<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Realgm Staff Report)</div><div class='quotemain'><table border="0" cellspacing="8" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="wiretap_key_header">Collison Added To Team USA; Hinrich, Battier And Oden Withdraw</td> </tr> <tr> <td>August 13, 2007 - 3:06 pm</td> </tr> <tr> <td>RealGM Staff Report - USA Basketball Senior National Team managing director Jerry Colangelo announced that USA Basketball veteran and Seattle SuperSonics four-year 6-10 forward <u>Nick Collison</u> had been added to the USA Senior National Team program. USA Basketball also announced that two players who participated in the senior squad’s July training, <u>Shane Battier</u> (Houston Rockets ) and <u>Kirk Hinrich</u> (Chicago Bulls ), and Senior National Team member <u>Greg Oden</u> (Portland Trail Blazers ) who missed the July training after under going a tonsillectomy, have withdrawn from the August training and from consideration for the USA Team that will compete in the FIBA Americas Championship.</td></tr></tbody></table> </div></p> </p><hr width="100%" size="2" />So much for the Team USA system. Last year, Arenas quit before getting cut. This year Hinrich and Battier quit before getting cut. Battier is a Dukie as well. There system of having a group of guys who are all gun-ho and don't care if they have to sit out a year, but still be part of the program/3 year committment just plain doesn't work. </p> I think they have to have their Senior team, and make it a team where everyone is garaunteed a spot, then have their junior team, which competes against the senior team in exhibition, and then fill in the senior team spots accounting for injury with members from the junior team. (the junior team being the young guys, Aldrdige, Thomas, Ellis, Roy, etc...) </p> </p>
That sucks, battier was pefect imo at the 3. Can hit open 3's, great defensive players and mature. Hinrich is one of the best defensive pgs in the league.
Hmmm, interesting. I agree that I like the way USA basketball is setting up the senior / junior teams.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'>So much for the Team USA system. Last year, Arenas quit before getting cut. This year Hinrich and Battier quit before getting cut. Battier is a Dukie as well. There system of having a group of guys who are all gun-ho and don't care if they have to sit out a year, but still be part of the program/3 year committment just plain doesn't work.</div></p> A few guys quit and the system doesn't work? Sorry, but you're wrong. With that many arrogant, egocentric superstars, people honestly thought they were going to assemble 15+ NBA players who would be "gun-ho" about the way this thing was gonna work? HA! Ya right. And what about the other guys (the MAJORITY), guys like Lebron, Carmelo, Wade, Howard, Bosh, etc.? They (Colangelo, Krzyzewski, USA Basketball) got exactly what they wanted. They got the superstars to commit to their idea and they weeded out guys that really didn't want to be a part of a team. </p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think they have to have their Senior team, and make it a team where everyone is garaunteed a spot, then have their junior team, which competes against the senior team in exhibition, and then fill in the senior team spots accounting for injury with members from the junior team. (the junior team being the young guys, Aldrdige, Thomas, Ellis, Roy, etc...)</div></p> ??? Are you saying they <u>should</u> do this or is this your idea? Because, isn't that what they're already doing? Lebron, Kobe, Carmelo, etc. Aren't they basically guaranteed a spot? It's just that they have to show up for the mandatory training camps - show <u>committment</u> - and those spots are bascially guaranteed. And as for your junior team - Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Deron Williams (who I believe will make this team), JJ Redick. Those are guys who could eventually be on a team that represents the USA. Colangelo even said 3 weeks ago at their training camp that they were brining in Brandon Roy and a several other younger players to practice against the senior team. There's your junior team. 1) It gives the senior team some competition other than themselves and 2) it introduces those younger guys to USA basketball (at the highest level) so that they're prepared for the upcoming Olympics when they are invited to play for Team USA. </p>
So much for having a team of underdog glue guys.</p> </p> But in reality, I think if they're needed next year, they'll come back. They "quit" because they were gonna be cut. Simple as that.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JohnWooden)</div><div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'>So much for the Team USA system. Last year, Arenas quit before getting cut. This year Hinrich and Battier quit before getting cut. Battier is a Dukie as well. There system of having a group of guys who are all gun-ho and don't care if they have to sit out a year, but still be part of the program/3 year committment just plain doesn't work.</div></p> A few guys quit and the system doesn't work? Sorry, but you're wrong. With that many arrogant, egocentric superstars, people honestly thought they were going to assemble 15+ NBA players who would be "gun-ho" about the way this thing was gonna work? HA! Ya right. And what about the other guys (the MAJORITY), guys like Lebron, Carmelo, Wade, Howard, Bosh, etc.? They (Colangelo, Krzyzewski, USA Basketball) got exactly what they wanted. They got the superstars to commit to their idea and they weeded out guys that really didn't want to be a part of a team. </p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think they have to have their Senior team, and make it a team where everyone is garaunteed a spot, then have their junior team, which competes against the senior team in exhibition, and then fill in the senior team spots accounting for injury with members from the junior team. (the junior team being the young guys, Aldrdige, Thomas, Ellis, Roy, etc...)</div></p> ??? Are you saying they <u>should</u> do this or is this your idea? Because, isn't that what they're already doing? Lebron, Kobe, Carmelo, etc. Aren't they basically guaranteed a spot? It's just that they have to show up for the mandatory training camps - show <u>committment</u> - and those spots are bascially guaranteed. And as for your junior team - Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Deron Williams (who I believe will make this team), JJ Redick. Those are guys who could eventually be on a team that represents the USA. Colangelo even said 3 weeks ago at their training camp that they were brining in Brandon Roy and a several other younger players to practice against the senior team. There's your junior team. 1) It gives the senior team some competition other than themselves and 2) it introduces those younger guys to USA basketball (at the highest level) so that they're prepared for the upcoming Olympics when they are invited to play for Team USA. </p> </div></p> </p> Lebron didn't buy into it. Remember last year how he started whining about how he isn't coming back next year if he doesn't get picked to the team, pretty much forcing his way onto the team because the coaching staff was weak, and didn't make the correct decision and cut him, and instead caved into his superstar demands. </p>
hm. now who's gonna play defense? kirk hinrich would've been their best defensive pg(maybe 2nd to kidd) and battier would've been a great all-around player for team usa. he woulda done great.</p> i hope they know what they're doing.</p> IMO, they should get odom back. he was one of the bright spots in '04.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne)</div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron didn't buy into it. Remember last year how he started whining about how he isn't coming back next year if he doesn't get picked to the team, pretty much forcing his way onto the team because the coaching staff was weak, and didn't make the correct decision and cut him, and instead caved into his superstar demands.</div> </p> Bottom line: he's back, isn't it? Cause he made a commitment</p> And I'm still waiting to read a quote from these guys (other then crybaby Arenas) saying they quit cause they were gonna get cut. Course we (including my self - "With that many arrogant, egocentric superstars") assume these guys only care about themselves and their pride, so I guess we're gonna believe there is no such thing as a "personal reason." </p>
