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Team USA edges Brazil in exhibition

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Team USA found the going much tougher against Brazil on Tuesday than it did a day earlier against China.

LeBron James, Elton Brand and Joe Johnson came up with huge plays in the final minute as the United States basketball team edged Brazil, 90-86, in a warmup for the World Championships in Japan later this month.

The exhibition victory did not come without a price, however, as Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony hyperextended his right knee chasing a loose ball in the second quarter. Anthony, whose 16 points led the U.S., did not return.

"I think he's fine," Team USA assistant coach Mike D'Antoni of the Phoenix Suns said. "A couple days' rest and he should be OK."

On Monday, Team USA rolled past China, 119-73, and it appeared it was on its way to an impressive victory in this one after opening a 52-38 lead at the break. But Brazil scored the first 16 points of the second half and hung tough thereafter.

The U.S. held just an 87-86 lead before Cleveland Cavaliers superstar James drove the left baseline and banked in a shot with 34 seconds left, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Brand blocked a shot on the other end. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 20 seconds to go but missed both free throws, giving Brazil a chance to tie.

But Atlanta Hawks guard Johnson stole the ball from Marcelinho Machado and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left, then split two free throws to ice the contest.

"This will help us in the long run," D'Antoni said of the close contest.

Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls scored 14 points, Johnson added 12 and James 11 for the U.S., which was outrebounded, 41-25.

Leandro Barbosa of the Suns scored 14 points and James' Cavaliers teammate Anderson Varejao collected 11 and 16 rebounds for Brazil.

Team USA travels to Seoul to take on Lithuania on Sunday and host Korea on August 15. After those games, coach Mike Krzyzewski is expected to make two cuts to reduce the roster to 12 for the World Championships, which begin August 19.

Krzyzewski also must select a captain and revealed that James, Anthony and Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade will receive strong consideration.

At the outset of training camp in July, Krzyzewski - the first college coach put in charge of the national team since the advent of the NBA era in 1992 - said the goal was for the Americans to re-establish themselves as the dominant team in international basketball.

In 2002, the U.S. finished an embarrassing sixth at the World Championships, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars. It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where the Americans lost three more games and settled for the bronze medal.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AnMZyUQYVnbWeRu.Xu.EKdG8vLYF?slug=teamusaexhibitions&prov=st&type=lgns
 
hinrich is probably one of my favorite players because he was a jayhawk
 
Down Goes 'Melo....the Nuggets are happy I bet....NOT.

Time to go back to having all amateurs on the National Team (college and high school all Americans).
 
Roman529 said:
Down Goes 'Melo....the Nuggets are happy I bet....NOT.

Time to go back to having all amateurs on the National Team (college and high school all Americans).

As much as I enjoy the U.S. bringing a super team to the WC's and the Olympics, I tend to agree with you. The best players play from Novemeber 1st to June . . and now they gotta practice and compete there whole summer away, and soon as this is over they gotta go right into camps . . I mean I would not be happy if I was a team owner and my star does this, fatigue and Injury risk definetly increase as the season wears on.

Was like this in soccer this year as well. Like the Germans they maybe got 2 solid weeks off after the WC and had to already start getting ready for Club soccer after competing all year.

I can honestly see why alot of players turn down the invitation . . even tho its for your country, sometimes u need a break, and when u are apart of something like this, u don't get one.
 
Anthony OK after knee injury


Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony had no swelling or pain Wednesday and was walking normally, one day after hyperextending his knee while playing for the U.S. national team in China.


Anthony is considered day-to-day, the Nuggets said.

The injury came in the U.S. team's 90-86 victory over Brazil in Guangzhou, China. Anthony, who scored 15 points in the first half, slipped while chasing a ball to the sideline with 2:21 left in the second quarter.


http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5858754?FSO1&ATT=HMA
 
Carmelo, U.S. bounce back, blow out Lithuania




With Carmelo Anthony back at full strength, the United States had little trouble with Lithuania.

Anthony, who hyperextended his knee and left in the second quarter of a win over Brazil last week, scored 19 points Sunday as the United States cruised to a 111-88 win over Lithuania in a tuneup for the world championships.

Anthony set the tone early with a slam dunk in the opening minutes that drew a huge ovation from the crowd, and LeBron James closed out the first half with a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the U.S. a 56-32 lead at the break.

Dwyane Wade added 14 points as the United States improved to 4-0 in exhibition games leading to the world championships, which begin Aug. 19. The Americans took a 28-point lead after the third quarter.

“Our game plan was to just keep the ball moving,†said Anthony, who leads the U.S. in scoring in the four games. “We know we can score from just about anywhere, so we don’t have to wait for a fantastic shot.â€Â

Early in the final quarter, James brought the crowd to its feet with a one-handed dunk that made it 87-55. The Cleveland Cavaliers star gave the Americans a 108-78 advantage with another jam with two minutes left.

Seven players scored 10 points or more for the Americans. Besides Anthony and Wade, James and Antawn Jamison had 13, Joe Johnson scored 12, and Kirk Hinrich and Chris Paul 10 each.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14331400/
 
Arenas knocked out of worlds before tourney begins


Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas strained his groin during practice and won't play for the United States at the world championships.
Arenas was hurt Monday, leaving him unable to compete for a spot on the 12-player roster.

"We know Gilbert is really disappointed," team managing director Jerry Colangelo said. "He's done a great job. "It's an unfortunate situation, but he is not going to be able to continue on."

http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/9600645
 
LeBron's 23 points paces U.S. rout of Korea


LeBron James is on a mission to put USA Basketball back on top of the world.
In a game that was decided in the first 10 minutes, James scored 23 points Tuesday to lead the United States to an emphatic 116-63 win over South Korea in a tuneup game for the world championships.

"We were a little sluggish at first and I was able to pick up my energy level and the guys followed," James said. "We got better as the game went on and took care of business."

The Americans took control early, led by James. The Cleveland Cavaliers star hit a 3-pointer two minutes in, and then gave the United States an early 9-2 lead with an easy layup.

Late in the first period, James' two-handed dunk made it 13-5 and the Americans finished the first quarter with a comfortable 22-13 lead.
With the win, the Americans improved to 5-0 in exhibition games leading up to the worlds, which begin later this week in Japan.

Dwyane Wade gave the U.S. a 20-point lead midway through the second period when he broke through the Korean defense and finished with a two-handed jam.

James, who had 19 points in the first half, stole the ball at center court and went in all alone for a dunk with 3:49 left in the second period as the U.S. widened its lead to 62-35 at the break.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/more/08/15/us.korea.ap/index.html
 
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