Adriel Carolino: That's because Boozer has more chances than David West to facilitate the ball because Chris Paul dominates ball facilitating more than Deron Williams does.

Brian Pham: You can blame whoever you want for not giving certain players the opportunity to facilitate the ball, but if a player has a skill, the coach will use them. Take Brad Miller for example. It's not a coincidence that he averages 3 to 5 assists WHEREVER he goes.

Adriel Carolino: I'm not listening to you anymore. I'm going to watch women's Olympic volleyball.

Brian Chen: Tune in next week as we include David Park and Robert Z. Lee in our debate.