Carmello going to athens

[Guest Seven Sins]

credit- sportsillustrated

 

 

DENVER (AP) - Denver Nuggets rookie Carmelo Anthony, miffed at originally being passed over for the U.S. Olympic team, will reportedly join the squad after all.

 

Anthony's agent Calvin Andrews confirmed late Tuesday that the small forward accepted an invitation to the team, Denver media outlets reported.

 

The spot opened up when Detroit Pistons stars Ben Wallace and Richard Hamilton declined their invitations because of security concerns.

 

Anthony's mother, Mary Anthony, also told the Rocky Mountain News that her son told her of his selection.

 

 

``He's honored and he's looking forward to it,'' Andrews told The Denver Post.

 

 

Officials with USA Basketball, the organization that picks the team, and a spokesman for the Nuggets did not return messages left by The Associated Press after business hours.

 

 

Anthony led all rookies in scoring in 2003-04 but finished second to Cleveland Cavaliers guard LeBron James in Rookie of the Year voting.

 

 

Neither was named an All-Star, but now both have been asked to play for Team USA at the Athens Games. The roster already includes two small forwards, Shawn Marion and Richard Jefferson.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Good news for Carmelo. Reports have stated Michael Redd was invited as well, and I hope he joins the squad.

[nogoodnick 0]

UConn center Emeka Okafor will be invited to fill the final roster spot on this summer's US Olympic basketball team, league sources tell ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

 

Okafor is expected to formally accept the invitation shortly, which would complete USA Basketball's season-long odyssey to finalize a 12-man contingent for Athens after numerous pullouts and rebuffed invitations.

 

USAB's selection committee opted to fill its final roster spot with a power player instead of a perimeter specialist such as Milwaukee's Michael Redd.

ESPN.com

 

Okafor and Melo in. Redd out. Sucks for him, I thought he wouldve fit in well.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Doesnt this topic belong in the USA Olympic Basketball thread?

 

No. That topic states who SHOULD be on the team. Not who IS. We don't need to railroad everything into existing topics.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Now maybe Wilbon will take the panties out of his ass crack...

[Kurt Angle Mark 0]

The 12 man roster is now complete, unless someone chickens out.

 

Forward -Carmelo Anthony

Forward -Carlos Boozer

Forward/center- Tim Duncan*

Guard -Allen Iverson*

Guard/forward -LeBron James

Forward -Richard Jefferson*

Guard- Stephon Marbury

Forward -Shawn Marion

Forward -Lamar Odom

Center -Emeka Okafor

Forward/center -Amare Stoudemire

Guard- Dwyane Wade

[The Electrifyer 0]

Damn... what a 2nd rate Dream Team. Some good talent, but mostly unproven, not yet winners. Have them take on Dream Team I and we'd see a certifiable ass whooping.

[Guest El Satanico]

That roster looks fine to me. Other than Okefar all of them have proven they can play in the NBA.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Damn... what a 2nd rate Dream Team. Some good talent, but mostly unproven, not yet winners. Have them take on Dream Team I and we'd see a certifiable ass whooping.

This imo is what the Olympic team should look like from here on out. A majority of the players like 9 25 and under, and 3 spots reserved for veteran players.

[alfdogg 0]

So Carmelo whines his way onto the team and Redd gets the shaft. Wonderful.

[Black Lushus 0]

do they still refer to these teams as "Dream Teams"? I thought that was pretty much reserved for the original team?

[alfdogg 0]

I never heard them called the "Dream Team" after the third one. Not regularly, anyway.

[Guest Just Looking]

So Carmelo whines his way onto the team and Redd gets the shaft. Wonderful.

Right, because apparently you don't want players who really want to be on the team to actually be on the team. You know, with so many players opting not to go, you'd think people would appreciate someone who really wants to be there, but apparently you feel the need to bitch. Classic.

 

P.S. Carmelo >> Redd

[alfdogg 0]

Look, I'm not saying Carmelo doesn't deserve to be there. It's great that he wants to go, obviously. I'm just saying, with what he said a while back about the committee and now him getting the nod over Redd out of the blue, just makes him look bad. I'm not upset with him being on the team by any means.

[bobobrazil1984 0]

I kinda like the idea of a mostly younger team. keeps things competative, plus you have players getting new experiences, and not so jaded by the pro NBA that playing for their country means nothing to them.

[Guest gregb7677]

What matters is putting together the best team to win the Gold.

[alfdogg 0]

Boy, that's some insight there.

[Golgo 13 0]

He's fit for an analyst job with ESPN.

[Damaramu 0]

I'm happy. I like Carmelo a lot.

Will Duncan or Okafor start at Center? I mean I know it's not Duncan's natural position but he's crosslisted as a center on that list and I'd think he'd maybe do better than Okafor on the team....I dunno though.

[Guest El Satanico]

I'd say Duncan will start at center. Not counting Duncan and Lebron there's 6 guys listed at forward and I doubt the coaches will want to start Okafor at center.

[Steviekick 0]

Here's a question...

 

Since Larry Brown is coaching, do you think he's going to get them to try to play crazy defense like he does with Detroit?

[Precious Roy 0]

I'm glad most of the "stars" backed out. That's a hell of a team right there, talented, guys who CARE about winning gold, and I expect them to play as a team and not embarrass our country like that "ME FIRST!" team we suited up for the world championships

 

Possible starting 5:

 

Center - Duncan

PF - Odom

SF - Marion

SG - LeBron

PG - Iverson

 

Knowing Larry Brown he'll opt against starting James though, probably plug Jefferson into the 2 spot.