Team USA news..

[Kings113]

Couldn't find that old thread, so posting it new:

"There's speculation that Team USA general manager Jerry Colaneglo wants to complete his roster for the 2008 Olympic team during All-Star weekend. Billups already has agreed to a spot, knowing he can sit out the commitment this summer because his wife is expecting a baby. But Richard Hamilton is still mulling his decision."

"Ray Allen's Olympic days are over. The Sonics guard said Friday he is not going to compete in this year's World Championships and the 2008 Olympics as a member of Team USA. "It's hard for me to pass it up because of the things associated with being an Olympian," said Allen, who won a gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "Watching the Torino Games, right now, I don't know much about the Winter Olympics, but the thrill that those athletes have representing their country, that's a great feeling."

"Allen joins Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Ben Wallace as players who have declined invitations. He did not cite the three-year commitment as the sole reason for his refusal, but said, "It was something you had to seriously think about."

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060218/SPORTS03/602180346/1051

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002813002_starnotes18.html

 

[bdouble013]

KG, TD both declined invitations? Great....

 

[Kings113]

Awhile ago, indeed. I'd think Brand/Bosh will be in it though...

http://www.hoopshype.com/usa_basketball.htm - good place to use for updates on who's going and who's not...

Kind of sucks that almost all the big men aside from Bosh/Brand/Amare/Dwight Howard aren't interested/doubtful. I can def. understand why, but still. Brad Miller's gonna have, to be selected. Hopefully 2 or 3 of the players as "doubtful" will get named.

 

[Yoda]

I guess it is hard to get people to sign up to lose to JV squads.

 

[Kings113]

Fun little piece on Team USA:

By Rohan Patel[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
2/17/06[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The USA team lost by 19 to Puerto Rico in the 2004
Olympics
[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Athens, Greece. August 15, 2004. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Puerto Rico 92 USA 73 (Boxscore). [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]An island of 4 million people and a commonwealth of the United States beats the most dominant basketball country in the history of the game. Shocking. A 19 point shellacking? Unbelievably embarrassing. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The US went on to lose to Argentina and Lithuania, but it was the Puerto Rico loss that got the attention of the American Public and finally got the people at USA basketball scared about the state of Yankee basketball. The team was assembled by a selection committee that was either apathetic or incompetent. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For reasons unknown, the committee failed to put a single great shooter or legitimate floor general on the team. Marbury and Iverson are great shooting guards. Richard Jefferson, Lebron James, Lamar Odom, and Shawn Marion are great wings, but they don't have the ability to create space with their jumpshots. This was clearly evident during the Puerto Rico disaster, during which the team shot 3-24 from the 3 point line. Teams were able to pack it in against Tim Duncan, and the US didn't have the teamwork necessary to find the open man, who generally was either Odom or Jefferson. Defensively, the US had guys giving a lot of effort, but they weren't playing together at all. It wasn't a matter of selfishness, rather it was a lack of familiarity with common team defensive principles due to the short period of time this team practiced together.

My friend James and I would wake up early in the morning during the Olympics to root patriotically for our country, but became increasingly frustrated at the makeup of the team, and would get into heated debates about who should be representing the USA. Here is a look at some of the names that I put forth in those debates, and who I strongly believe should be selected for the 2006 World Championships and the 2008 Olympics in order for us to regain our place as the basketball superpower of the world. This team does not include Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Shaq, Ray Allen or Tracy McGrady as they have expressed their disinterest in being part of the team. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Coaching Staff: Mike Krzyzewski and his staff of Mike D'Antoni, Nate McMillan, and Jim Boeheim have unique talents and expertise and I'm certainly not one to criticize the selections of these accomplished coaches. Krzyzewski doesn't have experience leading NBA players, but he is among the most accomplished motivators and disciplinarians of our time and will have no problem relating to players that will be selected. D'Antoni, McMillan and Boeheim have a range and depth of basketball knowledge that hasn't been equaled by any of our past coaching staffs. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chris Paul
[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Here is who Jerry Colangelo, the man charged with putting this team together, should pick for next years world championships and the 2008 Summer games in Beijing: [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Point Guards:
1. Chauncey Billups
2. TJ Ford
3. Chris Paul
Alternate: Kirk Hinrich[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Billups has gone from draft bust to clutch floor general in a few years, and he'll be the starter for this Olympic team. TJ Ford is a true point guard in every possible sense: court vision, unselfishness, leadership, and full court defensive ability. Any Olympic team without Chris Paul isn't worth a bag of moldy cheese puffs. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Shooting Guards:
1. Kobe Bryant
2. Joe Johnson
3. JJ Redick
Alternate: Bruce Bowen

How could I possibly leave off the best basketball player in the world right now? Kobe likes Coach K, so he's an obvious choice to be the first scoring option on this team. He also has made it known that he wants to play for the team. Bringing home gold could considerably enhance the general public's opinion of him. Johnson has a multifaceted game equaled by few guards in the league. Truth is, Colangelo probably won't include Joe on his hand picked team as Joe decided he'd rather be the Man in Atlanta than the 4th option in Phoenix. Redick won't mind not getting much playing time, and just might crack the rotation, as I'm not sure there is a better American jump shooter. Ben Gordon would be another option as he is able to hit the outside shot and spread the floor, but he may choose to play for England along with teammate Luol Deng.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Small Forwards:
1. Lebron James
2. Michael Redd
3. Ron Artest
Alternate: Adam Morrison[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Larry Brown showed an incredible amount of stubbornness and stupidity in not playing King James and Amare Stoudemire (who I left off the team due to his very serious injury, and probable reluctance to playing through what should be a summer of rest). Lebron has really worked on his outside shot, making him more valuable in international competition while Redd is the ultimate zone buster and an underrated defender. I know there is zero chance of Ron Artest making an Olympic squad, but if Colangelo was truly interested in winning the Gold medal Ron Artest would be one of the first selections. Much like Deion Sanders could take away the opposition's best wide receiver, Artest has the defensive talent and tenacity to take away the best perimeter player from the opposition. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Big Men:
1. Marcus Camby
2. Chris Bosh
3. Dwight Howard
Alternate: Brad Miller [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]When healthy, Camby is the best center in the NBA not named Shaq. He seems to be entering the prime of his career, and has rediscovered his jump shot since George Karl was brought in last season. In two years Bosh will be even better than the polished inside outside threat that he is today. Dwight Howard is an obvious selection - young, eager to prove himself, (leads the league in rebounding) and immensely talented. Brad Miller has all of the skills you'd normally associate with a European big man and a Gene Keady trained toughness that almost got him killed by Shaq in a fight a few years ago. Two other big men possibilities are Ben Wallace and Greg Oden.
[/FONT]

http://www.nbadraft.net/patel002.asp

 

[Kings113]

"Colangelo will announce the entire group around March 1 at a news conference in Phoenix, in coordination with news conferences around the nation with other players and USA Basketball personnel providing greater exposure. A group of 22 NBA players already have or will soon have USA Basketball contracts coming their way in the mail. Colangelo also once planned to have an entire "select" team of young potential USA Basketball players join them. Because of undesirable logistics of a camp with more than 30 players, that "select" group will now be limited to Duke's J.J. Redick, Gonzaga's Adam Morrison and Ohio State-bound high school senior Greg Oden."

"Colangelo has 28 commitments for 22 spots and one 13-time All-Star weighing his decision - Miami's Shaquille O'Neal. "Shaq saw me in the elevator and said, 'I'll call you in a week or two,' " Colangelo said. "I said, 'Shaq, there's always a spot for you.' "

"Indirectly, Colangelo said he was told that Detroit's Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince will pass because of their expectations that the Pistons will be playing into June."

"Colangelo met this weekend with Boston's Paul Pierce and San Antonio's Bruce Bowen, both of whom have expressed desire to be included. He also visited with Orlando's Dwight Howard."

"Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, is expected to announce this week some of the players invited to try out for the national team. He had given several players an All-Star Game deadline to decide whether they were interested. Sonics guard Ray Allen declined an invitation. Miami's Shaquille O'Neal and Detroit's Richard Hamilton have yet to decide."

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0220allstarside0220.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sonics/2002816934_starnotes20.html

Very good to hear about Bowen/Pierce. Hopefully the same for Dwight. Hamilton/Prince would be great for the team, but it's understandable why not...

 

[Evenstar]

i really like the way that list sounds. those are some great selections, and i really hope thats the way team USA shapes up to be. USA is going to need role players like bruce bowen, kirk henrich, and joe johnson to complment the star players. it's a much better TEAM then indivduals.

a team like that would win the gold, no doubt in my mind.

GO USA!

 

[Kings113]

Indeed.

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

Send in Artest.

 

[VF21]

Tim Duncan? He's been to the Olympics for another country. I don't think he could participate for Team USA.

 

[piksi]

Tim Duncan? He's been to the Olympics for another country. I don't think he could participate for Team USA.

not true

he played for USA in 2004

never played for everyone else

 

[VF21]

...ah crap. I hate when that happens. I was thinking (well, I thought I was thinking) he played for ... hmmm. Whatever small island it was he came from.

I think I need more coffee...and possibly a brain transplant.

 

[Kings113]

US Virgin Islands.

 

[piksi]

...ah crap. I hate when that happens. I was thinking (well, I thought I was thinking) he played for ... hmmm. Whatever small island it was he came from.

I think I need more coffee...and possibly a brain transplant.

it happenes to everybody

 

[BMiller52]

Saint Croix I think.

 

[¿¿¿]

It's never about playing for honor anymore...it's sad

 

[Kings113]

Saint Croix I think.

Yeah, which is in the Virgin Islands.

 

[Kings113]

"Wizards forward Antawn Jamison, who has been contacted about trying out for the U.S. men's national basketball team that will compete in this summer's World Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is thrilled by the prospect and made it clear that he would have no problems making the necessary three-year commitment. "Who wouldn't want to represent their country in the Olympics?" Jamison said. "We all know what's happened of late, so to be considered is definitely an honor."

"Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas has also been contacted about trying out for the squad, which will consist of approximately 22 players. A list of invited players is expected to be finalized by March 1."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/24/AR2006022402270.html

 

[Kings113]

"Because of personal and family interests, Michael Redd has reluctantly declined an invitation to try out for the United States national men's basketball team. The Milwaukee Bucks' standout shooting guard was one of 25 players recently extended an invitation by USA Basketball officials. The invitation came after Redd had met with Jerry Colangelo, the USA Basketball Managing Director who is spearheading the selection of the team, several weeks ago in Chicago."

"USA Basketball officials will formally announce their roster Sunday on national television. Poston also revealed that forward Rashard Lewis of the Seattle SuperSonics, another excellent long-range shooter, has passed on trying out for the U.S. team. Poston said Lewis has been slowed by injuries and will be the summer to recover from them. Poston said he spoke with Colangelo Thursday and informed him of Redd's decision."

http://www.journaltimes.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=4372

 

[slugking50]

Saint Croix I think.

St. Thomas actually.

 

[Kings113]

["Josh Howard must inform USA Basketball today whether he intends to take part in training camp for the team that will play in the World Championships this summer and the 2008 Olympics. Howard, who has said he would love to play for his country, said he is trying to clear up conflicts in his schedule during July, when he normally has camps and clinics in North Carolina at the time the USA camp is scheduled. Even if Howard does join the team of 22 at camp, there is no guarantee he would make the final roster."

"Lamar Odom will be invited to try out for the U.S. basketball team, after all. One of the top players in the Athens Olympics, Odom did not make the original 22-player list finalized internally by USA Basketball last week, but he will fill one of the spots created by players who declined invitations."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/basketball/mavs/stories/030406dnspostackhouse.811d8a8a.html

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakerep4mar04,1,6557083.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

 

[Kings113]

Press Release - USA Basketball announced today that Hornets guard Chris Paul is among the 23 players who have been named to the 2006-08 USA Men’s Senior National Team program. The 23 players will compete for 15 roster spots during a training camp in mid-July (exact training camp dates and sites will be announced at a later date).

“I am so proud to be selected by USA Basketball and I plan on making sure that I represent my country, my family, the Hornets and the NBA to the best of my abilities,” said Paul. “I’ve said before that playing for your country is the greatest honor that you can have.”

Paul has averaged 16.4 points, 7.9 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 54 games with the Hornets this season. He currently ranks second overall in the NBA in steals, seventh in assists and 18th in free throws made and has been named the T-Mobile Western Conference Rookie of the Month every month so far this season.

“This is a tremendous honor for Chris and it shows what a special player he is,” said Hornets Head Coach Byron Scott. “To be chosen for this team at such a young age shows that he is playing the type of team-oriented, total package game that USA Basketball was looking for when they selected the roster.”

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/39440/20060305/team_usa_adds_chris_paul_to_squad/ (this is the link)

Paul's so great, I hope and think he makes it.