Watch the U.S. basketball team’s preparation to win the Tournament of Americas in 2007. Road to Redemption by Nike, Ep. 1, Pt. 4 and Watch as USA Basketball announces the members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic basketball team. Road to Redemption by Nike, Ep. 1, Pt. 5 @ NBA.com
Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak took time to answer question.
Andrew Bynum for 15 years in the lakers ? according to Mitch Kupchak, "He is a true center"
Kobe Bryant playing in the Olympics? according to Mitch Kupchak, "how to stop a player that is going to be 30 and he will be 34 when the next Olympics "
Countdown to Beijing
Kobe is still dealing with a torn ligament in his right pinkie, but in his own words,
"It's always an issue," he said. "Handling the ball sometimes, shooting the ball sometimes. I've been playing with it for so long now, you just get used to it. You bobble the ball sometimes and kind of brush it off because it's just what happens sometimes."
and bringing back a gold medal will reduce some of that pain, As well as the pain of losing in the Finals.
Wow!!!!!! What a player!!!!!
That's why he's the NBA's best!!!!
Do you think USA team will be the Olympic champion?
I would think so. :)
GO TEAM USA!!!
What are the NBA owners, GMs and coaches concern as their stars embark on a month-long Olympic journey?
Reason for the Return of the Feud between O'Neal and Bryant is Shaq's childlike selfishness and jealousy and now fans began feuding once more.
Shaq has never shown to be fully supportive of his relationships with young, talented guards( like Penny Hardaway, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade ). Eventually, all his relationships with Hardaway , Wade, and Bryant soured, despites of his acts of embraced to his relationship with Wade.
My speculation of O'Neal's :
He is wanting the media 's attention, and how to go about it ?
Thrown a freestyling jabs at former Laker teammate Kobe Bryant.
Some of you might say, “it’s wishful thinking in my part" and I hope that the team will bring back the DREAM TEAM and win the OLYMPIC GOLD.
Before Bryant, USABasketball Men's World Championship Team were: Anthony; Battier; Bosh; Brand; Hinrich; Howard; James; Jamison; Johnson; Brad Miller; Paul; and Wade.
Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE / USABasketball
Following a disappointing 5-3 finish and bronze medal showing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, USA Basketball in 2005 setoff in a totally new direction with its men’s senior national team.
USA FIBA Americas Championship Team were: Anthony; Billups; Bryant; Chandler; Howard; James; Kidd; Mike Miller; Prince; Redd; Stoudemire; and Williams.
Photo: Andrew D. Bernstein / NBAE / USABasketball
In winning its 10 games in just 12 days, the USA defeated its 10 opponents by an average of 39.5 ppg., the largest margin by a senior squad since the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team defeated its opponents by 43.8 ppg and finished 10-0 to win gold .
USA Basketball’s Men’s Senior National Team currently consists of 33 players:
Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets)
Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards)
Shane Battier (Houston Rockets)
Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons)
Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors)
Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz)
Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs)
Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers)
Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
Tyson Chandler (New Orleans Hornets)
Nick Collison (Seattle SuperSonics)
Kevin Durant (Seattle SuperSonics)
Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls)
Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)
Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards)
Shawn Marion (Miami Heat)
Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings)
Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies)
Adam Morrison (Charlotte Bobcats)
Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers)
Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers)
Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets)
Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)
Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons)
Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks)
J.J. Redick (Orlando Magic)
Luke Ridnour (Seattle SuperSonics)
Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns)
Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) And
Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).
Photo: Nathaniel S. Butler / NBAE
Four members of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team name All-NBA First Team
USA To Face Russia August 3 and Australia August 5
In USA Basketball International Challenge
USA Men’s Senior National Team To Open 2008 USA Basketball International Challenge With Pair Of Games In Macao, China
Which one or whom will be the most to get criticism or praises & WHY?
Congratulations Celtics & fans for the 2008 champs!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some say, Kobe disappeared again like he has always done for the past two years. I think the game went As THE NBA had scripted it.
While Kobe Bryant and company took what the league had given to them; they led their fans hanging for their hopes of the title. We were waiting for the moment when Bryant said forget this, it's time for me to take charge, instead we get the Kobe that played a little too much team ball and too little me.
Aside from the occasional Shasha bench hissy fits, and scoring outburst of Kobe Bryant in mostly 1st quarter, the LA teamappeared to be calm, cool, and collected while seated on their bench.
The LAKERS bench is wildly inconsistent, unable to handle the pressure, Vujacic, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, and Rony Turiaf – which has been sign of thier youthful inexperience. Vladimir Radmonovic not a starter material.
Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Celtics who did a good job of Throwing off their rhythm by swarming and bumped all of the Los Angeles starter players by keeping them all out of their comfort zone repeatedly. And that may be the biggest difference between these two teams.
As James Posey, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen had said, “we had a great game plan," "We all took it upon ourselves as a challenge to stop Kobe the entire series."
“Which leaves the unselfish Kobe Bryant”
Call it you want, but this is what I had saw.
Before the series started, much of the hype centered on Kobe’s burning desire to win a championship with a young team he called his own. His desire had vanished in thinking that he had gotten what he wanted compared to the Celtics’ Big Three of Garnett, Allen, and Paul Pierce, desperate desires. With zero titles to show for it, they are more desperate for a championship after thirty-plus years of playing experience combined.
What is your opinion? Let me have it… I have 3 hours to response…too much commitment, well only three. “ A little too much for a twelve year olds” my nana said.
your big ?
No my little bro, Mike, is not mad, he is sad for Kobe & he had a big :) for our big brother AJ & little cuz Charles!!.lol.
My big ?
Do you think the team needs to get a big body that they can pair with Kobe or a wingman that can create his own shot in the lane?
Thank you all for your support...
GO KOBE!!!!!
We'll See You Next Season And It Will Be Your Turn Again.
"We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal and then leap in the dark to our success."
Kobe this is your life's work, Please don't get distracted by a bunch of opponents actors.
Maybe some FANS doesn't want this to happen and even Kobe himself doesn't want his old self back, but we wants the LAKERS to "WIN"
We need the old Kobe back !!!!!!!!!!!!
The one that has a killer instinct, tough, competitive,and prototypical shooting guard.
We will even take back the arrogant and selfish Kobe.
Most of all, we want the Kobe that can always take over the game, the Kobe that carry his team offensively, the Kobe that defend the opponent's best player, the Kobe that hit outside shots, the Kobe that slash to the rim, and the Kobe that excel in transition TO "WIN this serries" because Since the league switched 2-3-2 format in 1985, no team has won the last two games on the road.
CONGRATULATIONS CELTICS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR BEING THE 2008 CHAMPION!!!!
but
THE GAME IS NOT OVER YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE PLAN GOING PRETTY WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THREE healthy MEGA STARS VERSUS !!!!!!!!!!!
ONE UNHEALTHY STAR !!!!!!!!!!
To Kobe, This is a life's work, to try to find a way to win a championship. . . . I wish that Kobe’s dislikers doesn’t keeps twisting that knife through his & his fans hearts.
Vitality shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over and We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.
WIN or LOSS We are a LAKERS fans.
I am not suprise at all.. EXPERIENCED (consistent veterans & solid team ) versus NONE EXPERIECED( but a couple of players)
I know in my heart that the WHOLE NBA are letting Kobe take the bullet for the LOSS of this CHAMPIONSHIP SERRIES"
I just realized why my old folks was not happy and said,"the lakers didn't have a chance of winning this serries".
About this year's final 2-3-2 format, my folks saying , " this is set up for home court advantage TO WIN THE SERRIES unless the other team is that good a team" also, set up to sell tickets , merchandise, and the whole NBA back to the TOP."
This is not going well ... at all, with a very sloppy play with way too many turnovers and were victimized by good DRAMA acting, the lack of control, and fairness .........officiating,......TOO MANY UNCALLED foul calls again'st the LAKERS tonight.
"To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle."
vs
Just wants to know your opinion, dya think the LAKERS will get this IN 5 games?
They have good team chemistry and they will lift their game into another level.
Kobe only shot (32.6%) against the Celtics in the regular season and (34.6%) 9-for-26 shooting in Game 1.
Los Angeles Times
No more "misses some bunnies" Kobe, make Chick Hearn proud, "he shot that from way out yonder"
In 2004 finals, Kobe had said this, "You can talk about my shot all night long," "But without Luke in the game playing as well as he did, we wouldn’t be in that position."
In the past, both set their aim too high but fall short and this season they both set their aim low and both achieve their mark.
Both had expressed frustration and challenged their front office (idyllic decisions to remained with their favorites players) to upgrade their roster. Both has huge salary, the difference been Kobe requested to be traded and Kevin never requested a trade.
We are happy that FANS all over the world treat Kobe as if he were what he ought to be and could be, because he becomes what he ought to be and could be “ ONE OF THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER IN THE WORLD”.
Thank you for your Willingness to forgive and forget (maybe not) from the bottom of our hearts…. UNDERAGE.
Our Wish:
Kobe Bryant can continue to be the prototypical shooting guard with a killer instinct, toughest, and most competitive players ever.
Be always be him self, the one that always can take over the game, and the one who can carry his team offensively for long stretches, defend the other team's best player, hit outside shots, create for others, slash to the rim, excel in transition and win regular and playoff games.
GOOD LUCK CELTICS FANS AND LAKERS FANS…
MAY THE BEST MAN'S TEAM WIN.
NO WAY!!!!!!!!! YOU CANNOT START SAYING BEAT LA…
GO LAKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO KOBE!!!!!!!!!!
KEVIN I LOVE YOU TOO BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I LOVE KOBE….
Sorry Jazz Fans we got this one, the next, and the FINALS.
They ( Jazz Players)really scratches and claws my lakers, but Kobe the MVP is showing and proving the sportscaster that voted for him, he not only can perform well in the regular season but he can perform well in the playoffs too.
Bottom line is, "Kobe will make plays for the team if and when he needed to."
Are you excited that our team made it through the next round?
We are excited, proud, and humble that the LAKERS made it to the next round.
Road to Redemption by Nike, Ep. 1, Pt. 5 @ NBA.com
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
Los Angeles Times 
it's been decided that Bynum to undergo (arthroscopic surgery) knee surgery Wednesday.........
