ducks
09-08-2006, 09:59 AM
Bryant: U.S. team needs chemistry ahead of 2008 Olympics
Bryant: U.S. team needs chemistry ahead of 2008 Olympics
September 7, 2006
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Kobe Bryant believes the U.S. basketball team will have to work on its chemistry if it wants to perform well at the 2008 Olympics.
The Los Angeles Lakers star, visiting Taiwan as part of a five-leg tour of Asia to meet with fans, said Thursday that a newly assembled team always needed some time together before starting to play with consistency.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bryant did not play in the world championships because of a knee injury, and the U.S. squad returned home from the tournament in Japan last week with a bronze medal -- mirroring its performance at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Both results were widely seen as disappointments for teams loaded with NBA talent.
"Years playing together will jell us as a unit, (but) if there is no chemistry, it's going to be tough to beat all those talented teams," Bryant said, adding he was confident the two years leading up to the Beijing Olympics would be enough time to find that chemistry.
Bryant's Asian tour has already taken him to Japan and Hong Kong. On Friday, he was scheduled to leave Taiwan for South Korea, en route to China.
Bryant: U.S. team needs chemistry ahead of 2008 Olympics
September 7, 2006
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Kobe Bryant believes the U.S. basketball team will have to work on its chemistry if it wants to perform well at the 2008 Olympics.
The Los Angeles Lakers star, visiting Taiwan as part of a five-leg tour of Asia to meet with fans, said Thursday that a newly assembled team always needed some time together before starting to play with consistency.
ADVERTISEMENT
Bryant did not play in the world championships because of a knee injury, and the U.S. squad returned home from the tournament in Japan last week with a bronze medal -- mirroring its performance at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Both results were widely seen as disappointments for teams loaded with NBA talent.
"Years playing together will jell us as a unit, (but) if there is no chemistry, it's going to be tough to beat all those talented teams," Bryant said, adding he was confident the two years leading up to the Beijing Olympics would be enough time to find that chemistry.
Bryant's Asian tour has already taken him to Japan and Hong Kong. On Friday, he was scheduled to leave Taiwan for South Korea, en route to China.