RealGM

July 26-Aug. 1: Macao, China
USA vs. Turkey: July 31 (8 a.m. ET)

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/olybb/col ... iew-080730


Preview by ESPN:

Well, the Turks are on Team USA's radar again. And again, it is a Turkish team that will not be competing in the Olympics. The teams will face off Thursday in a pre-Olympic friendly (tip-off is at 8 a.m. ET on ESPN2, ESPN360.com).

Q: Is Turkey sending its best team?

A: No, not at all. Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic will be playing, but Mehmet Okur of the Utah Jazz will not (he opted to take a year off from the national team). Also missing from the Turkish squad are former NBA players Ibrahim Kutluay (performing his required Turkish military duty) and Mirsad Turkcan (retired from the national team).

Hedo Turkoglu will likely see a heavy dose of Kobe in his face.

Q: Anything particular to keep an eye on?

A: Aside from the Kobe-Hedo matchup, watch to see whether Turkey forward Karem Gonlum is as effective around the basket as he was at the 2004 World Championship. The guy is a master at tipping in missed shots and knocking opponents' shots off the rim, which is allowed under FIBA rules.

Remember it's gonna be 8:00 in the morning tomorrow on ESPN2, so be up early or set w/e to record it.

1. hedo is likely to miss the game due to a minor injury.

1. really?

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/29/sports/OLY-BKO-US-Bigger-Challenges.php

"Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu, voted the NBA's most improved player last season, is on the roster but has not been cleared to play because of an undisclosed reason. The team hopes the 6-10 forward will be cleared in time to be in uniform."

Either an injury or insurance issues.

A twenty-plus point, non-event, this game.

i hope he doesnt play for them, let him get a little r and r.

I hope he does play and torches Kobe.

Hedo scores 40 or 4 depending how into the game he is and Team USA still beats them by 50 lol.

He doesn't need to play the whole game.......Just bring him in in tha 4th and let him work his Magic(no pun!)

Damn!

I just moved and I don't have cable/satellite yet.

Hedo will take Kobe to school all night long.

guys, i don't know about you, but the only thing i"m not diggin about team USA is that it's just like the "carmelo, dwayne, kobe, lebron" show.... just like road to redemption. It doesn't seem like these guys really look for D12 or Boozer, even Bosh... i could be wrong, but at least i know that our guy didn't really seem like he was even there in the game against canada. I don't know if this was his fault or what. what do you all think?

LeBron didnt even play in the 1st game..........CP3 was feedin Dwight some. I think ur just readin a little too much into a situation here. Dwight isnt going to be a focal point on this team, he's more like the defensive anchor, and the garbage man for the team on offense......maybe get a few lobs or so, but that's a bout it.

And that's not his fault or anything, but when you have soo much talent on one team, people have to play certain roles...Same thing with guys like Booz and Bosh and Prince and Redd...Of course Kobe, Bron, Melo, & Wade are gonna be the focal point, but guys like Dwight and those other guys are the backbone of the team when they play into their roles.

you're right... i know LJ didn't play, but i saw the Fiba games and i know what the deal is there... look as long as USA wins that gold... IDC and i'm all for the win. I just kinda thought that dwight didn't really give it much, but i suppose we're not into the real deal yet so no reason to i guess. like I said, go USA!!! Just kinda wanted to see dwight dominate, but i understand his role.

This is going to be pretty ugly for Turkey

I

hedo not playing

Box Score PDF

114-82

Dwight: 1st in rebounds, 3rd in scoring, 1st in minutes played, and 1st in blocks (ok, he was the only person to even get one )

With a 35-34 lead in hand early in the second quarter, the USA got baskets from Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Wade, James and Kobe Bryant during an 8-0 spurt that pushed the U.S. lead to 43-34 with 6:42 to play in the second stanza. Ahead 43-37, the U.S. locked up the game with an 11-0 run to close the half up 54-37.

Eleven of the USA’s 12 players scored and finishing in double figures in addition to James and Anthony was Dwight Howard, 14points and a game high eight rebounds, Chris Bosh added 13 points as did Dwyane Wade, while Chris Paul finished with 12 points and six assists. Kobe Bryant had another outstanding all-around performance, finishing with seven points, seven assists, five steals and a pair of boards.

Turkey was led by Cenk Akyol’s 22 points. Orlando Magic standout Hidayet Turkoglu did not see action because of a leg injury.

Slight tangent:

I wonder how many Euro guys consider games against the US as showcases of how they could perform against NBA level talent?

mhectorgato wrote:Slight tangent:

I wonder how many Euro guys consider games against the US as showcases of how they could perform against NBA level talent?

1. showcase: not sure.
2. gauge their talent: almost all.

I watched this just to see Hedo play, and he sits out.

Dwight is beasting it in the first half against Lithuania.