Bryant will be centerpiece of USA Basketball team

[angel_luv]

Kobe as the poster child? I think I just vomited in my mouth a little.

Forget Team USA, this is team Swoosh.

And they are going to get their tails kicked in the first round by Team Whoosh!

Ponosen clan bratovscine Rasha in Bena
Proud member of Rasho and Beno brotherhood


( Sorry Bruce!)

[Drive Like Jehu]

You will all be on his when he wins us the gold. Mark my words.

I'm sure if Kobe has enough money to settle that many cases out of court.

[SouthernFried]

This is a ing team sport. Teams win. Look at Detroit, look at San Antonio...look at ARGENTINA fer chrissakes! This focus on Kobe is an idiotic move right from the start.

And why didn't they get Ben Wallace for interior D? He'd prolly be my first pick, over all those damn scorers. Put him and Bowen on the same team first...THEN get some scorers and team players to surround 'em. That's how you build a winner.

Either that, or just let the whoever wins the NBA championship that year go. Wouldn't have to worry about Chemistry and coaching them for 3 years.

[nkdlunch]

Billups = Most Valuable Player
Kobe = Most Selfish Player

[greywheel]

If Kobe is the centerpiece of USA basketball, would it be wrong for me to root for team Argentina?

[leemajors]

adidas bought reebok didn't they? are there any adidas players on the team? i really doubt that nike would tell colangelo to not put any reebok players on the team - they get their advertising regardless of who is on the team.

[JamStone]

This is a ing team sport. Teams win. Look at Detroit, look at San Antonio...look at ARGENTINA fer chrissakes! This focus on Kobe is an idiotic move right from the start.

And why didn't they get Ben Wallace for interior D? He'd prolly be my first pick, over all those damn scorers. Put him and Bowen on the same team first...THEN get some scorers and team players to surround 'em. That's how you build a winner.

Either that, or just let the whoever wins the NBA championship that year go. Wouldn't have to worry about Chemistry and coaching them for 3 years.

Ben Wallace was interviewed by Colangelo and specifically stated he was not interested in playing for Team USA.


And, if the Spurs won the NBA championship in 2008, two of their three best players couldn't play for Team USA because Parker and Ginobili are not Americans, and Tim Duncan didn't want to play, so Team USA would be the Spurs without Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan? The players have to WANT to play.

[T Park]

This isn't the all star game, this is a TEAM.

You get a couple all stars, then build around them.

THAT simple.

[angel_luv]

If Kobe is the centerpiece of USA basketball, would it be wrong for me to root for team Argentina?

I'm rooting for Slovenia and Argentina.

[T Park]

Nothing like abandoning your own country for countries of basketball players you see on television.

Good stuff peeps.

[Melmart1]

I am with T-Park. I understand some people's love for individual players for other countries, but I will never understand people not rooting for their own country. I rooted for Manu in Athens... AFTER Team USA got beat.

[ducks]

I actually do not think nba players at all should play in the games

I think sending the ncaa tournment championship team over there would be a very good idea.
they are also used to their rules

[ducks]

I am not sure why so many people think that the usa basketball team must win the gold
they are suppose to go over and have fun

we all know the nba team that wins the championship in the best team in the world that year

[CubanMustGo]

I think sending the ncaa tournment championship team over there would be a very good idea.
they are also used to their rules

Umm, no, NCAA rules are closer to NBA rules than to FIBA rules. No funky trapezoidal lane, no grabbing the ball off the rim after the first bounce, etc. About the only place where the college game is more similar to FIBA is in the three-point line (19'9" college, 20'6" FIBA).

Of course, I argue that the US should just get over itself and play by FIBA rules rather than promulgating a set which cause problems every time we have to play someone else. That seems to get about as much support as dumping the Imperial weights & measurement system in favor of Metric.

[Mixability]

Nothing like abandoning your own country for countries of basketball players you see on television.

Good stuff peeps.

nothing like abandoning your "so-called" team when they're 2-2 in the semis.

I'm rooting for Slovenia and Argentina.

but yeah, rooting for a country's team, because they have a "cute" :vomit guy on their team shows your sports intelligence.

sorry angel_luv, it makes me sick.

[ducks]

Umm, no, NCAA rules are closer to NBA rules than to FIBA rules. No funky trapezoidal lane, no grabbing the ball off the rim after the first bounce, etc. About the only place where the college game is more similar to FIBA is in the three-point line (19'9" college, 20'6" FIBA).

Of course, I argue that the US should just get over itself and play by FIBA rules rather than promulgating a set which cause problems every time we have to play someone else. That seems to get about as much support as dumping the Imperial weights & measurement system in favor of Metric.

I know they are different then fiba but alot closer

[velik_m]

I actually do not think nba players at all should play in the games

I think sending the ncaa tournment championship team over there would be a very good idea.
they are also used to their rules

if you want players used to FIBA rules send americans that play in FIBA/ULEB leagues. NCAA rules are so archaic...

i think USA did this in 98 (lockout year) on WC and didn't get much result though.

[1Parker1]

Watch Kobe score 50 and everyone jump back on the bandwagon.