As before, Popovich on outside in London

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/colu ... 770684.php


A good quick read.

Even as Yahoo! Sports endorsed Doc Rivers last week to replace Mike Krzyzewski as the coach of USA Basketball, the website acknowledged Popovich should be the first choice.

So why not Popovich? His only sin is guilt by association. Popovich was an assistant for two dysfunctional U.S. teams, in 2002 and 2004.

Former Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, the one who revamped USA Basketball, likely understood an assistant can only do so much. But he never considered Popovich, and there are two explanations:

One, Colangelo wanted to start fresh. Or, two, Colangelo couldn't bring himself to reward a coach who kept beating his old Phoenix franchise in the playoffs.

When asked why he opted for Krzyzewski over Popovich, Colangelo came up with another explanation. He told a reporter this:

“I think (Popovich) had a bad taste in his mouth regarding his most recent experiences with USA Basketball, some bitterness, and that came out in my conversation with him. He seemed burned out by it. ... He just wasn't as enthusiastic as Mike.”

Popovich let it go until the theme began to be repeated. That's when he famously sent a letter to Colangelo, copying it to NBA officials and others, telling him to cease spreading the perception that he was ever ambivalent about coaching his country's national team.

He honestly deserves it more than Doc.I guarantee he would not allow the players to be jumping up and down like a bunch of senior high school kids scoring on a freshman team.And would not allow someone on his team like Anthony "Undeserving" Davis.

Perhaps they don't think he can win with US players. Three fifths of the Spurs' starting lineup are foreign-born, after all.

Seriously though, it's strange that he wasn't the frontrunner or at least strongly considered to replace Coach K. Maybe it's just a matter of miscommunication and Jerry Colangelo wrote him off as not being interested in the opportunity, or maybe there's a bit of bad blood there.

As far as Davis not being deserving, well, he's basically just filling in due to all the injuries. They wanted another frontcourt player when Griffin hurt his knee, he was available, so he gets to be Christian Laettner.

Perhaps they don't think he can win with US players. Three fifths of the Spurs' starting lineup are foreign-born, after all.

Who better to crush the International Game and make a months worth of sarcastic remarks to reporters from around the globe?

As far as Davis not being deserving, well, he's basically just filling in due to all the injuries. They wanted another frontcourt player when Griffin hurt his knee, he was available, so he gets to be Christian Laettner.

They should have picked someone from the U.S.select team then.

DeJuan Blair
DeMarcus Cousins
Derrick Favors
Taj Gibson

I thought he was on the Select Team.

I thought he was on the Select Team.

Nope.He was an automatic finalist for the main team for no apparent reason.

apparently tom izzo is a frontrunner for 2016

Nope.He was an automatic finalist for the main team for no apparent reason.

Are you sure? From this article:

Davis had initially been cut from Team USA's final roster after he arrived to training camp with a sprained ankle. One of three players cut Saturday, Davis was named an alternate and added to the Select Team, which helped Team USA prepare in training camp. After Griffin experienced swelling in his knee, Team USA director Sean Ford called Davis about 10:30 a.m. Thursday to tell him to go to the airport and return to Las Vegas.

Sounds like he was on the Select Team to me.

I never read that article.But I did read several more that were getting their info from this.

http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/natio ... lists.html

Named as a finalist for the 2012 USA team were: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets). Griffin was also officially added to the USA Basketball National Team roster.

And then when the injuries started happening:

http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/natio ... ayers.html

Anthony Davis, who led the University of Kentucky Wildcats to this year’s NCAA championship, and Oklahoma City Thunder standout guard James Harden have been added to the list of finalists for the 2012 USA Basketball National Team, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo announced today.

And then about three weeks later the USA Men's Select Team was announced.

http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/natio ... tTeam.html

Featuring nine players owning USA Basketball experience, including the 2011-12 NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving and the 2010-11 NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up John Wall, USA Basketball today announced 13 players for the 2012 USA Men’s Select Team that will train against the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s National Team during its July 6-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev.

Named to the 2012 USA Basketball Select squad were: Ryan Anderson (Orlando Magic / California); DeJuan Blair (San Antonio Spurs / Pittsburgh); DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings / Kentucky); DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors / USC); Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz / Georgia Tech); Paul George (Indiana Pacers / Fresno State); Taj Gibson (Chicago Bulls / USC); Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz / Butler); Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers / Duke); Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs / San Diego State); Jeremy Lin (New York Knicks / Harvard); Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors / Washington State); and Wall (Washington Wizards / Kentucky).

But that does not change the fact that Coach Popovich should be the new head coach of the team.

apparently tom izzo is a frontrunner for 2016

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!