Love selected as finalist for Team USA and more
From USA Basketball:
The 13 finalists for the USA World Championship Team are: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).
Israel triumphed even though Casspi's assessment on the eve of the game that Israel was superior to Montenegro turned out to be mistaken. After pulling a rabbit out of the hat to start the game, putting the giant Slavko Vranes on Yogev Ohayon and knocking Israel off balance, Montenegro coach Dusko Vujosevic inserted Nikola Pekovic (20 points ), and the team took control of the game.
Pekovic - who will be playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves next season - completely changed the tone. Israel shrank before him, whether playing man-to-man, a match-up zone or a regular zone, and the visitors enjoyed total freedom from behind the three-point line.
From Charley Walters/Pioneer Press:
Luke Ridnour says he chose the Timberwolves as a free agent after he and his wife prayed on the matter. "I'm a Christian," he said.
A $16 million guaranteed deal didn't hurt, either.