O.k., it’s official. Everyone has now written about how the U.S. men’s basketball team can’t shoot straight. Today’s entry comes from the hometown paper hunting down old hometown star Oscar Robertson to pile on his two cents about professional basketball players who disgrace themselves, and now their country on a world stage, with their jump shot.

“Obviously, they don’t understand how to attack a zone,” Robertson said Monday. “They don’t have any good shooters outside. They dribble too much, rather than passing the ball, and they don’t play good defense.”

The “Big O” — as they are apt to call him around these parts — continues: “I thought it was an honor to go and play in the Olympics. I don’t know what to think about these guys. Some make $10 million. Some make $15 million. Maybe it’s the money, being complacent. The patriotism maybe they don’t care that much about. Maybe they burn out. Who knows?”

On a happy note, the boys broke out the white unis and downed Greece today, 77-71. The AP story contains this ominous line: “A close game such as this was rare in previous Olympics, but now it appears to be something the Americans should get used to.”

For other columns about the ineptitude (maybe all the pundits were a bit testy after the historic loss to Puerto Rico), please see:

• Adrian Wojnarowski — “If the invincibility of the U.S. in basketball had been shaken before these Olympic Games, it’s been shattered now. … Truth be told, they’re a wretched team, with no perimeter passers, no shooters and no chemistry. If it wins the gold medal, it’ll do it on the greatness of Duncan and Larry Brown.”
  
• Jim Caple — “Shaq, KG and about half the league made up reasons why they couldn’t play, but the bottom line is they didn’t want to play or were too scared to come to Greece. That leaves the U.S. with a team that includes Carlos Boozerand Shawn Marion. This isn’t a dream team. It’s a Hollywood Squares B list. After the U.S. lost by 22 to Italy in the prelims, no one should be surprised by a 19-point loss to Puerto Rico. Everyone knew this team couldn’t shoot.”
  
• And even Dick Vitale: Team USA could use ‘Miracle’ team effort — “Basketball is all about understanding roles and not about taking guys who are all No. 1 options on their respective teams and throwing them together. They can’t adjust to a different situation with just a few weeks playing as a group.”

And feel free to add your own.

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