Solid D
06-24-2008, 11:23 AM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/columnists/mmonroe/stories/MYSA062408.monroecolumn.en.322b59eb.html
Web Posted: 06/23/2008 09:54 PM CDT
By Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
The NBA’s reigning MVP is on the team, announced Monday, that will try to bring the Olympic gold medal back to the United States, but Kobe Bryant’s presence is not as meaningful as another player’s absence.
Unless he finds a miracle cure for a badly swollen ankle ligament in the next couple of weeks, Manu Ginobili won’t be leading defending Olympic champion Argentina when the Games begin in China in August.
That makes Team USA a lock to bring home the gold.
And if a team that includes Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Dwight Howard can’t redeem U.S. basketball pride?
Mike Krzyzewski should just remain in China.
“Coach K” needn’t worry much, though. The team chosen for him to take to China is well conceived and ought to be well prepared. Most of the players have been involved with USA Basketball the previous two summers. They played together in the 2006 World Championships and last summer’s Tournament of the Americas.
Bryant’s choppy performance in the recently concluded NBA Finals doesn’t diminish his status as the world’s most talented player, and no international foe will be able to succeed defensively by ganging up on him the way the Celtics just did, not with James and Anthony and Wade sharing the scoring load.
Adding Tayshaun Prince, a versatile defender, gives Coach K a designated defensive stopper. He’s a younger Bruce Bowen, with longer arms.
If Bryant has an off night, there’s a designated shooter: Bucks guard Michael Redd, with a quick release and long-range accuracy.
Chris Paul, MVP runner-up, is on the team, too, not to mention “Superman” Howard.
No team in Beijing will have as much raw talent as Team USA.
Of course, no team in Athens in 2004 had as much talent as the American team that returned with the bronze medal. That team had Tim Duncan, a better big man than anyone on this outfit. Somehow, it found a way to lose to Puerto Rico in the preliminary round, then fell to Argentina in the knockout round.
What USA Basketball learned in Athens was a final course in 8basketball reality in the 21st century — just throwing together 12 NBA players in red, white and blue %uniforms no longer was enough to guarantee gold, as it had been in 1992, when the original Dream Team was unveiled.
A completely new approach was required, and the team announced Monday is the culmination of that revisionist view.
“Those guys had commitment, good coaching,” Krzyzewski said of the 2004 team during a Monday teleconference. “They did not have the opportunity of providing any continuity. They didn’t have enough practice time. There were late additions. They were put in a short window to prepare.
“You can’t win at this level without good preparation. There are too many good teams. They were robbed of that, and that’s one of the things we’ve tried to do with the three-year commitment: provide continuity and preparation that’s worthy of winning at this level.”
Krzyzewski seems to understand his own legacy as a coach risks being tarnished if this team can’t bring home the gold.
He talks a good game.
“I think I’m one of a bunch of guys in this group that are so excited about coming together,” he said. “You can talk to our players. They want to represent the United States, they want to play together, they want to do a good job.
“This is the summer we’ve been preparing for, so it’s here. It’s not about sacrifice. It’s all worth it.”
[email protected] t
Web Posted: 06/23/2008 09:54 PM CDT
By Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
The NBA’s reigning MVP is on the team, announced Monday, that will try to bring the Olympic gold medal back to the United States, but Kobe Bryant’s presence is not as meaningful as another player’s absence.
Unless he finds a miracle cure for a badly swollen ankle ligament in the next couple of weeks, Manu Ginobili won’t be leading defending Olympic champion Argentina when the Games begin in China in August.
That makes Team USA a lock to bring home the gold.
And if a team that includes Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Jason Kidd and Dwight Howard can’t redeem U.S. basketball pride?
Mike Krzyzewski should just remain in China.
“Coach K” needn’t worry much, though. The team chosen for him to take to China is well conceived and ought to be well prepared. Most of the players have been involved with USA Basketball the previous two summers. They played together in the 2006 World Championships and last summer’s Tournament of the Americas.
Bryant’s choppy performance in the recently concluded NBA Finals doesn’t diminish his status as the world’s most talented player, and no international foe will be able to succeed defensively by ganging up on him the way the Celtics just did, not with James and Anthony and Wade sharing the scoring load.
Adding Tayshaun Prince, a versatile defender, gives Coach K a designated defensive stopper. He’s a younger Bruce Bowen, with longer arms.
If Bryant has an off night, there’s a designated shooter: Bucks guard Michael Redd, with a quick release and long-range accuracy.
Chris Paul, MVP runner-up, is on the team, too, not to mention “Superman” Howard.
No team in Beijing will have as much raw talent as Team USA.
Of course, no team in Athens in 2004 had as much talent as the American team that returned with the bronze medal. That team had Tim Duncan, a better big man than anyone on this outfit. Somehow, it found a way to lose to Puerto Rico in the preliminary round, then fell to Argentina in the knockout round.
What USA Basketball learned in Athens was a final course in 8basketball reality in the 21st century — just throwing together 12 NBA players in red, white and blue %uniforms no longer was enough to guarantee gold, as it had been in 1992, when the original Dream Team was unveiled.
A completely new approach was required, and the team announced Monday is the culmination of that revisionist view.
“Those guys had commitment, good coaching,” Krzyzewski said of the 2004 team during a Monday teleconference. “They did not have the opportunity of providing any continuity. They didn’t have enough practice time. There were late additions. They were put in a short window to prepare.
“You can’t win at this level without good preparation. There are too many good teams. They were robbed of that, and that’s one of the things we’ve tried to do with the three-year commitment: provide continuity and preparation that’s worthy of winning at this level.”
Krzyzewski seems to understand his own legacy as a coach risks being tarnished if this team can’t bring home the gold.
He talks a good game.
“I think I’m one of a bunch of guys in this group that are so excited about coming together,” he said. “You can talk to our players. They want to represent the United States, they want to play together, they want to do a good job.
“This is the summer we’ve been preparing for, so it’s here. It’s not about sacrifice. It’s all worth it.”
[email protected] t