With all the major summer events – primarily the Olympics and Dwight Howard’s situation – coming to a quick close, there are bound to be plenty of stories to conclude all that has happened. That is exactly what we have for you in today’s news. Before you get there, though, be sure to check out a list of players that Chris Bernucca believes may become the next Dwight Howard. Carlos Delfino has agreed to terms with the Houston Rockets, according to
Team USA won 59 straight basketball games after allowing NBA players to compete in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. That included Olympic titles in 1992, 1996 and 2000 and a FIBA World Championship in 1994 (the U.S. sent a ragtag group of non-NBA players—Trajan Langdon, Brad Miller, Wendell Alexis—and picked up the bronze in 1998 during the NBA lockout). But ten years after Jordan and Barkley got things rolling in the right direction, the United States entrusted Baron Davis, Paul Pierce and Raef
Tony Parker’s rough adjustment to life in goggles carried over into France’s game against Argentina on Tuesday. At halftime, he had managed just four points. While eyewear may have slowed Parker in the first half, Pablo Prigioni could do no such thing in the second, and France beat Argentina 71-64, putting them in the catbird seat for the coveted second slot in Group A. The French point guard dribbled around high screens and slower Argentines to get into the lane and, more importantly,
For Team USA, the next three days will be more of an annoyance than anything. The games against Tunisia and Nigeria are not going to be competitive, and the challenge will be staying as sharp and fresh as possible. The betting line for Tuesday’s game is an incredible 56 points. One hazard of being American in a city five hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time — you must work late. Tipoff for the games Tuesday and Thursday is 10:15 p.m. local time in
Although the current Olympic team won’t cause quite the eruption of the Dream Team in 1992, fans in Barcelona will be quite enthusiastic when Team USA plays exhibition games Sunday against Argentina and Tuesday against Spain. The difference in focus and expectations from 1992, however, are profound. International fans were mesmerized by the Dream Team and couldn’t get enough of their American basketball idols. But never in their wildest dreams did anyone from another country think their team would beat the
The two biggest names in this game we love remain Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. And as free agency slows to a crawl after three frenetic weeks, the basketball world’s focus is on Barcelona, Spain, where Bryant, James and the rest of Team USA practiced and held court with the international media, one day before their “friendly” vs. Argentina on Sunday. In terms of popularity, Bryant is the unquestioned king. His jersey is the top seller internationally, while James is third, trailing Derrick Rose.
