Olympic Basketball - 2012
DENG FACING TWO MAJOR GOALS
By JOSH ROSENFELD
(Special to the DigitalSportsDesk)
NEW YORK, APRIL 10, 2012 -- Luol Deng's first order of business at the moment is to help the Chicago Bulls maintain the best record in the NBA, then use that accomplishment as a springboard to capturing the team's first championship since 1998.
Then the hard work really begins.
Deng has signed on to represent Great Britain at the Olympics in London this summer and while any dreams of short-term success are unlikely, his long-range goal is to raise the profile of the sport in the country he has called home since fleeing war-torn Sudan as a child.
“I'm looking forward to it,” Deng said after scoring 13 points in the Bulls' 100-99 overtime loss to the Knicks Sunday. “It's kind of hard to talk about anything else right now but it's the Olympics, my first time, so I'm really excited about it.”
Great Britain is an afterthought in the international basketball community, even less prominent than the U.S. was in soccer 30 or 40 years ago. Great Britain, ranked 43rd globally by FIBA, qualified for the Olympics as the host nation. It's only other appearance in the Olympics came as the host nation in 1948, when it lost all five of its games.
But things are looking up for Great Britain, which has tied for 13th, its highest finish ever, in the last two European championships. Great Britain posted victories over Portugal and Poland last summer with Deng leading the way and, most impressively, lost to powerful Lithuania by only 11 points.
Deng, who played with Great Britain as a junior after moving to London, finds himself in the unaccustomed role of go-to guy on the national team after spending much of his career in a complementary role.
As a prep school student at New Jersey's Blair Academy Deng shared the ball with the Detroit Pistons Charlie Villanueva. He averaged 15 points on a typically star-studded team in his lone year at Duke and made his first appearance in this NBA All-Star Game in this, his eighth professional season.
But on Great Britain's 2012 Olympics team, Deng is "The Man," and his play in last year's European championships showed that he is more than capable of filling that role, as he averaged 24.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
Whether Great Britain can match its showing in the European championships in London, or win even one game in the Olympics remains to be seen.
“I don't know,” Deng replied when asked about his expectations. “We haven't been to the Olympics and we're looking forward to it and competing with the rest of the world.”
One can be sure that Deng will do whatever he can to lift British basketball to his level.
Here's how FIBA described his role on its website: “Luol Deng quite rightly enjoys an unrivalled iconic status within British Basketball, not only because of his exploits in the NBA but also because of the commitment, pride and passion he has shown for the National Team programme ever since pulling on the Great Britain vest. … Deng is not just the heartbeat of the team, he is the heart and soul of Great Britain both on and off the court. While it wasn't exactly needed, Deng provided a timely reminder last summer of exactly what he brings to the table in terms of his extensive skill-set. Inside, outside, running the floor or making big defensive plays, NBA star Deng is a player with real class who will be the one to light a fire under Great Britain and give them a shot at causing some upsets.”
Deng said he is occasionally recognized when out in public in the U.K., “depending on where I am,” but his profile there figures to grow immeasurably as potentially one of the breakout stars of these Games.
The challenge he is facing is to raise the profile of British basketball as well.
USA Basketball: Olympic Team Finalists Announced
JANUARY 16, 2012 -- (From DigitalSportsDesk Staff and wire reports) -- USA Basketball announced 20 finalists for spots on the official senior national team roster that will represent the United States at the London Olympics next summer. As of last February, 2011, there were 34 players listed on the national team roster. Only a small handful will not be considered for a place on the official 12-man roster for the Olympics, but that list is not submitted until June 18th, according to USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo, the Managing Director of the senior national team program. Then, the roster is actually finalized two days before the Opening Ceremonies of the London Games at a technical meeting of the team managers. The games run from July 27-August 12, 2012.
"The finalists represent 14 different teams, and when we talk about the international experience, it's really key to being successful in international play," said Colangelo. "Eighteen finalists have a lot of experience led by Carmelo Anthony with 59 games; LeBron James, 55; Deron Williams 47; Dwyane Wade, 40; Dwight Howard 38; Chris Paul, 37; Chris Bosh, 32; Chauncey Billups, 30; Lamar Odom, 28; Tyson Chandler, 25; Kobe Bryant, 24; Rudy Gay, 23 and Kevin Durant 17 to begin.
"Griffin, let's talk about him for a moment," added Colangelo anticipating the questions from the national and international media on a special USA Basketball Conference call. "He's the youngest finalist at 22, has not played an international game, but very much was in the mix to play in the world championship, but he had that serious injury that kept him out. LaMarcus Aldridge was on the select team in 2008 and then circumstances did not allow him to participate in the 2010 world championship."
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"We are excited about this group and the opportunities that are in front of us. The timing for announcing the 12-man roster is not until June, I believe it's June 18, at which time we have to select 12.
Our training camp is scheduled to begin right after the 4th of July, right on the 5th, maybe the first practice on the 6th, so that will start everything going for us.
The list of finalists blends the older veterans who played in 2004 and 2008 along with 10 players from the 2010 world championship team that won gold in Istanbul, seemingly a perfect blend of old and new, especially since the elder statesmen are pretty young and only Billups and Odom are nearing NBA retirement age.
"One of the things we have really harped on is that we have a program; it's not a team. So it's important to have that blending of youth, and those who are coming up and those veterans who have been there and done it, and that just keeps it going in the right direction. Because when all of us are gone, we want this program to have the momentum, to have the pipeline really greased so that it just perpetuates itself," said Colangelo.
Players not among the finalists:
Carlos Boozer
Stephen Curry
Tyreke Evans
Danny Granger
Jeff Green (surgery)
Al Jefferson
David Lee
Brook Lopez (injured)
Robin Lopez
OJ Mayo
Kendrick Perkins
Tayshaun Prince
Rajon Rondo
Amare Stoudemire
Gerald Wallace
Here is the DigitalSportsDesk.com prediction for the 12-man roster for London:
Point Guards
Derrick Rose
Deron Williams
Chris Paul
Bigs
Dwight Howard
Kevin Love
LaMarcus Aldridge
Forwards
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Durant
Swingmen
Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Dwyane Wade
Battling for last spot...Depending on the health, contract status (free agents include Howard, Billups, among others), the last spot or two will come from the group below, depending on the needs of the team by positon.
Tyson Chandler (C/ C/F)
Chris Bosh (PF)
Blake Griffin (F)
Rudy Gay (G/F)
Russell Westbrook (PG)
Andre Iguodala (F/G)
Chauncey Billups (PG)
Lamar Odom (PF/C)
Lone Missing element - Outside shooting
To address missing element? - Monitor 3-pt shooting progress of Andre Iguodala.
Get Well Soon: Jeff Green is recovering from successful heart surgery and is targeting October, 2012 for NBA comeback.
NT program members that don't have much chance at representing the USA in future international competition: Amare Stoudemire, Rajon Rondo, Tayshaun Prince, Brook and Robin Lopez, Kendrick Perkins and Danny Granger.
Ukraine Awarded EuroBasket 2015
MUNICH, December 19 - (Staff report from official news release) - FIBA Europe's Board decided on Sunday that Ukraine will be the host country of EuroBasket 2015. FIBA Europe President Olafur Rafnsson, who announced the Board's decision, spoke immediately after the signing of the Hosting Agreement and said, "I would like to congratulate Ukraine and the large delegation that travelled to Munich to support the bid.
"We all know that Ukraine is a big country, we have detected a lot of enthusiasm and the will to become one of the powerhouses of European basketball, and I think they have everything they need to succeed. They have been organising and will organise big sporting events with great success."
FIBA Europe Secretary General Nar Zanolin added: "I am looking forward to working with Sasha Volkov and Sasha Larin. I have been to Ukraine a number of times and have always felt the warmest hospitality.
"Having seen the presentation, I am convinced that this will be a very special event. FIBA Europe will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in 2012 and it's only appropriate that after Lithuania setting a high standard for the EuroBasket this year, Slovenia will go further in 2013 and Ukraine will take it to another level in 2015," he concluded.
Sergey Bubka, the legendary Olympic Gold Medallist and six-time World Champion fronted the Ukrainian bid in his current capacity as National Olympic Committee President. "I am very happy, very proud, I have known Sasha Volkov many years, we became Olympic champions together in Seoul and I know he tries his best for basketball," Mr Bubka stated. "This is a great historical decision for Ukrainian sport, for Ukrainian basketball and European Basketball and we promise to deliver the best EuroBasket in our country.
Former NBA star Alexander Volkov was on-site in Munich to support the bid efforts on behalf of the Ukraine Federation.
The 2015 event will decide the qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games.
