Is this the time the United States finally got it right?
After an embarrassment of titanic proportions at the Olympics, USA Basketball is doing it the European way. The squad is assembled of 25 players, and the roster that competes will consist 12 players. There will be more cut downs after yesterday’s announcement where Luke Ridnour, Adam Morrison, and Shawn Marion were not included in the next 15. Marion is hurt, while the others will go home and rest up for camp. The decision of who made the team to go to Japan next month for the World Championships was made by a group of basketball experts, and was led by Jerry Colangelo, and Coach K, who is also coaching the team. Their idea of naming 25 guys to the team, everyone from Greg Oden, a college freshman, to Kobe and LeBron showed they were serious, and they believed to win they needed depth so guys who can attend would want to be there, and guys who were hurt or who were getting married would not diminish the level of talent on the team.

Just as Coach K had thought, Lamar Odom, C. Billups, Kobe, Marion, and Paul Pierce all had to pull out of the games due to injuries or personal reasons. Looking at the team now, it is very young, and without a true center. Brad Miller and Dwight Howard will lock up the paint, and the x factor to this team is Amare Stoudamire, who is back from two knee surgeries, and fits in brilliantly with Coach’s K’s system. The way the USA wants to play is Suns basketball on the offensive side, and Duke basketball on the defense. Press full court. Deny every pass. Bust your ass for 3 minutes and get a breather. No matter who you are. Melo, LeBron, Dwade, get down on defense and give it all you got.

This is a journey. It started last week in camp in Las Vegas, and will end at the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing. USA Basketball has been embarrassed the last few years, and has put together their top brains to end the humiliation. The question is, if the US comes up short again, then who’s to blame?
A PimpWiz Exclusive By, Ryan Berger


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