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WTF.....Bibby on USA Team....no Francis or Iverson

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Icehouse, Feb 18, 2003.

  1. Icehouse

    Icehouse Member

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    Team USA turns to new face Bibby, old friend Malone

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    By Marc Stein
    ESPN.com


    The next additions to the Team USA basketball roster will be Sacramento guard Mike Bibby and Utah forward Karl Malone, ESPN.com has learned.

    Formal paperwork offering roster spots to Bibby and Malone is scheduled to be sent out this week, according to league sources. Both players, the sources said, have already indicated to USA Basketball that they would accept the invitations if selected to the team.

    In Malone's case, joining Team USA would suggest that he plans to keep playing after this season. Malone, who turns 40 in July, has said he won't make a firm declaration about his future until after the season.

    Bibby and Malone would bring Team USA's total of confirmed participants to six as it seeks to assemble a group that will spend the next two summers together. Last Thursday, USA Basketball announced San Antonio's Tim Duncan, New Jersey's Jason Kidd, Orlando's Tracy McGrady and Milwaukee's Ray Allen as charter members of the squad -- coached by Philadelphia's Larry Brown -- that will try to avenge the United States' sixth-place finish at last summer's World Championships in Indianapolis. First it must qualify for the 2004 Olympics at a regional tournament in Puerto Rico in August.

    USAB officials are holding spots open for Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, which would take the roster to eight. Bryant told the Los Angeles Times on Friday that "I'll be there this summer -- it's pretty much a done deal." ESPN.com reported Thursday that Garnett, after initial reluctance, is now strongly considering a return to the national team, thanks partly to some strong lobbying from Kidd.

    With Duncan, Malone and potentially Garnett as the only big men on the roster, Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal remains a contender for one of the last roster spots. The prospects are less promising for Philadelphia's Allen Iverson, who appears to have fallen behind Houston's Steve Francis, Phoenix's Stephon Marbury and Dallas' Michael Finley in the battle for guard spots.
     
  2. Dennis2112

    Dennis2112 Member

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    Unbelievable....

    Nothing against Bibby, He is a quality player.

    Francis not getting chosen is a travesty.


    I guess old Stu Jackson still holds a grudge. What a moron!:mad: :mad: :mad:
     
  3. Icehouse

    Icehouse Member

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    Well obviously someone else agrees with us Dennis2112......


    DIME SMACK: Strange Olympic choices
    BY DIME MAG
    Dime Magazine
    Feb. 18, 2003 9:13 a.m.
    Mike Bibby and Karl Malone are gonna be the next two players named to the Olympic Team.

    We’re mystified. Mike Bibby? Nice player. Seems like a good dude. Indicated he’d be into playing. All great. Except that there are about 10-15 players who should be offered spots ahead of him. Two words: Allen Iverson. Two more: Steve Francis. Even Steph probably has a much stronger case than Bibby …


    Dime Magazine celebrates the game of basketball and its culture. Subscribe now for the hottest features on basketball players and the music, clothes, cars and honeys they love.


    The bottom line is that if Iverson truly wants to play and isn’t given an invite, even with his GM on the selection committee and with Larry Brown as the coach, it’s an absolute crime …

    So it looks like we’re probably going to get robbed of Shaq/Yao II tonight because of the Diesel’s sore left knee and right big toe. The Daddy wasn’t able to practice yesterday because of the pain and will probably take some time off to get himself right …

    Meanwhile, does Kobe need any more incentive to keep shooting 40 times a game? Now, with Shaq out, he almost has to. He just won’t get some of the single-coverage looks he’s been getting during his recent, freakish scoring run …

    The Knickscame back to earth last night, losing to the Blazers. Funny thing is, they had multiple chances to take control of the game and steal a W to go 3-0 on their West Coast swing ...

    How about the stat binge KG’s been on lately? Last night, in a 109-97 loss to the Jazz, he still put up 34 points, 10 boards and 6 assists …

    The worst part of being snowed in yesterday? Not being able to watch the cancelled Mike/Vince holiday matchup …

    The Pistons/Heat game was just disgusting yesterday as Detroit rolled Miami 93-62. It was so bad for Miami, Caron Butler was their leading scorer with 13 points …

    We’re not at all fans of the Joe Millionaire ending. No girls crying, no one slapping him when they found out he was lying, nothing. Thanks for dragging that out for 9 weeks …

    By the way, we heard yesterday that Warner Bros., who have been trying to get a new Superman movie trilogy off the ground, auditioned Evan, the Joe Millionaire guy for the lead role. Could be worse, they could have given it to Bibby …

    We’re out like snow days.
     
  4. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    Steve doesn't need to be on the Olympic team. Besides the injury risk, I'm sure everyone will find a way to place the blame all on him if the US loses a game...
     
  5. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    <blockquote><hr> With Duncan, Malone and potentially Garnett as the only big men on the roster, Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal remains a contender for one of the last roster spots. <hr></blockquote>
    Am I missing something or has Webber declined or not even being offered a spot. Screw Jermaine, to win in International play, you want Webber on your team. He is the prototype International player, and plays it every day with Bibby. Come on!!! When will we learn to build a team with a purpose.

    If you take Bibby over the new-age PGs, you must combine him with Chris Webber.
     
  6. Sane

    Sane Member

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    I get the feeling he wouldn't want to play. He just doesn't seem the type. But then again, I'm just guessing.
     
  7. calbear

    calbear Member

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    I believe Webber's legal uncertainty is hindering the committee from offering him a spot.
     
  8. kidrock8

    kidrock8 Member

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    It's funny how surprised you people are.
     
  9. RedHonda76

    RedHonda76 Member

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    I'm not surprise at all. Bibby is an excellent passer, shooter, plays good defense, and takes care of the ball than Francis. Team USA have all the scorers they need up front and Bibby is an excellent addition to that team.
     
  10. pgabriel

    pgabriel Educated Negro

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    Webber's off the hook, I was going to start a thread on this, I'm looking for an article, but anyway, Ed Martin, the booster, died, since he wasn't cross-examined during grand jury questioning, his testimony can't be used against Webber.
     
  11. codell

    codell Member

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    I don't think it should hinder anything anymore.

    The agent that was accused of giving money to Webber, Taylor and Bullocked passed away the other day. Therefore, the prosecution's cased pretty much passed away too.

    I highly doubt we will see that go to court now.
     
  12. SageHare6

    SageHare6 Member

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    Can You Say, 'Stacked Deck?
    After last year's humilating defeat, Team USA is clearly taking a more measured and methodical approach toward building a winning team. It's not as simple as 8, 12 years ago when Team USA just picked all the Franchise players out there. Next year's team is being built with an eye for "revenge." A lot of player's can get the job done but I do find it interesting who is and who isn't making the roster.

    Whoever is responsible for making the "invites" (e.g. 76ers head coach or GM), is obviously looking to assemble a bunch of "team/system" oriented players

    From a cynical point of view, all the players who could potentially be on the team but were dropped from consideration, could have been deemed"NON TEAM PLAYERS." I know it sounds harsh, but if you look at both Malone and Bibby - they are BOTH team/system oriented players. Coincidence? I think not.

    But whatever the reason, it's better this way for SF. SF gets to rest in the summer and Team USA gets to work its butt off to regain the gold. Truth is, I'm not sure what the glory of winning the gold as a professional might be. I'd much rather see the likes of collegiate players being sent to the Olympics. But that's for another day and another thread.

    :p :p :p

    theSAGE
     
  13. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Member

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    Well it looks like it will come down to Francis, Marbury, and Finley. I really don't see Marbury getting it over Francis if they are concerned about image.
     
  14. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Bingo! Webber is a shoe-in if not for that mess.


    As for Bibby. Not really a surprise at all! ESPN has had this rumored for a few weeks now. (What to me WAS a surprise was Karl Malone. That was out in left field - guess they wanted a "veteran" presence on the team).

    It is quite obvious that the selection committee decided on Bibby because he is not a "flashy" player and has a consistent jumpshot. That his style of play and his game would compliment the other players as the backup PG on the team.

    I still think Iverson and Francis get discriminated against because of their "flashy" style of play. The Selection Committee wants a team full of understated players such as Duncan, Ray Allen etc versus flashy in your face type of players. Certainly they want the best players on the team but at the same time they want players that they believe conduct themselves very professionally on and off the court. But by this same rational that would seem to be a strike against Jermaine Oneal. Perhaps though in his case they just have to take the best big man they can find regardless (since Webber might not be available because of legal issues). And with Karl Malone, Duncan, Garnett etc on the team perhaps he doesnt get much playing time anyway.

    I really wish Francis would make the team but it does not look good.

    Chris
     
  15. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    Yao should be on the United States olympic team! Screw that whole "he's still a Chinese citizen" crap...
     
  16. SageHare6

    SageHare6 Member

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    If I were a betting man (and I'm not. :D), I'd say Finley will get the invite. Why? b/c:

    1) the underrated all-star was sleighted at the all-star game.
    2) he's very much a team/system player
    3) he's a better compliment to Bibby
    4) Marbury and SF have similar games

    :p

    theSAGE
     
  17. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

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    The USA Basketball Committee should change their name to The Sham Clan.

    Go USA!! :)
     
  18. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Sage, I totally agree with you. And they said this from the beginning I believe that they wanted to put the best "team" together. They tried to do that last summer (mixing role players with up and coming stars) but did not have enough star power. Here they have the best stars & team players. The thought going in was that they wanted to have a solid core of 8 players to be in their rotation with 4 players that would play limited minutes "and not complain" about it. Perhaps 2 of those 4 players would be developed for the future USA teams and one of them might be a college player.

    Chris
     
  19. RedHonda76

    RedHonda76 Member

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    i don't think any of those 3 will be in. They got Kidd and Bibby already. Forget Finley, I dont think the commitee wants any of the last Dream Team in. I think they might consider a sharp shooter like Alan Houston.
     
  20. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    I guess when Steve starts playing a TEAM oriented game, then he will be asked.

    The US team is all about sacrificing your ego for the good of the team.

    I would not have Steve or AI on the team.

    DD
     

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