Team USA Basketball 2008 training camp invites

[Clockwork Orange]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2349009

Carmelo Anthony, Denver
Gilbert Arenas, Washington
Shane Battier, Memphis
Chauncey Billups, Detroit
Chris Bosh, Toronto
Bruce Bowen, San Antonio
Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
Dwight Howard, Orlando
Josh Howard, Dallas
LeBron James, Cleveland
Antawn Jamison, Washington
Joe Johnson, Atlanta
Rashard Lewis, Seattle
Shawn Marion, Phoenix
Brad Miller, Sacramento
Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City
Paul Pierce, Boston
Michael Redd, Milwaukee
Luke Ridnour, Seattle
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
Dwyane Wade, Miami

That's plenty of talent. After they've got the roster set, they've got to make a team out of them.

Bring home the gold boys.:yayaya:

[WABronco]

Luke Ridnour?!?!?!?!?!?

[RhymesayersDU]

It also should be noted that Shaq has a standing invitation to play. From what I read, if he feels like playing, he can just go play.

[Clockwork Orange]

It also should be noted that Shaq has a standing invitation to play. From what I read, if he feels like playing, he can just go play.

I don't like that. They need to set the roster and stick with it. These guys need to become a team and play like one. This isn't an All-Star game and it shouldn't be treated as such.

Get the guys in there who want to do this, who want to play hard and who want to win a gold medal.

[RhymesayersDU]

I would argue that Shaq is a veteran, and his size makes him somebody that you can just throw in there. You put him on the block, and nobody can guard him really, and even when he's doubled, he knows how to pass and find open people.

He may not be dominant Shaq of a few years ago, but still, a guy his size with his knowledge of the game, I'm good with him having an standing invite.

[yavoon]

I would argue that Shaq is a veteran, and his size makes him somebody that you can just throw in there. You put him on the block, and nobody can guard him really, and even when he's doubled, he knows how to pass and find open people.

He may not be dominant Shaq of a few years ago, but still, a guy his size with his knowledge of the game, I'm good with him having an standing invite.

I always thought shaq wussed out because he was afraid of being castrated by the international game. who would he defend? he's almost certainly going to have to defend a player who CAN HIT 3 POINTERS.

and I think the international game would be a lot more willing w/ no nba institution in place to actually call it when he bulls over ppl w/ his ass.

[Clockwork Orange]

I would argue that Shaq is a veteran, and his size makes him somebody that you can just throw in there. You put him on the block, and nobody can guard him really, and even when he's doubled, he knows how to pass and find open people.

He may not be dominant Shaq of a few years ago, but still, a guy his size with his knowledge of the game, I'm good with him having an standing invite.

Yes, but how much will Shaq have to offer 2 years from now? Physically speaking? I also don't think it's right that someone who makes a two year commitment to this team gets bumped at the last minute because Shaq decides he feels like playing.

The one that gets me is Iverson not getting invited. I'm not a big Iverson fan, but he played harder than anyone else on Team USA in 2004 and was one of the superstars who actually wanted to represent his country. I thought he deserved an automatic spot on the team.

[yavoon]

chauncey billups
kobe bryant
josh howard
elton brand
brad miller

thats the starting 5.

also rashard lewis and gilbert arenas should probably get auto dropped.

[RhymesayersDU]

Yes, but how much will Shaq have to offer 2 years from now? Physically speaking? I also don't think it's right that someone who makes a two year commitment to this team gets bumped at the last minute because Shaq decides he feels like playing.

The one that gets me is Iverson not getting invited. I'm not a big Iverson fan, but he played harder than anyone else on Team USA in 2004 and was one of the superstars who actually wanted to represent his country. I thought he deserved an automatic spot on the team.
You make some good points. Not only who do you bump, but do you bump a center? I would hate to see a guy like dwight howard bumped for shaq, but still, I'm in inclined to let Shaq go if he wants.

Now as for AI, he's still my favorite player in the League. Has been since he came in, and it's ****ty they didn't invite him. It's reputation I guess. Or maybe they don't think he'll want to make a 2 year committment with what happened in Philly with the whole practice deal. Who knows. But he is all heart on the court, USA could use a guy like him.

[Clockwork Orange]

I can't see Bruce Bowen making this team. Yes, he's a teriffic defender in the NBA. Unfortunately for him these games are going to be called by international officials under international rules. Our guys found out the hard way in 2004 that the international officials actually call travelling, palming and *gasp* superstars don't get away with murder. Bowen's physical (and sometimes dirty) tactics are going to get him in foul trouble pretty quick in the Olympics.

[RhymesayersDU]

How many guys do we get to have for this squad? 12?

[Clockwork Orange]

I would think 12, yes.

[Clockwork Orange]

Here's my 12, starters in bold.

Guards
Chauncey Billups
Chris Paul
Michael Redd
Dwayne Wade
Kobe Bryant

Forwards
Carmelo Anthony
Elton Brand
Paul Pierce
Lebron James
Shawn Marion

Centers
Amare Stoudemire
Dwight Howard

Stoudamire plays center for Phoenix, so that's where I slated him. If he comes back allright from his knee surgery, he's a lock.

[yavoon]

remember when they were talking about all the role players they were going to use?

I doubt if they really end up w/ any role players. who on that list is a role player? bowen? the pgs? josh howard? sure seems basically like "here are pretty much our best players"

[Clockwork Orange]

remember when they were talking about all the role players they were going to use?

I doubt if they really end up w/ any role players. who on that list is a role player? bowen? the pgs? josh howard? sure seems basically like "here are pretty much our best players"

What's really sad is that most of the USA's best have chosen not to go. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and others who we saw at the glorified pick up game in Houston aren't interested in representing their country.

Maybe I'm just spoiled because I'm a hockey fan and hockey players consider it an honor to be invited to represent their country in the Olympics.

[yavoon]

What's really sad is that most of the USA's best have chosen not to go. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and others who we saw at the glorified pick up game in Houston aren't interested in representing their country.

Maybe I'm just spoiled because I'm a hockey fan and hockey players consider it an honor to be invited to represent their country in the Olympics.


I dont know I bought into the idea of we're sending a "team" this time. obviously thats crap w/ this list.

they should send redick. now thats a role player.

[Clockwork Orange]

they should send redick. now thats a role player.

No kidding. It seems like it's almost fashionable to bash the guy (I have no idea why, I guess people have their reasons), but he's an absolute lights out shooter. Something that Team USA was sorely lacking in 2004.

[RhymesayersDU]

I dont know I bought into the idea of we're sending a "team" this time. obviously thats crap w/ this list.

they should send redick. now thats a role player.
How is that crap? In 2004 we sent the most popular guys we could, either by fan voting or jersey sales or whatever.

We could have used a guy like Michael Redd. We could have used a guy like Chauncy.

Ok, I'll agree that none of the guys who will make the squad are role players, but at least this go-round they're looking to put 5 guys out there who play their positions and don't just try to drive the lane one-on-one and dunk.

But, I would agree about sending Reddick. Let him back up Redd, or hell put them both on the floor. That will break up any potential 2-3 zone defenses real quick.

[Connecticut Bronco Fan]

my Starters

C Amare Stoudemire
F Elton Brand
F LeBron James
G Kobe Bryant
G Dwyane Wade

Bench
1 Michael Redd
2 Chris Paul
3 Chauncey Billups
4 Shawn Marion
5 Chris Bosh
6 Dwight Howard
7 Carmelo Anthony

Left out
Gilbert Arenas
Bruce Bowen
Josh Howard
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce
Brad Miller
Shane Battier
Antawn Jamison
Rashard Lewis
Luke Ridnour

*edited for comment*

The olympics are 2 years away, and to be honest with you, Coach K is the head coach, so his boy redick will more then likly be on the squad. It is too far away to tell right now who is going to make the team, but I honestly think Redick will be on the squad.

[RhymesayersDU]

OK, so somebody knowledgable on Phoenix basketball, if there is anybody on this board, tell me what position Amare plays. Last season he played Center, but I thought I heard that he was generally playing out of position and was unhappy, hence bringing in Kurt Thomas.

Isn't he happier at the 4 spot? Or am I confused on that?

[Connecticut Bronco Fan]

OK, so somebody knowledgable on Phoenix basketball, if there is anybody on this board, tell me what position Amare plays. Last season he played Center, but I thought I heard that he was generally playing out of position and was unhappy, hence bringing in Kurt Thomas.

Isn't he happier at the 4 spot? Or am I confused on that?

Kurt Thomas and Stoudamire have been hurt pretty much all year, so who knows what the suns would of done.

Stoudamire could be a center in international play, his speed and size would make him ideal.

[yavoon]

my USA team:
guards:
chauncey billups
redick
Kobe bryant
Lindsey hunter

Forwards:
Josh Howard
Elton brand
Shawn marion
Joe johnson
Paul pierce

Center:
Ben Wallace
Amare Stoudamire
Brad Miller

and lets start:
Chauncey
Redick
Shawn Marion
Elton Brand
Ben Wallace

rotate in:
kobe
lindsey
Josh Howard
Amare Stoudamire

leave the rest for special circumstances.

yah its late, seemed like a decent idea. I could be more creative but I'm not an encyclopedia of basketball players.

[yavoon]

OK, so somebody knowledgable on Phoenix basketball, if there is anybody on this board, tell me what position Amare plays. Last season he played Center, but I thought I heard that he was generally playing out of position and was unhappy, hence bringing in Kurt Thomas.

Isn't he happier at the 4 spot? Or am I confused on that?

He wants to play the 4 because he wants to play more outside. If he stays at the five he has to guard the big uglies who bang him around, and thats probably not how "he rolls" or what have u. D'antoni basically just made him play the 5.

[RhymesayersDU]

Kurt Thomas and Stoudamire have been hurt pretty much all year, so who knows what the suns would of done.

Stoudamire could be a center in international play, his speed and size would make him ideal.
Interesting. That is true, we don't know what would have happened, considering Amare hasn't played yet.

And that is true, athleticism will always be a luxury for team USA, lot of guys who can play multiple positions.

[yavoon]

Kurt Thomas and Stoudamire have been hurt pretty much all year, so who knows what the suns would of done.

Stoudamire could be a center in international play, his speed and size would make him ideal.

stoudamire can be a center in the nba. really the only thing that happens is all the really talented big men are athletic enough to play the 4 so they do and the team gets a big oof to play center thinking that the "size" would be more valuable than whatever extra talent they can pickup at the 4.

[Connecticut Bronco Fan]

http://www.nba.com/games/20060227/PHXHOU/boxscore.html

Tonight Boris Diaw played C for the Suns, Its pretty amazing how Yao Ming can only get 27 on a guy a foot shorter then him.

We should just bring the Suns to the Olympics. =0

[Clockwork Orange]

I find it interesting that they're saving a tryout spot for Greg Oden, a high school senior. He's the most touted high schooler since some guy named Lebron.

Faderproof should be pretty pumped since Oden has verbally comitted to play at Ohio State. He'd be a lock to make the jump from high school to the pros if not for the NBA's new age limit.

[Clockwork Orange]

We should just bring the Suns to the Olympics.

If only their best player wasn't Canadian. ;D

[yavoon]

http://www.nba.com/games/20060227/PHXHOU/boxscore.html

Tonight Boris Diaw played C for the Suns, Its pretty amazing how Yao Ming can only get 27 on a guy a foot shorter then him.

We should just bring the Suns to the Olympics. =0

I think d'antoni is excellent for the nba(while van gundy is an uncreative hack) in that he's daring enough to ask "how much can ur big oof center really score against a better basketball player."

[Connecticut Bronco Fan]

If only their best player wasn't Canadian. ;D


Good point Hilarious!

[MajikMan7]

Starters
Chauncey Billups, Detroit
Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
LeBron James, Cleveland
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix
Brad Miller, Sacramento

Bench
Chris Bosh, Toronto
Elton Brand, L.A. Clippers
Dwight Howard, Orlando
Dwyane Wade, Miami
Chris Paul, NO/Okla. City
Michael Redd, Milwaukee
Carmelo Anthony, Denver

[JCMElway]

my USA team:
guards:
chauncey billups
redick
Kobe bryant
Lindsey hunter

Forwards:
Josh Howard
Elton brand
Shawn marion
Joe johnson
Paul pierce

Center:
Ben Wallace
Amare Stoudamire
Brad Miller

and lets start:
Chauncey
Redick
Shawn Marion
Elton Brand
Ben Wallace

rotate in:
kobe
lindsey
Josh Howard
Amare Stoudamire

Bravo for putting Ben Wallace in there. He is the best defensive player in the league, how is Wallace not on the official invited list?

However, I would bring Reddick off the bench and start Kobe.

[Rock Chalk]

I don't like that. They need to set the roster and stick with it. These guys need to become a team and play like one. This isn't an All-Star game and it shouldn't be treated as such.

Get the guys in there who want to do this, who want to play hard and who want to win a gold medal.
No Hinrich? WTF, that dude is awesome.

[rbackfactory80]

The olympics is all about team ball. Sending over all these ball hogs will surely not win us the gold. I wish they would just send the NBA champs of that year.

[DrFate]

Left out
Gilbert Arenas
Bruce Bowen
Josh Howard
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce
Brad Miller
Shane Battier
Antawn Jamison
Rashard Lewis
Luke Ridnour



You just cut all the guys who play defense. ???

[ro_50]

TD is not playing because he's represented the team the last three times they've played in Intl Competition.

And he will be 30 and has a lot of wear and tear on his body. He needs a break during the summer time.

I dont get know Luke Ridnour is on the list.

And as for Bruce Bowen, I'm a Spurs fan, he needs to be on this team.

I think he has a great chance of making it.

The list is fine w/ me.

[Rock Chalk]

What's really sad is that most of the USA's best have chosen not to go. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and others who we saw at the glorified pick up game in Houston aren't interested in representing their country.

Maybe I'm just spoiled because I'm a hockey fan and hockey players consider it an honor to be invited to represent their country in the Olympics.
I think they chose not to go to Greece last time around because of fears of terrorism.

at least, that was the line we were fed. Dont know the real deal, all I know is that if someone wanted me to play in the Olympics not only would I say yes, Id train harder for that than any "job" I ever had.

[Mile High Shack]

we need someone like JJ Reddick on the team, the foreign game is all about the 3 point shot with the lane how it is set up

[Nuggets4]

Bravo for putting Ben Wallace in there. He is the best defensive player in the league, how is Wallace not on the official invited list?

However, I would bring Reddick off the bench and start Kobe.

Wallace declined a spot.

There are three "open" positions left. It's rumored those will go to Redick, Adam Morrison and Greg Oden.

[Mile High Shack]

Wallace declined a spot.

There are three "open" positions left. It's rumored those will go to Redick, Adam Morrison and Greg Oden.

whoever it is, I hope they can shoot the 3 better than our last USA team did, that was embarrasing

[Rock Chalk]

Really BS that Hinrich didnt even get a mention.

I dont watch much Chicago games but when I do that dude is balling seriously.

[RhymesayersDU]

Screw sending over Phoenix, if we were gunna send over a team, it's all about Detroit.

[dbfan4life]

Screw sending over Phoenix, if we were gunna send over a team, it's all about Detroit.

I've heard that suggested by local media guys here. Not a bad idea. Send over a team that's been playing together for a while. Send the NBA Champs for that year- whoever that might be.

[Nuggets4]

Really BS that Hinrich didnt even get a mention.

I dont watch much Chicago games but when I do that dude is balling seriously.

You can take the homer out of Kansas.......;)

[Rock Chalk]

You can take the homer out of Kansas.......;)
Have you watched Hinrich in the NBA at all?

How he isnt considered a top 20 player is a mystery to me.

[yavoon]

Bravo for putting Ben Wallace in there. He is the best defensive player in the league, how is Wallace not on the official invited list?

However, I would bring Reddick off the bench and start Kobe.

I was trying to regulate how many players were on the floor who demanded the ball a lot.

[Nuggets4]

Have you watched Hinrich in the NBA at all?

How he isnt considered a top 20 player is a mystery to me.

I watch him quite a bit. He's nowhere NEAR top 20 levels. He's a good player, but not "represent your country" good.

[RhymesayersDU]

Updated: March 1, 2006
Team USA questions and answers
By Chris Sheridan

Now that the first 22 members of Team USA are known, it's time to step back and take a look at how the team was put together, how long it will stay together and how well it will do at the World Championship this summer and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

The U.S. team lost three times at the 2004 Olympics in Athens en route to a bronze medal, and the previous U.S. national team lost three times at the 2002 World Championship in Indianapolis, finishing sixth.

The biggest difference this time around is that one man, Phoenix Suns chairman Jerry Colangelo, has been put in charge of selecting the players. Previously, it was done by committee.

Colangelo held face-to-face meetings over the past three months with each of the players he selected, along with a few of those he didn't invite. If he detected any wavering from prospective players on the three-year commitment he was seeking, he moved on to the next guy. And when he felt disrespected during the process, he let the players and their agents know how he felt.

There are plenty of questions surrounding the U.S. team. Here's a baker's dozen of questions and answers:


Q: Why isn't Allen Iverson on the team? And what about Lamar Odom, who was one of the better performers on the 2004 Olympic team?

A: Colangelo isn't saying yet, although both players seem quite upset by their snubs -- as was Baron Davis, who played on the 2002 U.S. team and wanted to have a chance (just as Paul Pierce did) to redeem himself.

Q: Was it an image thing with Iverson? Or an attitude thing?

A: Again, Colangelo isn't saying yet. He'll have more to say on Sunday when the team is formally announced on ABC.

Colangelo was questioned by Philadelphia reporters after meeting with Iverson earlier this year, and his comments were positive. I also know that Colangelo was smitten by Iverson's genuine enthusiasm for representing his country in 2004, an intangible that's tough to find in this day and age.

Q: What about Shaq?

A: Shaq is the only guy with an open invitation to join later, because Colangelo places a unique value on what his presence would mean for the U.S. program. Now that the Shaq and Kobe feud is over, that might be less of a hindrance.

Q: Where are some of the other big names? Where's Kevin Garnett? Tracy McGrady? Jermaine O'Neal? Jason Kidd and Vince Carter and Ray Allen?

A: They all had a chance, and none were really interested (although Shaq might still come on board).

Garnett, Kidd, Carter and Allen were all on the Olympic team that won gold in Sydney in 2000, while Shaq won his gold medal on the 1996 Olympic team. Each of those guys understands how draining and grueling the experience is (40 consecutive days together, long plane trips, endless sponsor and media commitments, biased referees), and they remember how it sapped their energy heading into their ensuing NBA seasons.

You have to remember that NBA players place a high value on their summers, and the need for personal downtime sometimes overrides their desire to represent their country. In the case of McGrady and Jermaine O'Neal, USA Basketball wasn't happy with either of them for bailing out on the 2004 team. Notice how Mike Bibby isn't in the mix this time, either. In McGrady's defense, he doesn't want to put the wear and tear on his bad back.

That is not just an American phenomenon. Peja Stojakovic is not planning to play for Serbia and Montenegro this summer, nor will Sarunas Jasikevicius play for Lithuania. Steve Nash hasn't played for Canada since 2002.

As for the Motown five: Chauncey Billups is on the list but, like Michael Redd, won't be playing this summer because of a personal commitment. Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton aren't on the list because they were concerned about fatigue, given that they expect to be playing into late June with the Pistons. Ben Wallace learned when he played for the 2002 U.S. team that his style of play is not suited to the international game. Rasheed Wallace, despite having a game suited for international play, wasn't considered.

Q: Why does Colangelo have 25 players coming to training camp when you can put only 12 on the active roster?

A: Some of the players (Adam Morrison, J.J. Redick and Greg Oden) are being brought in to get them involved in the national team program long-term (there's another World Championship in 2010 in Turkey, and the 2012 Olympics in London), while others are basically being told they'll have to try out for the few truly open roster spots.

When Colangelo was speaking to players face-to-face, he told some that if they believed a tryout to be beneath them, they weren't welcome.

Q: What's your best guess at the 12-man roster for Japan?

A: Gilbert Arenas, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Bruce Bowen, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Shawn Marion, Elton Brand, Chris Bosh and Brad Miller.

Some explanations: Bowen guards Ginobili in Spurs practice every day, so he would be the perfect guy to stick on Manu in the gold-medal game. Paul makes it for his quickness and ballhandling. Arenas brings shooting and ballhandling. Miller, Bosh and Brand are needed for their size and versatility. Pierce is needed for his shooting.

Q: What weaknesses might the U.S. team have?

A: There's only one true center, Brad Miller, and he does not have a back-to-the-basket offensive game. There are no shot-blockers other than Brand. And the lack of depth at point guard could be an issue.

But the No. 1 problem for the Americans in Athens was a lack of shooters (every opponent except Argentina played a tight 2-3 zone against the U.S.), and that seems to have been solved with Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd (not available in 2006), Gilbert Arenas, Joe Johnson and LBJ on board.

Q: Will this team have enough time to jell into a cohesive unit by the time the Japan tournament begins?

A: Starting July 18, the team will have a total of about 11 days together at training camp in Las Vegas, which pales in comparison to most of the other nations, which start camp in June. What ultimately matters, though, is how they look at the end, when the quarterfinals, semifinals and the gold-medal game roll around. It's coach Mike Krzyzewski's job to have them peaking at the right time.

Q: How much international basketball experience does this team have?

A: Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Amare Stoudemire got their feet wet in Athens, when they had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Shawn Marion was on the 2002 and 2004 teams, Brand was on the 2003 Olympic qualifying team, and Miller played for the U.S. team that went to Athens in 1998 when NBA players boycotted USA Basketball during a lockout.

(Miller, who was an undrafted rookie in 1998, still recalls that tournament fondly. He recently reminded me that Earl Boykins was the final player cut before the team left for Greece.)

Q: So is the roster pretty much final for the next three years?

A: Not at all.

Colangelo plans to keep it fluid, with no predetermined notion of how many or how few players should be in the program. By the time Beijing rolls around, perhaps a third or more of the roster will have changed.

Colangelo wanted to engineer a safety net for the future. If the team goes through another mass defection of top players, as it did between 2003 and 2004, other guys will be waiting to take their place. In past years, the selection committee often scrambled to find last-minute replacements.

Q: Beijing is what really matters, right? That's the Olympics, and this summer's tournament in Japan is only the World Championship.

A: If you're an American, that's how you've been conditioned to think. But the people on the rest of the planet view the World Championship as much more prestigious, akin to a World Cup title in soccer.

Q: With the roster Colangelo has assembled, the Americans should be a lock to win the gold medal in the World Championship, earning an automatic berth in the 2008 Olympics, right?

A: They'll be the favorites, but nothing is a lock for U.S. teams anymore in international basketball tournaments.

Argentina, the defending Olympic champion and runner-up to Yugoslavia in 2002 (they were robbed by the referees at the end of regulation in Conseco Fieldhouse that afternoon) has a core of top-level NBA and European players (Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Pepe Sanchez, Fabricio Oberto, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Ruben Wolkowyski) who have been together in their national program since they were teenagers. They have a ton of chemistry and cohesion, something Colangelo is trying to develop with the U.S. team in the three years leading up to Beijing.

Q: So who else has a good team besides Argentina?

A: Spain is outstanding, the best team in the 2004 Olympics until they ran into the U.S. in the quarterfinals. Spain made the mistake of staying in a tight zone after Tim Duncan went to the bench in early foul trouble, and Stephon Marbury finally got hot and scored 31, breaking the U.S. Olympic scoring record that was shared by Charles Barkley and Spencer Haywood.

Italy, which won silver in Athens, is in the U.S. team's group in Japan. When the 2004 U.S. team faced Italy in a pre-Olympic exhibition game, the Italians killed 'em with 3-pointers. Everyone on that team can really shoot it from deep.

Also in the Americans' preliminary round group is China, which knocked off Serbia-Montenegro in Athens to reach the quarterfinals under their American coach, Del Harris. Yao Ming counts that game as probably the top accomplishment of his career.

A dark horse in the U.S. group is Slovenia, which was the class of the Euro 2005 tournament until getting derailed in the quarters.

France will be tough, too, with its new generation of NBA players (Tony Parker, Mickael Pietrus, Boris Diaw, Johan Petro). New Zealand is better than most people would imagine. Serbia-Montenegro got a wild-card entry and cannot be dismissed. Germany has Dirk Nowitzki, who just might be the NBA MVP.

It'll be a very good tournament this summer.


Chris Sheridan, a national NBA reporter for the past decade, covers the league for ESPN Insider. To e-mail Chris, click here.