Deseret News | Utah Jazz: Williams, Boozer 'virtual locks' for Team USA

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Utah Jazz: Williams, Boozer 'virtual locks' for Team USA

Go Jazz! | 9:33 a.m. June 18, 2008

Williams and Boozer will make Jazz fans and all Americans proud. Go USA! Get the gold!

glory days | 9:42 a.m. June 18, 2008

I say we go back to the days where college kids represented the US in basketball . NBA business revenue and greed are not what the olympics stand for. The dream teams of the past have been let downs, losing to many other countries. When the NBA declares the winner in the finals world champions the US better be able to back that claim up. Attention NBA stars who represent the US, please respect the national anthem and put your hand on your heart when it is played. It should be an honor to represent your country, not an obligation.

glory days NOT | 11:35 a.m. June 18, 2008

First of all the college players would get whooped by the international professional atheletes (many of whom play in the NBA), so forget the so-called glory days of college kids. Get real!

Secondly, did you even bother to watch the World Championships and Olympic qualifying U.S. teams with this current squad? Talk about patriotic! These guys love their country and even hosted the military to helped build up their national pride (even sported military fatigues at times for warm-up gear complete with salutes to each other, hand over heart for anthems, etc...). Sounds like you are just an NBA-hater, which is fine, but these players are definitely incredible to watch and truly respect the positions they will be honored with. Every member of this team looks at it as a privilege and are anxious to go. Not necessarily true of previous NBA squads/individuals, but definitely true for the past two years, but you wouldn't know that, because you didn't watch!!!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 12:17 p.m. June 18, 2008

I'm happy D-Will and Boozer are getting the nod. They certainly deserve it. Deep down I was sort of hoping they wouldn't though mostly for selfish reasons. I want them to have fresh legs when the season opens again. It seems a lot of players get banged up and never get a chance to recover.

Jeff | 1:10 p.m. June 18, 2008

No way does Boozer deserve to be on the team. He's one of the worst defensive players I've ever seen. Didn't anyone notice how badly Odom and Gasol dominated the Jazz big men? And then how soft they (Odom and Gasol) looked against the Celtics - Garnett, Perkins, Brown, and Powe - guys who actually take some pride on that end of the floor?

The same could be said of Carmelo. He's an amazing offensive talent but absolutely atrocious defensively. And it's not like he couldn't be better. He just doesn't care.

The USA will not dominate international play. Most of the players don't understand the concept of team defense. International teams are playing with better fundamentals and can thus overcome the superior athleticism of the Americans. Sadly, Colangelo and the boys cannot figure this out, despite the fact that the last 2 NBA champions (Celtics and Spurs) won because they controlled the paint defensively.

This has been the Jazz' achilles heel, and will continue to be so with Boozer and Memo at the 4 and 5 spots. Too bad, because they're very talented offensively.

sj | 1:42 p.m. June 18, 2008

I'd love to see D-Will make the team. What a competitor !!!

??? | 1:47 p.m. June 18, 2008

boozer had a rough time during the playoffs...but regular season he was great defensively...your clueless

copy | 2:06 p.m. June 18, 2008

This is basically the same article espn did, day old news.

at???? | 2:54 p.m. June 18, 2008

are you kidding me...boozer was in your words "great" defensively...what are you smoking...the booz absolutely invisible all season long on the defensive end....

jazzfreak | 3:24 p.m. June 18, 2008

Deron will be a total asset to the USA team, but I think there are a lot of other players who deserve to be on the team before Boozer.

cj | 4:02 p.m. June 18, 2008

Who deserves to be on the team, that won't be, more than boozer?

L.A. Jazz Fan | 4:51 p.m. June 18, 2008

Just a quick note about the idea that an NBA team is a "World Chapmion" upon the completion of winning the Finals: It is not a world title no matter how many times you say it. Last time I checked the world is not represented. Cities and states in the U.S. are represented. You could argue that the NBA is the best basketball league on earth. But that still does not make the chapmions of that league the "World Champion." The Olympics and World Championships are better determinants of who the world powers are. I think winning gold at the Olympics should be placed much higher than winning the NBA trophy. There's much more pride and competition on the world stage. As basketball continues to become more popular around the world we would be short-sighted to think that our national league determines world championships.

Go team U.S.A. Hopefully Williams and Boozer can join in on trying to reclaim the gold medal. I will be excited to watch. Now hopefully NBC won't screw up their Olympic coverage like they normally do. We don't want your soap operas and the news. We can get that elsewhere for two weeks.

ctoe | 9:24 p.m. June 18, 2008

Anyone who watched Garnett and the bench play defense against the Lakers should be able to understand why Boozer should not be on the Olympic team. I would take Garnett and leave Boozer home. As for Boozers regular season games, he was just as bad then as he was during the playoffs. Just doesn't care to hussle and put forth any defensive effort.

D-Will is another story. If he doesn't make it, it would be a crime. He is superior to any of the other pointguards.

Jim | 12:24 a.m. June 19, 2008

Tyson Chandler over Stoudemire? That's a joke

Physical Low-post?!? | 7:14 a.m. June 19, 2008

Someone needs to let this reporter know that they words physical, low-post, and Boozer don't belong in the same sentence. Not even in the same story.

Taylor | 1:05 p.m. June 19, 2008

I'm glad D-williams & Boozer are going to make the team. I hope they get the gold. They are awesome
players. I just know they are going to win the gold.
This is going to be big!

Jordan | 1:23 p.m. June 19, 2008

I am so glad for D-Will, although I really hope that Boozer doesn't make it to the Olympics. I thought he did ok this year, but he wasn't good enough to be on the Olympic team. On the other hand, Williams should have a 99% chance of getting in, I just hope Bryant doesn't go in either.

Andrew | 9:38 p.m. June 19, 2008

Boozer has no business being on this team. D-Will has to be a lock though.

shay801 | 10:40 a.m. June 21, 2008

Whoever says boozer doesn't belong on team USA is smoking crack. Kg didn't put in the time over the last few summers as a matter of fact none of Boston did so fat chance on seeing them there people need to get over the celtics yeah they had a good season that's it next season they are going to be taking slot of heat when they end the season with a loosing record. Dwill and boozer are the best pg/pf combo in the NBA today. No one else would work as hard as these two and be as humble about it. Bozzer and dwill pretty much averaged a double double this season it would be stupid to leave these two players out

Ben | 9:51 a.m. June 22, 2008

Look what Boozer and coach K did at Duke (National Championship) for those of you who don't know. Of course he deserves a spot on this team. The roots run deep at Duke so to think he wouldn't make it is absurd. This will be Boozer and Williams 1st championship together as players. Lets just hope an NBA title comes shortly after.

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