Funkadelic
On Again, Off Again..
I always enjoy reading this guy's stories on Yahoo! NBA, this story being about possibles and probables for the next team USofA.
What do you guys think? I like his starting 5..
Olympic task -- Jack McCallum, SI.com
In relative anonymity, with all due alacrity and in concert with his coaches, Jerry Colangelo, executive director of USA Basketball, has been going about the business of narrowing down the choices for the first U.S. national basketball team. That's step one in the crusade to win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Besides the two major announcements that have already been made -- Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are signed sealed and delivered -- Colangelo has been fielding calls from players (or their agents) who want to sign on. With some notable exceptions, such as Tim Duncan (who has said he definitely won't play) and Kevin Garnett (who probably won't play), it seems that, despite the bronze-medal finish and overall disagreeable tenor of the '04 Games in Athens, it's still cool to play for Team USA. Right now, 'Bronnie sets the standard for NBA cool, even as Bryant sets it for all-around play.
Shortly after All-Star Weekend, USA Basketball will begin rolling out, in groups of four, its choices for the 20-man squad that will convene in Las Vegas for camp in late June. A smaller sampling of young players (rookies and second-year NBA guys and top-flight collegians) will also be in Vegas as part of a "scout team." Any one, two or three of them may well play their way onto the regular team by the end of camp.
From those players, a group of 14 or 15 will have a busy summer of training and touring that ends with the 2006 FIBA world championships in Japan from Aug. 19 to Sept. 3. The next year, 2007, will be one of evaluation and roster tinkering. Finally, a team of 12, armed with the task of restoring America's basketball honor, will alight in Beijing in the summer of '08.
Colangelo would not comment directly on the choices. But intelligent conjecture -- well, maybe intelligent is a stretch -- enables one to come forth with a few five-packs of Olympic projection. Commentary follows when necessary.
Five who probably won't be there
(announced self-exclusions such as Duncan and Garnett not included)
Shaquille O'Neal: Colangelo is talking to him, and Shaq hasn't ruled it out. But Shaq's worn-down body argues against his participation, and he's not going to sign on only to be cut.
Allen Iverson: Wants to play, but may be too beat up by '08; also carries Athens baggage.
Tracy McGrady: Hasn't said one way or the other whether he'll play. But his one-man perimeter style isn't what the committee is looking for.
Vince Carter: See preceding.
Mike Bibby: See pre-preceding and preceding.
Five really good players who may not be there
Ray Allen: The report is he wants to play, and his shooting would be desirable. But something tells me no.
Gilbert Arenas: If he were more of a passing point guard than a shooting point guard, he would be a definite.
Baron Davis: See preceding.
Paul Pierce: Wants to play and may have been unfairly cast as major detriment to disastrous sixth-place finish by 2002 world championship team. Nevertheless, he won't be able to overcome that tag.
Jason Kidd: A great teammate and willing defender. But he'll be 35 by the summer of '08.
Five surprises who have a chance to be on the team ... at least this summer
Brad Miller: A passing big man.
Carmelo Anthony: Thought to be a no-chance after his unpleasant behavior in Athens, but the committee likes his game.
Bruce Bowen or Shane Battier: Somebody has to play defense, right?
Lamar Odom: His versatility is attractive.
Ron Artest: Just wanted to make sure you were still reading.
Five we'd love to have if we could somehow annex their countries
Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Steve Nash (Canada), Pau Gasol (Spain), Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Tony Parker (France).
Five absolute locks for the scout team
Chris Paul: New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets rookie. He'll stay with the scouts for about five minutes, then move up.
Channing Frye: New York Knicks rookie.
Adam Morrison: Gonzaga junior.
JJ Redick: Duke senior. What? Coach K won't want him?
Randy Foye: Villanova senior.
A ridiculously premature projection for Beijing
Third Team
Point guard: Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks -- Not his true position, but makes the team on versatility.
Shooting guard: Redick, Duke -- Don't think he can't play, and U.S. will need automatic guys from the perimeter.
Center: Frye, Knicks -- Not really a center, but the committee won't be overly concerned with nomenclature.
Power forward: Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns or Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers.
Small forward: Richard Jefferson, New Jersey Nets or Morrison, Gonzaga -- Jefferson may be able to overcome the bad-shooting rap he got in Athens, but Morrison may be a star-in-the-making by then.
Second Team
Point guard: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons -- Provided he wants to play.
Shooting guard: Rip Hamilton, Detroit Pistons -- How would the opposition take to seeing him and Chauncey as a tandem off the bench?
Center: Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors -- Quietly becoming one of the league's elite players. And he'll only be 24 in '08.
Power forward: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic -- The league's under-recognized stud.
Small forward: Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons -- His long-armed defense (USA Basketball is looking for "length") may give him an advantage over scorers such as 'Melo.
The Five Starters
Point guard: Chris Paul, New Orleans -- He'll be that good by then.
Shooting guard: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers -- He'll tone down his one-man game on this team.
Center: Amar? Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns -- If he comes back strong from knee surgery, how much of a force will this man-child be by '08?
Power forward: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers -- You don't really need a comment, do you?
Small forward: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat -- Wade, LeBron and Kobe don't need a set position; they will score, rebound, pass and defend.
Updated on Thursday, Jan 19, 2006 2:39 pm EST
What do you guys think? I like his starting 5..
Olympic task -- Jack McCallum, SI.com
In relative anonymity, with all due alacrity and in concert with his coaches, Jerry Colangelo, executive director of USA Basketball, has been going about the business of narrowing down the choices for the first U.S. national basketball team. That's step one in the crusade to win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Besides the two major announcements that have already been made -- Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are signed sealed and delivered -- Colangelo has been fielding calls from players (or their agents) who want to sign on. With some notable exceptions, such as Tim Duncan (who has said he definitely won't play) and Kevin Garnett (who probably won't play), it seems that, despite the bronze-medal finish and overall disagreeable tenor of the '04 Games in Athens, it's still cool to play for Team USA. Right now, 'Bronnie sets the standard for NBA cool, even as Bryant sets it for all-around play.
Shortly after All-Star Weekend, USA Basketball will begin rolling out, in groups of four, its choices for the 20-man squad that will convene in Las Vegas for camp in late June. A smaller sampling of young players (rookies and second-year NBA guys and top-flight collegians) will also be in Vegas as part of a "scout team." Any one, two or three of them may well play their way onto the regular team by the end of camp.
From those players, a group of 14 or 15 will have a busy summer of training and touring that ends with the 2006 FIBA world championships in Japan from Aug. 19 to Sept. 3. The next year, 2007, will be one of evaluation and roster tinkering. Finally, a team of 12, armed with the task of restoring America's basketball honor, will alight in Beijing in the summer of '08.
Colangelo would not comment directly on the choices. But intelligent conjecture -- well, maybe intelligent is a stretch -- enables one to come forth with a few five-packs of Olympic projection. Commentary follows when necessary.
Five who probably won't be there
(announced self-exclusions such as Duncan and Garnett not included)
Shaquille O'Neal: Colangelo is talking to him, and Shaq hasn't ruled it out. But Shaq's worn-down body argues against his participation, and he's not going to sign on only to be cut.
Allen Iverson: Wants to play, but may be too beat up by '08; also carries Athens baggage.
Tracy McGrady: Hasn't said one way or the other whether he'll play. But his one-man perimeter style isn't what the committee is looking for.
Vince Carter: See preceding.
Mike Bibby: See pre-preceding and preceding.
Five really good players who may not be there
Ray Allen: The report is he wants to play, and his shooting would be desirable. But something tells me no.
Gilbert Arenas: If he were more of a passing point guard than a shooting point guard, he would be a definite.
Baron Davis: See preceding.
Paul Pierce: Wants to play and may have been unfairly cast as major detriment to disastrous sixth-place finish by 2002 world championship team. Nevertheless, he won't be able to overcome that tag.
Jason Kidd: A great teammate and willing defender. But he'll be 35 by the summer of '08.
Five surprises who have a chance to be on the team ... at least this summer
Brad Miller: A passing big man.
Carmelo Anthony: Thought to be a no-chance after his unpleasant behavior in Athens, but the committee likes his game.
Bruce Bowen or Shane Battier: Somebody has to play defense, right?
Lamar Odom: His versatility is attractive.
Ron Artest: Just wanted to make sure you were still reading.
Five we'd love to have if we could somehow annex their countries
Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Steve Nash (Canada), Pau Gasol (Spain), Manu Ginobili (Argentina) and Tony Parker (France).
Five absolute locks for the scout team
Chris Paul: New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets rookie. He'll stay with the scouts for about five minutes, then move up.
Channing Frye: New York Knicks rookie.
Adam Morrison: Gonzaga junior.
JJ Redick: Duke senior. What? Coach K won't want him?
Randy Foye: Villanova senior.
A ridiculously premature projection for Beijing
Third Team
Point guard: Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks -- Not his true position, but makes the team on versatility.
Shooting guard: Redick, Duke -- Don't think he can't play, and U.S. will need automatic guys from the perimeter.
Center: Frye, Knicks -- Not really a center, but the committee won't be overly concerned with nomenclature.
Power forward: Shawn Marion, Phoenix Suns or Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers.
Small forward: Richard Jefferson, New Jersey Nets or Morrison, Gonzaga -- Jefferson may be able to overcome the bad-shooting rap he got in Athens, but Morrison may be a star-in-the-making by then.
Second Team
Point guard: Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons -- Provided he wants to play.
Shooting guard: Rip Hamilton, Detroit Pistons -- How would the opposition take to seeing him and Chauncey as a tandem off the bench?
Center: Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors -- Quietly becoming one of the league's elite players. And he'll only be 24 in '08.
Power forward: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic -- The league's under-recognized stud.
Small forward: Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons -- His long-armed defense (USA Basketball is looking for "length") may give him an advantage over scorers such as 'Melo.
The Five Starters
Point guard: Chris Paul, New Orleans -- He'll be that good by then.
Shooting guard: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers -- He'll tone down his one-man game on this team.
Center: Amar? Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns -- If he comes back strong from knee surgery, how much of a force will this man-child be by '08?
Power forward: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers -- You don't really need a comment, do you?
Small forward: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat -- Wade, LeBron and Kobe don't need a set position; they will score, rebound, pass and defend.
Updated on Thursday, Jan 19, 2006 2:39 pm EST
