http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060131/SPORTS0102/601310334/1127


U.S. wants Billups

Pistons point guard will be invited to play in World Championships and the 2008 Olympics.

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Chauncey Billups hasn't said if he will accept the offer to play for the U.S. national team. See full image

AUBURN HILLS -- It appears, barring any unforeseen snag, Chauncey Billups will have a spot on the U.S. men's basketball team -- if he wants one.

"We want him to play," said Jerry Colangelo, who is in charge of assembling the team that will play in the World Championships this summer, potentially another qualifying tournament in the summer of 2007 and in the Olympics in 2008.

Colangelo said he planned to speak to Billups today. The only concern is a possible conflict this summer. Billups' wife, Piper, is expecting to deliver their third child in July or August.

"Would we be flexible with him as far as the pregnancy, absolutely," Colangelo said. "We just need to talk and work out the circumstances."

Billups, who took treatment on his bruised left thigh before flying to New Jersey where he is expected to play against the Nets tonight, declined to comment.

Colangelo said he was also waiting to hear from Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton.

Kobe Bryant and LeBron James already have committed to the team. Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire and Allen Iverson are also expected to commit.

Colangelo has said his initial targets for the point guard position were Billups and Jason Kidd. Kidd, who will be 35 in the summer of 2008, has met with Colangelo. He said he wanted to discuss at length with his family before making the commitment.

Other point guards being considered include Gilbert Arenas, Baron Davis, Steve Francis and Kirk Hinrich.

Colangelo is hoping to get final word from Elton Brand, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh and Marcus Camby.

He hopes to announce the team during All-Star weekend, Feb. 18-19.

Welp, I think everyone believes Billups is a good choice. Do you think he should do it?

BTW, that makes 4 of the 5 Piston starters asked to play for the team (Ben already turned them down). Talk about an ego boost.

BTW, that makes 4 of the 5 Piston starters asked to play for the team (Ben already turned them down). Talk about an ego boost.


Sheed isn't being asked because he shut them down before they even got the opportunity to ask him.

I think Billups will be perfect in the international game but for selfish reasons I don't want any Pistons on the team.

The time spent on that team could mean trouble during the NBA seasons and we don't need that shit while we're contending for the title.

Quality players from bad teams (Bosh, Joe Johnson, Paul etc) should have no drama going because they're not playing important games anyway.

The NBA teams pay these guys. Repping your country is nice, but it's not the highest goal in your chosen profession.

The NBA title is and all our guys should focus on that and leave the USA team to guys that have no shot at a title anytime soon.

(btw I hope is that Bogut plays for Australia)

From what I heard (from our favorite Pistons "insider" McCunt) Chauncey's wife is expecting a child in the summer, and he's trying to figure out if he will be able to leave or if he should spend the time with his wife and his soon to be newborn.

Like I said in the past - it is their choice if they want to go, but I trade any player who decides to play international basketball. We'll go deep in the play-offs, they'll go right to Team USA training Camp and then the tournament and by the time that plays out it's time for training camp and then the grind of another season.

I'd only reconsider if we win the championship this year.

In our favour is the fact that we have a really stacked team.

Assume Billups and Rip make the team.

Next season we could rest them a lot more and use Arroyo, Delfino and Evans to cover their minutes.

While none of our bench guys are equal to our starters we've got it a lot better than some other teams.

TD and Manu both played in the Olympics last season and look how that turned out for them. On the other hand, Gasol and Dirk don't seem to have that many problems.

But I wouldn't want any of our guys playing in the Olympics. The way it is setup currently, they won't have a lot of time off between the playoffs, NT camp and regular season.

I would like to see Arroyo, Delfino and Darko play for their National Teams though.

U.S. will accommodate expectant dad Billups

Guard allowed to skip World games to be with his wife; he'll join team for summers of '07, '08.

It appears certain now that Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups will be on the U.S. Olympic team in 2008.

Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of the U.S. men's national team, has agreed to allow Billups to skip the World Championships in Tokyo this summer to tend to the birth of his third child.

"His wife (Piper) is having a baby and if there's a player or two who might get a pass (for 2006), he would," Colangelo told the Rocky Mountain News.

Billups will compete with the team in the summers of 2007 and 2008.

"The chance to win a gold medal, that's unbelievable,"he said.

It would complete a rare trifecta for a professional basketball player -- NBA All-Star, NBA championship, Olympic gold medalist. Not bad for a guy who was cut or traded by five teams.

"For me to achieve all of that, it's just crazy," he said. "I haven't seen anybody go through it the way I did. I came in on top. I was the No. 3 pick (by Boston), but before too long I was written off as a bust. People were like, 'He's done.'

"To make it back to the top of that mountain is beautiful."

Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince also got formal letters of invitation from Colangelo.

"I still need to think about it," Hamilton said. "It's 50-50 right now."

Prince is leaning toward declining his invitation.

"I am going to talk to him before the All-Star break, but right now, I don't think I am going," Prince said.

He is worried that the three-year commitment, on top of playing 100-plus games every season with the Pistons, will take at least a couple of years off his career.

"I already gave up a couple of years to college," said Prince, referring to his four-year stay at Kentucky.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060212/SPORTS0102/602120359/1127

i agree with pharoah, these games should be for guys stuck on crappy teams, particularly young guys.

not only would they not have to worry about the drags of the playoffs, but it would be a way to make their name more marketable.

you could put together a pretty solid team of lottery teams.

i agree with pharoah, these games should be for guys stuck on crappy teams, particularly young guys.

not only would they not have to worry about the drags of the playoffs, but it would be a way to make their name more marketable.

you could put together a pretty solid team of lottery teams.

Yes, you could. However, I want to see the U.S. win and if Billups and Hamilton are on that team, they have a better chance of winning. Both their games are suited to the international games. I hope they go and bring home the gold.

As someone said, it didn't stop Duncan and Ginobili from winning the title last year.

Honestly, I just wanna see the Billups/Hamilton duo destroy other national teams.

I think that could happen. I dont think any of these guys will have problems with the FIBA rules.

So Billups will be in it?

Hmm, I hope Richard Hamilton accepts.

Honestly, I just wanna see the Billups/Hamilton duo destroy other national teams.

My thoughts exactly

McCosky:


Q . Did Rip Hamilton talk to Olympic team boss Jerry Colangelo?

A . Yep. Hamilton and Prince have turned down offers to join the U.S. Olympic team. Both balked at making the three-year commitment, especially with the Pistons' seasons running deep into the playoffs every year.

Chauncey Billups will be on the team. He will attend the training camp in Las Vegas this summer, but skip the World Championships in Tokyo. He will play in 2007 and 2008.

They should get Dwight Howard.

I think they should go back to college kids, as well as the foreign teams too.

I don't understand why NBA and NHL players are allowed to be paid proffessionals, but all other olympians are not.

Sure, you aren't sending the best of the best, but there is something to be said for not sending pros IMO. As long as it's universal that is (every country).

I agree Chris.

Going back to sending the amateurs is they only way to ever recreate that "Miracle on Ice" feeling ever again.

The way it is now, if we win, we were supposed to. If we lose, it's an embarrassment.

I'd love to go back to sending the college kids, even if we get throttled. I would love to pull for the underdog again.

But me thinks the marketing/media dollars will say otherwise.

They should get Dwight Howard.

They should. Penny's the shit BTW before he got gimped, I still have his jersey somewhere in my closet.

I love you Fool, but honestly, you should be banned for mispelling Billups in the thread title.

To recreate that feeling you also need an enemy or country that you are at odds with. The Olympics don't do it for me anymore. What made the Olympics so special was the our way of life vs.; your way of life. The USSR, W. Germans and such.

To recreate that feeling you also need an enemy or country that you are at odds with. The Olympics don't do it for me anymore. What made the Olympics so special was the our way of life vs.; your way of life. The USSR, W. Germans and such.

World Cup 2006 should have such storylines, though by 2010 America should have a solid program, though obviously not elite. Right now they could be beat by the Korea's, Iran's of the world - however the US is pumping millions into their National "soccer" programs so this will not be the case in the near future.

They should get Dwight Howard.

I love you Fool, but honestly, you should be banned for mispelling Billups in the thread title.

Hmm, its not spelled wrong now and I'm not sure what I posted as the original title which a mod has definately changed.

If I did spell it wrong originally, then it just shows that I wasn't much of a Piston fan in the first place.

Oh, and I agree, 1c was definately the hotness back in the day.

Damn mods.

*steps off of soap box*

I'm just giving you shit [smilie=kamalone.gi:

Actually caught a Magic/Rockets finals game on ESPN classic. Penny was decent, while a young Snaq had a battle with Hakeem O, but Nick Anderson choked while our favorite analyst in Kenny got the Rockets back in the game with multiple 3s.

Damn that fucker. First that game/title, now this 2006 slam dunk fiasco [smilie=arrgh.jpg]

Bowen gets USA team invite.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA022106.4D.bowen.usa.d248e0a.html


Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News

Bruce Bowen walked outside Monday morning to pick up his newspaper and was surprised by what else he found on his doorstep.

A contract from USA Basketball.

The paperwork was a formal invitation for Bowen to participate in USA Basketball's training camp in July in Las Vegas. Only 22 NBA players will be invited to the camp, which will be used to determine the U.S. national team for this summer's World Championships in Japan and the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Cleveland's LeBron James are among the other players who have committed for the camp. Bowen wasted no time in signing the contract Monday and mailing it back to USA Basketball.

"I've accomplished a lot in my career," Bowen said. "But this is an opportunity to represent my country."

USA Basketball isn't expected to announce the complete group of players until March 1.

Bowen, who has said all season he would love to be picked, further impressed officials with his enthusiasm last weekend. After traveling from San Antonio to Miami Thursday to be with his family for the All-Star break, Bowen flew back to Houston on Friday to meet with Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball's managing director.

"I didn't really have any questions for him," Bowen said, "because I was just so excited for the opportunity."

Between his defense and timely 3-point shooting, Bowen can provide two skills Team USA needs. Bowen, who turns 35 in June, will be one of the oldest players in the camp, but he has proven to be durable, having started 324 consecutive games for the Spurs.

"The thing (Colangelo) is trying to do is build a team, and on that team you have superstars and role players," Bowen said. "They're looking for players that don't have to have the ball the whole time, who can continue to cheer on a teammate even though they might not be getting shots.

"It's an opportunity for me to do what I do."

It appears Bowen was the plan-B for Tayshaun. While I regret Rip not going, I think I prefer Bowen going instead of Prince. This team should have all kinds of wing defense.