West Coast Connection Forum
Lifestyle => Sports & Entertainment => Topic started by: africas seed on March 01, 2006, 09:52:25 AM
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Bryant, James, Wade among those on U.S. rosterBy Chris Sheridan
ESPN Insider
Josh Howard, Luke Ridnour, Shane Battier, Rashard Lewis and Brad Miller are among those going to training camp with Team USA. Lamar Odom and Allen Iverson are not.
Through league sources, ESPN.com has learned the identities of the 22 NBA players on the preliminary roster for the U.S. national team, whose director, Jerry Colangelo, will make the news public Sunday.
NBA players on Team USA's training camp roster
Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Gilbert Arenas, Washington
Shane Battier, Memphis
Chauncey Billups, Detroit
Chris Bosh, Toronto
Bruce Bowen, San Antonio
Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Dwight Howard, Orlando
Josh Howard, Dallas
LeBron James, Cleveland
Antawn Jamison, Washington
Joe Johnson, Atlanta
Rashard Lewis, Seattle
Shawn Marion, Phoenix
Brad Miller, Sacramento
Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City
Paul Pierce, Boston
Michael Redd, Milwaukee
Luke Ridnour, Seattle
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
Dwyane Wade, Miami
The list includes All-Stars Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Gilbert Arenas, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce, but it does not include two players -- Iverson and Odom -- who were members of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and had expressed strong interest in playing again for USA Basketball.
Among those who declined to play were Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.
Colangelo has not revealed all of the players he has invited, but sources around the NBA helped ESPN.com compile the following list of players who have been asked to report to training camp in Las Vegas in mid-July and who are expected to attend.
The entire roster includes Carmelo Anthony, Arenas, Battier, Billups, Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Bryant, Dwight Howard, Josh Howard, James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Lewis, Shawn Marion, Brad Miller, Chris Paul, Pierce, Redd, Ridnour, Amare Stoudemire and Wade.
In addition, Shaquille O'Neal has a standing invitation to join.
Three young players will be added to bring the training camp roster up to 25, with Gonzaga's Adam Morrison, Duke's J.J. Redick and Indianapolis high school star Greg Oden currently the leading candidates to get those spots.
The list of invitees includes seven of the NBA's eight leading scorers (Iverson is the exception) and two of the top three rebounders (the exception is Ben Wallace, who was interviewed by Colangelo but did not want to play.)
Billups will attend training camp but is not expected to compete at the 2006 World Championship in Japan because his wife, Piper, is due to give birth to their third child in late July or early August. Also, Redd is not expected to play in Japan, either, because of his wedding plans.
The Americans plan to take 15 players to Japan (including three who would be inactive for the Worlds). By removing Redick, Morrison, Oden, Billups and Redd from the equation, there would be 20 players vying for 12 active roster spots.
Team USA Discussion
Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of USA Basketball's national team will appear live in the studio on Sunday's GMC NBA Nation at 12:30 p.m. ET on ABC to discuss the players on the team as well, as other issues and plans leading up to the 2006 World Championships and 2008 Olympics.
Taking an educated guess, Bryant, James, Wade, Bosh and Marion would seem to be virtual locks for Japan, along with Miller (the only true center) and Arenas and Paul (the top two point guards). Brand and Dwight Howard would seem to have the edge for spots nine and 10 because of the team's need for size (we're keeping Stoudemire out of that group because he is recovering from knee surgery), which would leave Pierce, Anthony, Battier, Bowen, Josh Howard, Jamison, Johnson, Lewis and Ridnour competing for the final two spots on the active roster. Colangelo has said he would like to include at least one defense-minded role player on the active roster, and it would appear Bowen, Josh Howard and Battier will vie for that role.
Those players who do not go to Japan will remain on the larger national team roster through the 2008 Olympics. If the U.S. team does not win the World Championship, the team will regroup in 2007 for an Olympic qualifying tournament in the Americas zone.
The U.S. team will be coached by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, who will be assisted by Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni, the Portland Trail Blazers' Nate McMillan and Jim Boeheim of Syracuse University.
The World Championship begins Aug. 19, with the Americans in a preliminary round group in Sapporo, Japan, that includes China, Slovenia, Puerto Rico, Italy and Senegal. The U.S. team is planning a pretournament trip to South Korea and China to play exhibition games.
Training camp is scheduled to take place July 18 to 25 before the team takes a five-day break. It will then reconvene for an exhibition game in Las Vegas, likely against Puerto Rico, before the team plane leaves for China on Aug. 4 with 15 players aboard.
im surprised allen iverson aint there as he has shown loyalty and committment to thte program before where as others have not and he has openly expressed that he wants to be on the team.
im also interested in seeing guys like Oden straight outta high school to see how good this guy really is. i think the team looks pretty good as they also have some key role players to complement the stars.
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Allen Iverson will be an old fuck by 2008. The US has plenty of good guards. McGrady and Carter ain't there either.
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^^^ iverson will be old but is still a leader and has usually been their for Team USA and a little veteran leadership aint all that bad. carter and mcgrady turned down the offer to play for their country.,
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It sucks that they didn't select Odom, cuz he was the only upside to the the last USA team...
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Im suprised too, but let's not act as if they needed Iverson. It's not about the roster, cause either way they have better individual players than any other team. It's about the team, we'll see if they do better than last time.
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the team is def solid on paper for sure and is easily better talent wise than any other country out there. the thing to me that was lacking in their last few teams were players who could consistently shoot the ball well and who played wit a passion to want to win.
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Luke Ridnour? are you fucking kidding me?
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i think the reason they chose this lineup was to get a sense of team unity rather than ALL all-star players. like what happened last olympics, they had amazingly talented players, but they didnt play well together.
i say they put in the DET starting 5 to play the international teams, they wud probly whoop some ass and win the GOLD. SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDD is $$$ in any language ;)
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Finally US start to understand they need to build a team and not just a bunch of superstars. Believe it or not, Brad Miller, Billups, Redd, Shane Battier, Jamison styles are filling international B-Ball perfectly.
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Luke Ridnour? are you fucking kidding me?
LOL, seriously...Might as well select Smush Parker and maybe even Tierre Brown.
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Iverson was one of the only guys that played with heart at the last olympics. He took a leadership role an really represented this country well an get now he gets slapped in the face like that. And 7 AI will only be 33 when the next olympics role by, not like hes goin be 40 when that time roles around.
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Ridnour is one of the leauge's best passers, top 10 passer
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Ridnour is one of the leauge's best passers, top 10 passer
Overall, Ridnour is not even an all-star caliber player, let alone a USA olympic team caliber player.
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It don't matter they gonna get raped.
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Ridnour is one of the leauge's best passers, top 10 passer
Overall, Ridnour is not even an all-star caliber player, let alone a USA olympic team caliber player.
On that roster, he's still last on that PG Depth Chart so it doesnt matter.. Him being a PG with Above Average Pass Ability should fit well with a team anyway just as much Bruce Bowen fits there as a Defensive Specialist. He also holds on to the ball pretty damn good, another above average ability he has. His weak spots are him not being an efficient shooter and not being a good scorer, but there's no need for that if the team is planning to fill the rest of the lineup with scorers.
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Ridnour is one of the leauge's best passers, top 10 passer
Overall, Ridnour is not even an all-star caliber player, let alone a USA olympic team caliber player.
On that roster, he's still last on that PG Depth Chart so it doesnt matter.. Him being a PG with Above Average Pass Ability should fit well with a team anyway just as much Bruce Bowen fits there as a Defensive Specialist. He also holds on to the ball pretty damn good, another above average ability he has. His weak spots are him not being an efficient shooter and not being a good scorer, but there's no need for that if the team is planning to fill the rest of the lineup with scorers.
I just don't think he fits in as one of the best players in the world to represent the USA. I'm sure many would agree, though I see where you're coming from...
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When will they make the cut down to 12 players?
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AI actually requested to be on this team, too. He actually WANTS to be there - he was one of the best representatives in the Olympics as far as attitude and passion to win. I think when it's all said and done, he might end up on the team. It's a slap in his face because he is a super star who expressed interest, and wasn't even invited.
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wierd to see iverson not on tha list,props for tha list tho africa 8)
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(Carmelo Anthony, Denver)
Gilbert Arenas, Washington
Shane Battier, Memphis
Chauncey Billups, Detroit
(Chris Bosh, Toronto)
Bruce Bowen, San Antonio
Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Dwight Howard, Orlando
Josh Howard, Dallas
LeBron James, Cleveland
(Antawn Jamison, Washington)
Joe Johnson, Atlanta
Rashard Lewis, Seattle
Shawn Marion, Phoenix
Brad Miller, Sacramento
Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City
Paul Pierce, Boston
Michael Redd, Milwaukee
Luke Ridnour, Seattle
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
Dwyane Wade, Miami
My 12 (15)
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i doubt its cuz of his age as well as they r keepin a spot available for shaq and r even giving him the option that he can think bout it and tell them when hes ready. but i guess that might just be becuz its shaq and noone will be able to stop the big fella in international comptetion.
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good to see paul pierce and amare stoudemire on there. thats fucked up iverson aint on the list. even if he will be old by then
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It sucks that they didn't select Odom, cuz he was the only upside to the the last USA team...
My thoughts exactly
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It sucks that they didn't select Odom, cuz he was the only upside to the the last USA team...
What a moronic move! In those international competitions you need big guys like Odom who can play PF and defend on the perimeter against other centers, who loves to play on the perimeter. It's pointless to select a big body who loves to defend under the basket cause nobody will penetrate, lol. Plus they should select great 3pts shooter, cause you can hardly drive inside against zonal defences, and you'd rather shoot from 3pts. Odom was just perfect. Oh well, i'll not support the USA anyway, so i'm kinda happy about it. Go Italy! :)
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at least they got Brad Miller who can defend the shooters on the Perimeter and match their outside Shots
I predict AI will end up on the team somehow by the final 12
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duncan and garnett arn't in there either, that sux. we definately need a dominant big man in there, hopefully Elton brand and amare can come through huge.
kobe and lebron are both on the team so, scoring definately won't be a problem, either one of them could carry the team
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VVV The real reason Iverson ain't on the team VVV
U.S. team is all about Bryant
By Stephen A. Smith
You applaud when you see the names LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. You say "about time" when you see a shooter such as Michael Redd on the list.
But once you analyze the preliminary roster for the U.S. national basketball team - and notice the omission of Allen Iverson - the nausea that instinctively kicks in should not result from the inclusion of Luke Ridnour or rookie Chris Paul over the 76ers' dynamic superstar.
Try the name Kobe Bryant.
It may sting a little bit, but deal with it.
When you have Kobe Bryant, you don't need another shooter or scorer. You don't need a point guard who likes to shoot or score, either. You barely need another defender and, without question, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better winner or leader when it comes to basketball.
Of course, you'll never hear Jerry Colangelo, the national team's managing director, say such a thing. Nor will you hear it from any member of USA Basketball, because they know what we all know:
Iverson's talent and unwavering desire to try out for the Olympic team should far exceed any requirement for the World Championships, as well as the 2008 Games in Beijing.
"The fact that we had the interview, that we talked about it and gave it a lot of consideration, is not disrespect at all to anyone, especially Allen Iverson," Colangelo said from Phoenix yesterday, before heading to New York today to announce the preliminary roster.
Also, Odom was finally invited after Rashard Lewis and Michael Redd declined invitations... 8)
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Redd declined? Bye bye any chance of winning it.
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Redd declined? Bye bye any chance of winning it.
Oh, c'mon! That's the dumbest quote of the year. ::)
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We will see fucker. Good luck with a team whose best 3pt shooter is Kobe. Them international competitions is all about shooting, fuck a zone penetration. Don't you ever disrespect me again.
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We will see fucker. Good luck with a team whose best 3pt shooter is Kobe. Them international competitions is all about shooting, fuck a zone penetration. Don't you ever disrespect me again.
LMAO@your comment. Redd isn't THAT great of a shooter. And man, Kobe's 3-point shooting is probably just as good, if not better than Redd's...Their percentage is almost the same and Kobe shoots way more wild 3's, falling away at the buzzer, from 30+ feet out, etc...Kobe has RANGE, more so than any player to ever play this game. He can shoot the ball from half court like it's a normal jumper...Have you seen how far he stretches the defehse with his 30+ foot shots? Even if Michael Redd did make the team, he wouldn't be getting that many minutes...Saying the US lost their chances because Redd declined is straight ridiclous...PeACe
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Kobe's 3s are decent+ but that's not cause he's what youd call a particulary good 3pt shooter like that one-dimensional Kyle Korver ass, but cause he can do everything. If he has a day on which he blows from the 3pt line, he just penetrates and gets send to the line and dunks on ppl. So the nights in which he doesnt feel like lighting it up from behind won't make him having off-games, like in Korver's, Redd's, Allen's cases. He's not a great 3pt shooter, he just can do everything, that's about it.
The international shit is different than the NBA and that is why the team although it had the by far better athletes got owned by Puerto Rico and Javi from Lithuania looked like the best PG in the world (lol).
You can't just pull off an Iverson and do lay-up after lay-up while running through the enemy zone like it's a walk in the park. There simply ain't enough space for a start.
I also see a lot more 3pters made in the olympics than I see in the NBA, unless it's a game between two 3pt-crazy teams, like Dallas vs. Phoenix, those match-ups can have a lot of them, but then again you don't really have those players with you on the trip to europe. All you have are either players who are useless when it comes to 3pt shooting (Brand, D.Howard, Wade, Stoudemire) or who can do it, but just cause they are good (Kobe, LeBron, Pierce, Marion) and not cause that part is really something they stand out at. Maybe Billups can make the difference tho, I kinda forgot about his ass earlier today.
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I wouldn't go as far as 7 comments , and say that USA won't have any chance of winning it but his thoughts about international B-Ball are right. You need at least one pure 3 shooter on your team . Of course Kobe can shoot the 3 and have the most impressive range but you have to have others consistent outside players. D. Wade as good as he's in the NBA is useless . I know I'm gonna have lots of hate but I would take Pierce over Bron, based on this aspect too (though his all around game is useful). Defense and hit these 3 or long 2 are keys to the US team.
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Kobe's 3's are overlooked, he can be a pure shooter when he wants, but he is just so versatile that his overall game is what people base him on, not his shooting...Redd would be nice, but not a difference maker...PeACe
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We will see fucker. Good luck with a team whose best 3pt shooter is Kobe. Them international competitions is all about shooting, fuck a zone penetration. Don't you ever disrespect me again.
Once again, c'mon! Redd ain't even the best 3pts shooter of his own team, since M.Williams (39.8%) and B.Simmons (39.9%) are shooting better than his 38.6%. And, analyzing the list of 22 players presented by ESPN, also S.Battier (40.3%), C.Billups (42.8%), B.Bowen (45.6%), J.Howard (41.2%), A.Jamison (42.5%), R.Lewis (38.6%) have better 3pts % than Redd. Those players can easly shoot pretty well from 3pts. So to say that Redd is the MVP of the USA team, yes, that's pretty moronic. And i didn't disrespect you, moron. But your dumb statement. So don't act gangsta-style with me, kid.
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I don't act gangsta-style, it's just that I always show respect when Im talkin to you and that's the motherfucking thanks I get? I didnt even diss the Lakers LOL. You had no reason to disrespect.
I exaggerated, obviously. About the percentages.. well. If Shaq shoots once from beyong the arc, makes it, he's the best in the league? No. It's also a matter of how many you can take. Billups I agree, he gon be a valuable dude for the team, no doubt. Let's not have a big argument about that shit now, cause we both arent fans of Milwaukee, Redd or Team USA. LOL
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I don't act gangsta-style, it's just that I always show respect when Im talkin to you and that's the motherfucking thanks I get? I didnt even diss the Lakers LOL. You had no reason to disrespect.
Ok, fine. I apologize.
I exaggerated, obviously. About the percentages.. well. If Shaq shoots once from beyong the arc, makes it, he's the best in the league? No. It's also a matter of how many you can take. Billups I agree, he gon be a valuable dude for the team, no doubt. Let's not have a big argument about that shit now, cause we both arent fans of Milwaukee, Redd or Team USA. LOL
Yeah, actually i hope them to select the worse team possible too.
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Anyway....
Redd declined? Bye bye any chance of winning it.
http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/Redd_USA_Basketball_060305.html
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the abscense of redd is an obvious hit to the team as one of the areas of improvement they needed to make in interantional competition was more improved shooting and thats what redd brought to the table. personally i would say redd is more of a pure shooter than bryant but bryant is obviously a better all around basketball player. hopefully jj reddick can shoot the 3 well cuz thats the only reason they picked him to be on the team as he doesnt bring anything else to the game.
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^
Anyway....
Redd declined? Bye bye any chance of winning it.
http://www.nba.com/bucks/news/Redd_USA_Basketball_060305.html
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Well, Redd's back, though it wont make much of a difference...Kobe is penciled in as the leader of this USA team...Should be interesting.
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I can tell you right now that Luke Ridnour won't last on there same with Shane Battier which is an outrageous selection.