One less big for Team USA…Maybe Nick Collison stands a chance of making the Team USA roster after all. Citing plantar fasciitis in his left foot, Chris Bosh pulled out of training camp and won’t be playing in the Olympic qualifying tourney. Bad news for the U.S. squad, not only because CB4 looked really good in the Blue-White scrimmage, but also because the team is down another big man. That leaves them with Dwight Howard, Amare, Tyson Chandler and Collison. And it means only three guys have to get cut before the tourney instead of four … Part 1 of David Stern’s nightmare summer is over. After pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to engage in wire fraud and transmitting wagering information through interstate commerce — both felonies — Tim Donaghy is facing up to 25 years in jail along with more than $500,000 in fines and restitution. The judge in the case said Donaghy used privileged info to advise his co-conspirators (also in custody) on which teams they should bet on in certain games (including games Donaghy worked) and got paid if he was right. During yesterday’s hearing, Donaghy reportedly told the judge he was getting help for his gambling addiction and is taking medication for anxiety and depression … For the NBA, this is just the end of one stage — the repercussions of this are gonna last a long time — but at least they’re moving toward getting the Donaghy case wrapped up (he has yet to be sentenced) and out of the news before the season starts. The last thing Commissioner Stern wants is for Donaghy to be in the public eye come November, when the League is trying to work damage-control … But back to on-the-court stuff: Did you hear about Baron Davis getting into it with O.J. Mayo during a pickup run in L.A.? Says the Denver Post, Baron “told Mayo that he doesn’t know who he is…and he also needed to respect a veteran’s call.” Just wait, Baron: you can get at the kid in ‘08-09 when he’s playing for a Lottery team … We saw some really bizarre stuff while watching a couple classic NBA games Wednesday. First, the MSG Network in NY replayed Dr. J’s last game at the Garden, a 1987 matchup against a Knicks team that had Bill Cartwright and played without injured Pat Ewing and Bernard King. The Sixers had Barkley, Mo Cheeks and World B. Free. But the weird part happened at halftime. The Knicks honored the Doctor by bringing out a bunch of real and fake celebrity doctors — everyone from Dr. Ruth to “Doc” off of The Seven Dwarfs to the doctor from Star Trek. If you’ve ever wanted to hear Marv Albert say the phrase “sexually speaking,” this was your game. And before that, Dr. J was presented with a trip to Australia and a baby kangaroo. Later on, NBA TV ran Game 7 of the ‘96 Western Conference Finals: Sonics vs. Jazz. In the middle of watching Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton and Detlef Schrempf drop buckets on Stockton and The Mailman, there was a part where the guy who played MacGyver was working one of the TV cameras. So random … Jordan Brand’s entire NBA roster — Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Ray Allen, Joe Johnson, Josh Howard, Mike Bibby and Michael Finley — is in Vegas this week for an ad shoot, and so are a few of the Dime crew. Here’s Christian’s blog from his first day in Sin City, and our Q&A with Q-Rich … And Pat sent this late last night: “Chris Andersen is sitting like 10 feet away from us at the bar in our hotel.” … Amare Stoudemire to the Suns’ website: “I can’t stop playing basketball. I can’t stop lifting weights. I want my body to be shredded and my game on point. A lot of people are saying that I lost weight, but I haven’t. I’m still 245. But I’m chiseled.” Hear that, Duncan? … Trade rumor: Reggie Evans and J.R. Smith to Orlando for Pat Garrity and Keyon Dooling. If Denver is trying to distance themselves from J.R. (he and George Karl had a rocky end to last season), that’s a good move if they can get another shooter back like Garrity. And with Nene getting better every day and K-Mart apparently healthy, Evans is expendable. For the Magic, they would get rid of a couple expiring contracts, add another interior guy to make up for losing Darko, and bring in a young talent who can still be molded into a contributor in J.R. … According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the Jazz have “encouraged” Rafael Araujo to explore his options in Europe. That’s kinda like when the Blazers encourage Darius Miles to take some time off … We’re out like Hoffa …
August 16th, 2007 at 3:36 am
F1010956 says:
What about David Lee instead of the “coldisson” ? David has all package : QI science of game (i mean screen, assists, and he got D, and more even he RESPECTS COACH PLANS), hard work for game ( and respect) and he is as white as collison is. Don’t be foolish thats just for racial reason that collison is selected ( as Kirk was…) Dave deserves a spot, he has a bright future and is a true warrior ( check the last French team against Greece and you will see what I mean…), greece are freak in the paint : you need an offensive boarder like Dave! He plays like european interiors
A true european basket fan ( nba = highlights, euroleague is all about winning and soul of the game)
August 16th, 2007 at 8:33 am
João says:
Hey guys, what about the news on the Herald that Pat Riley is closing a deal that will send Jason Willians, Michael Doleac and a first for Mike Bibby ? Bibby, Wade, Dorrel, Haslem and Shaq will be the 2007/2008 NBA Champion. Book it.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Russ says:
I agree on the comment above about David Lee.
I don’t mean to be the pessimist, but I don’t think losing bosch is a bad thing…I almost think it’s good, clears up a spot for someone who can actually be useful. If anyone doesn’t remember, he was invisible in the last Olympics. Maybe he was nervous, I don’t know….but the water boy could have been out there and would have put up the same stat lines. He did well in the scrimmage….but it was just that, a SCRIMMAGE. He was getting most of his buckets in transition and alley oops….something TEAM USA won’t be able to get much of in international play, atleast they haven’t been able to for the last 5 or 6 years anyway.
To me they still looked like the same old lame nba team where one guys runs around over dribbling everywhere while the other 4 guys stand there and watch. My 2 cents.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:24 am
teegee says:
Don’t be an idiot. Collison was chosen in large part because he was on the 2003 Team USA squad who won the gold medal at the last FIBA qualifying tournament (the last time Team USA won a gold medal, by the way). This is the EIGHTH time Collison has played for USA basketball in some tournament or other. So please don’t disrespect him (or Hinrich, who also had international basketball experience playing for USA Basketball before last summer — AND who was one of the most consistent players on the World team)by saying they were chosen simply because of their skin color. David Lee is a good player, but so is Collison (Nick almost averaged a double double in the games he started for Seattle last year).
August 16th, 2007 at 10:46 am
CCB says:
Not to knock the three guys on Team USA, but does anyone realize that every guy is a straight to the league from high school guy? Why is this important, well I think this has a lot to the with the problems that the US is having competing against the world. When we look back to the original dream team, all of the players obviously were college players first. As we moved beyond that we had more and more straight out of high school cats involved and the level of play has decreased in the league to the point where the world players who have been playing professionally for years have competed with and against better competition for longer. This is not saying that the comp here in the states is bad. Our young players are more athletic than the worlds younger players, but the worlds young players and teams are more savvy and more able to play the international game. So what does all of this mean? In Amare, Tyson and Dwight we don’t have one single guy that can face up and make the midrange jump shot with consistency which is where the international game will be won on the interior and in the midrange.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:47 am
bron42 says:
first off..most guys drafted within the last 5 years have some internation experience because of the college team usa and high teams (like when beasly and them just played). I would take david lee over collison anyday but lets not go too far and make it like having either one is really gonna change team usa’s fate and carry them from bronze to gold. Both play on crappy teams and are high end garbage men. Its not like their out there beasting tim duncan kg. Their both pretty much the only rebounding threats on their teams. Not to mention both are completely undersized (Although david is athletic enough to make up for it). Give me dwight howard and amare over collison,hinrich, or david lee and their internation experience anyday. And that has nothing to do with them bein cheesy white guys (luke ridnour anyone?) i mean even jj reddick is still tryin to get his on the team but lets not make it like nick collison is the answer to team usa’s slump.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
nick says:
to russ’s comments about bosh
the reason bosh was not playing much in the olympics last time around was because you had wade, melo, bron and the game seemed to be more perimeter oriented. so the focus of the team was on the guards and bosh is scoring big man so whats his role if that is already filled by the guards/f’s.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Ian says:
hey bron
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dreamteams/08/14/nba.alltime/index.html
check whos the pf
but ull like the current team
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/dreamteams/08/14/nba.current/index.html
August 16th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
PJ says:
Since Kevin Durant is so versatile, why not use him as a “big”? He’s got a decent mid range jumper!
August 16th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
David Lee for president and the 08 squad Knicks Up!!
August 16th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Celts Fan says:
Damn right PJ, and he averaged a double double in the Big 12, which isn’t the Olympics, but is still very competitive. He’d get eaten alive in the NBA down low (right now anyway) but he’s a PERFECT fit for the 4 in the international game, just like Melo. Speaking of which, my Team USA starters would be:
1. Kidd
2. Joe Johnson/Michael Redd
3. LeBron
4. Melo
5. Amare
August 16th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Celts Fan says:
I might even go as far as to start Redick (assuming he makes the team) at the 2, or maybe even Durant. Before everyone starts hating, know that I hate Duke and think Redick’s a role player in the NBA, possibly a servicable starter on a good team that can take care of his defensive shortcomings, but the international game is all about shooting, something he’s one of the best in the world at doing.
August 16th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
IGP says:
Saying that Collison, Kirk or David Lee would be pick simply because they are white is the biggest bunch of garbage I have ever heard. What idiot has the sense to write that? Also, with Amare sounding like he has hit the gym all summer and worked harder than ever…the league has to watch out. He had the ability to put up MVP numbers even before all this.
August 16th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Celts Fan says:
You may be right IGP. Never been a big fan of Amare until he got back from microfracture (”All he can do is dunk”) but it looks like that injury may’ve been the best thing that ever happened to him. He looks like he’s back, better than ever, now with a 15 ft. J in his bag that makes him legitimately unstoppable…
August 16th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
god says:
every day this João guy comes with a different Miami lineup and says that their gonna win the title next season. Its more anoying than the squidoo spam.
August 16th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
D-NICE says:
Baron is too funny. He also told Mayo that he ain’t even from cali. lol And if that Miami deal goes down they will win the title this year
August 17th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Tom says:
The best per-minute olympic stats were put up by Howard & Bosh. Both of their total productivity was limited by Coach K’s strange personnel decisions, but you can’t blame Bosh for not having good olympic numbers. He didn’t actually contribute as much as Howard, but when you look at what he did when he actually got to play, he played a lot better than just about anyone else.
August 17th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Tom says:
Oops… I meant the World Championships… glad I caught that before anyone else did.