<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Finalists for USA World Championship Team Announced USA Basketball Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo and USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University, N.C.) announced today the 15 players who had been selected as finalists for the USA Basketball World Championship Team. 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>I thought Chauncey Billups would have made the team, however he cut his training short to spend time with his newborn daughter.
So do they still have to cut people or what? I don't know what I think of Amare being in there. I'd love to see him play in some games but it might be smart to just rest him. But he, D'Antoni and Colangelo should know what's best for him. Amare is also having a newborn but he says he will stay with the championship team and play.
Yes! Chris Bosh made it. I'm glad to hear that. I'll be watching some of these games if I can find them anywhere on TV..
looks good..im still wondering why Allen Iverson wasn't selected for the teami think with Lebron, Melo, Wade & Bosh on the same team it's unstoppable..and Kobe and Pierce aren't playing because of recent surgeries(well pierce is gunna be having minory surgery but said hed be ready for celtics training camp & sitting out on USA basketball)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Jul 25 2006, 11:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>looks good..im still wondering why Allen Iverson wasn't selected for the teami think with Lebron, Melo, Wade & Bosh on the same team it's unstoppable..and Kobe and Pierce aren't playing because of recent surgeries(well pierce is gunna be having minory surgery but said hed be ready for celtics training camp & sitting out on USA basketball)</div>Same thing with Kobe.It has been said that he will be ready for training camp.
I heard this from somewere awhile ago and players that got cut from this, it doesent mean they wont be on the olympic team, because i fully expect kobe to be on the olympic team in 08
Kobe and Pierce arent on the team only because they are injured and won't play. It's pretty obvious that they will be playing for the Olympic team because Kobe is the best player in basketball, and Pierce is an elite player.I think the deal is that players not selected are not cut. They're still there in case the U.S. wants to put them in on the team because of an injury or some other reason.
Bruce Bowen made it! Im glad to see that. The USA team has 2 very quality defenders in Bowen and Battier so they shouldnt have as many problems guarding some of these great shooters from foreign countries. Gosh, this team should be unstopable. If they dont walk over every single country, I am going to kill somebody. No other Country has even close to what the US has so this shouldnt even be a contest.
Bowen making it i think is BS! They talked about ai was going 2 be to old in 08, but bowen is going 2 be just as fuc*ing old...! I mean AI can play defense 2...? Plus he scores bowen cant score off of the dribble and create his own shot...! I think that is the biggest pile of BS i have ever seen
AI isn't a good defender and it's better to put in some role players that don't need the ball. Having Battier and Bowen will help. I don't expect Bowen to play in '08 but his defense will be great for this team. I think Colangelo and Mike K put a good mix of all-stars and role players in there. That team should dominate. And they'll be even better once Kobe, Pierce and Marion come back with Amare healthier and the younger stars in or close to their prime in a couple years.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (boykinsforpresident @ Jul 25 2006, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bowen making it i think is BS! They talked about ai was going 2 be to old in 08, but bowen is going 2 be just as fuc*ing old...! I mean AI can play defense 2...? Plus he scores bowen cant score off of the dribble and create his own shot...! I think that is the biggest pile of BS i have ever seen</div>AI is a terrible defender, I dont know what you're talking about. He never sticks to his man. He's like a lot of other players in the NBA that get mistakened for their 'defense' but all they do is just play the passing lanes. Bowen can hit the 3-pt jumper and play HARD-NOSED defense. Those skills are really important to have when you're going against feisty international comepetion. Anyways, I was a bit suprised that Arenas and Jamison made the team. Arenas was a lock imo, since the PG positon wasnt that stacked. Jamison I had doubts with however, I just didnt think his style of play would fit in with the play of how Coach K wants USA to play.
I love the selections, minus Bruce Bowen, as he will be old by then and I don't think he'll keep up with the international game very well.I surely hope only one of the 2 (Pierce and Kobe) make it. If both make it, then there will be way too much of a spotlight on scoring (Wade, Bron, Gilbert, Melo and one of those 2 are all gonna want to be the main scorers). If I was choosing the team, I would cut Bruce Bowen and Gilbert, and add Chauncey and Kobe.
And to add to this Iverson isn't the most efficient shooter though he has improved that part of his game. Wade and Lebron are as good as you can get in that category of efficiency for a superstar.
This is for this year's tournament so I don't think Bowen will be too old a month from now. Kobe and Pierce are out but will probably be on the Olympic team. Was Chauncy even invited?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (boykinsforpresident @ Jul 25 2006, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bowen making it i think is BS! They talked about ai was going 2 be to old in 08, but bowen is going 2 be just as fuc*ing old...! I mean AI can play defense 2...? Plus he scores bowen cant score off of the dribble and create his own shot...! I think that is the biggest pile of BS i have ever seen</div>Since when could AI play defense? And Bruce Bowen isnt going to be needed to score. If you took a look at the rest of the roster, they are going to have 4 other good scoring options on the floor with him at all times. Sometimes, you just need a good role player/defender, and that is exactley what the USA team did.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dsounG @ Jul 25 2006, 03:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Im going to watch Battier very closley >_>.</div>Same here...when does the tournament begin? I know it's in August, but I don tknow..and will games be on national tv?edit: damnit why does everyone always ignore my posts? could someone answer my question
