[外電] Marion to miss World Championships with injury
(抱歉沒時間翻，誰有空就幫忙一下吧....)
http://tinyurl.com/gt64u
LAS VEGAS — Getting the USA Men's Senior National team roster down to
a manageable number of 15 for the trip to Asia next month became a bit
easier Monday when Shawn Marion pulled out because of a left knee injury.
Marion told ESPN.com that he won't make the trip to Japan for the World
Championships after Monday's final training camp practice at UNLV's Cox
Pavilion. Players who don't make the trip aren't being cut from the
overall national team program, which is a three-year commitment.
"The process [of picking the team] was great,'' Marion said. "Everybody
feels a part of the family for all three years. If I'm not there, I'll
still feel like I'm there cheering them on.''
Marion, who was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1999 out of UNLV where
he played for one season after transferring from Vincennes University
(Ind.), said simply, "I'm not going."
"My knee has been bothering me a bit. I sat out the last two days of
practice. I just came in here and got right into it. So, I'm going to
check it out [Tuesday]. I'll make sure there's nothing wrong with it,
rest it and take care of it.''
The 15 players who likely will return to Las Vegas on July 31 for
exhibition games will be announced Tuesday morning at the Wynn Hotel.
The Americans don't have to submit a final roster of 12 players until
24 hours before the first game in Japan on Aug. 19, according to USA
spokesperson Craig Miller.
Marion's departure trims the roster down to 17, leaving two more
possible cuts -- likely Seattle point guard Luke Ridnour and former
Gonzaga forward and Charlotte Bobcats first-round draft pick Adam
Morrison. That means the 15 players likely to travel to Asia are:
Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Bruce
Bowen, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison,
Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade
and Kirk Hinrich. The coaching staff will meet Tuesday morning before
the news conference to make the final call. Ridnour looks to lose out
to Chicago's Hinrich, and Morrison is up against veteran options.
Morrison's coach at Gonzaga, Mark Few, was in attendance and said the
forward knew going in he would have a hard time making the squad.
Ridnour told ESPN.com that while he hadn't been told he definitely
wouldn't be going to Asia, he anticipates he'll receive the news.
"I'm here for the experience, and if it doesn't happen this summer then
I've got two more years,'' Ridnour said. "When they called me during
the season they told me that there were a lot of veterans and it would
be tough to make it. But I've got a bright future, and I'm excited about
it.''
Ridnour is caught in a logjam at point. Chris Paul of New Orleans/
Oklahoma City is expected to compete for starter's minutes. USA coach
Mike Krzyzewski of Duke also talked about Hinrich's ability to play
pressure defense and finals MVP Dwyane Wade's ball handling skills.
Krzyzewski didn't rule out using younger talent, though, to perform
some of the more pedestrian activities at the point.
"You don't want to use gold for bathroom fixtures," Krzyzewski said.
"You want to use your natural resources, as well. Not to put down those
other guys, but we'd rather it not be Dwyane. Joe Johnson could also
play there, so we have some flexibility.''
Hinrich sat out half of Monday's practice with what he characterized
as some tightness behind his left knee, but he said he could have
played if pressed. He anticipated he was going to make the final 15.
"They're just being cautious,'' Hinrich said.
So, the numbers are stacked against Ridnour. Marion's injury means
Washington forward Jamison is safe, for now, as is Sacramento's Miller
and Houston forward Battier.
The Americans are slated to have 15 players available on the roster
for an exhibition against Puerto Rico at the Thomas & Mack Center on
Aug. 3, and then for games against China and Brazil in Guangzhou, China,
Aug. 7-8. The squad will then train in Hong Kong, Aug. 9-11, play the
World Basketball Challenge in Seoul, South Korea against Lithuania and
Korea Aug. 13 and 15 before participating in the FIBA World Championships
Aug. 19-Sept. 3 in Saitama, Japan.
"The beauty of a fluid roster is that it covers a lot of different
things that happen like injuries,'' Krzyzewski said.
Asked about the number 15, Krzyzewski said he's not married to that or
any other number of players.
"It's not a magic 15 or 14 or 16," he said. "We don't want to place
ourselves in a position where we have to call on somebody [from Asia].''
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其實不希望Marion打，但也不希望他是用這樣的方式退出....
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