Plenty of changes greet U.S. team

The Associated Press

Published Friday, July 20, 2007

The questions came quickly after the United States lost in the semifinals of last year’s world championships.

What if the Americans had Kobe Bryant, or a veteran point guard like Chauncey Billups or Jason Kidd, or a dominant inside scorer like Amare Stoudemire?

They’re all expected in Las Vegas this weekend, ready to help the team prepare for the Olympic qualifier.

The U.S. national team opens minicamp today, its first time together since finishing third in the worlds and being forced to play its way into the Beijing Games. The Americans hoped for a light summer, but that went out the window the moment they were knocked off by Greece.

"We had a change-up thrown at us," USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo said recently. "Because when we spoke originally about that, the intent was to go out and win the world championships and that ’07 would be a down year, just kind of prepare for ’08. But because we didn’t win the world championships, that changes what we have to do. We have some work to do."

It will be done with a much different looking roster. Six players who were in Japan aren’t available to play this summer, including Miami star Dwyane Wade, one of the U.S. captains.

And Coach Mike Krzyzewski won’t have long to get this version ready. The FIBA Americas Tournament starts Aug. 22, and the Americans must finish in the top two to earn a place in the Olympics.

"It’s not like we’re just given this. There’s two spots open in the Americas," Krzyzewski said. "After this summer, there will be nine countries who will qualify for the Olympics. You have to earn the right to be there. That’s why we’re playing in this tournament."

The Americans expect to have 17 players in camp for practices today and tomorrow. They will then split up the roster and play a blue-white game Sunday.

The finalists will be chosen Monday, and those players will return Aug. 13 along with No. 1 draft pick Greg Oden, if he is recovered from his tonsillectomy. The U.S. has to be down to 12 players the day before the qualifier begins.

Krzyzewski mentioned Bryant, Billups, Kidd, Stoudemire and Chris Bosh as players who figure to be wearing the red, white and blue in August.

"Unless those guys are hurt, those guys are going to be on the team," he said.

Throw in captains LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the best American player at last year’s world championships, and more than half the squad already seems set. Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, who was unavailable last year because he was getting married, also should stick with a U.S. squad desperately in need of better outside shooting.

Krzyzewski said the minicamp won’t be intense. He will put in some sets and allow certain players to recommend plays they are comfortable running. The Americans will also work on and against a zone defense, which has caused them problems in recent years.