Team USA (Official Thread)

[exhawg]

11 points and 16 boards for Varejeo. Nice.

This is the main reason why most Cavs fans won't be too sad if Gooden goes someplace else. I'm looking for Varejao to make some big strides offensively this season.

Team USA edges Brazil in exhibition
August 8, 2006

GUANGZHOU, China (Ticker) - Team USA found the going much tougher against Brazil on Tuesday than it did a day earlier against China.

LeBron James, Elton Brand and Joe Johnson came up with huge plays in the final minute as the United States basketball team edged Brazil, 90-86, in a warmup for the World Championships in Japan later this month.

The exhibition victory did not come without a price, however, as Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony hyperextended his right knee chasing a loose ball in the second quarter. Anthony, whose 16 points led the U.S., did not return.

"I think he's fine," Team USA assistant coach Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns said. "A couple days' rest and he should be OK."

On Monday, Team USA rolled past China, 119-73, and it appeared it was on its way to an impressive victory in this one after opening a 52-38 lead at the break. But Brazil scored the first 16 points of the second half and hung tough thereafter.

The U.S. held just an 87-86 lead before Cleveland Cavaliers superstar James drove the left baseline and banked in a shot with 34 seconds left, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Brand blocked a shot on the other end. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 20 seconds to go but missed both free throws, giving Brazil a chance to tie.

But Atlanta Hawks guard Johnson stole the ball from Marcelinho Machado and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left, then split two free throws to ice the contest.

"This will help us in the long run," D'Antoni said of the close contest.

Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls scored 14 points, Johnson added 12 and James 11 for the U.S., which was outrebounded, 41-25.

Leandro Barbosa of the Suns scored 14 points and James' Cavaliers teammate Anderson Varejao collected 11 and 16 rebounds for Brazil.

Team USA travels to Seoul to take on Lithuania on Sunday and host Korea on August 15. After those games, coach Mike Krzyzewski is expected to make two cuts to reduce the roster to 12 for the World Championships, which begin August 19.

Krzyzewski also must select a captain and revealed that James, Anthony and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade will receive strong consideration.

At the outset of training camp in July, Krzyzewski - the first college coach put in charge of the national team since the advent of the NBA era in 1992 - said the goal was for the Americans to re-establish themselves as the dominant team in international basketball.

In 2002, the U.S. finished an embarrassing sixth at the World Championships, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars. It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where the Americans lost three more games and settled for the bronze medal.

The fall from the top prompted wholesale changes within USA Basketball, including the appointment of managing director Jerry Colangelo and a tryout process which had not been used since the 1980s.

In the World Championships, Team USA is in Group D with Puerto Rico, China, Senegal, Slovenia and Olympic silver medalist Italy, which routed the Americans in an exhibition prior to the 2004 Games.

Only the winner of the 24-team World Championships and the Olympic hosts automatically qualify for the 2008 Games in Beijing. If Team USA does not win the World Championships - which it has not done since 1994 - it must qualify through the 2007 FIBA Tournament of the Americas in Venezuela.

Updated on Tuesday, Aug 8, 2006 12:18 pm EDT

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

Im must admit, this USA team is looking solid, a lot of very young and talented palyers will also build the team for future years.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

The team is starting to come together. The real question will be how they shoot from the outside.

 

[buckeyeboy]

I'm not too worried about the close call against Brazil. The Brazil game was the day after the USA crushed China, so fatigue likely played a role. Does anyone know when Brazil last played before yesterday's game against the USA?

 

[akronbuck]

they need a more dominant big man. Howards going to be great when he gets older but, he can't be the only answer. I wonder how a healthy Oden would have done

 

[buckeyeboy]

they need a more dominant big man. Howards going to be great when he gets older but, he can't be the only answer. I wonder how a healthy Oden would have done

I agree. Maybe Brad Miller should get more playing time. He looked solid in the game against China.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Yahoo.com

8/13/06

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Anthony, Wade lead Team USA past Lithuania</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER width="1" type="block" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 13, 2006
SEOUL, Korea (Ticker) - An energized Carmelo Anthony had Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski breathing a little easier.

Anthony scored 19 points and Dwyane Wade added 14 to lead Team USA to its fourth exhibition victory prior to the World Championships, a 104-90 triumph over Lithuania on Sunday. A standout forward for the Denver Nuggets, Anthony scored 18 points in victories over Puerto Rico and China before suffering a hyperextended right knee in the second half of Tuesday's four-point win over Brazil.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>However, Anthony got off to a terrific start Sunday by scoring nine of Team USA's first 19 points, including an alley-oop dunk on a feed from Wade in the early moments.


Wade, who was named NBA Finals MVP for leading the Miami Heat to the championship earlier this summer, hit a pair of 3-pointers en route to a 10-point first quarter that helped give the United States a 29-11 edge.

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James finished with 13 points despite sitting out the opening period. His finest moments came in the fourth quarter.

James threw down a running one-handed dunk and made a free throw to complete a three-point play for an 84-55 lead. Midway through the period, he made a bounce pass to Orlando Magic forward Dwight Howard, who split a pair of defenders in the lane for a dunk and a 97-66 bulge.

With time winding down, reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets ignited a fast break before leaving a backwards bounce pass for James, who made a powerful flying dunk with his right hand.

Following Tuesday's final exhibition game against Korea, Krzyzewski must trim his roster from 14 players to 12 prior to the opening game of the tournament against Puerto Rico on August 19.

In the World Championships, Team USA is in Group D with Puerto Rico, China, Senegal, Slovenia and Olympic silver medalist Italy, which routed the Americans in an exhibition prior to the 2004 Games.

In 2002, the U.S. finished an embarrassing sixth at the World Championships, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars. It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where the Americans lost three more games and settled for the bronze medal.

The fall from the top prompted wholesale changes within USA Basketball, including the appointment of managing director Jerry Colangelo and a tryout process which had not been used since the 1980s.
Only the winner of the 24-team World Championships and the Olympic hosts automatically qualify for the 2008 Games in Beijing. If Team USA does not win the World Championships - which it has not done since 1994 - it must qualify through the 2007 FIBA Tournament of the Americas in Venezuela.

 

[buckeyeboy]

What was the score of last night's game? I've seen several times on ESPN this morning that the score was 104-90, and I've seen several times on ESPN this morning that the score was 111-88.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

8/14/06

Coach K spells it out: teamwork key at worlds

JIM ARMSTRONG

Associated Press

<!-- begin body-content -->SEOUL, South Korea - LeBron James is a force and so is Dwyane Wade. Coach Mike Krzyzewski, however, says the U.S. has a bigger threat for the world championships.
"Our go-to guy is our team," he said.
The Americans must adjust to the wider lanes of international play and will tune up against Lithuania and South Korea before heading to Sapporo, Japan, for their world championships opener Aug. 19.
At past world championships, the Americans were criticized for failing to play as a unit. The Duke coach wants to set a different tone.
"All of our players can step up," he said Saturday. "The go-to guy is not just someone who makes the shot but someone who makes the play, and all of our guys can make the play."
Carmelo Anthony leads the team in scoring after three exhibition games and will suit up Sunday against Lithuania. He hyperextended his knee Tuesday in an 90-86 win against Brazil but returned to practice before heading to Seoul.
"The games in China allowed us to get accustomed to international play," Krzyzewski said. "It's a different game. We had some adversity with foul trouble and injury against Brazil, but the players responded well down the stretch and we were able to win."
The U.S. finished sixth at the worlds in 2002 and third in 1998. The last time the Americans won the tournament was 1994.
Anthony, James and Wade all played on the U.S. team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Now the only satisfactory result will be gold.
"There will be a lot of pressure," James said. "But with myself, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade leading the team, we feel we can control the pressure. If we don't win the whole thing it will be disappointing for us. But if we go out and play our game, we feel we can win it all."
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

8/15/06

LeBron James & Co. visit U.S. troops

JIM ARMSTRONG

Associated Press

<!-- begin body-content -->SEOUL, South Korea - Coach Mike Krzyzewski knew the drill.
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and the rest of the U.S. basketball team got into combat uniforms and took marching orders from former U.S. Army officer Krzyzewski on Monday during a visit to Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul.
Krzyzewski was stationed in South Korea for a while during his five years in the Army from 1969-74. He's back in Seoul preparing his U.S. squad for the world championships starting in Japan later this week.
Wade and his teammates went through some practice maneuvers, thrilling the crowd with alley-oops, slams and precision shooting from the 3-point line.
"It felt great to come here and do something for the troops," Wade said. "It definitely helps us get motivated by realizing there are a lot of people behind us and we're representing our country."
After playing South Korea in an exhibition game on Tuesday, the squad will travel to Japan and play its first game of the world championships against Puerto Rico on Saturday in Sapporo.
The U.S. still must cut one of its players before the world championships. The roster was reduced to 13 when Gilbert Arenas strained his groin during practice Monday and was unable to compete for a spot on the 12-player roster.
"We know Gilbert is really disappointed," team managing director Jerry Colangelo said. "He's done a great job. "It's an unfortunate situation, but he is not going to be able to continue on."
Coach Krzyzewski said the trip to Yongsan, home to 25,000 personnel, was well worth the effort of getting up early and practicing in the stifling heat of the base gymnasium.
"It added depth to our trip," said Krzyzewski. "To be able to meet the servicemen and women and thank them for their service was a great feeling."
Some 29,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically at war.
Not surprisingly, the visit went down well with the U.S. troops.
"That was a lot of fun," said staff sergeant Eric Jordan from Detroit. "It was a privilege and an honor. For them to take the time to come here is impressive and means a lot to us."
In Japan, the U.S. team will be bidding to snap a string of disappointing finishes at the world championships. The United States finished sixth at the worlds in 2002 and third in 1998. The last time the Americans won the tournament was 1994.
Under Krzyzewski, the U.S. team has looked impressive, winning four straight tuneup matches, including Sunday's 111-88 win over Lithuania in Seoul.
Along with Puerto Rico, the U.S. team is grouped with China, Slovenia, Italy and Senegal in the preliminary round.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Yahoo.com

8/15/06

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=750 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class="" vAlign=top width=560>LeBron James leads U.S. in rout of South Korea in tuneup game

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>LeBron James leads U.S. in rout of South Korea in tuneup game</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By JIM ARMSTRONG, AP Sports Writer
August 15, 2006

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- LeBron James is on a mission to put USA Basketball back on top of the world. In a game that was decided in the first 10 minutes, James scored 23 points Tuesday to lead the United States to an emphatic 116-63 win over South Korea in a tuneup game for the world championships.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>We were a little sluggish at first and I was able to pick up my energy level and the guys followed," James said. "We got better as the game went on and took care of business."
The Americans took control early, led by James. The Cleveland Cavaliers star hit a 3-pointer two minutes in, and then gave the United States an early 9-2 lead with an easy layup.
Late in the first period, James' two-handed slam dunk made it 13-5 and the Americans finished the first quarter with a comfortable 22-13 lead.
With the win, the Americans improved to 5-0 in exhibition games leading up to the worlds which begin later this week in Japan.
Dwyane Wade gave the U.S. a 20-point lead midway through the second period when he broke through the Korean defense and finished with a two-handed jam.
James, who had 19 points in the first half, stole the ball at center court and went in all alone for a slam dunk with 3:49 left in the second period as the U.S. widened its lead to 62-35 at the break.
Despite the one-sided score, there was no letting up for James.
In the third period, Wade made an alley-oop lob to James who saluted the crowd after yet another dunk made it 73-38. The United States took an 86-52 lead into the final period when coach Mike Krzyzewski took the 6-foot-8 forward out.
When introduced, the U.S. players got a huge ovation from the South Korean fans. Tuesday was a national holiday to mark the 61st anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula.
Carmelo Anthony, Shane Battier, Elton Brand, Kirk Hinrich and Wade started for the U.S. team.
After a visit to a U.S. military base Wednesday, the team will head to Sapporo, Japan, for its opening game of the championships on Aug. 19 against Puerto Rico.
The United States finished sixth at the worlds in 2002 and third in 1998. The last time the Americans won the tournament was 1994.
In previous tournaments, the United States was criticized for not playing as a team. James doesn't see that as a problem with this team.
"I didn't play for the team in 2002," James said. "I played on the Olympic team in 2004 and we didn't have the right mind-set. This team has the right mind-set to get the job done." The U.S. still must cut one of its players before the world championships. The roster was reduced to 13 when Gilbert Arenas strained his groin during practice Monday and was unable to compete for a spot on the 12-player roster. "We have to get down to 12 players before the worlds and that will be a tough decision," Krzyzewski said.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Yahoo.com

8/17/06

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Bowen is final cut as U.S. team set 12-man roster</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER type="block" width="1" height="1"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>August 16, 2006
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Bruce Bowen was the final player cut from the U.S. basketball team, which begins play in the World Championships in Japan on Saturday. The final 12-man roster was announced Wednesday by USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski, and included Carmelo Anthony, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Elton Brand, Kirk Hinrich, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>When Bowen, who plays for San Antonio and is one of the top defensive players in the league, was selected to be part of the national team roster, Colangelo and Krzyzewski singled him out as the type of role player the U.S. squad had been lacking in recent poor international showings.

But Bowen scored just four points while playing four of the five tuneup games and had been outplayed by Battier, another defensive-minded small forward who made the cut.
After Gilbert Arenas dropped out with strained groin earlier in the week, that all but assured a spot for Chicago's Hinrich because the team needed another point guard behind rookie of the year Paul.
Bowen and Arenas remain part of the national team program and are still in the pool of players who will compete for spot on the 2008 Olympic team.
"This has been a great process. It's difficult especially when you get down to the end because you get so attached to the last members of the team. Gilbert and Bruce are every bit a part of this team as the 12 others guys. It's just we can only go forward with 12," Krzyzewski said. The average age of the 12 U.S. players is 24 1/2 years old, with the 30-year-old Miller the oldest member of the team. Howard, at 20, is the youngest.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

8/18/06

Team USA

LeBron is named one of three team captains

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->SAPPORO, JAPAN - From the time the latest Team USA first assembled last month in Las Vegas, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were seen as the team leaders. Now it is official.
James, Wade and Anthony were named team captains Thursday as final preparations were made for the FIBA World Championship, which opens on Saturday.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski and his assistants made the final decision on the captains.
``They didn't come in as stars, they came in as members of the team,'' Krzyzewski said. ``It was a pretty easy decision. It became obvious that this was the way to go.''
James let his game do much of the talking. He averaged 15.8 points and shot 59 percent in Team USA's five exhibition games leading up to the world championship. Anthony led the team in scoring, averaging 16.8 points, while Wade averaged 12.2 points and four assists.
``It's a big responsibility for us three being captains and going out and representing our country in the right way,'' James said. ``You've got to show leadership on the court and off the court.''
Krzyzewski made his final cut on Thursday, sending San Antonio Spurs guard Bruce Bowen to the sidelines and instead keeping a team with versatile players such as the three captains, Antawn Jamison and Shane Battier, to name a few.
Team USA will hold its final practice Friday at the Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center before taking on Puerto Rico in its pool play opener at 1 a.m. Saturday. The team will attempt to advance from Group D, which includes Puerto Rico, Senegal, Slovenia, China and 2004 sliver medalist Italy.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

8/18/06

Americans gear up to reassert control of world basketball

Friday, August 18, 2006

Andrew Bagnato
ASSOCIATED PRESS

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>

</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>DAVID LONGSTREATH ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>LeBron James was named one of three captains for the U.S. team yesterday along with Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


SAPPORO, Japan — After mowing down five exhibition opponents by an average of 34 points, the United States is ready to re-establish ownership of international basketball.
The exhibitions demonstrated that the Americans are treating the world championships as the start of a three-year mission. If all goes as planned, the mission will culminate in a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
But first come the world championships, which have long been emphasized by foreign teams and overlooked in the United States.
"You have to understand to some of these players this is their NBA championship, this is their ultimate goal — to win these games," forward Elton Brand said. "This is as important as any game they have played, so we have to take it as that also."
The U.S. team flew to Sapporo yesterday from Seoul, where it wrapped up a 5-0 exhibition schedule with a lopsided 116-63 victory over South Korea. The Americans appeared loose during a light evening workout.
"We’re not overconfident," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "We respect every one of these teams. Who’s to say who’s the best teams? We certainly haven’t seen all of them."
Opposing teams certainly will see plenty of Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade — named team captains yesterday by Krzyzewski.
"It’s a big responsibility for us three being captains and going out and representing our country in the right way," James said in a USA Basketball statement. "You’ve got to show leadership on the court and off the court, and you’ve got to show responsibility. We have to approach the game the right way and take care of business."
The first opponent is Puerto Rico on Saturday. The Americans are 7-1 against the Puerto Ricans in world championship play and defeated them 114-69 in an Aug. 3 exhibition.
The Americans made it look easy in a five-game exhibition sweep of China, South Korea, Puerto Rico and Lithuania (twice). China and Puerto Rico are in the Americans’ Group D, along with Senegal, Italy and Slovenia. After a week of roundrobin play, the top four teams advance to the knockout round.
"The level of play is going to pick up, intensity is going to pick up, and we have to do the same," guard Kirk Hinrich said.
Krzyzewski stressed defense during the exhibition tour, and the U.S. team limited opponents to 40 percent shooting from the field and just under 76 points per game.
Hinrich said the Americans are intent on "setting the tone defensively and forcing our will on every team we play."
And starting with James, Wade and Anthony, the U.S. team has plenty of players who can beat opponents off the dribble. But the Americans also have to prove they can score consistently against zone defenses.
That has been a weakness for the Americans in recent years, but this team has shot better. The Americans shot 41 percent from beyond the theee-point arc during the exhibition series. "I don’t think any of us will be satisfied until we can play well and hopefully win the gold," Shane Battier said.

Friday, August 18, 2006

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

8/19/06

U.S. ready to make it count

Quest to restore respect at FIBA World Championship begins against Puerto Rico

By Brian Windhorst

Beacon Journal sportswriter

<!-- begin body-content -->SAPPORO, JAPAN - In a cramped and sweaty ballroom in the basement of one of the few American hotels in Japan's northernmost province, Team USA squirmed with discomfort Friday night.
Their competition-to-be wore shorts and T-shirts, or even comfortable jumpsuits, during a bizarre and balmy opening ceremony for the 2006 FIBA World Championship. The Americans were in matching suits with blue jackets, red ties and white shirts.
When it came time to formally introduce the teams -- after the cheerleaders' awkward, Go, Fight, Win rendition but before the ``Hello Kitty'' memorabilia went on sale -- Team USA was the first to rise to its feet.
The real question, though, is whether they still will be standing, and looking spiffy, two weeks from now outside Tokyo, where the new champion will be crowned.
Though it is considered the most important title in the international basketball community, the world championship has never been held in much esteem in America. Perhaps that's why little attention was paid when Team USA failed to claim the title in 1998 or 2002.
This time around, after the embarrassing display in the high-profile 2004 Olympics, the heat is on for the revamped Team USA to make good on its promise to restore tradition.
With the new faces of the NBA -- LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony -- as captains, along with a rededicated preparation process that has been much ballyhooed, there isn't much wiggle room.
It starts with James, who moaned over his insignificant role in 2004. Now he has a huge part to play and all the expectations that come with it.
``It didn't matter to me if I was the captain, I just wanted to be a big part of the team,'' James said. ``There is going to be pressure, times where things are not going the way we want them to go.''
That is guaranteed. There's the spotty and often questionable FIBA officiating, a little quirk that forced Tim Duncan to swear off further competition after the Athens Olympics. There are the rules that make it easy to play zone defense, usually a thorn for the weak outside-shooting U.S. team. And there's the general loss of opponents' fear.
Team USA's pool, Group D, is considered relatively weak but not weak-minded. Puerto Rico, which opens with Team USA today, beat the Americans in Athens, as did Italy, who awaits next week. Another first-round opponent, Slovenia, has four NBA first-round draft picks on its roster.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski plans to reverse the trend with depth and athleticism, constantly subbing as the team presses and pushes the ball. Whether that will work against the top contenders, like reigning Olympic champion Argentina or Spain, who was 9-0 in exhibition warm-ups, is a matter of opinion.
``I think the guys understand the situation. They are reminded about it every day,'' Krzyzewski said. ``Our guys are ready to play games.''
Just how ready is about to be determined. Team USA's 5-0 exhibition record is meaningless, as are all the promises if they are not kept.
``We understand how big this is,'' James said. ``We'll see adversity and we'll react to it.