Before the World Championships get underway Team USA had the opportunity on Sunday to 'exhibit' their talents in an exhibition game against France. The USA sure did impress, saying Au-Revoir to the French team with a 86-55 blowout win. The young USA team were led by veteran Chauncey Billups MVP performance. Billups had 17 points- including 9 in the third quarter- which where decisive to the USA's rout. Rudy Gay had a team high 19 and the poster boy for this USA team, Kevin Durant had 14 and 8. France stayed pretty even with the USA in the first half thanks to the play of Boris Diaw who had 15 points but after the third period it was all over. The French team where clearly missing Tony Parker oncourt. He was courtside though with wife Eva Longoria Parker supporting his team next to French footballer Thierry Henry. Maybe the French team needed these guys speed, or maybe they needed to keep their eyes on the ball and off Longoria.
Team USA have also cut Jeff Green and JaVale McGee from their roster before heading out on the 'road' for the rest of their Exhibition games. They play Lithuania and Pau Gasol's Spain in Madrid and then they play Greece with their home court advantage in Athens. The schedule's is tough and the USA will have to carry on playing as hard as they did on Sunday but as Derrick Rose said they, "We left off on a good note,"
The USA will be pleased with how they've begun but they will still have memories of Maim Heat guard Carlos Arroyo torching them all those years back. Well Carlos and his Puerto Rico team aren't letting up on anybody. Arroyo had 16 points to lead Rico past China 92-76. NBA talent J.J. Barea also scored a double, double with 11 points and 10 assists. This game was a closer contest than the one between the USA and France but as the final buzzer sounded China ended up playing poorly. They shot terribly, 33% to be specifically bad and they clearly missed Yao Ming. Yi Jianlian of the New Jersey Nets is expected to lead the team in Yao's absence but he shot 3 for 15 on way to an underwhelming 11 points. China's three point shooting wasn't bad it was there 23% inside shooting that baffled everybody and became their undoing. It's clear that China need to improve but they can, there a good team, as for Puerto Rico they've started as they mean to go on.
Denver Nuggets franchise player Carmelo Anthony is in no hurry to sign the contract extension that the Denver Nuggets have offered. This could mean that Carmelo really does intend to pursue a trade or his free-agency options next summer. This summer's been crazy and with Chris Paul's contract situation it looks to get even crazier next year. 2010 was 'Bron's year, but it looks like 2011 will be 'Melo's. $65 million for three-years is the offer that the Nuggets have extended Anthony's way. Carmelo though has no timetable for his decision and states “I could wake up tomorrow and they could snatch it off the table,”. So is 'Melo getting his 'Business LeBron' on and looking for his best financial option? Or is he being all 'Wise LeBron' and looking at what the future in 2011 could hold for him?
The Denver Nuggets may be prepared to leave a contract on the table for Carmelo Anthony for as long as it takes but they aren't prepared however to offer Shooting Guard Coby Karl a new one. The fact that Karl is Coach George Karl's son doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Coby Karl played well for Denver in the Summer League averaging 14 point, 6.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists but Denver decided to release this golden Nugget. It's a shame because Karl provides good numbers and shooting (especially from depth) off the bench. This is the second team that has waived Karl after the Los Angeles Lakers decide they only had room for one Kobe in their town. Karl however with his great stroke and work-ethic won't be hard pushed to find work. See ya soon Cob'!
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