Nene-led Brazilians play U.S.

On a typical winter night in Rio de Janeiro, where the thermometer rarely dips below 60 degrees, Brazil's national basketball team trains in the moderately crowded gym of the Tijuca Club, 10 miles north of the world famous Copacabana Beach. It's 9 p.m. and the players have been practicing as if the coveted Olympic berth depended on it. Having just arrived from the Pan American Games with gold medals dangling from their necks, the Brazilian team is aiming for one of three tickets to the Olympic Games at stake in the Americas Olympic Qualifying tournament, which begins today in Puerto Rico.

"We need this spot at the Olympics," said Brazilian point guard Leandrinho Barbosa, picked in the first round of the 2003 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs, and then traded to the Phoenix Suns.

The Brazilians, featuring the Nuggets' Nene, open the qualifying competition against the United States, which once again is packed with top NBA players. In the Pan Am Games, Brazil defeated a U.S. team mostly made up of collegians. In Puerto Rico, Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd will lead an all-star team also looking to secure a spot in Athens.

Karl Malone will not rejoin the U.S. team because of the death of his mother. Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey Nets was chosen Tuesday as his replacement.

"Of course they've got a much stronger team now," Barbosa said. "These guys are very experienced."

Via Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, General Basketball

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McPherson learns a costly lesson

So it has come to this for Paul McPherson: Streetball. A one-on-one tournament at Seward Park to crown the Chicago playground king. The winner gets bragging rights. And a $10,000 check, courtesy of Nike.

McPherson thought he'd left his playground days behind. And he did, for a time. But he messed up. How many chances should a young man get? McPherson wants one more. Just one.

"I want to make it back to the NBA,'' he said. "My own stupidity is the only reason I'm not still there.''

He spent one year at DePaul before leaving to chase his NBA dream. He caught it, signing with the Phoenix Suns as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He thought he had it made. He did. But he blew it.

"I've learned a lot,'' he said. "I'm a lot smarter now. I'm a lot more mature. The reason why I'm not in the NBA has nothing to do with basketball. It's about off-court issues.''

Via Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns

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Suns must keep focused on future

While the Big Four of the NBA's Western Conference appear to be even better than ever, and the Minnesota Timberwolves have made enough moves to warrant consideration of making it the Big Five, the Suns are patiently sticking to their plan.

"Our situation is a little different," Suns President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo said. "We felt going into the off-season like we have the makings of a good young core. We've talked about keeping it together, and we've added a couple of new pieces via the draft.

"From what we saw in the summer league, it looks like we've added a couple of nice pieces (Zarko Cabarkapa and Leandro Barbosa). And we were able to keep two important pieces in Scott Williams and Jake Voskuhl. Patience is the key with our team."

Coach Frank Johnson concurs.

"Our improvement will come with time together and experience," he said. "Amare Stoudemire is coming off an outstanding rookie year. Shawn Marion and Stephon Marbury had outstanding individual years.

Via Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns

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