Solid D
07-26-2006, 01:14 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA072606.1C.BKNteamusa.bowen.35728c0.html
USA spot is official for Bowen: Spurs forward, already leading, grabs one of 15 berths on team set for Asia
Web Posted: 07/25/2006 11:18 PM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS — Bruce Bowen's cell phone rang Monday night, and a familiar voice was on the line.
"It was Tim (Duncan), calling to wish me well," Bowen said Tuesday as USA Basketball announced he was one of 15 finalists from which the 12-player U.S. team in the FIBA World Championships in Japan would be chosen. "Tim loves it when other people bask in the glory. People don't understand that about him. He's been on this USA team before. But he saw I am succeeding and he gave me a shout-out: 'Hey, Bruce, I'm happy for you. Congratulations, man.'"
From a group of 20 players who participated in a weeklong training camp, Bowen and 14 others will head to Asia. First, the 15 will return to Las Vegas on July 31 for more practices and will begin an exhibition schedule Aug. 3.
The World Championships are to begin Aug. 19.
Of the 18 players in camp who did not have injuries or personal obligations that precluded playing in Japan, only Seattle point guard Luke Ridnour and Charlotte Hornets rookie-to-be Adam Morrison were dropped.
Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion was a late scratch because of a sore knee that bothered him the final two days of practices.
Joining Bowen on the 15-man roster are Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Washington's Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, Houston's Shane Battier, Toronto's Chris Bosh, Los Angeles Clippers' Elton Brand, Chicago's Kirk Hinrich, Orlando's Dwight Howard, Cleveland's LeBron James, Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Sacramento's Brad Miller, New Orleans' Chris Paul, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Miami's Dwyane Wade.
Duncan's experience on the 2004 Olympic team hardly was memorable. He was beset by foul trouble, and Team USA earned only a bronze medal in Athens, Greece. He was so frustrated by the refereeing that he summed up his Olympic experience by saying, "FIBA sucks."
That did not keep Duncan from giving Bowen, his Spurs teammate, some encouragement and good wishes.
"He said he hoped we didn't have to incur some of the things they had to experience," Bowen said of the 2004 Olympic team. "I'm not worried about the officials at all. It's never consistently bad or good. In life, you have to move on whenever you have bad circumstances. You have to keep on playing."
Bowen has emerged as one of the Team USA's leaders. During a spirited final scrimmage Monday, Bowen admonished his teammates to stop complaining about referee David Jones, an NBA official working the practice sessions because he also is certified by FIBA. His teammates took to heart his advice.
"That's where I have to be my most vocal," Bowen said. "If you get bogged down by a play that you think has been called bad, it's going to affect you on the next play."
Adapting to FIBA refereeing is just one adjustment Team USA's players will have to make in Japan. Players accustomed to being their team's star also must learn to subjugate egos for the good of the whole.
"It's great for me to see a bunch of talented guys come together," said Wade, who was the NBA Finals MVP in leading the Heat past the Dallas Mavericks. "Everyone has an ego, but to see everyone put their egos aside and be on the same boat was great to be around. It was just a great week."
The American team also has to adapt to playing against the zone defenses favored by many international teams.
Mostly, though, Team USA must learn to play more as a team; more like reigning Olympic champion and 2002 World Championship runner-up Argentina, which features Spurs guard Manu Ginobili.
"It's Manu's team that makes him such a great international player," Bowen said. "Argentina doesn't say, 'Here, Manu. Do your thing.' It's his team that helps make him great. Fabricio Oberto plays well. Luis Scola plays well.
"Fabricio didn't play that much for us this year. Does that mean he's not a good ball player? No, it doesn't. It's just a different game."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]
USA spot is official for Bowen: Spurs forward, already leading, grabs one of 15 berths on team set for Asia
Web Posted: 07/25/2006 11:18 PM CDT
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS — Bruce Bowen's cell phone rang Monday night, and a familiar voice was on the line.
"It was Tim (Duncan), calling to wish me well," Bowen said Tuesday as USA Basketball announced he was one of 15 finalists from which the 12-player U.S. team in the FIBA World Championships in Japan would be chosen. "Tim loves it when other people bask in the glory. People don't understand that about him. He's been on this USA team before. But he saw I am succeeding and he gave me a shout-out: 'Hey, Bruce, I'm happy for you. Congratulations, man.'"
From a group of 20 players who participated in a weeklong training camp, Bowen and 14 others will head to Asia. First, the 15 will return to Las Vegas on July 31 for more practices and will begin an exhibition schedule Aug. 3.
The World Championships are to begin Aug. 19.
Of the 18 players in camp who did not have injuries or personal obligations that precluded playing in Japan, only Seattle point guard Luke Ridnour and Charlotte Hornets rookie-to-be Adam Morrison were dropped.
Phoenix Suns forward Shawn Marion was a late scratch because of a sore knee that bothered him the final two days of practices.
Joining Bowen on the 15-man roster are Denver's Carmelo Anthony, Washington's Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, Houston's Shane Battier, Toronto's Chris Bosh, Los Angeles Clippers' Elton Brand, Chicago's Kirk Hinrich, Orlando's Dwight Howard, Cleveland's LeBron James, Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Sacramento's Brad Miller, New Orleans' Chris Paul, Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire and Miami's Dwyane Wade.
Duncan's experience on the 2004 Olympic team hardly was memorable. He was beset by foul trouble, and Team USA earned only a bronze medal in Athens, Greece. He was so frustrated by the refereeing that he summed up his Olympic experience by saying, "FIBA sucks."
That did not keep Duncan from giving Bowen, his Spurs teammate, some encouragement and good wishes.
"He said he hoped we didn't have to incur some of the things they had to experience," Bowen said of the 2004 Olympic team. "I'm not worried about the officials at all. It's never consistently bad or good. In life, you have to move on whenever you have bad circumstances. You have to keep on playing."
Bowen has emerged as one of the Team USA's leaders. During a spirited final scrimmage Monday, Bowen admonished his teammates to stop complaining about referee David Jones, an NBA official working the practice sessions because he also is certified by FIBA. His teammates took to heart his advice.
"That's where I have to be my most vocal," Bowen said. "If you get bogged down by a play that you think has been called bad, it's going to affect you on the next play."
Adapting to FIBA refereeing is just one adjustment Team USA's players will have to make in Japan. Players accustomed to being their team's star also must learn to subjugate egos for the good of the whole.
"It's great for me to see a bunch of talented guys come together," said Wade, who was the NBA Finals MVP in leading the Heat past the Dallas Mavericks. "Everyone has an ego, but to see everyone put their egos aside and be on the same boat was great to be around. It was just a great week."
The American team also has to adapt to playing against the zone defenses favored by many international teams.
Mostly, though, Team USA must learn to play more as a team; more like reigning Olympic champion and 2002 World Championship runner-up Argentina, which features Spurs guard Manu Ginobili.
"It's Manu's team that makes him such a great international player," Bowen said. "Argentina doesn't say, 'Here, Manu. Do your thing.' It's his team that helps make him great. Fabricio Oberto plays well. Luis Scola plays well.
"Fabricio didn't play that much for us this year. Does that mean he's not a good ball player? No, it doesn't. It's just a different game."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[email protected]