The Big B

I've been blogging the international games to evaluate the other teams that will complete the field of 12.  Now that the field is set and the groupings are announced, I've followed the "friendlies" or exhibition games.

Getting the Olympic men's basketball rosters has been like trying to get state secrets!  I contacted FIBA to find out why other countries' rosters still exceed the 12 player limit and why the rosters posted change and don't match the press releases from a country's Olympic committee.

According to this morning's email from FIBA, rosters do not have to be finalized until the DAY BEFORE THE FIRST OLYMPIC BASKETBALL GAME (August 10 begins official play so roster must be set by August 9).

Team USA has had a final roster for quite some time.  Only one reserve, Tyson Chandler, has even been allowed to practice with the team. 

Other countries are still playing anywhere from 13 to17 guys during the "friendlies"--the term used for exhibition and scrimmage games used to fine tune play before the Olympic games begin.  China's point guard,  Liu Wei, was injured in their last  game and taken to the hospital for an MRI.  He has bruised ribs, and he is expected to return to the team.  Yi Jianlian failed to score in a game against Austrailia (sorry, Nets fans).  Russia's Small Forward/Power Forward, Viktor Khryapa, has been injured so the Russian team is playing 13 players and holding a spot for Viktor if he can complete his recovery in time.  Greece's Guard, Nikos Zisis, is rehabbing a shoulder injury, and it is hoped he will play since he is a major contributor to their scoring.

At the same time, Kobe Bryant is playing with a finger that will need surgery after the Olympics; LeBron James has had a lower back strain and recently turned his ankle stepping on Kevin Durrant's foot during a practice; Dwayne Wade looks good after coming back from his season-ending injury; Dwight Howard is playing with a stress fracture to his sternum.

So why isn't Team USA playing 13 to 17 players like the other countries?  Why were reserves excluded from practice so soon?  Why is the team not traveling with and playing with extra players in preparation for the Olympics?  Once a roster is set and play begins officially, a player lost to injury cannot be replaced.  The team must finish the competition with a depleted roster.

If we are going to play a world game on a world stage, why are we not taking every advantage available like the other countries do in their preparation?  I leave you to speculate on the answers and on whether this will impact the "Redeem Team" and their chances for the gold medal.  I, for one, am not comfortable with how we are approaching the Olympics after watching how all the other countries are doing it.  We may be fielding the best players in the world, but if we aren't preparing for the injury factor during the "friendlies" then we put our gold medal chances on a very shaky line.

We are in Group B:  Angola, China, Germany, Greece, Spain, USA.  (There are four potential medalists right there, and only the four best advance to the one-and-done quarter finals).  Group A: Argentina, Aurstralia, Croatia (don't sleep on them!), Iran, Lithuania, Russia--and the best four from there advance to the one-and-done quarter finals.  I see USA, Spain, Greece, Argentina, and possibly Germany, Russia, and Croatia as contenders and that's too many countries for too few medals.  It's injuries and not talent that concerns me.

The U.S. will win the Gold this time around. The key is that Chris Paul will be on the floor. I think the team will play a lot less selfishly then last time. They have something to prove.

However they are not another dreamteam. We will most likely never see anything again like we did in 1992. Those were the days.

Sounds like the argument of 2004.....and 2006

Just to keep everyone honest Im going to have to remind you that New Zealand finished higher than Team USA in the 2002 World Championships.

New Zealand.

That would be like Burma finishing higher in the soccer world cup than France.

This is the year! The US has a lot to prove and with the caliber of talent on this team.... I don't see anything less than GOLD. If they fail this year it would be a castrophe! They just added Michael Redd and he's one of the most underrated shooters in the leaque. Kobe will redeem that horrific performance in the Finals. I don't care what anyone says the Lakers were the better team! U..S..A!!