<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Players named as finalists include: : Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Chris Paul (New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets); Amar? Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).</div> Source
The first cut was more or less people who were not going to be able to participate anyway, or young guys who have a good chance at making the team in the future. Good to see Hinirch is still there.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SP23:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I think only Morrison and Ridnour got cut.</div> ridnour morrison and marion
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ~Fatality~:</div><div class="quote_post">Good to see. They said he is going to be a 3rd string PG though in another article.</div> yeah but the the usa team usually has everyone play a pretty even amount of playing time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thedude9990:</div><div class="quote_post">ridnour morrison and marion</div> Yeah, but he got injured.. so he didn't get "cut" he dropped out. You could say that I guess.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting thedude9990:</div><div class="quote_post">ridnour morrison and marion</div> Many guys cut themselves really due to injury and personal reasons; Odom, Billups, Kobe (at least for now), Pierce, Redick.
It's not surprising but not really a sure thing for Kirk to make it. This team already had good depth at G and players who could play PG, and Morrison looks like a shooter they could use in '08, but it looks like they didn't feel he was ready or what the team needed now. Paul and Kirk are the only 'true' PG's on the roster, with Ridnour being cut. Arenas hasn't really been reffered to by Karl and Coach K as a PG, but itlooks like they can get it done with him, JJ, Wade and LeBron all capable of playing the point as well. Kobe, Odom, Marion, Redd, Redick, Pierce, Billups all have withdrawn from the tournament due to injuries or other family related commitment during August.
Yeah, the 2nd cut will be tough. They already have a lot of guys that bring the ball up on their own teams like P.A.P mentioned, it's just if they want a 'true' PG.
I was very excitied to see that Kirk made it through the first cut, but Im a little nervous for him when it comes time for the second cut, although, I think thats after the World Championships right?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bullethead:</div><div class="quote_post">I was very excitied to see that Kirk made it through the first cut, but Im a little nervous for him when it comes time for the second cut, although, I think thats after the World Championships right?</div> No, the second cut is before the World Championships. This 15 man team is for the Exhibition games. After that the 12 man roster for the World Championships will be set.
Kirk should get it because he and Paul are the only PGs on the team. You got Gilbert but hes a scorer not a true PG. You need a back up guard for paul and Kirk to me fits that to the T. Gilbert demands the ball to much.
Yeah gilbert should be played at sg maybe a bit as pg but it should be mostly for cp and kirk. ^ and I doubt arenas will demand the ball too much in Team USA because everybody are very capable scorers.