Tournament of the Americas

[Fresh8]

Well, wanted to post about Kevin Durant and Nick Collison being cut from team USA. You heard it here first!

And that also means that Michael Redd and Mike Miller finally give Team USA solid shooting options!

[BigKaboom2]

But...you didn't post anything at all about Kevin Durant and Nick Collison being cut from team USA except for the brief summary. Why the content-deprived thread? No opinion?

[[Q]]

Nick Collison shouldn't be on the team. last year's team selection of coach's pet Battier was bad enough. glad Hinrich's not there either.

if everyone stays healthy though, it'll be one badass team next year in China

Amare/Howard
Melo/Bosh
James/Brand or Marion
Kobe/Redd
Kidd/Billups/CP3

[Fresh8]

Well, I thought KD had a chance to make the team if Coach K would have opted to go with some youth and to get him ready to play in the future ala Laettner on the 92 team. But it's smarter to go with what the team needs and to try and secrue a spot in Beijing.

Not sure who is going to start but Melo, Bron and Kobe are apparantly the mainstays in the starting lineup for Team USA this Summer. A bit early to determine who will be on the team next year but I'm going to go with this team:

C: Amare, Oden
PF: Melo, Howard, Bosh
SF: Bron, Kobe
SG: Wade, Redd
PG: Kidd, Billups - if Kidd doesn't play then CP3 and Dwilliams will both make the team

I'm not sure if guys like Shawn Marion/Paul Pierce will even be considered for it since he hasn't been in either team... but yeh... the team above is a sort of a prediction... too far to tell what will happen.

Anyways, watch out for Brazil at this tournmanet. They could very well surprise Team USA

[[Q]]

dang, forgot about wade too.i say oden and durant will have their chance later. they'll have time to develop. putting them on the team will be like wade & lebron on the 2004 team. there's no "rebuilding" process in intl play like they do in the nba. you don't go out and play young guys. you go out to win every single night.

[Fresh8]

I only put in Oden because I am anticipating him to be a defensive monster. Thats the reason why Tyson Chandler got an invite. For his defence and shot blocking. We will see how he doesi n his rookie season so it will tell you a lot. I don't think KD will make the Beijing team though... Oden is a better chance.

[Dean]

Amare will tear the shit through anyone at the Olympics. I cant wait to watch it lol.

[Fresh8]

Day One

It all starts today!

Uruguay beat Panama by 4 points.

Other games on:

Puerto Rico – Mexico
Canada – Brazil
USA – Venezuela

- Arroyo is on Puerto Rico and Mexico has some NBA players I think...
- Samuel Delambert plays for Canada now
- Get to see (Not really since i cant watch the game) Kidd and Kobe in action!

Game Results:

Uruguay beat Panama 88-84 after one OT period. Atlanta's Batista had a big game with 26 points and 19 boards. Read More

Barbosa scores 30 to lead Brazil to 75-67 win against Canada. Read More

Mexico shut down Carlos Arroyo who shot 0 for 10 from the field... Mexico won 100-89. Read More

Team USA romp Venezuela. Melo and Redd lead with 17 apiece. Read More

[---]

If anyone here needs a ViperNET invite, let me know ASAP. Apparently they will be showing the USA game.

[Fresh8]

I'm capped out so can't see anything. Not even live updates.

Anyways, time to forget about being Aussie just for a day... USA USA USA!

[[Q]]

I watched the Brazil Canada game earlier. Barbosa ripped them a new one.

watching the USA shit all over Venezuela... they get Virgin "Give us Duncan back" Islands on THursday. that should be another slaughter.

[Fresh8]

I figured that Barbosa would play good... he always has for Brazil!

[grusom]

Wow!

The highlights from the USA vs Venezuela game reminded me of watching the original Dream Team. If they keep playing like that, they'll be very hard to beat for anyone in this tournament.

It will be interesting to see ho they match up against the top European teams though. Really depends on how well they have learned to defend the European pick and roll.

[The X]

it just takes one game & they will lose....granted, the only team that can do it here are Brazil, with Uruguay as a huge outsider IMHO....if the shots aren't dropping, it's possible....at least they picked studs like Mike Miller & Michael Redd, so they actually have a chance now....

[Jing]

Panama has a player from my college, Gary Forbes, who had i think 14 points. But damn overtime loss, Batista you ugly freak.

Also, despite rooting against the U.S. I see no possible way they can loose. The closest game is probably Brasil, but thats it. Argentina is really weak without all their NBA stars.

[Fresh8]

If they keep playing like that, they'll be very hard to beat for anyone in this tournament.

Even at the start of the tournament, they looked like they had the talent to be able to walk all over everyone at this toruney... with Brazil as an exception. European teams will defintiely pose a greater challenge as will a full strength Argentine squad.

[Fresh8]

Day Two

USA beat Virgin Islands 123-59. Melo and Redd once again lead team in scoring. USA had 30 assists compared to Virgin island's 5... Anyone here see the game? Read More

Argentina beats Uruguay 90-69 thanks to Luis Scola's 16 points, 6 boards 4 assists and 2 steals. Houston fans should be happy Scola is finally making the trek to the NBA and playing for the Rockets! Batista was held to 7 points after his crazy first game... Read More

Arroyo made up for his terrible 0 for 10 night with 16 points and 8 assists in Puerto Rico's 108-67 romp of Panama. Read More

Samuel Dalembert had 18 points. 6 came in the final 2 minutes of play as Canada won 80-73 against Venezuela... if only Steve Nash wasn't 'retired' from international ball. Read More

- Is it me or is there just noone watching this... you would think that people would pay to watch Team USA... then again, it is in Vegas. I'm not familiar with the geography and stuff... but is there a big enough 'basketball-interested' population around the area to fill up that stadium?

[Ty-Land]

I'm happy to see that Redd is playing well. People have been saying his all-round game is improving. Hopefully this training with Team USA will improve his leadership/passing/rebounding and defence to make him a top tier player in the NBA.

[Anthony15]

Sit, didn't watch it, but they show it here on ESPN Classic.

[Fresh8]

Sit, didn't watch it, but they show it here on ESPN Classic.

- Oh, I meant that the stands look very empty...

[[Q]]

well, people in Vegas don't exactly go there for the basketball...

btw, I'm going in two weeks bitches!

[[Q]]

wow Esteban Batista dominated Puerto Rico. I was under the impression that PR was pretty decent. perhaps it has to do with the absence of Daniel Santiago. They have to play Peter John Ramos almost the whole game

also, Horacio Llamas is playing for Mexico? I remember him from NBA Live 98

[shadowgrin]

Horacio Llamas, now that's a manly name.

[Anthony15]

Best match-up before Argentina - USA in the Finals is today, USA vs Brazil.

[Joe']

Horacio Llamas, now that's a manly name.

It's manly just because it's Spanish. If it was Horace Flames you wouldn't say the same

wait, was that ironic?