<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PHOENIX -- LeBron James has committed to playing for the U.S. team at this year's world championships and the 2008 Olympics, the head of USA basketball said Saturday night. "It's officially official in his case and I know he's excited about it," said Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball. "He's obviously one of the core guys you want because of his talent, his age, his maturity at a very young age." Colangelo met with James before the Cleveland Cavaliers played the Phoenix Suns, but thought the 21-year-old Cavs' star already had committed in a meeting in Chicago on Dec. 22. However, James was quoted as saying he still had to talk to Colangelo before making any commitment. "So I visited with him about a half-hour ago to confirm that everything's OK and absolutely it is," Colangelo said. "He said 'Well, what should I tell the media?' and I said 'Tell them you're in, because that's what I'm going to tell them.'" James declined to talk with reporters before the game. He was part of the U.S. team that struggled to win a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004, but saw limited playing time for coach Larry Brown's team. He played in eight games, averaging 5.4 points and 11.4 minutes per contest. "He had a bad experience, you know, in Athens," Colangelo said. "He wasn't happy about how things turned out there, the outcome and his own personal experience there. He sees this as an opportunity and he buys into representing your country and winning a gold medal, and doing it the appropriate way. He wants to be a part of that."</div> Score one for team USA!
It's about time some of the big stars start stepping up to play for the US. To me it is all about pride and having something to prove to the world. After what has been happening lately with the US losing all the time in international competition, I would have expected to see all the big names like Shaq, Kobe, LeBron, etc jump at the chance to play in Olympics. All these cats care about is money. F**k the money and do what is right sometimes and have some pride in the country where you were born and raised and got your skills from .
^ Big Ben is not suitable for the international game.. Don't get me wrong, he'z an NBA champ, no fuss, all business.. But he's so wrong for the international game.. The team needs better 2-way players up front.. Someone like Bosh.. As for Shaq, okay maybe at the World Championships coming up but no way in hell dude's gonna be able to last by the time the 2008 Olympics rolls around.. C: Bosh / Dwight Howard PF: KG / Jermaine O'Neal SF: LBJ / Tayshaun Prince / Bruce Bowen SG: Kobe / Wade / Redd PG: Billups / AI / Chris Paul
Do any of you guys remember when Lebron got called for bogus traveling calls when he went up for a dunk? It seemed like every single time he got called for it. These refs can't see anything.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">C-Shaq/Ben PF-KG/Brand/Jermaine SF-Lebron/T-Mac SG-Wade/Kobe PG-AI/Paul/Kidd </div> I'll say what I've been saying to everyone that wants Shaq in Beijing. He's gonna be a fat, injury proned, thirty six year old man.
I don't understand how Shaq will even be fit for the olympics...especially not in 2008. Wow, with Kobe + Lebron as your core guys along with Iverson and a possible big man like Stoudamire and specialists like Redd, this team has no excuse not to win Gold.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting superman32:</div><div class="quote_post">C-Shaq/Ben PF-KG/Brand/Jermaine SF-Lebron/T-Mac SG-Wade/Kobe PG-AI/Paul/Kidd </div> Totally stupid, you have no chemistry because superstars don't fit into roleplayers very well. Plus, Colangelo smartly said he's not doing all superstar, he will be including some roleplayers.
PG - Chauncey Billups/Allen Iverson SG - Dwyane Wade/Michael Redd SF - LeBron James/Ron Artest PF - Rasheed Wallace/Chris Bosh C - Amare Stoudamire/Dwight Howard That team right their has everything. Shooting (Billups, Redd, Wallace), scoring (James, Wade, Iverson), rebounding (Bosh, Howard, Stoudamire), defense (Artest, Wade, Howard, Billups, Wallace) and experience.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">PG - Chauncey Billups/Allen Iverson SG - Dwyane Wade/Michael Redd SF - LeBron James/Ron Artest PF - Rasheed Wallace/Chris Bosh C - Amare Stoudamire/Dwight Howard That team right their has everything. Shooting (Billups, Redd, Wallace), scoring (James, Wade, Iverson), rebounding (Bosh, Howard, Stoudamire), defense (Artest, Wade, Howard, Billups, Wallace) and experience.</div> You would put Ron Artest on Team USA?! That is asking for problems. Why have Dwayne instead of Kobe? In the international game you have to be able to shoot, with team playing zones so Wade would have a tough time. Kobe is an excellent shooter.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting JWohl:</div><div class="quote_post">You would put Ron Artest on Team USA?! That is asking for problems. Why have Dwayne instead of Kobe? In the international game you have to be able to shoot, with team playing zones so Wade would have a tough time. Kobe is an excellent shooter.</div> First of all, I had a brainfart and completely forgot about Kobe. I would definitely put him on team USA. Second, Bryant is a streaky 3 PT shooter. Some nights he'll go 7/10 and some nights he'll go 2/8. And third, yes I would put Artest on the team because his talent level overshadows his attitude problems IMO. Their isn't going to be a better perimeter defender than Artest by that time (Bowen will be too old by the time '08 rolls around).
