LAS VEGAS -- Shawn Marion, Adam Morrison and Luke Ridnour were left off the U.S. national team's roster Tuesday before its trip to Asia for the world championships next month. Amare Stoudemire and Kirk Hinrich were the only moderately surprising inclusions on the 15-man roster, which will play five warmup games in Las Vegas, China and Korea before opening the world championships in Japan on Aug. 19. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff must trim the roster to 12 players before the world championships. Marion, the Phoenix Suns' three-time NBA All-Star, apparently was left off the roster because of a minor knee injury. He was just one of five candidates remaining from the 2004 U.S. Olympic team, which won disappointing bronze medals. Hinrich, the Chicago Bulls point guard, beat out Ridnour for the ostensible third-string spot behind Chris Paul and Gilbert Arenas. Hinrich was slowed by a hamstring injury during the team's weeklong training camp in Las Vegas, but apparently did enough to impress Krzyzewski. Stoudemire earned a spot on the traveling team with a remarkable comeback from surgery on both knees during last season with the Suns, when he played in three NBA games. The 6-foot-10 forward looked strong and mobile during training camp despite struggling during summer-league play a few weeks ago. The rest of the 15-man roster includes LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Arenas and Paul. In all, 25 players have committed to be members of the U.S. national team for the next three years, through the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
I mean in reality all he beat out was Adam Morrison. The team was only going to bring 3 point guards, and with Marion going down with an injury that means that Morrison would have to beat Battier or someone else for the spot. Not exactly a major accomplishment since they cut down from 17 to 15. If he makes the 12 that play ill be more impressed. I mean if they actually had the full 24 they invited show up to camp it would mean more, but its like an uncontested layup. Glad he made it, but no biggie at this point. The invite was a bigger deal.
I wonder how many posts it will be before someone says, "See, getting Battier and trading away Gay and Swift was a great move on the Rockets part." I'm guessing that it will be in 2 or 3 posts after mine.
awesome!!!!!!!!! we have one of the 12 best american players in the NBA!!!!!!!!!! ['ll just keep telling myself this]
I wonder how many posts it will be before someone takes away from a great accomplishment by Battier by referring to him in the context of two players who have nothing to do with this particular thread.
Yay Shane! I knew it was coming, because I believe his dad or something is related closely to this. i didn't check who else made it, but the fact that he was invited, same goes for Bowen, and weren't All-Stars sold it in my mind.
Well, not quite... I don't think it's a great move by any stretch... but I'll save that for the other dozen threads we have on it. In any event, to get this back on topic... Congrats Shane!
I'm warming to the Battier trade, if only because it'll be fun to exclaim "Super Duper!" all next season whenever Shane does anything noteworthy.
I figured Battier was a shoo-in -- and wil be for the 12-man too. Bruce Bowen, Brad Miller, and Battier are the only non-first-options. They need someone to be the garbage man.
i say Bowen, Hinrich, Amare, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller is the order of the cut. no way Coach K cuts the "the best player he has ever coached".
What does Coach K know about basketball? Sheesh !!! Apparently a LOT more than Sam Fisher and many posters on this BBS. Of course, he agrees with me, so we are equal. DD
