[Bryan88]

Prince will make the 2008 Olympic team heading to China. Billups pulled himself from consideration for the team because of family reasons.

Person in NBA: Pistons’ Prince makes U.S. team - Holland, MI - The Holland Sentinel

Tayshaun Prince earned a spot on the USA Basketball team for the Beijing Games, a person in the NBA told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person spoke Thursday on the condition of anonymity because the roster will be announced Monday during a news conference in Chicago.

Last year, Prince played for a U.S. team that was led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony during an unbeaten run in an Olympic qualifying tournament.
Earlier this month, USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said the squad would be selected without a tryout.

Also Thursday, the Arizona Republic reported that Suns forward Amare Stoudamire has declined a chance to be on the Olympic squad. Colangelo told the newspaper that Stoudemire was concerned about pushing his body too hard after knee surgery in 2005 and 2006.

The 6-foot-9, 215-pound Prince gives the U.S. team a playoff-tested player who can slow down opponents with his defensive skills. He can also score occasionally with an array of runners and spin moves around the lane.

Prince helped the Detroit Pistons advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth straight year, making them the most consistent in the playoffs since the Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s.

He has played in 114 playoff games to surpass the total of any player his first six NBA seasons.

Pistons teammate Chauncey Billups pulled himself out of consideration for a spot on the U.S. team earlier this week. The All-Star point guard might have had a hard time making the team anyway because of available guards such as Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Nice to have some defense on the team.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Nice to have some defense on the team.

I agree, they need more players like Prince who will play a certain role, not a whole bunch of "stars".

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

I agree, they need more players like Prince who will play a certain role, not a whole bunch of "stars".

we used to get away with it, in the eras we had well rounded stars like Jordan, Bird, Magic and Barkley...but the word star does not have the same meaning these days.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

we used to get away with it, in the eras we had well rounded stars like Jordan, Bird, Magic and Barkley...but the word star does not have the same meaning these days.

No it doesn't, and I feel that some of the players don't look at the game the same way they use to either. I get the feeling (at least last time) like they see this as a fun exhibition, not quite to the level of the all-star game, but it just seemed it wasn't taken as seriously as a regular season game. That's my two cents, and I am glad they are adding players like Prince.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by Bryan88

No it doesn't, and I feel that some of the players don't look at the game the same way they use to either. I get the feeling (at least last time) like they see this as a fun exhibition, not quite to the level of the all-star game, but it just seemed it wasn't taken as seriously as a regular season game. That's my two cents, and I am glad they are adding players like Prince.

That and the fact that if you are not going to college for 4 years anymore...you do not have sound fundamentals.

[Bryan88]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

That and the fact that if you are not going to college for 4 years anymore...you do not have sound fundamentals.

True, I would like to see a rule that requires two years of college experience.