2008 Woodie Awards
Return to glory for USA
Bryant West
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: Sports
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After an extremely disappointing loss to Argentina in the 2004 Olympic Games left the USA men's basketball team with the bronze medal, major changes were needed to insure the country that hosts the NBA would regain its top status.
However, the USA men's team failed to get into the 2008 Beijing Olympics last summer after a loss to Greece in the FIBA World Championship, which earned them another bronze medal. The newly formed team had to wait until this summer for the Olympic Qualifier; the team didn't lose a game, going 13-0 in the tournament and averaging 116.7 points per game, gaining the gold medals and a berth for the Beijing playoffs.
Inexperience and the lack of role players cost the US the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. Jerry Colangelo, former Phoenix Suns and now Toronto Raptors general manager, was brought in as the team director to help select the players, and Duke's famous Mike Krzyzewski was brought in as the head coach.
When Allen Iverson, the captain of the 2004 team, was not invited to play, it signified the team was looking to go in a more selfless direction. The new team has plenty of scorers. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, arguably the best NBA player today, could be considered the third option offensively behind Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James and Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony. The team has plenty of ball handlers and passers as well; with star Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons and Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz running the passing game this summer the team would flourish.
After their dominating tournament, the team drew comparisons to the 1992 Olympic Team, known as the "Dream Team" that hosted Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley. With a starting lineup of Kidd, Bryant, Anthony, James and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, the team has the potential to be better than the Dream Team as long as they stay focused and work together.
"I learned that players can throw their egos and personal accolades out the window," James told the Associated Press after the team's victory over Argentina. "We came here for one reason and that was to get the gold medal."
Looking ahead to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the team now has to decide who won't be going. The team can only take twelve men; it officially has 34 men on their roster. With about nine of the twelve spots all but guaranteed, the choice will be more difficult for Colangelo and Krzyzewski. Still, after such a dominating performance USA basketball fans can look forward to the Olympics again.
However, the USA men's team failed to get into the 2008 Beijing Olympics last summer after a loss to Greece in the FIBA World Championship, which earned them another bronze medal. The newly formed team had to wait until this summer for the Olympic Qualifier; the team didn't lose a game, going 13-0 in the tournament and averaging 116.7 points per game, gaining the gold medals and a berth for the Beijing playoffs.
Inexperience and the lack of role players cost the US the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics. Jerry Colangelo, former Phoenix Suns and now Toronto Raptors general manager, was brought in as the team director to help select the players, and Duke's famous Mike Krzyzewski was brought in as the head coach.
When Allen Iverson, the captain of the 2004 team, was not invited to play, it signified the team was looking to go in a more selfless direction. The new team has plenty of scorers. Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, arguably the best NBA player today, could be considered the third option offensively behind Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James and Denver Nuggets Carmelo Anthony. The team has plenty of ball handlers and passers as well; with star Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons and Deron Williams of the Utah Jazz running the passing game this summer the team would flourish.
After their dominating tournament, the team drew comparisons to the 1992 Olympic Team, known as the "Dream Team" that hosted Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley. With a starting lineup of Kidd, Bryant, Anthony, James and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, the team has the potential to be better than the Dream Team as long as they stay focused and work together.
"I learned that players can throw their egos and personal accolades out the window," James told the Associated Press after the team's victory over Argentina. "We came here for one reason and that was to get the gold medal."
Looking ahead to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the team now has to decide who won't be going. The team can only take twelve men; it officially has 34 men on their roster. With about nine of the twelve spots all but guaranteed, the choice will be more difficult for Colangelo and Krzyzewski. Still, after such a dominating performance USA basketball fans can look forward to the Olympics again.