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OG- BasketBall

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deporter316

Youth Team
I don't know if there was a thread already started on this, but I just wanted to discuss Olympic Basketball.

Saturday is Team USA's first exhibition game (Against Puerto Rico on ESPN) and I must admit the team is looking good:

Allen Iverson - G
Stephon Marbury - G
Dwayne Wade - G
Carlos Boozer - F/C
Carmelo Anthony - F
LeBron James - G
Emaka Okafor - F
Shawn Marion - F
Amare Stoudemire - F
Tim Duncan - C
Lamar Odom - F
Richard Jefferson - F

Although we're not anywhere as good as the Dream Team or anything, I think this squad is much better than the World Championship team that lost a few years ago and I like the fact that it is mostly the young guys. It'll be awesome to see Wade, Melo, and LBJ on the court at the same time and I agree with Carmelo Anthony when he said ''We're guaranteeing a gold medal."




Here are the Captains:
 
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$teauA

Superstar
Okafor is gonna kick some ass, it's the main reason why I'll be watching the games anyway to see what I can expect from him when he starts playing for the Bobcats.
 
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deporter316

Youth Team
Okafor sprains ankle on second day of Olympic training camp
By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
July 28, 2004

Carlos*SONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Emeka Okafor's sprained ankle and Tim Duncan's absence from a practice put a spotlight on the U.S. Olympic team's lack of frontcourt depth.

``Yeah, I worry, but hopefully it's not anything real bad,'' coach Larry Brown said. ``If it is, we've got to go to the (selection) pool.''

X-rays on Okafor's right ankle were negative, and the former Connecticut star was to be re-evaluated Wednesday. He landed awkwardly and turned his ankle during a drill about an hour after practice began during the second day of the training camp.

Duncan felt ill and had a slight fever, prompting trainers to have him skip the morning session of the team's two-a-day practices. He participated in the entire evening practice, a team spokesman said.

The absence of the two left power forwards Carlos Boozer and Amare Stoudemire as the only big men. Okafor is the U.S. team's only true center, although Duncan is expected to man that position for long stretches during the Olympics.

Even at full strength, the Americans will be at a disadvantage in terms of size and bulk against several opponents, a deficiency that should be exposed the next two weeks in exhibition games against Puerto Rico, Italy, Germany and Serbia and Montenegro.

The U.S. team has several versatile players who can play several positions, but the Americans also might have to use Lamar Odom and/or Shawn Marion at power forward.

``I don't look out there and see one guy that's not capable of being a quality rebounder in this setting,'' Brown said. ``My Detroit team wasn't a huge team and we rebounded the ball. That's just a commitment you make, and hopefully we'll do that. On the offensive boards, sometimes athleticism and quickness is a real plus, so hopefully we'll do the job in that respect.''

Changes can be made to the roster until 72 hours before the start of Olympic competition.

``We don't have anybody on hold or waiting in the wings,'' said Stu Carlos*son, chairman of the USA Basketball selection committee. ``It would be unfair to the team to even speculate on (a possible replacement for Okafor if his injury is serious).'



I know Okafor was awesome in college, but can he handle the heat in the pros? Because he is pretty damn undersized at center, and he's so injury prone.
 
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Bobby

The Legend
Germany isn't there

Group A: Argentina, China, New Zealand, Italy, Serbia and Montenegro, Spain

Group B: Angola, Australia, Greece, Lithuania, Puerto Rico, USA
 
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deporter316

Youth Team
Seems like all the good teams (Spain, Argentina, China) are in a different group then the great team (US). We should have an easy time with this group! Are Vlade, Peja, Darko, etc playing for Serbia?
 
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Bobby

The Legend
I don't know the roster for them, maybe Savo does tho.

I like our team tho, it's young and the guys want to be there. Good on Duncan and AI for playing too.
 
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SRB

Senior Squad
vlade retired, pedja is not playing, darko might be, depends on the decision of the pistons. i'll tell savo to post the roster when he gets on msn.
 
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$teauA

Superstar
**** Okafor sprained his ankle :kader: :kader: I hope he doesn't turn out to be a Mashburn-like player for the Bobcats in that he always misses half the season with injuries :(.
 
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deporter316

Youth Team
US downs Puerto Rico in pre-Olympic scrimmage

July 29, 2004

Carlos*SONVILLE, United States (AFP) - Tim Duncan scored 22 points and LeBron James delighted the crowd with some spectacular slam dunks as the United States ripped Puerto Rico in a pre-Olympic basketball scrimmage.

The US team of National Basketball Association players, who open the Athens games on August 15 with a preliminary round game against Puerto Rico, dominated each of four 10-minute periods that were kept without accumulating scores.

Showing speed and skilled passing for players gathered together just four days ago, the US team won the periods by 27-18, 26-18, 25-20 and 25-19. Puerto Rico came within three points twice in the last minute but could never grab the lead.


The biggest cheers from a crowd of about 2,500 US soldiers, sailors and military families came when James, last season's NBA Rookie of the Year, followed a back-to-the-basket flip in with an alley oop reverse slam dunk.

The US team plays Puerto Rico here on Saturday in the squad's first true exhibition game, then plays twice in Germany next week before a pre-Olympic matchup with powerful Serbia and Montenegro.
 
Alex

Alex

sKIp_E
Staff member
Administrator
Super Moderator
Why is the USA basketball team never the best possible anymore?

I think its sad when guys say no to playing for their national team, esp. when its about money, when theyre alraedy getting paid so much...

Bryant, Carter, Shaq et al should all be there..
 
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deporter316

Youth Team
It's not really about money, its more about safety and time issues. You see NBA players only get so much time (2-3) months to really spend with their families, so they don't really want to use their vacation to play more ball. Also, there's been lots of terrorist threats in Athens for a while and all the player's and their famlies have to stay aboard a aircraft carrier i think instead of hotels. So they don't want to take the risk. Doesn't matter, this team is more than enough to win the gold.
 
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Bobby

The Legend
USA 96, Puerto Rico 71 final score.

USA played without AI, Lebron or Amare Stoudemire because Larry Brown made them sit after showing up late for a meeting.

Okafor was healthy enough to play to, so if all goes well the roster will be full for the opening game.
 
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SB9Dragon

Fan Favourite
I don't think so. I just can't see the team coming together and playing to the best of their abilites. The team is full of talent, but until they get the crap out of their heads that they can walk over anyone they will continue to fail. Maybe getting assraped 2day will help them accomplish that.
 
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