Tim Shea's International Basketball BO-log

For more than thirty years Tim Shea has been involved in basketball, first as a player, then a coach at the highest level in Italy, Spain and Portugal and later the International Director of Scouting for the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and most recently the Charlotte Bobcats. Tim is based in Lugo, Spain and gives us his unique insight into the International Basketball scene with his BO-Log (Brooklyn Outlaw log).

(This is an opinion based blog and does not necessarily represent the opinions of NBADraft.net)

   

Tim Shea
  The Dude greets you. He grew up in NY times when the Knicks were somebody. There was Walt "Clyde" Frazier drafted (after lighting up the NIT at MSG) with the quickest hands in the East. Bill Bradley, the "400,000$ man" and there was Coach Red Holtzman basketball. This was way, way back then when the Pick and Roll was just another play. (Today it seems the only relevant set play.) Earl the Pearl, Lucas and Debussere. Finally, and of course, Willis Reed. A Great NY time and great basketball. The Knicks were relevant. The Dude comes from the Brooklyn Rucker’s Tournament and 108th Street Rockaway, NY and apologies for the following. He speaks to you… and starts with an obvious one. The Olympics and the recent worldwide publishing and denouncement of pictures of the Spanish National Basketball Team posing in a "Slanty-eyed" Insulting publicity shot in Beijing: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Spanish-basketball-team-poses-for-offensive-pict?urn=oly,100152 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2008olympics/2008/08/13/2008-08-13_spanish_basketball_players_break_record_-3.html Spanish basketball team poses for “Offensive” picture Now OF COURSE the Olympics are not political. We are told, re-told, made aware and re-told again that The Olympic Games are definitely NOT political. OK. So why is everyone waving their National flags?... and what in hell are all the Political leaders of the world doing there? Is it to show that Tibet, Afghanistan, Iraq, Darfur and Georgia do not exist now? Or just not important? The entire world is just about playing games? Hellllllooo!... shut up, stop posing and get back to work please. The Spanish National Team players (as opposed to other teams) are not talking about their earning 50 or 40 million dollars if they play elsewhere next year. The Spanish Team... as a whole, made a gesture, a comment if you will, about the world's Similarities. It was a gesture of what the Spanish call "cariño" or warmth to a neighbor.    

Spanish Men's National Team
  It was a photograph done for their SPONSOR who has business in China and was present at the time. The Chinese Ambassador to Spain declared that there was no offense taken and he saw no racism seen from the Teams picture. Top Chinese athletes both veteran and young have had no problem with the gesture. Now we “see” Argentina has also been “accused” of racism. They are the third group of Olympic athletes to mock the Chinese with "a cruel slant-eye gesture.” (second Paragraph) http://www.nypost.com/seven/08192008/news/worldnews/eye_treason__125084.htm Mock, Racism, Offend? I say, By Who? I agree with Jose Calderon (Toronto Raptors) Spanish National Team Point Guard, when I say that those people who see this racism… have it. That simple? Yes! One might argue that Chinese-Americans might be offended. One can understand that. They live in a country where… well, you know what I mean. “Dear Experts on what the rest of the world should do and say to fit your criteria,” let's talk about the important things and stop "tocando los heuvos" of everybody else and judging everybody else’s actions and gestures based on the peculiar, misguided American PCS: The Politically Correct Syndrome. A syndrome propagated by anyone and everyone with a need to fill blank space and write something. Let's try and remember Tibet, Afghanistan, Iraq, Darfur and Georgia. Not important? The entire world is just about playing games? Hellooo! There are people being killed! There is genocide happening nearby and NOW, you are writing to waste our time and insult intelligence with unimportant, misguided (politically correct) judgments of other nations. Ignorance is not a virtue. Ignorance is not an option. Read the below to stay abreast of some truths.

http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/spanish-ad-spurs-charges-of-racism/
The Dude is simple, but is not stupid. I was asked by NBAdraft.net to include comment on the developments of the Olympic Basketball competition, especially the Gold candidates USA and Spain. Well, here goes. The only team that can defeat the USA National Team is the USA team itself. Just as in The Japan World Games the USA can fall prey to itself and its individual, XL egos or it can learn from experience that the game must be respected. Coach K and Co. are running a smooth operation. The players group (very deep bench) seems to be placing the team above the individual. So far so good. The USA team is far superior to the competition. By that I mean specifically, Skills, Athleticism, Size (not height), Strength and desire (hunger) and accomplish its goal and "get it done". The USA staff, carefully selected and aware of the pitfalls, has so far demonstrated the brilliant maneuvers of the master Jerry Colangelo and there is not a team alive that can match them. That being said, in a do or die formula like the Olympics, if the American defensive prowess is not evident and employed in the medal round we will be witness to the worst embarrassment and defeat ever experienced by an American team in the Olympics. That simple. The Spanish National Team, on the other hand, is the only candidate that could provide a serious match up with the USA. This is evident. They are that good. This may be the best team that has ever represented Spain in International Competition. If not, it favorably compares to the National Team Silver Medalists of The Los Angeles Olympics. Their calling cards are Size, Skills and Experience as a group. Aito and staff undefeated and well directed along with a nice repertoire of tactical solutions. The players, especially the NBA Spanish players, are having to adjust to a new system “made in Aito”. They are short, (5 minutes or less) rotations and are playing havoc with some.

The Final will be an awesome event. I think we can count on that.

Look out for Lithuania and Argentina as the “outsiders for Finals.

The Olympic refereeing is not up to the task or the level of the players. Not close to World Championships level. The Dude has spoken...