USA Basketball Set to Announce Roster

The 15 man roster that will participate in upcoming exhibition games in Vegas, China and Korea will be announced tomorrow afternoon at a 1:30 pm (ET) press conference from Las Vegas.

Do you think both ‘Twan and Gilbert will make the squad? Based on Chris Sheridan’s report from Vegas, it looks like they’ve both got a good shot.

Breaking News:
Looks like the US will be down a forward in Asia. According to Andy Katz of ESPN.com, Shawn Marion pulled out because of a left knee injury

Katz’s picks to make the 15-man squad: Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade and Kirk Hinrich. (Marion, Adam Morrison and Luke Ridnour would be the “cuts” for this trip).

Agree, disagree?

Around The Net:

A few stories were posted yesterday/today, including George Solomon of the Washington Post summing up the team’s busy week.

In other news…

We’re a day away from…(peeking around for Coach K…) “Cut Day” in Las Vegas, where the 18 players attending Team USA’s training camp will be trimmed down to 15 players. Do you think any of these players have had to deal with the queasiness that comes with the approaching possibility of getting called into the coach’s office?

Speaking of Team USA, great quote from Rudy T in today’s New York Times…

“It’s a different game,” Tomjanovich said of the international style of play. “It’s still called basketball, but it’s got some different rules and different markings and a little bit of a different rhythm, and we’ve just got to go and make the adjustments to get on top of that.”

I completely agree with that statement. Any naysayers?

The second page of the article jumps into the reason for Team USA’s recent regression over the years. “…N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern used his recent state-of-the-league speech to point out that the flaws in the American game rose from a flawed development system that relies on a mishmash of influences, including summer league coaches, shoe company representatives, street agents and college recruiters.” Reebok executive Sonny Vaccaro, a name many hoops fans will recognize, provides his take on the situation as well.

Check out the stories, post your thoughts. Have a great week!

Weekend News…

It’s a quiet Saturday. NBA.com’s has John Schumann reporting from Las Vegas (great line: “Michael Redd shooting from the international three-point line is just not fair.)

Otherwise, it was actually a pretty busy week for the team. Monday, Coach Jordan met with the media to discuss his contract extension. We wrapped up Summer League Tuesday night and it looks like we’ve definitely got a few keepers based on some of the performances that came out of the nine games (that said, remember everyone, it is just Summer League - keep it in perspective.) Then on Thursday, Darius was introduced to the Washington media.

Let’s keep the weekend interesting: with the most recent transaction completed by the Wizards, what do you think is the team’s next move?

Around The Net:

There’s been a ton said here on the blog by everyone that’s recently posted about Songaila so I’ll keep my comments brief on him, which are pretty much in line with what you all have said: great addition, adds depth to the front line, and in my mind, provides the all-important mid-range big this team hasn’t had the past two years.

Moving along…

Mike Wise of the Washington Post discusses Arenas and Jamison and their path to being named members of the US National Team.

Wise writes, “More than James, Wade, Carmelo Anthony or any of the returning players from the 2004 Olympic team that was exposed and beaten three times in Athens, Arenas and Jamison represent the nation’s changing fortunes in basketball. Two years together in Washington has altered their NBA legacies.”

Anyone who thinks the 18 players gathered in Vegas for Training Camp are there to enjoy the sun and casinos should check out this Associated Press report:

“The players wore smiles, but they clearly take their task seriously. While James and Marion don’t have to worry about being left home, players such as Hinrich, Shane Battier, Bruce Bowen, Luke Ridnour and Antawn Jamison are working to prove their worth to Krzyzewski and his staff.”

It’s nice to see players who are taking pride, not only for the letters on their jerseys, but in themselves as well. While the competitive aspect can be directly attribulted to the “try-out” process (don’t call it a “try-out” if Coach K is around…), it says a lot about the players who said “yes” in the first place.

This isn’t All-Star Saturday folks. These guys are busting their tails in what is usually a time reserved for surf and sand. Any fan of NBA basketball should keep a close eye on this group. They may not have the glitz and glamour of ‘92 (will anyone? Doubtful), but unlike any NBA-based team preceding it, they’re not walking in expecting a podium appearance, just because they took the 14 hour flight.

That’s my rant. Feel free to post…

AUDIO: Songaila Press Conference

On Thursday, July 20, the Wizards held a press conference to introduce forward Darius Songaila. Wizards Chairman Abe Pollin, President Susan O’Malley and President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld were on hand the join the Wizards’ newest players as he met with the media.

Click here to download the interview session.

http://www.nba.com/wizards/multimedia/podcast.xml

iTunes Podcast: Click Here or search “Washington Wizards” in iTunes.