European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 40 stars and stripes sunday april 82007 Argentina May be shorthanded this summer by Brian Mahoney the associated press Orn out from the season some Star players might prefer a summer off instead of playing for their nation Al team that s common for the us team but it could pose a big prob Lem for Argentina the reigning olympic Champi on might be without some of its mainstays when the team Heads to Las vegas this sum Mer for 2008 olympic qualifying in not sure right now spurs Center Fabricio Oberto said i dont know if in going to be on the team maybe take this sum Mer off i Haven made the Deci Sion yet Hes not the Only one spurs teammate Manu Ginobile Argenti Nas biggest Star also is undecided As is another starter Chicago bulls Forward Andres Nocini has missed almost the entire second half of the season with plantar Fasci itis Argentina Core players have played As much basketball As any one Over the last five years Argentina lost in the finals of the 2002 world championships and 2003 olympic qualifier before winning Gold in Athens in 2004 the argentinean finished fourth last summer in the worlds losing a heartbreaker to eventual Cham Pion Spain in the semifinals and falling to the americans in the game All that play has them thinking it might be time for a rest i still dont know if s not an easy question right now Gino Bili said but were talking about it at this Point in closer to say ing no and skip the summer rather than to say yes Argentina must finish in the top two in the Fiba americas tournament from aug 22sept 2 to participate in the Beijing games and defend its olympic Gold a finish Between third and fifth earns a spot in another qualifying tournament in july 2008 although the americans Likely will be without dwyane Wade and Chris Paul they still have a talented Pool of players Argenti Nas team int nearly As deep after its stars and that has Gino concerned yes i am worried he said because if s probably not going to be Only me but Nocini is Hurt Fabri is not sure either so were probably not going to Send our Best team possible so yes i am worried be the three after losing in Miami on tuesday the Toronto raptors knew they let their game in Orlando the next night get away that s How important the no 3 seed in the Eastern conference is shaping up to be it is in the Back of our minds but at the end of the Day we want to win the game Forward Joey Graham said it is always on our minds and that is what we Are playing for the raptors erased a 15point Michael san Antonio guard Manu Ginobile right int sure if hell play for Argentina National team this summer when it Heads to Las vegas for 2008 olympic qualifying Argentina is the defending Gold medallist in the olympics deficit and beat the magic 111108 and took a on game Lead Over Miami heading into Fri Days games the difference Between the no 3 and no 4 spots in the East this year will be huge the no 6 seed now looks As if it will be washing ton which is a Shell of the team that led the Southeast division for most of the season with Al stars Gilbert Arenas knee and Caron Butler hand unlikely to play again until next season the Wiz Ards will be hard pressed to find enough offence to beat a top team four times not Only that but falling to fourth Likely Means losing the Home court advantage both Cleveland and Chicago have bet Ter records than Toronto and Miami so whichever ends up As the no 5 seed will open the series at Home we Are very aware that we Are in the race for third place right now raptors Allstar Chris Bosh said every game Means something you cant take a Day off Home court is very important so we Are going to keep play ing advice for Lebron Lebron James knee is aching at the worst possible time for the Cleve land Cavaliers after tuesdays Victory Over the Minnesota Timber wolves James said he was playing at about 8085 percent As the play offs approach he still managed 31 Points 12 rebounds and six assists but if the cars Are going to get past Detroit in the East there going to need King James at top form Many wonder if a summer spent playing for the United states in the world Champion ships is starting to catch up with him to play All summer then a full season is a grueling task Minne Sota Star and former olympian Kevin Garnett said if s just too hard physically if s just too hard to obviously play exhibition games 82game sea son plus playoffs and then play summer basketball or Usa basketball Garnett said if s a very difficult thing to do its easy to sit in the Back and Cri Tique others and people and Why they dont do certain things but if s probably one of the hardest things to do in our league if James wants to ease the Wear and tear on his body Garnett has a simple piece of advice just say no the former map knows there is plenty of pressure on James As one of the leagues most Market Able players to suit up in International Competition and sell the game to the world Garnett has succumbed to similar pressures in the past and raved about the experience but there comes a Point Gar Nett said when enough is enough no stars necessary coaches who prefer team basketball to the Star system must love the Phila Delphia 76ers the 76ers traded their biggest name waived the other one and have since turned into a respect Able team that somehow brought she playoff Hopes into april with a Victory in new York on wednesday night Philadelphia improved to 500 2222 in 2007 the 76ers played 267 Ball before that and few expected them to get much better after sending Allen Iverson to Denver in the Middle of december our Guys Are just going on the court and doing the things that weve asked them to do Philadel phia coach Maurice Cheeks said and the Best part is that Treyve got some Success out of it and obviously people have noticed that kicks coach Isiah Thomas is one of those people saying the remaining mixers players seemed to like being coached they had Little Choice but to listen to Cheeks realizing it would take a team Effort to replace Iverson and Chris Webber whose contract was bought out in Early january even though those two were Good for about 50 Points per game last season Philadelphia has been better off without them the 76ers were 2526 since trading Iverson after wednesdays Victory including 2118 since waiving Webber on Jan 11 Andre i Godala has flourished As the top scorer Andre Miller has run the team capably since coming Over in the Iverson Deal and Philadelphia has become a solid defensive club the 76ers Are allowing fewer than 95 Points per game in their last 30 games after yielding an average of 1001 in their first 44 to Cheeks if s been nothing More than his players seeing the results of their hard work and now others have too i think when things like that happen and you have some Suc Cess they continue trying to do it he said i think that s what happens when you implement things you put it out on the floor you have Guys going out on the floor trying to do those things also when people notice that obviously coaches opposing coaches and people watching the game those things have an affect a sports writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis and associated press writer Elizabeth White in san Antonio contributed to this report Glove Box reference featuring maps of Germany and Italy snowing filling stations that accept fuel coupons Road signs explained vices the Road guide is available for vehicle registration offices cafes filing stations car care centers and5hopping facilities throughout Germany pick yours up today
