Team USA continues evolving

If it’s not an ever-changing roster for USA Basketball, it’s a change of venue for practice or a change in the lineup for the team of young NBA players that will go up against the national team daily behind closed doors at Valley High School.

But for Mike Krzyzewski, his staff and his players, one thing hasn’t changed, and that’s the sense of urgency that will drive Team USA through its Las Vegas training camp beginning today. The Americans have one week to figure things out before stepping on the Thomas & Mack Center floor Aug. 22 against Venezuela to open the FIBA Americas Championship.

The top two finishers in the 10-team field will receive automatic bids to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The USA has competed in all but one Olympiad since basketball was introduced in 1936, with the exception of 1980 when it boycotted the Moscow Games. The Americans have won the gold medal all but three times, finishing second to Russia in 1972 and taking the bronze in 1988 and 2004.

"Whenever you play for the United States, there’s a sense of urgency," Krzyzewski said Tuesday. "You want to play well every game. But I think we’re in good shape in terms of preparation. The minicamp we had (in Las Vegas) a few weeks ago really put us ahead.

"Obviously, these next few days are extremely important. But we’re going to have to use the games (in pool play) to get us ready. We’re not going to put everything in at once. We’ll add as we go along. The goal is we want to be at our best by the semifinals, because that’s going to determine who goes to the Olympics."

Shane Battier and Kirk Hinrich have withdrawn from the team for personal reasons, J.J. Redick was moved to the Select Team roster, and Greg Oden opted out after undergoing a tonsillectomy last month. Those changes, along with the addition of 6-foot-10-inch forward Nick Collison, left 15 players on the national team roster.

Only 12 will make the final roster, which must be turned in to FIBA on Tuesday.

Redick was moved to the Select Team, which had just eight players from its original 10-man roster after LaMarcus Aldridge and Monta Ellis withdrew Monday with injuries. Redick practiced with the Select Team on Tuesday at Valley, which means he won’t make the final cut next week.

There are a couple of key stories to follow in this training camp. One concerns Chris Bosh, the veteran forward who has been battling plantar fasciitis in his right foot since last season with the Toronto Raptors. If the pain keeps flaring up in practice, which goes for three hours daily between today and Monday, it could cause Bosh to miss the tournament.

Krzyzewski said he hadn’t talked to Bosh as of Tuesday afternoon but that he expected Bosh to try to practice today and see how he feels.

"We’ll obviously monitor Chris very closely with our medical staff," Krzyzewski said.

The other story concerns Kevin Durant, the Seattle rookie who was impressive in last month’s minicamp. If Durant continues to play well, it might be hard to keep him off the final roster, even though he doesn’t turn 19 until September.

Initially, training camp was to be held at Andre Agassi Preparatory Academy. But with the addition of the Select squad, which will be coached by Seattle’s P.J. Carlesimo, a bigger venue was needed. Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack are not available, so camp was moved to Valley, one of the few local high school gyms with a regulation 94-foot floor. The school also is close to Wynn Las Vegas, the team’s headquarters.

"I’m feeling pretty good about where we are," managing director Jerry Colangelo said. "The frame of mind is where we want it to be.

"I keep referring to this journey we’re on. Our ultimate goal is the gold medal at the Olympics next year, and we’ve got work to do this summer. It’s about us and another step in the journey."