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This dude obviously hasn't watched Bruce play.
Odds are, six won’t survive cut for USA Basketball
By Mike McGraw
Daily Herald Sports Writer
Posted Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich and 19 other NBA stars will convene in Las Vegas today with the goal of restoring USA Basketball to its rightful place in the world.
After earning a bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics and failing to medal at the ’02 World Championships in Indianapolis, USA Basketball is attempting a new tactic. This year, players have to try out and the roster will be trimmed to 12 by the time the FIBA World Championships begin in Japan on Aug. 19.
When you think about it, this concept may be unprecedented in the history of American pro sports. Multi-millionaire athletes will actually be cut from an all-star team.
Here’s how I see things happening: At the end of the final practice Tuesday, U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski will sit the players down in the bleachers and tell a story about how Michael Jordan was once cut from his high school team.
That story might be a myth. I think what actually happened was Jordan didn’t make the varsity as a sop re at Laney High School in Wilmington, N.C. But the details aren’t important. Eyes will be filling with tears once Krzyzewski is finished telling the tale.
Then the coaching staff will meet in an office before an assistant, probably Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim, emerges to tack a sheet containing the final roster onto a bulletin board.
Some players will crowd around, stand on their toes and crane their necks to see if they made the team. Others will calmly pack up their gear on the other side of the gym.
“Uh, LeBron, aren’t you going to see if you made the team?”
“Don’t make me laugh. There is no team if I’m not on it.”
Actually, only three players will be cut this week in training camp and three more will be removed following exhibitions in China and South Korea. Chauncey Billups and Michael Redd are planning to attend training camp but were given a pass on the overseas trip due to family obligations.
But sooner or later, six players have to go. So here’s a rundown of those most likely to be trimmed from Team USA. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Elton Brand and Shawn Marion have no chance of getting cut and will be ignored in this space.
•Luke Ridnour, G, Seattle. Odds: 3-2.
A strange choice to begin with. If someone suggested that Ridnour was included on this team just to shame Hinrich into rethinking his original decision not to participate, I’d buy it.
•Adam Morrison, F, Charlotte. Odds: 2-1.
The only player with no NBA experience would be easy to let go. The question is, how would he react to news that he’s been cut?
•Amare Stoudemire, F-C, Suns. Odds: 3-1.
He only missed 79 games last season with a knee injury. Rehab on your own time, not at Uncle Sam’s expense.
•Bruce Bowen, G, Spurs. Odds: 6-1.
Supposed to be a defensive stopper, but at 35, his legs don’t move fast enough anymore. Maybe he could use some insider knowledge to stop Spurs teammate Manu Ginobili in a showdown with Argentina.
•Antawn Jamison, F, Wizards. Odds: 7-1.
A finesse power forward whose value drops when his shot doesn’t fall. Team USA can do better.
•Joe Johnson, G, Hawks. Odds: 8-1.
He’s a very talented player, but being associated with the Hawks is bound to hurt his chances.
•Shane Battier, F, Rockets. Odds: 10-1.
Would be one of the favorites to get cut if he hadn’t given Coach K four of the best years of his life at Duke.
•Carmelo Anthony, F, Nuggets. Odds: 12-1.
Maybe he’ll be let go in retribution for all that whining he did over his role at the 2004 Olympics.
•Brad Miller, C, Kings. Odds: 15-1.
Good dirty-work player who won’t complain about limited playing time. Plus, his tobacco-chewing habit is sure to entertain the international media.
•Kirk Hinrich, G, Bulls. Odds: 20-1.
Come on, you think managing director Jerry Colangelo would have begged Hinrich to join the team if he didn’t think the Bulls’ guard would make it?
•Gilbert Arenas, G, Wizards. Odds: 25-1.
Maybe Coach K can do what Wizards boss Eddie Jordan hasn’t — convince Arenas to play defense.
•Chris Paul, G, Hornets. Odds: 30-1.
Can’t leave off the best young point guard in the game.
•Chris Bosh, F-C, Raptors. Odds: 150-1.
Good guy, very good player. He could be a key to U.S. success.
•Dwight Howard, F-C, Magic. Odds: 200-1.
With Stoudemire’s status in question, the Eastern Conference version will surely stick around.
•No one gets cut. Odds: Even
In this scenario, Team USA experiences a convenient series of minor injuries that will spare anyone the embarrassment of being sent home. Already, Kobe Bryant, Paul Pierce and J.J. Re have bowed out due to injuries, while Lamar Odom was excused for personal reasons.
•Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke. Odds: 10,000-1.
Assistant Mike D’Antoni should be coaching this team, because he has more international experience than anyone, having coached in Italy before taking over the Phoenix Suns.
Based on my observations, Krzyzewski is good at three things: recruiting the nation’s finest high school players, intimidating referees and providing sarcastic answers to serious questions. As a bench coach, I’ve had my doubts since watching Krzyzewski get worked over by Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun in the 1999 NCAA le game.
Switch coaches in mid-tournament? Now that would be a bold move to shake up the world’s supposed basketball powerhouse.
This dude obviously hasn't watched Bruce play.
Someone obviously doesnt watch much basketball if they think Bruce cant move with the best of em
Did that ho really say that?????
When will they do the cuts? Before they go to the exhibition games in China/Korea?
Bulls Beat Writer
Bruce is down to ~90% of his defensive peak.
Bruce makes the team. Someone needs to play D, and only having Battier doing it won't be enough.
Although selfishly, I won't be dissapointed if he doesn't make it. We need a healthy team next year, and Bruce is still a big part. I would like to see the US win gold, but don't really care that much. I WANT NBA GOLD AGAIN IN SA NEXT YEAR!
Do ya'll think that Usa players will won the gold medal this year?
how old would bruce be 3 years from now? i don't think bruce can make it. but it was an honor enough to be invited into that pool
38.
So you don't even think they should keep him on the team that's playing in the World Championships this summer?
this guy is an idiot!
•Carmelo Anthony, F, Nuggets. Odds: 12-1.
Maybe he’ll be let go in retribution for all that whining he did over his role at the 2004 Olympics.Like he didnt have a right to whine and like he was the only one whining
Larry Brown was the worst coach for an Olympic squad, last year with the knicks just re-iterated it. Everyone knows Larry hates young guys and it took him more than half the season to start realising that the Knicks had some good young guys.
Jamison, Ridnour, and Morrison add nothing to the team and should be the first to go.
Stoudemire shouldn't be there if he's not 100%, not because he isn't good enough, but because his first priority should be getting to 100%, and I think Suns fans agree.
Brad Miller? Did anybody watch last year's playoffs?
Joe Johnson will be kept until Kobe and Pierce return, and then he's gone.
I think they'll only keep one of Battier or Bowen. Bruce is still the better defender, and maybe even wind up a better 3-point shooter in the international game, but Battier is more versatile. I think this will be the tough one.
I give props to this guy for at least questioning the sainted Coach K. Does anyone really believe he knows the game better than Pop or Larry Brown?
On paper, Miller's game is a lot more suited to FIBA ball than the NBA -- he could be a real help if he can pull his head out of his ass long enough.
I would be tempted to keep them both and put them two-deep at SF, so we have a sound perimeter defender out there at all times. The SG slot can be where we put the heavy scorers, so a perimeter slot for a low-usage guy who does a lot of supporting things will make them a better team.
Last edited by strangeweather; 07-20-2006 at 08:33 AM.
Brown may have done a bad job but George Karl was the worst Team USA coachthis guy is an idiot!
Larry Brown was the worst coach for an Olympic squad, last year with the knicks just re-iterated it. Everyone knows Larry hates young guys and it took him more than half the season to start realising that the Knicks had some good young guys.
Here's a question: if Popovich was the lead assistant, do you think he'd prefer to send Amare home, or do you think he'd try to keep him on the team, and to work Amare as hard as he could over the summer?
Now that is a face made for radio...or in this case, newspaper.
Bulls Beat Writer
C'mon Pop has more class than this....
Holy chit, isn't that RuPaul without makeup?
I think Shoog is right that Bowen's staying with Team USA would seem to be linked to whether Battier stays with Team USA. I can't see this organization keeping both of them, despite the renewed emphasis on building a team and accepting role players.
Given Battier's links to Coach K, his relative youth, and the fact that he's probably a better-rounded offensive player than Bruce, I've generally believed that Bowen is here because there would have been some pundits wondering about whether this was going to end up being Dream Team Light Part 5, and that Battier will end up being the pick.
I hope I'm wrong for Bruce's sake -- I think he deserves the honor of representing his country in an international tournament like the WC.
Bruce will be 37 during the next Olympics. I say he makes the team. His legs move just fine and he's got a great at ude, humility, compe ive fire, pride and an unparalleled work ethic. He'd be excellent getting in international three point shooters' grills on the perimeter. 35 or even 37 for Bruce Bowen, I think its safe to say, is younger than most NBA players at that age. Some people age faster or worse than others, and I think we can all agree that Bruce Bowen does not show his age.
vbookie on this?
I still think it is interesting how the US team is always making exeptions for players to miss part of the preparation. I understand and know that people have other obligations- other countries would just let them go. They would rather have 15 guys that can be there for everything- rather than guys who won't even be playing the warm-up tournaments! Hw do you play in the WC when you didn't even go with the team to China or South Korea? I think it still shows the US not understanding about proper team preparation for these events.
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