USA Basketball Roster Announced

I seriously hope that it works this time. Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski announced his 15-man roster for the FIBA World Basketball Championships in Japan today. He must cut down the roster to 12 before the first game, but the roster is as follows:

G Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
G Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
G Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
G Kirk Hinrich, Chicago Bulls
G Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards
F Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
F Bruce Bowen, San Antonio Spurs
F Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors
F Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
F Elton Brand, Los Angeles Clippers
F Shane Battier, Houston Rockets
F Antawn Jamison, Golden State Warriors
F Amare Stoudamire, Phoenix Suns
C Brad Miller, Sacramento Kings

You might notice that there are no NBA teammates on this team- weird. Anyway, other American stars such as Adam Morrison, Luke Ridnour, Shawn Marion, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Chauncey Billups, and Paul Pierce weren't included on the roster, but are still a part of the USA basketball roster and could take part in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. I like the fact that this team had to try out and actually had to go to camp to make the team. I like the fact that Jerry Colangelo is making players commit to being on the team for 3 years, not just for one tournament (KG). This team is a much better put together team as well. With a potential starting lineup of Paul, Wade, James, Brand, and Howard, there are several other specialists off the bench. You have a shotblocker in Howard, a lockdown defender in Bowen, shooters in Hinrich and Arenas, and a pure scorer in Johnson. I think the embarassment of years past is finally starting to set in to these guys as well. The USA will face really only two tests in the opening round play with China, which is the host country and the team of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming. They will also face a Puerto Rico team which features Detroit Pistons point guard Carlos Arroyo and Denver Nuggets center Daniel Rodriguez. Puerto Rico beat the United States in the 2004 Olympics, and will definitely smell blood again. Other top teams in the tournament include Brazil who will be led by Denver Nuggets Nene', Australia (which will feature #1 NBA Draft Pick Andrew Bogut), Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany, Pao Gasol's Spanish team (which finished 4th in the olympics), then of course Olympic Champion Argentina who will be led by San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobli and Detroit's Carlos Delfino. The United State must find a way to play together and put the USA back where it belongs among International Basketball powerhouses.