Never again.
Hardly words you would ever expect to hear from an athlete, a team, or an organization on the heels of earning the high honor of Olympic bronze. But this is USA basketball — the only sports organization with a more dominant history than the Boston Celtics of the '60s, the New York Yankees of the '50s, and UCLA men's basketball of the '60s and '70s. Silver is a travesty. Bronze a catastrophe.
Simply put, team USA took the gold for granted. This lack of ambition finally came back to haunt our team when we discovered in the 21st century that the rest of the world had tilted the international game in their favor. The staggering truth is that after the U.S. had laid a disastrous egg in the 2002 World Championships, finishing sixth, our country was fortunate to win Bronze in the most recent summer Olympics.
Commissioner David Stern and the other powers-that-be in the NBA and team USA were accused of not sending the best available players to Athens, but the flashiest. Why? Perhaps so they could make more millions selling team USA replica jerseys of the league's premier players. However, the end result could not be ignored, and today it seems the NBA and Team USA are serious about fielding the best possible team for 2008.
Twenty-three players have been invited for the '06 World Championships, and it seems selected wisely. If successful, this will be the same team that plays for gold in the 2008 Summer Olympics. The men here appear to meet needs that were sorely lacking in 2004, such as outside shooting and simple fundamental skills like ball-handling and rebounding. While only 12 will be able to dress for any given game, the rough draft certainly looks promising. Here now are your 2008 Olympians.
Mike Krzyzewski
Head Coach (Duke Blue Devils)
No one doubts the will, work ethic, or the motivational tactics of Duke's famed Coach K. What we must doubt however is his ability to get through to NBA level talent. Is his reality strong enough to impress upon these eight-figure egos? Perhaps under this limited format international competition and the Olympics gives them, and perhaps due to the dire straits that USA basketball is currently in, it is, but only time will truly tell.
Carmelo Anthony
Forward (Denver Nuggets)
'Melo struggled mightily at the '04 Olympics and it is somewhat of a surprise to see his name back on an Olympic roster. However, Anthony possesses a fairly consistent outside jumpshot along with his ability to penetrate. His game is fundamentally-sound and well-rounded. Perhaps it was merely a slump.
Gilbert Arenas
Guard (Washington Wizards)
An unquestioned talent, but may not have the kind of game most conducive to international basketball, which cracks down on carrying, palming, traveling, and won't allow so much as a head fake. A lot of Arenas' fancy dribbling tricks to beat his man and get to the bucket may not fly with international referees.
Shane Battier
Forward (Memphis Grizzlies)
Remember him? I bet you haven't seen him much since the last time he was starring for Coach K at Duke. Look for him to get prime minutes from his old coach and perhaps he can bring Battier back to the kind of player he was in college. His game is disciplined and fundamentally-sound, a very solid fit.
Chauncey Billups
Guard (Detroit Pistons)
Another perfect fit. Billups can shoot the lights out, elevates his game in clutch situations, can drive to the basket without being called for a travel, and is not a stranger to working within a disciplined team concept. His 2004 NBA championship ring says so.
Chris Bosh
Forward (Toronto Raptors)
Unproven and still making his way in the NBA, Bosh is coming off a strong showing at this year's all-star game (for what that's worth, anyway). He is the definition of a power forward, complete with rough raw edges in his game that have yet to be sanded out.
Bruce Bowen
Guard (San Antonio Spurs)
Defensive specialist extraordinaire. His defense is so airtight they should call him Tupperware. Anyone who watched last year's NBA Finals can attest to that. He hits three's, too, just hope Coach K remembers to take him off the floor or keep the ball out of his hands at the end of games when the other team is looking for a body to foul. Bowen is a pedestrian 57 percent shooter from the stripe for his career.
Elton Brand
Forward (Los Angeles Clippers)
After toiling for many years in Chicago, it seems Brand has finally put it all together with of all teams, the Clippers. A much-polished low-post game may mean trouble for international competition.
Kobe Bryant
Guard (Los Angeles Lakers)
For all the crap he's taken ... who's better than Kobe?
Dwight Howard
Forward/Center (Orlando Magic)
For all his talent and potential, it might not be the best idea to select a player who's had more high school games than NBA ones. May still have some kinks to work out.
LeBron James
Forward (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Hopefully, Coach K will learn from the mistakes of Larry Brown and give this man some minutes.
Antawn Jamison
Forward (Washington Wizards)
A questionable choice and at best, an x-factor. Recent history shows it's a gamble to select players who are overly-dependent on pure athleticism.
Joe Johnson
Guard/Forward (Atlanta Hawks)
To be traded from the red-hot Suns to Atlanta is beyond cruel. Perhaps a team USA invite is just what he needs ... doesn't mean he has to get major minutes, though, right?
Shawn Marion
Forward (Phoenix Suns)
Marion cannot be playing any better right now alongside Nash and Co. He has the power to post up and play inside along with the finesse to fire away from three and the discipline to know when to do which.
Brad Miller
Center (Sacramento Kings)
Another one of those "purpose" selections, Miller brings strong defense, rebounding, and toughness to the squad.
Adam Morrison
Guard (Gonzaga Bulldogs)
One of the top players in college hoops, Morrison can light up the scoreboard and seemingly do it all while playing in the West Coast Conference. But can he do it all against the best in the world?
Lamar Odom
Forward (Los Angeles Lakers)
I have to completely disagree with this choice. While an incredible talent, what has Odom done in recent years to justify this selection? More importantly, if he can't adapt to Phil Jackson's triangle, how will he ever adapt to international play? Hopefully, this problem will be evened out by 2008.
Chris Paul
Guard (Oklahoma City/New Orleans Hornets)
After an incredible '04-'05 season with Wake Forest, Paul is quietly having a solid rookie year. We will have to wait and see on this one, though.
Paul Pierce
Forward/Guard (Boston Celtics)
Yes, he is an enigma. But for now he leads his team in points, assists, rebounds, and steals per game...even if that team is Boston. Pierce wouldn’t appear to have a game suited for the international style but he was the high scorer and perhaps the only bright spot on the 2002 USA team
J. J. Redick
Guard (Duke Blue Devils)
Kid can shoot the lights out as I'm sure you all know. But as those of you who saw the Duke/Carolina game saw, he gets into streaks. He can kill his own team if he falls into a bad streak, although playing under his own Coach K is sure to get the best out of him.
Michael Redd
Guard (Milwaukee Bucks)
Incredibly talented outside shooter with skills to spare. He'll be fine.
Luke Ridnour
Guard (Seattle SuperSonics)
Adapted quite nicely to the pros in his season and a half. Capable of solid contributions for team USA, as well.
Amare Stoudemire
Center (Phoenix Suns)
Hopefully, the big man will be healthy by then. If Shaq is not going to be added to this roster, it will be up to Stoudemire to play that role. After all, he is younger, healthier, and more athletic than perhaps Shaq ever was.
Dwyane Wade
Guard (Miami Heat)
Great mid-range jump-shooter who has never shot NBA threes very well. He will certainly find that enclosed three-point line to his liking. For all his immense talent and ability to make tons of clutch buckets, he is a team player and a selfless ball distributor when need be. Just hope he doesn't try getting too creative on his dribble drives the way he does in the NBA. That'll draw a whistle or three in international play.
***
Yes, there are several noticeable snubs from this list such as Shaquille O'Neal, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash. However, it is not too late just yet to make late additions to this roster and there has been talk at least of Shaq still being invited.
Although this team of 23 still has yet to be cut down to size, it is apparent that these players were selected wisely with specific roles and purposes in mind in order to find the best team as opposed to best collection of stars. If Team USA fails to win gold in 2008, it will not be because they made the same mistakes as in years past.
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