why is billups not going to the WC? turned it down but said he'd do the olympics or did they just not ask him?
Marbury, Carmelo, and Marion are not great 3 point shooters those dudes don't suck that much but they sucked at shooting because they weren't comfortable out there, the reason for that is that they were not a threat to drive, and Wade is a pathetic 3 point shooter. Oh and I think Billups's wife is having a baby.
I'm surprised that AI was excluded as well. He seemed like the only guy on the Olympic team to have any passion for playing at all. I also think people are writing off Bowen too quickly. Everybody griped after the Olympic fiasco that we should send the best team into international play, and not necessarily the best players. Bowen fits that description perfectly - a great defender and shooter (both of which were lacking last time around) and a guy who won't gripe about not getting enough touches.
Seriously, we might not have any white guys? Haven't the coaches learned that we always LOSE to all white teams? We need some whities!
I cannot for the life of me believe that they have left the heart and soul of the 2000 Olympic gold medal squad Sir Shareef Abdur-Rahim off this team. Never underestimate the heart of a champion
Here is Bill Simmon's team: I don't understand why they're ignoring the World Championship's, they're more important than the Olympics to everyone else, or if he isn't, why he ignored the fact that Billups and Redd won't play in the World Championships. I don't think Shaq's going, especially if the Heat advance to the Finals, he'll need his hibernation which lasts until March. I do like his Kobe point though, if he goes he's going to have to break a lot of bad habits, dude can lead the US to glory or lead them to shame again. The more I think about the potential team, the more I worry about them, I can already imagine them shooting brick, after brick, after brick. That's the best team he can come up with if he can pick any group of Americans, that team stinks, I mean in comparison to what you could do if you can pick anyone.
The WC's are not more important than the Olympics. I know that line has been repeated but it's not true. At best they're equal, though probably a cut below. In football, yeah the WC's is more imporatnt than the Olympics, for obvious reasons. But, like other sports with the notable exception of the beautiful game, the Olympics are special even though there are WC's on an annual or biennial basis. Winning a WC is huge, no question, but an Olympic gold medal is as good or better.
classic simmons, pierce is the best all around player in the league. and leaving off a kobe, a laker. and what exactly will shaq have left in 2 years? in 2 years, he'll be at the same number of years in the league hakeem was when he hit the wall and put up like 10 and 6. and his team where he can choose anyone w/o tmac, kobe, or kg is silly.
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Gilbert Arenas, Washington Chauncey Billups, Detroit Chris Bosh, Toronto Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers Dwight Howard, Orlando LeBron James, Cleveland Shawn Marion, Phoenix Brad Miller, Sacramento Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City Paul Pierce, Boston Michael Redd, Milwaukee Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Dwyane Wade, Miami only one's i keep. you can also cut miller, anthony, and arenas to add some others like AI who should be there considering they want to play. they also need to try and convince duncan and tmac to play as well.
it shouldn't be this way though. basketball dserves its own "world cup"...a culmination of talent every 4 years. i think they should ust turn the olympics into a u-22 tournament kinda like how soccer does it and just focus on the world championships. it's unreasonable to expect players to commit to a "really important tournament" every 2 years...considering that theres qualifications for both olympics and WC...it means no breaks at all
I don't think it will ever happen solely because the Olympics (and not the World Cup) are still looked upon in the US -- which is still by a wide margin, the preeminent basketballing nation around (even if the top players aren't all american, they all play here) -- as the world's most important international sports event even though globally the World Cup is far more popular. But I agree as far as every 2 years cheapening things - in view of the above scenario I would say cut out the WC's - there's less history there.
maybe it's time we start putting together a real TEAM for the olympics. we can't win off of talent alone anymore and most of our talented players are too selfish to play with one another. we should put together a team of a couple of scorers, some passers, rebounders, etc... not just the best players in the league. here is my team: wallace-kg tim-marion prince-bowen kobe-redd billups-bibby not the best players available but this team can do everything including shutting down the other team defensively, busting a zone with 3's, getting out on the break, and scoring in half court sets.
If that's Rasheed Wallace than that is an outstanding team, great even if it's Ben Wallace too, I would replace Bowen with T-Mac and send Prince to the bench though. New addition Odom was added to the roster instead of the rumored high school player, he did an ok job at the last Olympic games, and adds to their pool of big guys. Now that everything is official I can make a team, this is their best chance for gold at the WCs IMO: Miller/Howard Bosh/Odom Johnson/Battier Kobe/Redick Ridnour/Arenas Lebron and Paul as the extras. However, there's no way that happens, Wade will make the team and probably start at PG, even though he's not a great passer and he's an awful 3 point shooter. He's an ok wide open mid-range shooter, but the reason he's left open is because defenders don't want him to get to the basket, a good zone will take that out of his game and he'll only be left his inconsistent shooting and passing. No way Lebron is left with a small role either, he will probably start at SF, he is a big wild card to me, he can dominate the Olympics with his speed and power, or he can fail miserably because he loves to go the basket, his shot is ok enough though. Marion and Amare will probably end up on the roster too, worst case they're the starting PF and C duo, I fear Marion will shoot horribly again and Amare won't have as many dunk attempts as he would like. Can't wait to see the official final 12.
