Following two USA Basketball Mens National Team training sessions, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo today announced the official nominees for the12-man U.S. Olympic Team mens basketball roster. The U.S. hoops roster is pending final approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
We projected we would have difficulty getting down to a roster of 12, regardless of the number of injuries that have taken place, because they are such an outstanding group of people and athletes, Colangelo said. The final selections keep us in concert with our game plan to have athleticism, versatility and strong depth on our roster. I think our final roster epitomizes all of that.
'We have benefited so much from having a pool of outstanding players who are committed, and as a result the selection is difficult. But its the best challenge that you could have because everyone has been so committed', Mike Krzyzewski said. 'The guys who were not selected are in our pool, and if someone did get hurt, they are already part of our team and could be seamlessly woven in at a later date. We really appreciate the commitment of all of these guys.'
The USA roster features five members of the 2008 gold medalist U.S. Olympic Team (Anthony, Bryant, James, Paul and Williams), five members of the gold medalist 2010 World Championship team (Chandler, Durant, Iguodala, Love and Westbrook), and two newcomers (Griffin and Harden).
The average age of the 12 U.S. players is 26.1 years of age.
The 2012 USA coaching staff is led by Duke University Hall of Fame mentor Krzyzewski, who has led the USA Basketball Mens National Team to gold medal finishes at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2008 Beijing Olympics. Assisting Krzyzewski is Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and former NBA head coaches Mike DAntoni and Nate McMillan.
The USA National Team is currently training through July12 in Las Vegas, Nev. The Americans Las Vegas training concludes July 12 (6:00 p.m. local time) with the USA Basketball Showcase that features the USA facing the Dominican Republic at UNLVs Thomas & Mack Center.
Following the USAs training and exhibition contest in Las Vegas, the USA will move on to the nations capital, Washington, D.C., to train July 13-15 and play an exhibition contest versus Brazil at the Verizon Center on July 16 (8 p.m. local time). The game will be part of a doubleheader with the USA Basketball Womens National Team, which will face Brazils Womens National Team (5:30 p.m. local time).
The USA men will continue their preparations July 17-18 in Manchester, England, and on July 19 (7:30 p.m. local time) will play Great Britain at the Manchester Arena. The USA women will square off against the Great Britain women at the Manchester Arena on July 18 (7:30 p.m. local time).
Twenty years after the USA Dream Team made its debut in Barcelona, Spain, the U.S. returns and will conclude its tour with a pair of exhibition games against FIBAs No. 2 and No. 3 ranked world powers. Facing No. 3 ranked Argentina on July 22 (9:30 p.m. local time) at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, the USA will close out its exhibition tour against FIBAs No. 2 ranked power Spain on July 24 (9:30 p.m. local time) at the Palau Sant Jordi.
Courtesy of www.usabasketball.com
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Could three-on-three join the Olympic lineup? - Aug 15, 2012
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Could three-on-three basketball be coming to the Olympics?
It will if FIBA, the international governing body, has its way. Secretary-general Patrick Baumann said Saturday that his group planned to propose it to be played as early as the 2016 Rio Games.
Three-on-three, the game played in driveways, on playgrounds and around the country during the annual Gus Macker tournaments, debuted in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games [read more]
Could three-on-three basketball be coming to the Olympics?
It will if FIBA, the international governing body, has its way. Secretary-general Patrick Baumann said Saturday that his group planned to propose it to be played as early as the 2016 Rio Games.
Three-on-three, the game played in driveways, on playgrounds and around the country during the annual Gus Macker tournaments, debuted in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. FIBA wants to create a comprehensive ranking system that would determine the best three-on-three teams in the world. FIBA already has a three-on-three world tour and world championship, but Baumann welcomed all three-on-three tournaments, such as Gus Macker and Hoop It Up, into the fold as long as those tournaments adhered to FIBA rules, including the registration of players in a database to chart wins and losses.
"Like volleyball has beach volleyball, swimming has synchronized swimming, we want three-on-three to be part of it," Baumann said.
After rankings determine the top teams worldwide, Baumann said, each nation would be responsible for creating a format to determine which team it would send to the Olympics.
Baumann reasoned that three-on-three would allow more countries to experience the Olympics and help FIBA expand basketball's global popularity. He said smaller basketball nations regularly send teams to the three-on-three world championship.
"We've chosen three-on-three as being one way of bringing that community into the Games," he said. "For us, this is also really about growing the mass of players on a grass-roots basis. We want them to be part of the family and hopefully have new talents for the game."
Eurobasket.com All-Olympic Games Awards 2012 - Aug 13, 2012
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MVP: LeBron James (203-SF-84) of USA
Best Guard: Emanuel Ginobili (198-SG-77) of Argentina
Best Forward: LeBron James (203-SF-84) of USA
Best Center: Pau Gasol (214-F/C-80) of Spain
Best Coach: David Blatt of Russia
1st Team
G: Alexey Shved (198-88) of Russia
SG: Emanuel Ginobili (198-77) of Argentina
SF: LeBron James (203-84) of USA
SF: Kevin Durant (206-88) of USA
F/C: Pau Gasol ( [read more]
By Raymond Rolak
LONDON-- The USA Basketball program sparkled at the 2012 London Olympics. USA brought an encore gold over Spain 107-100. Spain played with a stubborn and very capable resolve. The score did not indicate how strong Spains effort was. Even though USA had the edge 83-82 at the start of the fourth quarter they were pushed to the brink.
The final few minutes were dramatic. With 3:20 left and USA leading 97-91, Carmelo Anthony had to leave the game with an ankle twist [read more]
By Raymond Rolak
LONDON-- The USA Basketball program sparkled at the 2012 London Olympics. USA brought an encore gold over Spain 107-100. Spain played with a stubborn and very capable resolve. The score did not indicate how strong Spains effort was. Even though USA had the edge 83-82 at the start of the fourth quarter they were pushed to the brink. The final few minutes were dramatic. With 3:20 left and USA leading 97-91, Carmelo Anthony had to leave the game with an ankle twist. Kobe Bryant (198-SG-78), LeBron James (203-SF-84), Kevin Durant (206-SF-88, college: Texas), Kevin Love (208-PF-88, college: UCLA) and Chris Paul (183-PG-85, college: Wake Forest) were the finishers for Team USA. Spain still had the height advantage on the floor. A critical defensive lapse by Spain allowed James to drive the basket for two. James followed with a three on the next USA possession. Spains Marc Gasol put a vicious pick on Paul. Rudy Fernandez (198-SF-85) fouled out for Spain and that started the real end for any chance of Spanish gold. After a driving layup by Paul with 51 seconds remaining, Coach Mike Krzyzewski showed some theatrics that we dont typically get to see from the legendary coach. It was 104-93 as Coach K was jumping for joy near the bench and as he substituted during the last minute. It was a team victory and everyone participated. Krzyzewski wanted to emphasize that. With 12 seconds left it was 106-100. James Harden (196-SG-89, college: Arizona St.) missed a USA free throw but made the second. Spain came down the court quickly for a three attempt. It missed and Anthony Davis (208-C-93, college: Kentucky) grabbed the final rebound. It was a compelling and dramatic final game. Durant led all scorers with 30 points. Earlier, Russia beat Argentina 81-77 for the bronze medal. Coach K said after, We beat a great team. My guys cooperated, everyone told me that they would do whatever was needed. Come off the bench, play defense, the cooperation was tremendous. The victory was dictated by the USA defense and the ability to lock-down the Spanish drives inside. Krzyzewski had said earlier that this was his last Olympics. Another Chicago native son, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, who hired Krzyzewski in 2005, isnt going to let him leave the program so easily. Colangelo plans to take another shot at persuading Krzyzewski to stay for one more attempt and coach the Rio, Brazil Olympic Games in 2016. Hes said this is it and Ill respect his choice, Colangelo said in London. But knowing me as I know me, Ill have that conversation and well see. With the win, Krzyzewski joins Henry Iba (1964 and 1968) as the only U.S. coaches to lead teams to consecutive Olympic gold medals.
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