USA's Road To 2008 Beijing Olympics Filled With Challenges

Since a disappointing 5-3 finish and bronze medal showing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, USA Basketball and its men=s senior national team have had their sights set on regaining the Olympic gold, something the American men have won in 12 of the previous 15 Olympics they have played in.

Without a gold medal finish in a senior FIBA competition since the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, USA Basketball in 2005 set off in a totally new direction with its men's Senior National Team.

Setting aside the old committee system used for selecting its senior teams, respected former Phoenix Suns chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo was selected to serve in the newly created position of Managing Director of the USA Men's Senior National Team Program for 2005 2008.

Building a program consisting of 33 of this country's best players, and four of the very best coaches, Colangelo and USA Basketball proceeded to create a true Senior National Team program.

With two summers now behind them, the program boasts of 23-1 record. Unfortunately, the lone loss came in the 2006 World Championship semifinals to Greece (101-96) and the USA finished with an 8-1 record and the bronze medal.

In year two, the Americans finished 10-0 to claim gold at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada. By winning the zone championship, the USA men accomplished their number one goal of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic basketball competition.
With two summers of training and international competition now behind it, USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski knows that the U.S. is gaining important things that past USA teams did not have.

A Chemistry and the continuity of having players year after year. We all know each other. We have developed friendships and trust. The cornerstones of any successful organization start with those core values," offered Coach K.

AIt's like a house that has foundation instead of a house built on poles. You have to give a team or program a foundation. International teams have that because they have that continuity and we're trying to do that in our country. We've learned that from the great performances of the international teams."
Fielding a talent crammed 12-man roster, named to the U.S. team that will compete in the '08 Beijing Olympic Games were five Olympians - 2000 Olympic gold medalist Jason Kidd, and 2004 Olympic bronze medalists Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Also selected were NBA All-Stars Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd and Deron Williams.

USA head mentor Mike Krzyzewski is being assisted on the USA bench by Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head mentor Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.

Veteran leadership is a must for any team hoping to capture Olympic gold and for the USA, Jason Kidd, at 35 years old, and Kobe Bryant, at 30 years of age, fill that role. A veteran of five USA team including the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team that finished 8-0 and captured the gold medal in Sydney, Kidd boasts of a perfect 44-0 record at senior level competitions. Bryant too knows about winning, in addition to starring on the 2007 USA Team he was a member of the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Lakers NBA Championship teams.

Experience is another key to success. Of the 12 selected players, six were part of the 2006 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team, and eight were part of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship Team that qualified the U.S. for the 2008 Olympics. Three players - Anthony, Howard and James, were members of both teams.

The average age of the 12 players named to the 2008 U.S. team by the end of the '08 Olympics will be 26.08 years old. The USA team at the FIBA Americas Championship averaged 26.00, the USA team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship averaged 24.50 years of age, while the USA team at the 2004 Olympics averaged 23.60 years of age.

The USA also has worked to strengthen one area many have pointed to as its Achilles' heel - outside shooting. Sharpeshooter Michael Redd showed last summer what he can do from afar, and so did Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

It has been said defense wins championships and the U.S. has strength here also. Kobe Bryant (8 times), Dwight Howard (1 time), Jason Kidd (9 times), Chris Paul (1 time), Tayshaun Prince (4 times) and Dwyane Wade (1 time) have all earned NBA All-Defensive Team honors.

"It's all up to us," said Colangelo about his team's chances in Beijing. "We have great respect for the strong international teams that we're going to be facing. We take nothing for granted, but we're on a mission. Hopefully come August 24, the day of the gold medal game, we are participating, and we end up reaching our goal."

How did they qualify?
2007 FIBA Americas Championship, Final Round
Gold medal (10 W - 0 L)

Results
1st round
Aug-22th 2005 USA b. Venezuela 112-69
Aug-23rd 2005 USA b. Virgin Islands 123-59
Aug-24th 2005 USA b. Canada 113-63
Aug-26th 2005 USA b. Brazil 113-76

2nd round
Aug-27th 2005 USA b. Mexico 127-100
Aug-28st 2005 USA b. Puerto Rico 117-78
Aug-29th 2005 USA b. Uruguay 118-79
Aug-30th 2005 USA b. Argentina 91-76

Semi-final
Sept-1st 2005 USA b. Puerto Rico 135-91

Final
Sept-2nd 2005 USA b. Argentina 118-81