eArLy pRePaRaTiOn...

because of the humiliation that the USA Men's Basketball dream team achieved last 2004 Olympics where they landed on the third spot only after decades of ultimate supremacy in this field of sport, Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program Managing Director, named the players who will be trained to represent the United States for the upcoming International Basketball Competitions. The team comprises of 23 players, 21 NBA stars of which, 18 of them had already played for US Basketball teams and 2 amateur players coming from college basketball teams:

• Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets);
• Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards);
• Shane Battier (Memphis Grizzlies);
• Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons);
• Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors);
• Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs);
• Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers);
• Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers);
• Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic);
• LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers);
• Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards);
• Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks);
• Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns);
• Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings);
• Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers);
• Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets);
• Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics);
• Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks);
• Luke Ridnour (Seattle Supersonics);
• Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns);
• Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).
• Adam Morrison (Gonzaga University);
• J.J. Redick (Duke University);

The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team will compete in the 2006 FIBA World Championship (Aug. 19-Sept. 3 in Saitama, Japan); if necessary the 2007 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD); and if the USA qualifies, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games (Aug. 8-24 in Beijing, China).

Although this move was really an indication that the US is really serious in reclaiming their title, i think the list of the players in this team still has a flaw. What they are missing... a legit Center (i was expecting Shaq or Ben Wallace), a big man to serve as their anchor in the post (where's Tim Duncun or Kevin Garnet?) and a pure three point shooter (perhaps Ray Allen or even Kyle Korver would do)... because International Basketball is a little bit different from the style of NBA games... it's more of a run and gun and most of the international players are very good, i mean really good in outside shooting... true, that the list of the players of the NBA has a high field goal percentage in the current regular season of the NBA, but the point is, the ring in the NBA is much wider as compared to the international ring thus, making it hard for the NBA stars to adjust. And this fact was proven in the performance of the US team last Olympics where they shoot terribly from the outside.

but i guess, that's the reason why as early as now, training camps for these players will be conducted.