Kobe will be centerpiece of Team USA

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Kobe Bryant will be the centerpiece of the new-look USA Basketball team that is expected to improve upon a disappointing bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics.

Bryant brings NBA championship credentials and high-powered scoring, joining Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and 20 other players selected Sunday for a possible spot on the world championship and 2008 Beijing Olympic teams.
“It’s his time,†USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Bryant. “He’s 27 years old now. He should try to assume a position of leadership in the team. I would think he’s very hungry to do this. I see him fitting in very, very well.â€Â


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11683382/

 

[Roman529]

Leaving AI off the team is just wrong...I see the USA playing for another Bronze medal. Too many chiefs and not enough indians on the team as usual. That is why we lose to countries like Italy, Argentina, etc. :mad:

 

[Samphin]

I see this team being better than the last version. At least this time around they put some perimeter scorers on the team. That was the downfall at the last tourney, everyone tried to drive the lane and the foreign defenses just collapsed on them and swallowed them up. Players like Kobe, Reddick and others can make the shots from the outside, which should help the players like LeBron and Carmelo create their own shots.

Also remember that this time around, USA Basketball has a program now. In other years, the picked the roster, the played together a few times, and then tourney time. At the next tourney thay picked a new team. This team here is much more of a national team that will play together at more than one tourney and hopefully develop some chemistry.

 

[PHINATIC13]

I see this team being better than the last version. At least this time around they put some perimeter scorers on the team. That was the downfall at the last tourney, everyone tried to drive the lane and the foreign defenses just collapsed on them and swallowed them up. Players like Kobe, Reddick and others can make the shots from the outside, which should help the players like LeBron and Carmelo create their own shots.

Also remember that this time around, USA Basketball has a program now. In other years, the picked the roster, the played together a few times, and then tourney time. At the next tourney thay picked a new team. This team here is much more of a national team that will play together at more than one tourney and hopefully develop some chemistry.

That's the key imo.I don't want to see 15-20 individuals playing I want to see a TEAM.

 

[Rixon]

i love iverson but perhaps the coaches though his time came and went.
he is 33 now and hell be 35-36 in 2008. the young guys have to step up and take over. i give Iverson a bunch of credit for what he did in 2004. he was the only player playing with a sense of urgency and it looked like he was the only one giving 110%. its a shame he wont get another chance to get the gold he is arguably the best small man of all time. but at least he had a shot at the gold remember what happened to I. thomas? talk about a SNUB.
As far as Kobe goes I just hope he doesnt try to be the point guard of the team and messes it all up. With the way international teams play in these tournaments we need all the team unity and team chemistry we can get.

 

[Kobe]

i love iverson but perhaps the coaches though his time came and went.
he is 33 now and hell be 35-36 in 2008. the young guys have to step up and take over. i give Iverson a bunch of credit for what he did in 2004. he was the only player playing with a sense of urgency and it looked like he was the only one giving 110%. its a shame he wont get another chance to get the gold he is arguably the best small man of all time. but at least he had a shot at the gold remember what happened to I. thomas? talk about a SNUB.
As far as Kobe goes I just hope he doesnt try to be the point guard of the team and messes it all up. With the way international teams play in these tournaments we need all the team unity and team chemistry we can get.

I felt Tim Duncan was playing his heart out and giving 110%.

 

[Jaj]

i love iverson but perhaps the coaches though his time came and went.
he is 33 now and hell be 35-36 in 2008. the young guys have to step up and take over. i give Iverson a bunch of credit for what he did in 2004. he was the only player playing with a sense of urgency and it looked like he was the only one giving 110%. its a shame he wont get another chance to get the gold he is arguably the best small man of all time. but at least he had a shot at the gold remember what happened to I. thomas? talk about a SNUB.
As far as Kobe goes I just hope he doesnt try to be the point guard of the team and messes it all up. With the way international teams play in these tournaments we need all the team unity and team chemistry we can get.

Kobe doesn't even like the point guard role. He'll play very well because he'll get open looks, he'll make them, play good defense and rebound plenty. Duncan by the way did fine last year. He's again a great choice to be playing center. Lamar however shouldn't have to play center ever again.

 

[Roman529]

I would rather see the NCAA team that wins the championship play for the Gold Medal for the USA, rather than a bunch of greedy pro's who don't care....or maybe the starting 5 of the NCAA champs, and the other top 5 collegians, and then throw in 1-3 pro's for experience (Like Shaq or Duncan at Center, Power Forward, Kobe or AI at Guard, etc.)

 

[phunwin]

Honestly, if it could realistically be done, I'd just as soon have us send the reigning NBA champs...or at least the best NBA team composed of American players. Since the Spurs are from locations all over the globe, and Tim Duncan would rather drink a Drano Daquiri than play in another FIBA-refereed game, why not send the Pistons? Seriously, does anyone think the Detroit Pistons wouldn't whup up on the Argentine and Yugoslavian national teams?

Just sub Paul Pierce in for Argentine Carlos Delfino, since Pierce played with the Pistons in the All-Star Game.

 

[MikeO]

Kobe Bryant will be the centerpiece of the new-look USA Basketball team that is expected to improve upon a disappointing bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics.

Bryant brings NBA championship credentials and high-powered scoring, joining Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and 20 other players selected Sunday for a possible spot on the world championship and 2008 Beijing Olympic teams.
“It’s his time,†USA Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said of Bryant. “He’s 27 years old now. He should try to assume a position of leadership in the team. I would think he’s very hungry to do this. I see him fitting in very, very well.â€Â


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11683382/

If Kobe is the center-piece of the team, then 2 things.....

1) Many Americans will be rooting AGAINST this team much like the last Olympics.

2) This team won't win a Gold Medal.

Nothing against Kobe's skills. But he isn't a team player, he isn't liked by many people, he will do or say something to cause a disaster in that lockerroom.

 

[Samphin]

If Kobe is the center-piece of the team, then 2 things.....

1) Many Americans will be rooting AGAINST this team much like the last Olympics.

2) This team won't win a Gold Medal.

Nothing against Kobe's skills. But he isn't a team player, he isn't liked by many people, he will do or say something to cause a disaster in that lockerroom.

Actually, Kobe has been doing nothing but getting his teammates involved lately in L.A. He takes over in the fourth quarter when they need it. I fail to see how people get mad at him taking so many shots when he is making them. Like it or not, Kobe has a great inside and outside game and can play defense wit the best in the league.

I know one thing for sure. USA Basketball has a better shot at winning the gold with Kobe Bryant, than without him.

 

[Samphin]

i love iverson but perhaps the coaches though his time came and went.
he is 33 now and hell be 35-36 in 2008. the young guys have to step up and take over. i give Iverson a bunch of credit for what he did in 2004. he was the only player playing with a sense of urgency and it looked like he was the only one giving 110%. its a shame he wont get another chance to get the gold he is arguably the best small man of all time. but at least he had a shot at the gold remember what happened to I. thomas? talk about a SNUB.
As far as Kobe goes I just hope he doesnt try to be the point guard of the team and messes it all up. With the way international teams play in these tournaments we need all the team unity and team chemistry we can get.

For those who don't know why Isiah Thomas was left off the original Dream Team, here you go. It seems everyone's hero, Michael Jordan, kept his grudge against Isiah all the way to the bitter end. His political clout in the game helped keep Isiah off that team. I am sure most will blame it on Kobe though...

 

[MikeO]

For those who don't know why Isiah Thomas was left off the original Dream Team, here you go. It seems everyone's hero, Michael Jordan, kept his grudge against Isiah all the way to the bitter end. His political clout in the game helped keep Isiah off that team. I am sure most will blame it on Kobe though...

Old news. Everyone knew MJ kept him off the team

 

[PHINATIC13]

If Kobe is the center-piece of the team, then 2 things.....

1) Many Americans will be rooting AGAINST this team much like the last Olympics.

2) This team won't win a Gold Medal.

Nothing against Kobe's skills. But he isn't a team player, he isn't liked by many people, he will do or say something to cause a disaster in that lockerroom.

Unbeliveable statements,glad to see our not jaded or anything.:shakeno:

Nice colors you're showing there MikeO.

 

[MikeO]

Unbeliveable statements,glad to see our not jaded or anything.:shakeno:

Nice colors you're showing there MikeO.

It's true........many Americans in the last Olympics were rooting AGAINST Team USA. I didn't say I was one of them, but it was a major story 2 years ago. Every major news source covered it. How the team was spoiled. How the team didn't stay in the Olympic villiage. How the team didn't want to participate in opening and closing ceromonies. How the team locked themselves in their rooms and played X-BOX all day. How the team showed up for the womans basketball teams games and had headphones on and didn't pay attention.

A large chunk of Americans in this country didn't want THAT team USA to win. To ignore that fact is just ignoring the truth.

And the reason he isn't liked is because MANY people believe he raped that girl. He got off (like OJ did) but that doesn't change the public perception that he in the eyes of many raped that girl.