ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan has compiled a list of guys who he can confirm have been invited to Team USA’s training camp. There are 22 players on the list, with three more to be added later (likely J.J. Redick, Adam Morrison, and Greg Oden).
The list looks a lot like the list from any other Olympic NBA team anyone else has put together, except it has Shane Battier, Bruce Bowen, Josh Howard and Luke Ridnour. I guess all that talk about changing the way the team is going to be built was just that - talk. Adding two roleplayers does not a sweeping change in philosophy make.
So the approach to player selection appears to be nearly identical to past efforts. If the approach to practice time and team cohesiveness is also the same, we will not win gold. I really think the problems here are bigger and deeper than anyone involved with the team seems to grasp. We didn’t fail because we picked the wrong group of NBA players. We failed because we took a group of guys who didn’t have enough time together to actually become a team, and even if hey had, still wouldn’t have been ready to score against and defend the vastly differen international style of play.
I hate getting into this, because I have to fight like hell to stop myself from just blathering about 10,000 words on the subject. I’m stopping here. If we do end up winning gold, it will be because either 1) Shaq decided to play, or 2) Mike Krzyzewski is a great coach and leaned heavily on assistant coach Mike D’Antoni.
Okay, I changed my mind, I’m not stopping there. Just one more quick thing… leaving Allen Iverson off the invite list is flat-out wrong. He gets labeled as someone who plays selfishly, and that’s certainly fair, considering his work with the 76ers. But he does not play selfishly in international competition, he is a good passer when he has that mindset, and he’s one of the few guys who has always wanted to be a part of Team USA. If Team USA is still going the NBA route, Allen Iverson should absolutely be a part of it.
ReKen Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 10:20 am
Luke Ridnour? WTF? Was Steve Wojciechowski unwilling to suit up?
King Dan Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 10:27 am
I have to disagree with you on this one. While the inclusion of Jamison, Johnson and Lewis seem like a mistake, I actually feel good about most of these. Brad Miller, a big man who can shoot seems like a good choice for international play. I also like Michael Redd. I think he turned down an invitation last time. If him and Reddick were to make the team, it would give the team two guys who can shoot the lights out, which I’m repeatedly told is neccessary in international play. I think the three year committment will help.
Rusty Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 11:11 am
Iverson may not be good enough of a shot for international play. He’s more of a slasher.
That being said, he’s my vote for NBA MVP this year. he is singlehandedly keeping the Sixers in contention.
BigBoi Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 12:13 pm
Why don’t they just have the most recent NBA champion represent the U.S.?? I mean that takes care of the cohesivness and chemistry problems right there. Have their coach go too, I mean that’s the best of the NBA that year as far as team goes, and that’s what we should be sending, the best team.
Adam Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 12:34 pm
I don’t get some of the invites (Bowen, Ridnour) but for the most part I think they did a much better job this time around. They’ve got better outside shooters like Redd, Lewis, and Johnson (and maybe Reddick, who might make the team just because Coach K is there) and Brad Miller is about as perfect a center for internation ball as you could ask for. This team is set up much better for a run at the gold.
Elm Tree Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Big Boi
Using the NBA champ would be fine if Detroit or Miami won, but what if the Spurs won? Thier starting center, point guard shooting guard, back up point and back up power forward are all from foreign, and Tim Duncan has vowed never to play international ball again. Bruce Bowen is a bad ass defender, but one on five ain’t fair, son. Same problem with Phoenix where Nash, Diaw and Bell all represent other countries in international play.
By the way, what are the odds that Coach K subs in a squad consisting of Ridnour (who is like all those white Duke pgs, only better) Reddick, Battier, Brand and Duke recruit Dwight Howard? I willing to bet we see this combination at least once in international play.
Doug Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 1:22 pm
I think Iverson should be one of the first people on the team. I’m not a big Iverson guy, but he actually wants to play for Team USA, and that’s reason enough for me. And you’re right MJD, he does play unselfishly when he actually has players to pass too.
BigBoi Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 2:49 pm
Elm Tree
Yeah you’re right, I didn’t think of that, that sucks. Oh well exept for those impotant details that’s the way they should do it. lol
asilv Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 7:24 pm
im sick of all this love chris paul bullshit. him and AI play the same game but AI has always done it better and always will. its easy to hate the guy but he deserves to be there.
Mullet Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 7:31 pm
Someone should start a petition for Iverson.
BigBoi Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 7:33 pm
Do it brotha, I’ll sign it.
Ted Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 8:22 pm
Um, everyone is aware that Iverson will be 34 by the time the Olympics roll around right? Everyone is aware that in the last Olympics he took more shots from the field than anyone despite having the second worst field goal percentage on the team aren’t they? Thank God Bryan Colangelo is. Yes it’s great he plays with such heart and wants to win and he is a great player in the NBA. Emphasis on “in the NBA”. Wasn’t the whole point of the Athens debacle that great NBA players are not always great international players? Iverson and Steph Marbury (yes I do think he’s an excellent NBA player, flame away) are exhibit A and B in that theory. I think they got this team just about right, although I have no idea why Ridnour, Bowen and Jamison are anywhere near the team.
Adam Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 10:46 pm
How are Iverson and Chris Paul the same player? One is a shooting guard who dominates the ball and the other a pure point. Iverson is one of the All-time greats who played well last Olympics but he and Paul bring completely different things to the table.
Yeah Says:
March 1st, 2006 at 10:54 pm
It’s a questionable descion on Ridnour since he is struggling this year, but you also have to remember that he is going to have a couple more years before the Olympics to develop as a more solid point gaurd.
the sockk Says:
March 2nd, 2006 at 2:45 pm
this is the 2004 Olympic Roster
PG: Marbury, Wade
SG: AI, Melo
SF: RJ, James
PF: Odom, Marion, Amare
C: Duncan, Boozer, Okafor
The difference in the perliminary list and the last team, to me, are obvious. 2004 had a lot of young and inexperienced swingmen and bigs, one guy who could be called a point guard (Marbury and it’s a stretch), and no pure shooters. THe current invitees include several point guards in addition to a few guys who are more like combo guards, bigs who are currently inexperienced but have 2 and a half years to improve, several shooters, and guys who can do their thing without touching the ball. Add in to that the absence of Larry Brown and his inexplicable rotations and things are definitely looking better.