NBA.com is in Las Vegas with the USA's roster finalists for the 2006 World Championships. We will follow the team's progress as it concludes its initial training phase before heading to Guangzhou, China, and Seoul, Korea. Check back for regular on- and off-court updates from Las Vegas. |
USA Basketball has just announced that Amare Stoudemire won't be playing in tonight's exhibition game vs. Puerto Rico.
"During the past few days of our training camp," USA Basketball Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangeo said, "we concluded that it would be difficult for Amaré to continue with the rehabilitation he needs to do while the team continues its training in Asia. He is not quite where he needs to be and he needs to continue his work here in the States to get ready for the season."
Stoudemire has been looking better in camp than he did during Phoenix's summer league action, but it's clear to see he's a step or two slow and needs more time to get into game shape. Yesterday we watched as Stoudmire sat out a good deal of the team's practice with some hip tightness.
The USA squad now has 14 players as finalists to make the 12-man World Championships roster. All 14 are expected to travel to China and Korea next week to continue training for the Championships, which start in two weeks.
 (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images) |
Back at the arena for practice today, I picked up a copy of the boxscore from last night's scrimmage with Puerto Rico. A few interesting numbers to note:
-- The final score was 116-82, in favor of the US, as detailed last night.Coach K addressed some of those numbers when speaking with the media after practice on Wednesday.
-- Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 23 points. He was followed by LeBron James (20) and Puerto Rico's Carlos Arroyo (17).
-- The Puerto Rican squad had exactly two assists on the night -- both by Carlos Arroyo. The Americans, on the other hand, dished the ball 19 times.
-- As a team, the USA tallied 17 steals in the game. Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade each had three, while James and Dwight Howard each had two. Five Puerto Rican players registered one. Puerto Rico also had 30 turnovers on the night.
-- The Americans shot only 21-of-38 from the free throw line. LeBron James hit only two-of-six and Elton Brand missed three of his four attempts. That's an area that will have to see improvement once the World Championships begin.
-- Puerto Rico held the advantage on the glass, pulling down 36 boards to the USA's 35. The team's two seven-footers, Peter Ramos (7-3) and Daniel Santiago (7-0), gave the US fits in the paint, pulling down 13 and seven, respectively.
-- Attendance was officially listed at zero, however, a sizable number of service men and women and their families turned out to chant "U.S.A." throughout the 40-minute contest.
"It's a scrimmage and Puerto Rico probably played all different type of guys and whatever," Coach K said, "but they only had two assists. That was more impressive than the 30 turnovers. That means they scored individually. Now, we have to adjust to, when everything breaks down for their play, can we defend that? But the dribble got twos when they got them for the most part, not threes."
That success on the defensive end illustrates how the team would like to play other squads in the future.
"We would like other people to make plays against us, rather than run plays," Krzyzewski said. "and if they're doing that, to maybe take them out of their comfort zone of running certain things."
Puerto Rico never really found a comfort zone in last night's scrimmage, although Carlos Arroyo did make some nice moves to find the paint frequently throughout the game.
Amare and Wade Sit: Amare Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade were inactive for a portion of today's practice, although neither situation seemed a cause for concern. Stoudemire began the practice, but tightened up and had to be stretched out by team trainer Casey Smith.
"Amare had a little bit of a hip flexor thing," USA assistant and Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni said later, assuring us that it was just "normal struggles" and nothing related to his surgically repaired knee.
Stoudemire is still working his way back into regular-season form after spending significant time sidelined, so bumps, bruises and tightness are to be expected.
Wade, meanwhile, got a little rest today as the team walked through offensive and defensive scenarios, although Smith did put him to work at the end of the team's practice. After spending a few minutes massaging out his legs with a foam roll, Wade ran baseline to baseline until becoming significantly winded.
Rest now, Dwyane, because it's a long road ahead for after having played more games than, perhaps, any of your running mates.
"I've been relaxing and tring to rest my body," Wade said at Tuesday's practice, before the scrimmage. "I just came off a long season and probably played the most games (of anybody) in here. I don't have the fresh legs as everyone else, so I can't do everything they do."
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Carmelo Anthony helped lead the USA in a successful showing vs. Puerto Rico.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images |
The USA Basketball squad has found so much harmony and has had such a productive training session here in the desert that it's hard not to become optimistic of the team's chances at a gold medal at this month's FIBA World Championship.
That optimism was further strengthened by the team's performance in it's first scrimmage against an opponent since assembling as a unit in Las Vegas in mid-July.
Tuesday night, the Americans turned in an impressive performance against Puerto Rico -- much more so than the last time the teams met, when Carlos Arroyo left a lasting impression as his squad stunned the Americans 92-73 at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
And while it was only a scrimmage tonight on Tarkanian Court at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center, there was no question the USA team members and their coaches were treating this as a real challenge.
"I think it meant something," head coach Mike Krzyzewski said after the scrimmage. "A couple of guys were nervous, in a good way. That means it means something and they tried to play every possession."
Well, technically, players took a good number of possessions -- and even entire quarters -- off tonight, but that was by design for this scrimmage.
"We'll do it differently in a regular game because We kind of split it up seven players and eight," Coach K explained. "The team that didn't play until the second quarter, that second-quarter unit, you sit for a while and then you don't play until the fourth. That's not the way we're going to do a regular basketball game."
In for the opening tip was Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison and Dwight Howard. After falling behind 8-9 in the first 10-minute stanza, the US men went on a 10-0 run as they applied pressure in the backcourt to deny Puerto Rico's point guard, Arroyo, from receiving the entry pass.
Puerto Rico clawed its way back, however, to end the quarter trailing 25-18.
One highlight of that first quarter was Chris Paul getting a breakaway and throwing down a two-handed jam -- to the delight of the crowd and, after what we saw earlier today, teammate Gilbert Arenas.
The second quarter featured more of the same, as Kirk Hinrich, Joe Johnson, Shane Battier, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh got the start.
There may be no dirtier player in camp than Battier. And by dirty, we mean a guy who spends so much time dusting the floor in this gym. During practice yesterday, Battier was diving to tip loose balls to his open teammates during drills. Today he was stepping in front of 7-0 Daniel Santiago to draw the charge call.
And for as good as Battier and Co. were tonight as a unit, the second quarter belonged to Anthony. Whether it was going in lefty for a lay-in, pressuring the ball on the defensive end, making a slick baseline move to finish with a two-handed dunk, or stroking it from outside, Anthony was on his game everywhere on the court.
"From the first practice until now," Coach K said, "nobody has played any harder than Carmelo, on both ends of the court."
That hard work and solid play has led to the other players looking up to Anthony, as well as his fellow Class of 2003 members, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
"I don't think we'll have one singular leader on this team. I think guys look up to (Anthony), LeBron and Dwyane. Those are three established guys in the league. It's not just them, but those three guys initially have really set the tone because they've worked hard every day."
Fueled by Carmelo, the USA claimed a 29-22 edge in the second quarter. The gap would have been 10 had Arroyo not hit a circus shot to end the quarter, as he twirled and fell out of bounds in front of the U.S. bench. Even the military personnel in attendance from nearby Nellis Air Force base enjoyed the moment.
To open the third, Paul, Wade and James again got the nod, this time joined by Bruce Bowen and Elton Brand. The early stages of the third saw the U.S. team really excel in transition as the players shared the ball. First it was Chris Paul, leaving a lob just a touch low, but not too low for Dwayne Wade to power home. Then it was Wade sharing the ball with Elton Brand for the slam. Then Paul, missing in transition, but LeBron was there for the finish. Then LeBron get a block on the defensive end and took it the distance to hit a bank-shot. You get the picture, but still the US team only held a 14-10 edge.
Team USA would continue to attack, however, and eventually stretch its lead to 31-17 by the end of the 10-minute session.
The final period would prove to be the most tested 10 minutes for the U.S. squad, as it routinely found itself down a point or two, until Anthony hit from deep to give the USA a 25-22 lead, one which it would hold until wrapping up the quarter 31-25.
The team's desire to run was never more on display than during the fourth when Puerto Rico's Peter John Ramos was whistled for travelling. He turned to question the call and held the ball. Shane Battier rushed up from behind, swiped it away and flicked it to the official while getting out of bounds on the sideline to force the action in the opposite direction. The team didn't score on that trip down the court, but you see it's looking at every opportunity to push the pace.
Offense, however, hasn't been a major focal point for the team up to this point.
"To be quite frank with you," Coach K said, "I think we've worked harder on defense than on offense. So, we need to let the offense to catch up a little bit while still maintaining the defense."
Catching up on offense, though, does not mean instituting set plays.
"We'd rather not overplay our guys, put too much structure in offensively, because we would like to be precise on the defensive end and give them freedom on the offensive end."
We should see more of Coach K's plan in action when the team plays its first of five exhibition games, leading up to the FIBA World Championships, Thursday night vs. Puerto Rico. You can see the team in action on ESPN2 live at 11 p.m. ET.
KOBE SHOWS SUPPORT
L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant showed up today to support his USA teammates. Bryant, who is unable to participate this summer due to having minor surgery on his knee, spoke with the media following the game and said that he will not be travelling with the team when it heads to Asia, but rather will stay home to rehabilitate his injured knee.
"I'll be (at home) doing my therapy and rehab, but I'll be talking with the guys and communicating with them and wishing them all the best."
USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo clarified that Bryant could be present in Japan with the team, but that it's uncertain at this time.
"Understand one thing regarding the trip," Colangelo said. "Kobe may be over there for a period of time; That's still to be determined. He's got some commitments: Nike would like him to be there for a period of time. I'm sure we'll see him; I'm not quite sure if he knows at this point when that's going to be, but probably in Japan."
And how did Bryant think his teammates played today, in preparation for that trip to Japan?
"They looked wonderful," he said. "They're all just playing well together and doing their thing defensively. I think defensively is really an area of emphasis. Guys are getting after it, creating turnover situations and easy opportunities.
"I think the waves with which they play is something that's amazing and it's fun to watch. They come at you in waves and it's non-stop -- the pressure that they put on full-court; quick hands, quick feet that they have one through five out there on the floor. Everybody's extremely quick and athletic and physically gifted."
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Chris Paul can thread a needle about as well as another New Orleans passer.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images |
At today's practice-turned-shootaround, the 15 players broke into groups of three and took aim at different baskets set up on the floor of Tarkanian Court at the Thomas & Mack Center. Paired up on the far hoop was LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul.
The players took turns firing long jumpers from five stations -- baseline, wing, top, wing, baseline -- each needing to hit 10 shots before advancing to the next spot on the floor.
Such a drill, counting to 10 over and over again, can, as you can imagine, become monotonous. So, James, Wade and Paul found a different way to count buckets -- by shouting out a players name who had ever wore that jersey number.
The exercise proved easy as the players rattled off a list of current NBAers' names like Josh Smith (5), Gerald Green (also 5), and Gilbert Arenas (0). Arenas' name was offered up by Paul when Wade missed his first jumper from the left baseline.
But the trio then went back a few years, all apparently students of the game.
"Ten must be someone I don't like," Wade said as he clanked a number of tries, stuck on nine.
"Throw-back Dennis Rodman," Paul said when Wade finally put home his final shot at the top of the key.
"Real throw-back," James added, noting other digits stitched to the Worm's chest throughout his career.
The numbers, however, weren't limited to regular-season jerseys, current players or even those who plied the trade during their lifetimes. Scottie Pippen's Olympic No. 7 was shouted out, as was Bill Russell (6).
When NBA players became seemingly too easy, Chris Paul changed course. "Brett Favre," Paul shouted when a teammate connected on his fourth shot. That was followed by John Elway (7), Troy Aikman (8), Warren Moon (1) and Byron Leftwich (7). Even Archie Manning (8) was tossed out, to which Paul shouted, "Quarterback for the Saints!"
Yes, New Orleans, it seems the Hornets have found themselves a young quarterback of their own.
Other notes from the morning shootaround:
Then the other players started saying, "Rook, my bag's too heavy. Carry my bag, Rook."
Paul wasn't biting, however, and said, "Go ahead, leave 'em right here."
So, the other players simply hung their duffle bags around his neck and off they went to the bus.
The team returns to the Thomas & Mack Center tonight at 5 p.m. PT for a scrimmage with Puerto Rico. We'll be back with reports on how the team looked when faced against an actual opponent.
 (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images) |
This evening, Team USA members picked up right where they left off one week ago: focusing on some of the finer points of the international game while getting better accustomed to their new teammates as well as the coaching staff's offensive and defensive schemes.
At the end of Week One, NBA.com's John Schuhmann had summed up some of the key areas the coaching staff focused on: defense, transition, dribble penetration and shooting.
Those areas of emphasis were again addressed when the 15-member team took the floor at the Thomas & Mack Center.
On defense, the team routinely pressured the ball, prevented certain players and positions from ever touching the ball and worked on when and how it would switch on picks. While that may seem elementary, the players are the first to admit that communication is key as they get used to playing with new teammates. As the team ran through a full-court drill to end practice, Coach K was roaming the sideline reminding the players to "talk to each other." And on both ends of the court, that's just what the team did.
That defense, if executed properly, should lead to plenty of easy transition buckets. And trust me, this squad will be on the run. One look at how this team motors up and down the floor, you have to remind yourself that only one Phoenix Sun is on the floor.
Frequently leading the team on the break was LeBron James. Okay, so leading might not techinically be the right way to phrase it as he really was finishing the break. In all seriousness though, there might not be another player in the game that can move as fast and finish as strong as James. Okay, that might be unfair; There might not be another player that can move as fast or finish as strong ... Even playing with as talented group as this, his speed, athleticism and skill level is simply jaw-dropping.
Speaking of LeBron, remember all that birth certificate talk recently? Well, let's forget him ... I want to see Dwight Howard's. The kid is built like a house. He's easily the biggest player on the floor. He's powerful. He's all over the boards. He moves well in and around the trapezoid-shaped international lane. And while he's poised for a stellar season for the Magic, based on what we're seeing from him thus far, he could be the world's worst-kept secret by this time next month.
In the first week of practice, Howard was involved in one of the more entertaining plays of the week, as LeBron James swiped his layup attempt off the iron. The two were again involved around the rim today, but this time it was James leaving the ball up high for Howard, who didn't give anybody a chance at a similar play and thundered home two points.
As equally entertaining as James, Howard and the other 13 players have been to watch, it's been remarkable to see Coach K in action with NBA players. He watches drills from mid-court while his assistants put the team through its paces. Only occasionally does he halt the action to point out a subtle aspect of a play which may result in a whistle or how a player can best take advantage of a certain situation. Color me impressed.
And finally, we're back to LeBron James. What was it like to run for a solid two hours after a few days off? "My dogs are on fire!" James shouted while rubbing his feet during a post-workout stretch session.
Get used to it gentlemen. Tomorrow you have a morning practice, followed by an afternoon scrimmage vs. Puerto Rico.
Greetings from Lost Paychecks, er, Las Vegas, where many a hard-working American visits to ride a hunch or a dream in hopes of scoring a few quick greenbacks.
This desert oasis also serves as home to a group of well-to-do Americans, putting in a few honest days' work in hopes that, in a little more than a month, they'll mine gold.
Such a scenario is hardly emblematic of Sin City, but it's vital to the U.S.A.'s hopes of regaining global dominance at its own game.
So, after a six-day recess, 15 of the NBA's top players return as World Championships finalists for phase two of its training for the global tournament.
If you've been following along, you learned that during the first phase of training earlier in July, the US players spent time learning the finer points of the international game, getting used to the smaller basketball and their new teammates, not to mention their new head coach, who normally prowls the college sidelines.
This time around, a good chunk of time will be spent in live-game situations. After team practices Monday evening and Tuesday morning, the USA will scrimmage against Puerto Rico Tuesday evening in the Hoops for Troops presented by State Farm scrimmage.
The "Hoops" part is self-explanatory, but the "Troops" refers to 6,000 military members from nearby Nellis Air Force Base who'll attend the game.
Then, after another team practice on Wednesday, the US and Puerto Rico will play an exhibition game Thursday, the 2006 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge. That contest, at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center is the first of five official exhibition games the team will play before tipping off the FIBA World Championships vs. Puerto Rico on August 19.
NBA.com will be in Vegas all week covering the USA team's every move in print, photos and video; getting first-person accounts from players at the training sessions; and following the action from both games the Thomas & Mack.
Keep checking back here, at our USA Basketball blog, for periodic updates, as well as checking out all of our USA Basketball coverage.
NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad
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