Hinrich Selected to National Team
Yesterday, it was announced that Bulls' PG Kirk Hinrch will be traveling with Team USA to the World Championships in Japan. Despite playing through an injured hamstring, Hinrich was one of fifteen players named to the squad, demonstrating his ability to efficiently run a team as well as guard his position. Team USA will train in Las Vegas and play their first exhibition game on August 3rd against Puerto Rico.
In contrast to "Dream Teams" in the past, where it was arrogantly assumed that natural talent would be enough to bring home a gold medal, coach Krzyzewski has emphasized that team defense and aggressive full-court play will be the game plan. Perhaps this change in philosophy is because of Team USA's lack of size, Brad Miller, the tallest player, measures at 6-11. Regardless, it seems to play right into the hands of Hinrich's game.
"Our strength has got to be depth and athleticism," Krzyzewski said. "More full-court, up-and-down. No one has to pace himself. If someone is pacing himself, we'll get someone else in. The game is 40 minutes and goes by fast. There won't be a starting five, and if we do a great job this summer, the players who are with us will have built up equity [for the 2008 Olympic team]. We have no excuses. Everything is there. Now we have to do it."
The first week of camp was used for allowing the players to become accustomed to one another's playing style. Krzyzewski, who once was the head coach of the basketball team at West Point, went as far as to bring in military veterans who served together in Iraq, with the purpose of opening the players' eyes to the bigger picture; representing the United States.
Krzyzewski also mentioned that the players showed an excellent level of commitment.
"All of my surprises have been good ones," he said. "I expected the players to work hard. They worked harder. I expected them to cooperate. They cooperated better. I expected them to listen, and they listened better. I expected them to show enthusiasm, and they showed enthusiasm at a higher level."
"They showed a spirit of cooperation. I didn't realize the friendship they already have because I'm not around them, but a lot of these guys are really close friends. That helps with our team building."
I was in Holland, and was able to witness, first-hand, the pathetic performance of Team USA in 2004. They finished third place that year because, despite having superior individual talent, they looked as if they had no clue about what it means to play like a team. From what I'm hearing, this particular Team USA should breeze through the tournament, by combining skill with sweat, and return the title of "world's best" to the country where it truly belongs.
And again, congratulations to Kirk Hinrich, the first Olympian to represent the Bulls in a very long time.
Any predictions about the up-coming World Championships?
In contrast to "Dream Teams" in the past, where it was arrogantly assumed that natural talent would be enough to bring home a gold medal, coach Krzyzewski has emphasized that team defense and aggressive full-court play will be the game plan. Perhaps this change in philosophy is because of Team USA's lack of size, Brad Miller, the tallest player, measures at 6-11. Regardless, it seems to play right into the hands of Hinrich's game.
"Our strength has got to be depth and athleticism," Krzyzewski said. "More full-court, up-and-down. No one has to pace himself. If someone is pacing himself, we'll get someone else in. The game is 40 minutes and goes by fast. There won't be a starting five, and if we do a great job this summer, the players who are with us will have built up equity [for the 2008 Olympic team]. We have no excuses. Everything is there. Now we have to do it."
The first week of camp was used for allowing the players to become accustomed to one another's playing style. Krzyzewski, who once was the head coach of the basketball team at West Point, went as far as to bring in military veterans who served together in Iraq, with the purpose of opening the players' eyes to the bigger picture; representing the United States.
Krzyzewski also mentioned that the players showed an excellent level of commitment.
"All of my surprises have been good ones," he said. "I expected the players to work hard. They worked harder. I expected them to cooperate. They cooperated better. I expected them to listen, and they listened better. I expected them to show enthusiasm, and they showed enthusiasm at a higher level."
"They showed a spirit of cooperation. I didn't realize the friendship they already have because I'm not around them, but a lot of these guys are really close friends. That helps with our team building."
I was in Holland, and was able to witness, first-hand, the pathetic performance of Team USA in 2004. They finished third place that year because, despite having superior individual talent, they looked as if they had no clue about what it means to play like a team. From what I'm hearing, this particular Team USA should breeze through the tournament, by combining skill with sweat, and return the title of "world's best" to the country where it truly belongs.
And again, congratulations to Kirk Hinrich, the first Olympian to represent the Bulls in a very long time.
Any predictions about the up-coming World Championships?
posted by Ryan Anthony Dreyer at
1:37 PM
4 Comments:
Out from behind the shadow of the 2004 fiasco, this year's USA national basketnall team will
burst forth onto the international
stage with a mix 'team' intensity and 'individual' talent that will
give the world something, once again, to gasp about.
This team is not the New York Knicks nor is it the Detroit Pistons: It is TEAM USA and it
will be led by the inspiration and
leadership of Kirk Hendrich, if he is healthy, all the way back to
the top of the basketball WORLD where the USA belongs.
Look for dogged, overwhelming type
performaces from this team: Coach
K will not settle for anything less.
Look for defensive performances that shall break the will of those very determined, ideological centric teams that will bring a 3rd world under-dog mania to the
court; the same old 'defeat the bully' attitude that will not succeed against the fab 15 of Coach K.
With the likes of Wade and Henrich,
the no let-up, no nonsense guys are
in place to take what ever the other team brings and turn it into
a 'team' advantage.
GREAT ARTICLE: You are right on.
While I enjoy basketball I really love the olympics. I think competeing with the rest of the world is best of the best. Anyone who makes it to the olympics is #1 in my book. Your articles continue to be informative and entertaining
Thanks, Mary
I am allready saving my pennies for the next summer O. I hope the come to Chicago. Great article!
George
Looks nice! Awesome content. Good job guys.
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