Word: nba
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...find recent versions of America's national basketball teams, champion underachievers. In 2002 the U.S. finished an astounding sixth place--behind even New Zealand--at the World Championships, held on home turf in Indianapolis. The '04 Olympic team was so stillborn that even the classy, three-time NBA champ Tim Duncan looked as if he'd have preferred, say, a skin rash rather than march in the opening ceremonies. After a first game drubbing by Puerto Rico, and less-than-professional conduct from several players and then coach Larry Brown, winning bronze in Athens actually seemed like an achievement...
...Basketball has asked a pool of 24 NBA players to give up three summers to prepare for this year's Worlds, next year's Olympic qualifiers, if needed, and the 2008 Games in Beijing. This group includes, arguably, the three best players on the globe: Miami's Dwyane Wade, Cleveland's LeBron James, and L.A.'s Kobe Bryant (though knee surgery will keep Bryant on the sidelines for Japan), plus respected role players, like defensive stoppers Bruce Bowen and Shane Battier...
...pressing question: can a college coach, who typically imposes tight control over pliant 18-year-olds, meld the egos of millionaired NBA megastars? After all, several top college coaches have fired airballs in the pros, guys like Lon Kruger of Illinois, fired by the Atlanta Hawks, and Miami's Leonard Hamilton, a washout with the Washington Wizards. Krzyzewski's favorite wink-wink reply: "I'm a millionaire...
...adjusted to the looser NBA environment. "At Duke, we wouldn't allow guys to wear a hat in a meeting,"he says. "But we're dealing with an 18-year-old - there's a discipline factor. If these guys wear a hat in a meeting, that's fine. Don't get bogged down with stupid things like that...
...Athens vet who said then-U.S. coach Larry Brown discouraged him from scoring. "That was kind of our problem in '04 - one guy could do this, another guy couldn't." Krzyzewski's vibe has fired up the team; the practices are crisp and competitive. "I'd have our [NBA] team pay him a couple of grand to talk to us," says Brad Miller, a Team USA big man who plays for the Sacramento Kings. "The way he can connect with everybody, it's unbelievable...