Bryant: U.S. team needs chemistry ahead of 2008 Olympics

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Bryant: U.S. team needs chemistry ahead of 2008 Olympics
Bryant: U.S. team needs chemistry ahead of 2008 Olympics

September 7, 2006

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Kobe Bryant believes the U.S. basketball team will have to work on its chemistry if it wants to perform well at the 2008 Olympics.

The Los Angeles Lakers star, visiting Taiwan as part of a five-leg tour of Asia to meet with fans, said Thursday that a newly assembled team always needed some time together before starting to play with consistency.

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Bryant did not play in the world championships because of a knee injury, and the U.S. squad returned home from the tournament in Japan last week with a bronze medal -- mirroring its performance at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Both results were widely seen as disappointments for teams loaded with NBA talent.

"Years playing together will jell us as a unit, (but) if there is no chemistry, it's going to be tough to beat all those talented teams," Bryant said, adding he was confident the two years leading up to the Beijing Olympics would be enough time to find that chemistry.

Bryant's Asian tour has already taken him to Japan and Hong Kong. On Friday, he was scheduled to leave Taiwan for South Korea, en route to China.

[Sportcamper]

If there is one thing Kobe Bryant knows about...It is the importance of team unity and chemistry...

[bdictjames]

If there is one thing Kobe Bryant knows about...It is the importance of team unity and chemistry...

SO TRUE

[boutons_]

The Team USA depending on Kobe for team chemistry is like the USA depending on dubya for national unity.

[xamila rey]

If there is one thing Kobe Bryant knows about...It is the importance of team unity and chemistry...

i cant believe he said so.
for what i heared the guys get along great ...(Bryant could ruin that)

by the way if he plays, is coach K gonna name 4 captains..?

[nkdlunch]

This is Kobe's way of saying, "there's no way I'm taking part of that ty team ever"

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

The stage is set for Kobe to become the saivor for US basketball

[Medvedenko]

There will be only 1 or 2 team captains...and Kobe will be one of them.
The team needs Kobe as Kobe needs the US team.

[ChumpDumper]

The stage is set for Kobe to become the saivor for US basketball

He does wear Nikes, so i must agree.

[iminlakerland]

It's true these teams need chemisty no matter how you look at it. I say forget sending NBA players at all, and send one of the college teams who won a national championship and let them have a go at it.

[nkdlunch]

how about creating a new NBA team made out of only american players. call this team Team USA. And send them to every compe ion.

[velik_m]

by the way if he plays, is coach K gonna name 4 captains..?

no Kobe will be a super-captain.

[sa_butta]

no Kobe will be a super-captain.

or Captain America.

[kobe_bryant]

If there is one thing Kobe Bryant knows about...It is the importance of team unity and chemistry...

preach sister

[kobe_bryant]

The stage is set for Kobe to become the saivor for US basketball

you damn right.

let me play baby

[Eric Dampier]

its pretty clear that theyre missing a dominant center

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

its pretty clear that theyre missing a dominant center

True, I wonder if Jerome James is willing to commit a summer to team USA

[Sway]

I think Kobe and Chauncey are going to the captains for Team USA.

[GrandeDavid]

Thanks, Kobe. Now get your ass on the team, work out, and play in every damn qualifying game next summer. No lame excuses.

[TDMVPDPOY]

kobe showed alot of chemistry in colorado a few years ago.......thats the sort of his talkin about, just pittb

[THE SIXTH MAN]

The words chemistry and Kobe just dont mix.