NBA players on Team USA's training camp roster Carmelo Anthony, Denver Gilbert Arenas, Washington Shane Battier, Memphis Chauncey Billups, Detroit Chris Bosh, Toronto Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers Dwight Howard, Orlando Josh Howard, Dallas LeBron James, Cleveland Antawn Jamison, Washington Joe Johnson, Atlanta Rashard Lewis, Seattle Shawn Marion, Phoenix Brad Miller, Sacramento Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City Paul Pierce, Boston Michael Redd, Milwaukee Luke Ridnour, Seattle Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Dwyane Wade, Miami
Taking an educated guess, Bryant, James, Wade, Bosh and Marion would seem to be virtual locks for Japan, along with Miller (the only true center) and Arenas and Paul (the top two point guards). Brand and Dwight Howard would seem to have the edge for spots 9-10 because of the team's need for size (we're keeping Stoudemire out of that group because he is recovering from knee surgery), which would leave Pierce, Anthony, Battier, Bowen, Josh Howard, Jamison, Johnson, Lewis and Ridnour competing for the final two spots on the active roster. Colangelo has said he would like to include at least one defense-minded role player on the active roster, and it would appear Bowen, Josh Howard and Battier will vie for that role. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2349009
What i can't believe is why allen iverson wasnt invited to camp when he has stated publicly how willing he is to go. he's better than arenas.
The new requirements of Team USA are that you put in a 3 year commitment, that means playing ball for team USA during the offseason before the Olympics and that you can't have an entourage with you. These sound like things Iverson wouldn't want to agree to.
Out of the list...i think they would be best suited to send these 15 with the depth chart looking like this: PG: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City Gilbert Arenas, Washington SG: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers Dwyane Wade, Miami Michael Redd, Milwaukee SF: LeBron James, Cleveland Paul Pierce, Boston Rashard Lewis, Seattle Josh Howard, Dallas PF: Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Shawn Marion, Phoenix Chris Bosh, Toronto C: Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers Dwight Howard, Orlando ------ I know guys like battier and bowen have their roles...but really, who the hell wants to watch them on the court for 20 minutes a game??? i'd rather guys like josh howard and shawn marion take over the defensive aspect (along with the rest of the team, of course). amare could also take minutes at center.
The AI snub has been a big story here in Philly. It's totally ridiculous. AI was the best thing about our squad in 04 -- playing his heart out, repeatedly saying how honored he was to be playing for the US and calling out others for not feeling the same way, and getting love from fans all over the world wherever he went. In an era when the best players have to be begged and pleaded to play for the US, a superstar (who might be having his best season) who wants to suit up for Team USA should not be overlooked. Unless, of course, Luke Ridnour or Josh Howard are available. http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/13979032.htm Sources: A.I. not invited to play for USA DALLAS - Allen Iverson was, in many ways, the face of the U.S. Olympic basketball team in 2004. He wanted to be there. He played hard, and he played well. Now, he's not even in the picture for the 2008 Games in Beijing. Contracts from the U.S. Olympic Committee to 22 NBA players, two college players and one high school player went out in the mail about 10 days ago. Two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Iverson, a four-time scoring champion in his 10th season with the 76ers, was not in that group. Before last night's game against the Dallas Mavericks, Iverson said he had not personally received notice, but that he was aware of the situation. His response? "Thanks for considering me," he said. "Now, I get to spend time with my kids in the summer." Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said, "That comes as a surprise to me." One source confirmed that Iverson, who had said he very much wanted to be part of the 2008 team, was on a list of players who had made a commitment to Jerry Colangelo, the managing director for USA Basketball's senior men's team, but received a letter thanking them for their interest. Iverson had met with Colangelo on Jan. 4, when the Sixers were in Phoenix. Afterward, Colangelo told reporters, "I liked the look in his eye. He looked me right in the eye and said it really would be an honor for him." Iverson was easily the MVP of the U.S. team that won the 2003 World Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was far and away the most popular U.S. player. The Americans, though, had to settle for a third-place finish in the 2004 Olympics in Athens. "I had a good experience in 2004, but we won the bronze," Iverson said in Phoenix. "I really want to win a gold medal." Some of the younger players who made commitments but were not selected will be kept in the USA Basketball pipeline as prospective candidates for the 2012 Olympics, and could become part of a Select team that would spend time training together. "We tried to make the letters as appreciative and professional as possible," one of the sources said. "The idea was to try and bring people down softly." Colangelo and U.S. head coach Mike Krzyzewski, of Duke, will formally announce the 25 invitees on Sunday on ABC. An eventual team of 12 players will participate in the world championships this summer in Japan. If the U.S. team does not qualify for the 2008 Olympics there, it would have another opportunity in the 2007 Pre-Olympic Tournament. With the world championships expanded from 16 to 24 teams, the United States has been placed in a preliminary round group with Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Italy, China and Senegal. The Americans will open Aug. 19 against Puerto Rico, the team that stunned the Americans, 92-73, in the opener of the 2004 Olympics.
werd. Seriously, what about Dirk, Manu Ginobili, Peja, Gasol, and every other foreign born NBA player?
I don't know WHO Elton Brand blows to get on these teams. He has been on the last two teams, played mediocre-ish to poor both times - yet keeps getting invited back. His all inside game doesn't work in I-ball, or so it seems. Is this a reward for his finally being on a team with a winning record for once in his 7 NBA seasons? I would guess the coach K factor has something to do with this. Why in god's name is Luke Ridnour on this list? 11 ppg and 6 apg now gets one on the dream team? Sweet - has anybody alerted Moochie? He's got a shot now. Or is it the "token heady white guy who knows his role" we're looking for? Of this crew - which I find pretty underwhelming - I'll take: Kobe (can't deny him) Redd (shooters all get in) LeBron (passers get in I guess, plus Nike would kill people if he didn't make it) Pierce (he shot 52% from 3 during the 02 worlds and was the only good thing about that team - he should just be a shooter only though) Battier (need somebody to ride the pine, shut up about it, and keep coach K company) Chris Paul (who else is going to run the point?) Bosh (need a lanky athletic big man who euros can't stop - like Garnett - he DOMINATES in i-ball) Amare (see above, though not as much) Josh Howard (Bowen is 1. not that good, 2. too old - congrats Josh, you're the token defender) *******, I have to pick 3 more guys? I guess I'll go Lewis (shooter) Billups (kind of shooter) Arenas (shooter), but I ain't going to like it. I'd take Iverson over any of them. I would love to get IV a gold medal.
I wonder who loses their spot if Shaq decides to join up. According to ESPN, he has a standing invitation to play.
If it were my picks, I would pick transition, transition, transition guys who can defend and try to run and press the Euro's out of the damned gym. I'd go with a bunch of runners and/or good defenders - let's say: Kobe Wade Iverson LeBron (we don't need him, but he can play with us) Marion Garnett (only big man) Billups Camby (if KG won't/can't play then throw in a bunch of stacey augmon types: Tayshaun Prince Marquis Daniels Andre Iguodala Ron Artest (put him on prozac) If we do that, we don't need shooters. Put them in a room. Have them watch old school UNLV or Nolan Richardson Arkansas Razorback game tapes all day long. Then unleash 40 minutes of hell.
Is that an official list? I heard 2 college players and possibly one high school player (Oden?) would be part of the training camp.
I agree with almost everyone posted in terms of picks. However, I think a guy like Brad Miller could really help. He plays in a motion offense that relies on passing and movement which is key when you play against a zone. Passing and breaking down the zone is fundamental and to have a center who can do that and fire up the three ball is really important. Also having Coach K run the team definitely helps. Unlike the NBA, in college people actually play the zone and some teams run European style quick motion offenses. A guy like Coach K definitely has more experience dealing with these types of offenses and defenses than say your average NBA coach.
Where is Ron Artest??? Ruben Patterson isn't bad either! And how in the world can you forget Darius Miles and Eddie Griffin?
