NEW YORK (AP) -- LeBron James, Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion will be invited to join the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team, sources told The Associated Press. The USA Basketball Selection committee held a conference call Tuesday to choose several replacement players on a roster that will be missing several of the best American players. Three sources with knowledge of the selection committee's actions, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. federation had decided to add the 19-year-old James, the NBA's Rookie of the Year, as the likely replacement at shooting guard for Kobe Bryant. Marbury was added to replace Jason Kidd, who has indicated he'll likely withdraw, and Marion will provide depth at forward with Elton Brand, Kevin Garnett and Karl Malone not expected to participate. The committee is still awaiting definitive word from Shaquille O'Neal, who has said his decision will depend in part on how far the Los Angeles Lakers advance in the NBA playoffs. Tim Duncan reaffirmed his commitment to play last weekend, and Jermaine O'Neal, Richard Jefferson and Allen Iverson also will be member of the American team that will open training camp in late July. "A lot of guys that were selected are now up in the air," U.S. coach Larry Brown said, "but I feel comfortable with the guys I'm going to go with." The latest players to waver are Tracy McGrady of Orlando and Mike Bibby of Sacramento. Vince Carter has already withdrawn citing his wedding plans, and Ray Allen has said he will not play because of the upcoming birth of a child. Malone has not officially withdrawn, though he has made it clear that nobody should expect to see him in Athens. Bryant has said it is unlikely he will play, though he left his options open in the event his sexual assault trial in Colorado is scheduled for September or later. Sources told the AP that if O'Neal decides to sit out the Olympics, Kenyon Martin of New Jersey and Lamar Odom of Miami are among the players being discussed as possible replacements. If Bibby withdraws, Sam Cassell is the leading candidate to replace him, and Ron Artest and Carmelo Anthony are among the names being discussed to replace McGrady, if he backs out. If he accepts, James would become the youngest member of the team. He averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds for the Cleveland Cavaliers, becoming one of the league's top road attractions while leading the revitalization of that franchise. Marbury, an eight-year veteran point guard for the New York Knicks, previously played for USA Basketball in 1994 at the Junior Olympics. Marion, a five-year NBA veteran, was a member of the U.S. national team that finished a disappointing sixth at the 2002 World Championships. That team was the first American team with NBA players to lose at an international competition since professional players began competing at the Olympics in 1992. "The four years that have transpired since Sydney, the teams have gotten better, the players have gotten better," Brown said. "And maybe we're not sending the very best, but we'll be well represented and I'm confident they'll do well." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/05/11/dream.team.ap/index.html
see...i don't get why Marbury would be picked over Francis. I will vouch for Francis on this one. Marbury is the ultimate primadonna of the league...he b****ed his way out of minny..he b****ed his way out of NJ...he got traded to NY and proclaimed it as the best place he wants to play...what does the US selections committee see in him that francis couldn't bring? the big fivehead?
Maybe it is the assist/to ratio, 2.89 vs 1.68. Marbury is not as nearly as error-prone and is also clutch.
One of these things is not lilke the other... I don't see why you'd criticize the guy for saying his hometown is 'the best place he wants to play'. Did you just need a 3rd complaint to round out the statement? On to the Strve vs. Stephon argument; I think at some point we need to recognize that we tend to overrate Steve in comparison with other point guards. Stephon is an obvious choice over Steve. Last year Stephon averaged more points ( 20.2 to 16.6), assists ( 8.9 to 6.2), shot the ball better ( .431 to .403) and turned it over less ( 3.07 to 3.72). Sort of the key stats for a point guard. An off year for Steve, you say? Ok... The year before Stephon averaged more points ( 22.3 to 21.0), assists ( 8.1 to 6.2), shot the ball better ( .439 to .435) and turned it over less ( 3.25 to 3.69). I don't think Steve's rebounds quite tip the scale in his favour.
Who does want to play for the US? after a while we're going to be lookin at Kelvin Cato Brian Scalabrine Lamond Murray Earl Boykins Ruben Boutjme Boutjme Vin Baker Kedrick Brown and Qyntel Woods
good luck... i hope they win, but inside my heart i want the point gaurd position to be exploited a little, and them be te reason we lose atleast a couple of games... playa haters...
Look, we all know steve had a lousy season, but the most important thing that n obody considers is the following: Francis wants to play on the Natonal team badly and has wanted to be on it for the past few years and has been negged (Baron Davis, Andre Miller, whoever.....even when he was playing well Stu Jackson wouldn't have put him on). Considering that most NBA stars act like they can't be bothered to show up, I think this attitude should count for a lot.
Relative to whom, though? I mean, do you happen to know of Marbury's attitude about playing? I agree that in an age when many of the top stars seem to treat it more like a duty than an honor, to have second or third tier stars show a real desire to play is a plus for them, but is it enough of a plus to transcend a better player who'se simply less expressive? Not to mention players' whose stance on the matter we simply don't know? Why would we assume that, say Stephon is ambivalent?
If anything, Marbury is the second or third tier star. Francis is a three time starting all star point guard. Don't tell me it doesn't count because he was voted in by the fans. The fans are the ones that pay the players and allow the league to survive. It seems to me that the fans and people of America would want to see Steve Francis represent their country, and it is an added bonus that he really wants to play on the team.
I didn't want to get into a Stephon vs. Steven head to head. But... First, the statistical differences are a bit overplayed....Marbury has free rein in New York, if he were playing for Houston we both know that his numbers would take a dive like Steve's. Francis plays in a plodding offense with a sometimes-dominant post player....different animal. Second, I believe Steve's team has beaten Stephon's team the last five straight times in a row. Now, in a few of those games, Stephon scored a lot of points, and talked a lot of trash at Francis (some bitterness about the All star game "I'll show you who the real all star is"), and tried to turn it into a 1-on 1 battle. Stephon scored his points (except when he didn't), Francis resisted the temptation. Result, Rockets teammates get involved, Rockets win, Stephon tries to be the whole show, Suns/Knicks lose. Are those the qualities you want on an all star team? Third: oh yeah, Stephon is a jerk. Stephon publicly demanded a trade from Minnesota when Garnett became a star...thus far (doc rocket rumors aside) Francis has allowed & encouraged Yao to share the spotlight and not reacted in the same fashion. Again, is that what you want on an Olympic team? Fourth: I don't know whether he's ambiguous about being on the team. I do know that he didn't actively campaign for it like Iverson and Francis have. I suspect that his attitude towards it is like his attitude seems towards everytihing else: whatever is best for Stephon.
raise the drawbridge and heat up the tar! fort francis is under attack. call the valiant knight templar Sam Fisher to defend agains the heathens!!
