U.S. Olympic Basketball: We won't come begging

[ObiwanGinobili]

I vote Coach Carter for US Olympic BAsketball coach.


there that should solve all problems. including world hunger.

[manubili]

As an argentine, I do really think that it's not all about which players are playing in the US team. US doesn't need the very superstars to beat argentina or whatever. You can make a couple of dozens of olympics-winning-teams, with SO many american good players in the league.

But they need to have a team playing all togheter for a long time. It must feel like a team. They should be playing now, the Stankovic cup, for instance.

Although, I think this is a good step.

I want to see that Bowen on Manu stuff, right now!!!

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I still think they need to go back to using college players. If the pros are going to not really be into it and lose anyway, why not see what the college guys can do.

The international game would almost fit college players better anyway. The pace, the short three point line, the foul calls, etc.

[clubalien]

devin brown I bet he woudl be willing to play

[ducks]

good
because good players or superstars will not want to commit for 3 years
and will not hurt the nba game

[Obi wan Ginobili]

I hope Argentina wins again honestly.

It means more to them, advances the sport in their country, and solidifies Manu as a Hall of Fame player.

[Medvedenko]

No mention of Kobe as the starting SG....oh well...I do agree that we don't need a team of superstart...but role players and some bangers and specialists.
Committment is going to be tough for some of the players, but I saw the same thing in Hockey when Canada lost to the Czech Republic in the Olympics. We had a Hockey summit and Wayne Gretzky was brought in to devise the system and the team. Players were dieing to play and represent the country. No matter who they picked they were playing with exception to Patrick Roy. The sense of pride and patriotism and taking back the game was in full effect. Guess what it worked. No one asked for money or worried about playing time...oh and we took back the gold.

[WalterBenitez]

2005 USA Men's World Championship Qualifying Team Finalists Roster

9 FIBAs
Michael Batiste F 6-8 235 11/21/77 Panathinaikos (Greece) / Arizona State '99
Charlie Bell G 6-3 175 03/13/79 Leche Rio (Spain) / Michigan State '01
Tyus Edney G 5-10 160 02/14/73 Lottomatica Roma (Italy) / UCLA '95
Lynn Greer G 6-1 175 10/23/79 Dynamo Moscow (Russia) / Temple '02
Jimmie Hunter G 6-5 210 12/24/77 Sebastiani Rieti (Italy) / Life ‘00
Kris Lang C 6-11 247 12/12/79 Unicaja Malaga (Spain) / North Carolina '02
Aaron McGhee F 6-8 250 06/28/79 Pusan KTF (Korea) / Oklahoma '02
Marque Perry G 6-1 180 01/28/81 Olympiacos (Greece) / Saint Louis ‘03
Alex Scales G 6-4 07/03/78 Samsung (Korea) / Oregon '99


4 CBAs
Jerome Beasley F 6-10 224 05/17/81 Sioux Falls (CBA) / North Dakota '03
Corsley Edwards F 6-9 275 03/05/76 Sioux Falls (CBA) / Central Connecticut State'02
Noel Felix F 6-9 225 10/04/81 Yakima (CBA) / Fresno State ‘03
Melvin Sanders F 6-5 210 01/03/81 Dakota (CBA) / Oklahoma State '03


2 D-League
Ernest Brown C 7-0 255 05/17/79 Fayetteville (D-League) / Indian Hills C.C. "00
Ron Slay F 6-8 225 06/29/81 Asheville (D-League) / Tennessee '03

[PM5K]

It's sad too because Pierce and Allen make CONSIDERABLY MORE money than Jordan, Bird, and Magic did back in 92, infact Allen makes more than all of them did combined back in 92, and they want compensation?

[Summers]

As an argentine, I do really think that it's not all about which players are playing in the US team. US doesn't need the very superstars to beat argentina or whatever. You can make a couple of dozens of olympics-winning-teams, with SO many american good players in the league.

But they need to have a team playing all togheter for a long time. It must feel like a team. They should be playing now, the Stankovic cup, for instance.

Although, I think this is a good step.

I want to see that Bowen on Manu stuff, right now!!!

Beg your pardon??



But I completely agree with your post. The Athens team had 4 weeks to practice as a team. It's amazing to me they won the bronze.

I have a question that goes along with what Ed said: Is there any reason the olympic team couldn't be, say, the winner of the sweet 16 tournament, assuming you could get the whole team to commit to the summer? That would be a real, cohesive team, if not necessarily the best 12 players...

[gus]

U.S.A with this team will get easily the spot for the World Tournament.
However I still think why do they pick players of Korea??? They should pick
almost exclusively players from Europe, and they will get a winner. Charlie Bell is a stud. Tyus Edney, Lynn Greer are very good also. With a good coaching they will be able to win it all.

I doubt even on the CBA level.

Gus

[ducks]

Six former NBA players among Team USA invitees
July 27, 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Ticker) - Fifteen players, including six with NBA experience, have been invited to compete for the 12 roster spots for the United States team competing in next month's FIBA Tournament of the Americas.

There are no current NBA players among the invitees, who were announced Wednesday by USA Basketball. They are all professional players who played in six countries last season.

Those with NBA experience are 7-footer Ernest Brown of Fayetteville of the D-League, forward Michael Batiste of Panathinaikos in Greece, guard Tyus Edney of Lottomatica Roma in Italy, forward Corsley Edwards of Sioux Falls of the CBA, forward Jerome Beasley of the CBA and swingman Ron Slay of Tulsa of the D-League.

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Other invitees are guards Charlie Bell of Leche Rio in Spain, Lynn Greer of Dynamo Moscow in Russia, Jimmie Hunter of Sebastiani Rieti in Italy, Marque Perry of Olympicos in Greece, Alex Scales of Samsung in Korea and Melvin Sanders of Dakota in the CBA; forward Aaron McGhee of Pusan KTF in Korea and Noel Felix of Yakima in the CBA; and center Kris Lang of Unicaja Malaga in Spain.

"We have great diversity, players who can play more than one position," said Team USA coach Mo McHone, a long-time NBA assistant who briefly coached San Antonio. "We've got shooters, inside players, players who can play both inside and outside and we've got very good defenders.

"But the No. 1 thing is we wanted players who wanted to represent the USA. Not players looking for contracts or players looking for jobs, but players who truly wanted to represent the USA and I think we put together a group that's that way."

The FIBA Tournament of the Americas will be from August 24-September 4 in the Dominican Republic and is a formality for the United States. The top four teams plus Argentina in the 10-team draw qualify for the 2006 World Championships in Saitamo, Japan from August 19-September 3.

The World Championships have been expanded from 16 to 24 teams, with 20 teams placed through zone qualifying and four berths filled by FIBA. Even if Team USA finishes fifth or lower in the Tournament of the Americas, it in all likelihood will be invited to the World Championships, where it will be using NBA stars.

Team USA has won 28 straight games in qualifying for the Olympics or World Championships. It is in Group A with Brazil, Canada, Panama and Venezuela. Group B has Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Uruguay.

McHone and assistant Dennis Johnson and Joey Meyer will conduct trials and training in Miami from August 5-9. The U.S. will participate in a four-nation tournament in Brazil from August 11-13 and play a pair of exhibition games vs. Brazil on August 15 and 17.

Team USA returns to Miami for practice from August 19-21 and leaves for Santo Domingo on August 22.

[ducks]

There are no current NBA players among the invitees, who were announced Wednesday by USA Basketball. They are all professional players who played in six countries last season.

[Billy Cobham]

I hope they look at Sebastian Telfair as a possible participant in the Olympics. The kid is going to be one of the top PG's in the league by that time. Certainly as good as Paul or Hinrich.

[Kori Ellis]

There are no current NBA players among the invitees, who were announced Wednesday by USA Basketball. They are all professional players who played in six countries last season.

That's for the World Championship Qualifiers. It has nothing to do with the players that are going to be on the Olympic team though.

[Money316]

NBA players, just like all the other years.

Obviously, you have no common sense.

Heart - it all about heart. Let’s see who's interested in volunteering their time for three years. For the others - em if you have to ask.

There that's settled - the volunteers are my Team.

statistics, age, and their bull professional status.

[Money316]

I vote Coach Carter for US Olympic BAsketball coach.


there that should solve all problems. including world hunger.

Don't forget about world peace and the war on terrorism.

[Sense]

Obviously, you have no common sense.

Heart - it all about heart. Let’s see who's interested in volunteering their time for three years. For the others - em if you have to ask.

There that's settled - the volunteers are my Team.

statistics, age, and their bull professional status.

Obviously I have no common Sense?
Right..

I'm not saying it's happening moron... I said we were losing because of that, and I could care less about USA basketball right now.

[Money316]

Obviously I have no common Sense?
Right..

I'm not saying it's happening moron... I said we were losing because of that, and I could care less about USA basketball right now.

Then just say it.

[hendrix]

That's for the World Championship Qualifiers. It has nothing to do with the players that are going to be on the Olympic team though.

Luckily for USA most american teams suck and 4 spots are available.
Canada, Brazil and USA are in. Puerto Rico is probably the 5th american team to compete in next WC.

[xcoriate]

You can't just send a college team for 2 reasons..

1. College teams have international players on them.
2. Argentina amongst others would destroy them.

[TheTruth]

I believe that if the Team of the United States really wants to demolish its rivals it does not have to take all players of this type

Why?: Because the team need players who can play without the ball, and who don´t shoot 15-20 times each game

Check the Numbers:

Lebron: 21.1 FGA x game
Amare: 16.7
Wade: 17.1
Anthony: 16.4
Bosh: 12.6
Hinrich: 14.6
Okafor: 13,7
Gordon: 12.9
Howard: 8.3
Iguodala: 6.7
Collison: 4.3
Paul: 10

Total: 154.4 FGA, it´s impossible

My team have players like: Bruce Bowen : 7.3 (Ex: on Manu), Chauncey Billups: 11.4 FGA (2nd Low in the 1st 50 in points, the 1st is Manu with only 10.5), Kyle Korver: 9.3, R. Patterson: 8.6, 53,1%FG, Udonis Haslem: 8.0, 54%, Ben Wallace: 8.8, Andre Miller: 10.9, Jason Terry: 9.3, 50,1%

The best team:
Starters: Billups - Wade - Lebron - Amare - Ben Wallace
Bench: Terry - Gordon - Bowen - Iguodala - Collison
Others: Kyle Korver - Paul

Starters:75.1 FGA
Bench and Others: 59.8 FGA
Total: 134.9 FGA

that is a pretty old team in 3 years. Ben Wallace has already turned down an Olympic invite once, and Ruben Patterson thug ass should be nowhere near an olympic team. I like the Korver pick though.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Wow, two peopled owned themselves when picking players. Nick Collison? Why not just bring back Christian Laettner as the penultimate white guy at the end of the bench stiff?

And those lineups are weak on outside shooting, something Team USA badly needs. You want to build a winner? Put Michael Redd, Kyle Korver, and Joe Johnson on there to drop threes, for starters...

[TheTruth]

Wow, two peopled owned themselves when picking players. Nick Collison? Why not just bring back Christian Laettner as the penultimate white guy at the end of the bench stiff?

And those lineups are weak on outside shooting, something Team USA badly needs. You want to build a winner? Put Michael Redd, Kyle Korver, and Joe Johnson on there to drop threes, for starters...

Nick Collison has already, in one year, shown himself to be a better player the laettner ever was. I'd like my 12th man to be a banger with size that doesn't want to shoot the ball. Collison fits that mold perfectly. If Redd and Johnson would agree to a 3 year commitment (which they wont) i say sign them up. If Korvers playoff performance this past season is any indication of how he plays in big games, I say keep him away from the Olympic Team.

[Sense]

Then just say it.

WTF?