<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ben Gordon confirmed a London newspaper report that Luol Deng has convinced him to play for the Great Britain national team. "He had a lot to do with it," Gordon said. "I'll talk to somebody after the season about it." Gordon was born in London but moved to New York when he was a few months old. Deng helped carry the English squad into Division A of European championship qualifying last summer.</div> Colangelo's loss. Britain is going to have a one-two punch that they can depend on that will have great chemistry, and could potentially play something like the next 12 years together. This is a legit medal contending team now. They will be even more dangerous if Buke decides to play for them.
Don't they also have a centre who was drafted by Portland this past summer or in a previous draft? I don't think that outside of a select few players though, that Britain has the players to compete with the likes of Germany, Italy and Greece. Deng and Gordon could help jumpstart a rise in popularity of basketball but it could take years before solid players are developed.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Locke @ Dec 30 2007, 12:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Don't they also have a centre who was drafted by Portland this past summer or in a previous draft? I don't think that outside of a select few players though, that Britain has the players to compete with the likes of Germany, Italy and Greece. Deng and Gordon could help jumpstart a rise in popularity of basketball but it could take years before solid players are developed.</div> They now have two players who are perfect for the international game. That international three point line is so much shorter, Gordon and Deng could have a field day with that. Gordon often shoots fadeaways in that general area under Skiles' old offense. They wouldn't be the favorites, but Gordon/Deng definitely puts Great Britain in a state that they are win now. They have Joel Freeland who the Blazers drafted in the first round a few years ago. They have Robert Archibald who used to play in the NBA. Andrew Betts, their center, was drafted by the Hornets. He has some serious talent. They might not be littered with the big name stars like Team USA, Argentina, Spain, and France, but they have a lot of talent on their team. Two stars in Gordon/Deng, surrounded by a bunch of solid players. If they can get Buke and Pops to play for them, they are going to wreak havock on international ball.
Great addition for the UK. Gordon and Deng are a duo that can take them to the next level: contention.
Deng single handly brought England into the basketball spotlight and Ben Gordon just walks right on. I guess you can't complain but that's someones roster spot who helped earn it alongside Deng before.