A.I. not invited to play for team USA

[mavsfan1000]

Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo, etc are now all "roll players?"

Hey they got Josh Howard. Definitely a great role player for Dallas.

[aaronstampler]

This is totally unfair to AI. They act like he is the poster boy for everything that went wrong on the '04 team. The reason they lost is because Larry Brown doesn't take foreign players seriously and he just assumed that USA could roll over everyone with their athleticsm. Plus, he didn't let Amare or Wade play. AI was not the problem though.

AI has really matured in the past few seasons, if you ask me. He doesn't do or say anything controversial anymore. His only "crime" is being surrounded by terrible players and not playing good defense anymore, and if that's a crime, well then Wade, LeBron, and Kobe are all guilty too. The only rap sheet on AI now is the cornrows and the 35 tattoos, and I guess USA basketball doesn't want that. What USA should concern themselves with is only two things, "Does the guy want to be here, and does he want to win?"

As long as Team USA makes dumb decisions like this, Manu & co are still the favorites.

[JMarkJohns]

Far be it from me to criticize Jerry Colangelo, but.

I see a pattern.

No Artest. I'm fine with it.
No Martin. I'm fine with it.
No Rasheed. Mistake.
No Iverson. Mistake.

Let's see, what do these players all have in common with each other that separates them from all the selected players (save for Kobe)?

Heavily tatted African-American players with a questionable image and a questioned at ude need not apply, apparently.

Don't give me that the others didn't belong, either.

Martin has competed in International compe ion before.
Rasheed's skills are a perfect match for FIBA.
Artest is arguably the best perimeter defender in the game.
Like Martin, Iverson is a veteran of the International scene and is a top-10 player in the League.

All have arguments as to why they should be on the team.

None made the team.

Meanwhile, Battier, Howard, Lewis, etc... were all invited.

[mavsfan1000]

Hey whose job it is to make sure Carlos Arrojo doesn't go off? It wasn't Iverson's offense that was the problem. The defense has been questionable at times. Also Wade and Billups are both younger. I have no problem with this decision. Artest could cause some problems though I think he has changed. Battier is a great role player to have. This team is trying to mix stars with star role players.

[JMarkJohns]

I don't have a problem with trying to mix role-players with stars. Honestly, I don't have a problem with any of the invites. But give me a break. Iverson, along with Marion, hwere the two best players America had in Athens. He had a great at ide and only ever wants to win. You make an exception for him.

[1Parker1]

Tonight against the Rockets:
AI: 40 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals.

, What were they thinking?

[AI-square]

Tonight against the Rockets:
AI: 40 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals.

, What were they thinking?

I think 16-29 from the field is an important stat as well. At least people would know he didn't throw up 40 shots just to score as much as possible.

[1Parker1]

**Sigh the point still remains. Guess I'm just being a bitter homer

[ShoogarBear]

Tonight against the Rockets:
AI: 40 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals.

, What were they thinking?

I bet I know what AI was thinking.

[T-Pain]

I'm a little pissed because AI is not invited. He was 100% committed to play for the US for the longest time, and he wasnt even invited. I think he deserves to play on the team, in fact, i think hes a starter.

[nkdlunch]

I'm shocked so many ppl are mad and surprised at this. He doesn't like to pass the ball, and he doesn't like to sit on the bench. He had his chance and it was not his fault but failed. He did behave last olympics but his nature just doesn't fit a national team. It's so obvious.

[Joepa]

I'm shocked so many ppl are mad and surprised at this. He doesn't like to pass the ball, and he doesn't like to sit on the bench. He had his chance and it was not his fault but failed. He did behave last olympics but his nature just doesn't fit a national team. It's so obvious.

Dude is averaging 7.4 assists per game this year, more than double anyone else on his team.

I think he has a good at ude, excellent all around skills (except for defense which he stopped playing 2 years ago,) and a desire to win. This was a mistake...AI should be there.

Think about it - the guy has matured and has stayed out of trouble for several years now. I guess he's still paying for the rep that he earned as a younger player.

[nkdlunch]

Think about it - the guy has matured and has stayed out of trouble for several years now. I guess he's still paying for the rep that he earned as a younger player.

nope, he didn't get picked 'cause his style of play don't fit what Team USA wants, simple as that.

[1Parker1]

nope, he didn't get picked 'cause his style of play don't fit what Team USA wants, simple as that.

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. So you're trying to tell me Kobe, Arenas, etc. are not ball hogs? What's so different about AI's style of play than theirs?

[nkdlunch]

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. So you're trying to tell me Kobe, Arenas, etc. are not ball hogs? What's so different about AI's style of play than theirs?

No I'm not trying to tell u that, u're telling urself that. I didn't mention Kobe, arenas ,etc. I'm only talking about AI.


that's a good point u bring up though. maybe they think Kobe has to be invited 'cause the whole country would at the organizers and Arenas, maybe they think he can adjust his game. who knows but this thread is about AI

[ALVAREZ6]

That is complete bull .

Team USA should let ANY NBA American player to try out for the team. Whoever shows that they want to be there the most gets a place on the team.



AI was the player that wanted it the most in Athens 2004, and he played pretty good. He isn't afraid to represent his country, he takes pride in it and wants to have the USA across his chest.

[Horry For 3!]

Tonight against the Rockets:
AI: 40 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals.

, What were they thinking?

He also hit the big shot to close the deal on the Rockets.

[Brutalis]

Hey... go bring up AI's stats in the Olympics..

[nkdlunch]

Hey... go bring up AI's stats in the Olympics..

27.0min 1.6rb 2.5ass 13.8pts

[ALVAREZ6]

It's the Olympics, and with all the talent team USA had, not every player will fill the stat sheet every game. The scoring is spread out pretty evenly.

In International compe ion, it doesn't matter whether you fill out the stat sheet like you try to in the NBA. There is no MVP. The only thing that matters is that your country wins.

[1Parker1]

Hey... go bring up AI's stats in the Olympics..

Hey...go bring up Tim Duncan's stats in the Olympics..