Team USA: 15-Man Roster Set… USABasketball.com …
Team USA: 15-Man Roster Set…
USABasketball.com
“Players named as finalists include: : Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Chris Paul (New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets); Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).
The USA finalists will take a five-day break and will reconvene in Las Vegas on July 31 for the start of the second phase of the team’s domestic training. The USA will train July 31-Aug. 2 and meet Puerto Rico in the 2006 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge at the Thomas & Mack Center on Aug. 3.”
Once Marion went down, I think this was pretty much the roster everyone expected. What are your guys thoughts on the overall roster? USA Basketball and Jerry Colangelo’s plan for the 20+ roster is looking good now, with all the injuries etc.
A few of us here were talking and we said that if you took the players that won’t be attending, you’d have a team that could contend for a medal (Billups, Kobe, Odom, Pierce, Marion, Redd, Reddick, Ridnour, Morrison).
Do you think the absence of those players will significantly hurt the team?
EDIT: Here are some quotes from Gilbert and Antawn.
Posted: July 25th, 2006 under Wizards.
Comments
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 3:22 PM
Yeah Yeah !!! I am delighted to see both these players get selected, they know each other very good and chemistry will work really good on the floor.Go antawan and Areans DC and surroundings are so prooud of you specially my familia.. Well Done Guys. You will also gain more experience from other player and the coach.
GOOD LUCK
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 3:29 PM
I am really happy for all those who made the Team. They are all professionals and may God continue to bless them and their families.
GiGi
Clinton,Maryland
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 4:22 PM
I think they both deserve the recogntion. Way to go guys!
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 4:56 PM
Go Antawn!! I think this is great for DC and the Wizards. 2 of the final 15 is great! Very proud of Antawn. His outside shooting at such a big height is a great touch for the US team, whose big men usually are confined to the paint. He really would be a great international player.
I was sure Gil would make it, but am even happier Tawn did it!
Go Wiz!
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 5:49 PM
I am glad Coach K picked Gilbert & Antawn, two guys who REALLy want to play for Team USA. This is a tremendous honor for both and I am sure they will make the team proud. Good jobs and good luck!
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 7:04 PM
Im Glad both antawan and arenas made the team, in the nba they dont get much recognition and this will boost that up. Arenas is up there with lebron, except for the flashy dunks but overall I think gilbert is top 3 in nba and hopefully soon he will be recognized as that.
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 7:18 PM
There’s really no one more deserving than Gilbert Arenas for this finalist position. He was almost shafted during last year’s all star game and we all know how hard he worked during the second stretch of the season. He deserves this and we hope that he’ll represent not only the USA but the wizards in a great way!
Kevin
Silver Spring
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 8:09 PM
Gilbert and Twan` really deserved to be on this team especially Gil I mean Dwayne Wade is seriously no better than Gil. Except that Wade has Shaq to back him up every other play
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 9:05 PM
Wow! Way to go. Two of the finalist are Wizards. I was sure Gil would make it..but Veeerrry happy to see Tawn make the final 15. This will prove good for Gil, Tawn and the Washington franchise as a whole.
“For ballin in the phone booth. Dial area code (034) Arenas, Butler &Jamison.”
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 10:25 PM
I too believe we’re fine without those players. Perhaps better. I actually believe a majority of the players left off the roster didn’t make sense to have on the team. Normal circumstanced seemed to have naturally weaved out the unecessary players.
With this roster, I’m sorta glad we losted the last few years, sorta makes it more interesting for us to climb back up and disprove what the world thinks of us. Go team USA!
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time July 25, 2006 at 11:47 PM
I’m sure everyone has their issues with some of the players left off, but I hardly think that Team USA would be better off without Redd, Billups or Marion…and really, say what you want about Kobe, but there are few players whose hands you’d want the ball in if the game is close.
Comment from TheMDouble
Time July 26, 2006 at 1:15 AM
Kobe is the best all around player in the NBA period!
With that said, you could grab almost any 12 of the 24 roster players & not really miss the other 12. Glad to see Gil & Twan doing their thing just like everyone else is.
NBA rankings go something like this IMO:
1 Kobe
2 Bron
3 Amarie
4 Gil
5 Dirk
6 Wade
7 Duncan
8 KG
9 Iverson
10 Shaq
Comment from Tom Mandel
Time July 26, 2006 at 8:25 AM
It’ll be fun to watch this team - but not much fun to play against them!
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 26, 2006 at 9:38 AM
I’m so PROUD!!!!
I’m a huge supporter of GIL and TWAN and this is their chance to show how talented they truly are!!
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 26, 2006 at 10:29 AM
We all know that Kobe probably is the guy that you want the ball in his hands in the close game situation in an “NBA game”. But, international game is a lot different. You can’t win just with great one-on-one skill. The winning formula is teamwork and time playing together like the Team Argentina in 2004. Kobe has to prove that he is a team guy and is willing to share the ball with teammates. Believe me, “81″ won’t get you a gold medal in the Olympics.
Gilbert and Antawn are both humble and play their roles on the team. They deserve to be this team. Congratulations!!
Will, MD
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 26, 2006 at 10:39 AM
I am so proud to be a fan of the Washington Wizard. I was down with team since day one. Congratulations to Mr. President and Mr.I can’t believe it’s not Butter. Keep your head up Gilbert and Antawn. Ya’ll is putting the wizards on the map. We are going to rock the playoffs in 2006 / 2007. Were coming……….look out for us we are coming. I attend Thurgood Marshall high School in Washington, DC. I am a 12th grader this year…..The wizards baby
Comment from QuickWithTheCrossover
Time July 26, 2006 at 10:41 AM
Only team that’s repping two players on Team USA…Tha Wiz Kidz
enough said
Championship in 2007
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time July 26, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Will from MD - I’m definitely with you, “81″ from Kobe would be a detriment to the team’s goal. That said, and maybe I’m a little too optimistic about Mr. Bryant’s ego and style of play, but think he, just like the rest of Team USA, would make the adjustments to their game to fit it.
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 26, 2006 at 10:52 AM
I’m so happy for these guys who, i think, really deserve to be part of this adventure and having the opportunity to represent the US flag. It’s a dream which come true for them and after a lot of work they are finally recognized as big players in this NBA league!
Congratulation, have fun and “keep it real” for DC., fans and US’nation.
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 26, 2006 at 11:20 AM
wizardsdotcom - Maybe I am too anti-hero. At least Tom Knott is with me. In his column today, Shooting star looks like lock, he pointed out ” The list of players either injured or committed elsewhere is fairly impressive: Kobe Bryant,…” Hey, no doubt on your belief in Kobe’s adjustment to fit in the team. But don’t you think we should reward those who came in to sacrifice and work hard from Day One?
Will, MD
Comment from wizardsdotcom
Time July 26, 2006 at 11:33 AM
Will from MD - I never said that we should just allow Kobe to play without practicing. My thinking was more if Kobe were available from the beginning, he would be on the squad (anyone think Coach K would cut Kobe Bryant?) and participate unselfishly like the rest of these guys.
This isn’t so much about my opinion on Kobe, which is actually mixed, but more on each individual player’s commitment to this team. I think all 24 players who accepted invitations realized what was at stake and wanted to be part of the process.
Then again, maybe Kobe had surgery cause he didn’t want to fly 14+ hours, who knows….
BTW, I don’t think Tom’s column took a shot at Kobe’s absence, but more pointing out the fact that many players are absent, due to injury or personal reasons. He never says Kobe shouldn’t be there…
Comment from Sigmakia3
Time July 26, 2006 at 11:39 AM
It’s great to see that Arenas and Jamison made it this far. They have both sacrificed alot and put in very hard work. Congratulations to you and have a great time representing the our home team.
Comment from DIANA
Time July 27, 2006 at 2:50 AM
I am so happy to see 2 of Wizards players in the U.S. team. Antawn and Gilbert. Good LUCK GUYS..P.S
Comment from Anonymous
Time July 27, 2006 at 5:16 PM
Congratulations to both men.
Comment from Anonymous
Time August 1, 2006 at 11:09 AM
Let’s keep JJ on our side and not on the New York team. JJ knows our system well, and could create problem when we play New York. Besides, he is a good team player, defensive, and create problems for other big & smaller guides.
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Comment from Anonymous
Time July 25, 2006 at 2:46 PM
I kind of think the team is better off without those players. This is a clean-up process to rid off the players with big ego or other mental, physical excuses to be absent. Being given the opportunity to have USA letters on chest, you have to be fully committed to the program for three years. Only the strongest survive.