2010 WC absentees

[Chigusa2]

I hope people are not just basing Dirk's status solely on the opinions expressed by Cuban some years ago about NBA players & international tournaments. You do know he made those opinions before the 2008 Olympics where Dirk played right? As of now there have been no reports that this is even an issue, so if Dirk elects not to play it won't be because of Cuban's personal taste. And contrary to what has been said, the only times NBA front offices really have an issue is when their is past injury history or a great risk of injury that would threaten club obligation.

 

[Franz2]

I hope people are not just basing Dirk's status solely on the opinions expressed by Cuban some years ago about NBA players & international tournaments. You do know he made those opinions before the 2008 Olympics where Dirk played right? As of now there have been no reports that this is even an issue, so if Dirk elects not to play it won't be because of Cuban's personal taste. And contrary to what has been said, the only times NBA front offices really have an issue is when their is past injury history or a great risk of injury that would threaten club obligation.

http://technorati.com/sports/article/mark-cuban-usa-basketball-should-be/

Need I say more?????

While it wasn't stated specifically in the link, Cuban has said before that he doesn't like players under contract playing in international tourneys. The "profit" issue that he mentions regarding the Olympic Committee is just another argument he's using to support his position.

 

[Chigusa2]

http://technorati.com/sports/article/mark-cuban-usa-basketball-should-be/

Need I say more?????

Cuban has held that position for a number of years now, including before 2008 which did not stop Dirk from participating with his NT. I have not read anything that points to Dirk possibly not playing because his owner personally does not like the profit risk, if you find something please share. And we are talking about Mark Cuban after all anyway, the guy who has to have opinion on everything. Not every NBA owner or front office guy is like Cuban.

 

[Franz2]

Cuban has held that position for a number of years now, including before 2008 which did not stop Dirk from participating with his NT. I have not read anything that points to Dirk possibly not playing because his owner personally does not like the profit risk, if you find something please share. And we are talking about Mark Cuban after all anyway, the guy who has to have opinion on everything. Not every NBA owner or front office guy is like Cuban.

Just because Cuban allowed Nowitzki to play in 2008 doesn't mean he will allow him to play beyond that. It might have been a one time thing by Cuban as a way of solving the issue. Also, Nowitzki did not play in Eurobasket last year at Cuban's request. If such demand is made again for WC (depending on Dallas season), Nowitzki won't playing this year either. It's not official but certainly a possibility given Cuban's past antics.

But of course as international fan, I'm hoping that Cuban does the right thing and let Nowitzki play in FIBA WC which is different from Olympics.

 

[Fearless2]

funny how all you talk about how uncertain the situation is for Dirk with Cuban around, when Dirk before this year has played with the NT for 11 straight years with Cuban keeping completely out of this..

end of the story: if Dirk wants, he will play

 

[Franz2]

end of the story: if Dirk wants, he will play

Nowitzki wanted to play in Eurobasket last year but Cuban told him not to.

So I don't agree.......

Another thing is that Don Nelson was the coach of the Mavericks. He wasn't a prick about international competition like Cuban is right now. He allowed Nowitzki play if he wanted to. That should explain the 11 years of the NT.

 

[Jon_Koncak2]

Chris Paul out two moths with knee innury.I really doubt Hornets will let him play this summer after such an injury-plagued season for him.

 

[Luíz for 32]

USA team will be absolutely different from the Olympic 'Dream Team', that's my guest.
As usual the best of the best are not interested in lost their holidays to play in Turkey, not only in the US players but also great number of international NBA players.
Derrick Rose, Brook Lopez, OY Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Michael Beasley will probably take part on the USA roster.

 

[pohani komarac2]

if this players will not play
this years WC will be boring and not exciting!!

if you look at basketball trough players, hype and stuf like that it will be boring for you for sure...you shouldn't even folow it with stars or without them

if you look at basketball as team sport, sport with pride and honer, beauty etc. you will always enjoy in it....

positive side of absence of players is that it will make competitinon far iteresting in terms of competitivnes, les predictible results and more true sportsmans on court

basketball is definetley most screwd up sport...in other sports players mostley can't wait to play for nt besides few dorks. basketball has bunch to rich primadonas with no sense for national pride, pasion and love for game

and as for Germany respect to mister Dirk...he won my hart long time ago with his love for game and NT...I'm sure he would play if retard Cuban would let him..........but Kaman???? If I were German coach I would never call that primadona with fetish on Dirk, not even if I would be sure that would bring me gold...when it comes to NT's there is no I need this, give me that, I have fetish on Dirk and I will play if he plays, bla, bla shit....NT is holy thing and those who can and wannt have place, does who can't, who don't wannt or have some kind demands don't have place...simple as that

I would allways rather see less talented player who plays with pasion, love for the game and has sense for national pride than primadonas like kaman or giricek

 

[LordOfLeyte2]

I'm convinced that Steve Nash won't play in the WC.

 

[Phantim3dx2]

I'm convinced that Steve Nash won't play in the WC.

your a funny guy lordofleyte

 

[Partizan&Beer2]

...
and as for Germany respect to mister Dirk...he won my hart long time ago with his love for game and NT...I'm sure he would play if retard Cuban would let him..........but Kaman???? If I were German coach I would never call that primadona with fetish on Dirk, not even if I would be sure that would bring me gold...when it comes to NT's there is no I need this, give me that, I have fetish on Dirk and I will play if he plays, bla, bla shit....NT is holy thing and those who can and wannt have place, does who can't, who don't wannt or have some kind demands don't have place...simple as that
...

Mavs - Clippers pre game situation:

Chris: (running after Dirk) Hey Dirk, Diiirk! Hey Dirk! (catching up with him) How's it going bro?
Dirk: (annoyed) Oh, hey Chris...
Chris: (full of enthusiasm) Hey Dirk my man! Yo, yo, yo Big D! Australia, Argentina and Serbia man, we're gonna kick their asses maaan! You and me dogg! And then in the second stage man, I bet you and me can beat that U...
Dirk: (interupting him) I'm not playing for NT this year...
Chris: (after a short pause) Oh... Me neither man, that's just stupid.
Dirk: Why is that stupid? I love playing for Germany. It's just that this summer, during the WC, my first cousin Heidi is getting married to my best friend Swen and they'll be serving genuine Bavarian knockwursts for six straight days! Jaaaa, knockwursts (drooling).
Chris: No, no, no Dirk, you got me all wrong! I said it'll be stupid to play for NT this year, if someone close is getting married and serving knockwursts! I love playing for Germany too!
Dirk: Chris...
Chris: (with a sparkle in his eye) Yes Dirk?
Dirk: Go be somewhere else...
Chris: (sad) Yes Dirk...



As far as NTs and primadonas go, Peja is the winner...

 

[nixonie2]

Why is Peja not playing (for years now...) ?

 

[rikhardur2]

Why is Peja not playing (for years now...) ?

Issues with the federation.

 

[Fearless2]

Nowitzki wanted to play in Eurobasket last year but Cuban told him not to.

So I don't agree.......

Another thing is that Don Nelson was the coach of the Mavericks. He wasn't a prick about international competition like Cuban is right now. He allowed Nowitzki play if he wanted to. That should explain the 11 years of the NT.

what a lame argument, don nelson was the coach only until 2004, and yes dirk wanted to play, but just because his marriage "dropped"; plus he had already promised to Cuban that he wouldn't play (because he knew he was getting married, which didn't happen). that's not the case this year. If Dirk wants to play he will play, since he hasn't made any comittment to Cuban this year and on the other hand he has stated many times that he's excited about the wildcard and that he was not leaving the national team for good last year..

 

[Fearless2]

USA team will be absolutely different from the
Derrick Rose, Brook Lopez, OY Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Michael Beasley will probably take part on the USA roster.

If that's the case, they will be slaughtered a la Athens 2004..

 

[Dtown2]

If that's the case, they will be slaughtered a la Athens 2004..

So they'll lose by 8 in the semifinals, and then take bronze?

I love how the US team's version of slaughtered is spectacularly different from the rest of the world.

 

[Fearless2]

So they'll lose by 8 in the semifinals, and then take bronze?

I love how the US team's version of slaughtered is spectacularly different from the rest of the world.

and lost by 20 to puerto rico, by 20 to italy and lost to Lithuania..

and of course your team's version of "slaughtered" is different, no one doubts that, since you used to dominate the game with college boys..

 

[Federoy2]

and lost by 20 to puerto rico, by 20 to italy and lost to Lithuania..

and of course your team's version of "slaughtered" is different, no one doubts that, since you used to dominate the game with college boys..

US collegiates haven't won a significant international title since the 1986 WC, and they hardly "dominated" every one they played in that tournament. The last truly great US team comprised of college players was the 1968 Olympic team. So when you say "used to"....yeah...that was 42 years ago.

As for the US getting "slaughtered," that's an exaggerated descriptive. I doubt anyone is going to slaughter the US this summer, but I'm willing to bet they will be in some close contests and they could perhaps lose a close game or two.

 

[L8DBACK2]

USA will definitely have an awesome team for the WC.

Nine members of the redeem team will return for the WC except for Redd (weapons violation in D.C.), Jason Kidd (retiring from
international basketball) and Tayshaun Prince (who have battled injuries).

The remainder of the roster includes young stars like Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose. Also returning to the national team are Chauncey Billups and Amare Stoudemire, who played on the U.S. team in the 2007 Olympic qualifier.

Los Angeles Laker's Lamar Odom, who played on the 2004 Olympic team, also was chosen Wednesday.

The rest of the players are almost entirely young players. The roster includes: Minnesota's Al Jefferson and Kevin Love; Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo of Memphis; Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala; Boston's Kendrick Perkins; Indiana's Danny Granger; New York's David Lee; New Jersey center Brook Lopez; Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook; Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge; Charlotte's Gerald Wallace; and Clippers guard Eric Gordon.

The Americans will choose a group from the roster to take part in their minicamp in Las Vegas in July. They are expected to play an exhibition game in New York before heading to Turkey for the world championships.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistants Jim Boeheim, Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillan already committed to returning last summer.

GOING FOR THE GOLD IN 2010!