Basketball Capsules: Coach K tries again to put U.S. on top of the world

ISTANBUL (AP) — Mike Krzyzewski’s college kids were overmatched, his NBA All-Stars a bit unready.

Now he will try with a team that’s somewhere in between.

An 0-for-2 showing in the world championships is the only real blemish in Krzyzewski’s resume, something he gets to work on starting Saturday when the United States opens against Croatia.

The U.S. has won the world championships only three times, a stunningly low total for a country that has dominated Olympic play. Krzyzewski wasn’t all that surprised because while the Americans have always viewed the worlds as a second-class event, it’s the top priority for many of the nations that have been beating them.

"I think the world puts such an emphasis on it and we send different teams all the time. Their countries send their main teams," Krzyzewski said Friday after practice. "For a long time it was just the college players competing and then internationally for us it wasn’t always that competition that brought everybody wanting to play for it like the Olympics.

"So we have unique teams that come here and I think the teams that we’ve sent have more room for error, just like ours. We have a really good team, but there’s room for error because we’re not big and we’re not old."

Krzyzewski coached the last U.S. team composed of college players, winning a bronze in 1990. He got another shot four years ago and ended up with bronze again after a team that included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony was stunned by Greece in the semifinals.

His team now lacks that star power, and also is young with an average age of about 24. But many players on this squad have experience within the USA Basketball program, which is much more developed than it was in 2006.

"I just thought our culture wasn’t set enough to do it," Krzyzewski said. "We were a little bit young like we are now — we’re younger now — but we have a better culture in place, so we have I think a greater chance to win. It’s not a done deal, there are a lot of good teams here. We won’t take anything for granted, we know that we can get beat here."

The Americans won their last world title in 1994. A lockout prevented them from using NBA players four years later, but the pros were back for a pathetic sixth-place finish in 2002 in Indianapolis, when the U.S. lost for the first time when using NBA players.

Their three world titles in 15 tries are far below their total of 13 gold medals in 16 Olympics.

"Basketball is universal now, it’s not just played in one place," forward Lamar Odom said. "We put a team together in a month’s span, sometimes you take your bumps and bruises, and these guys have been playing together their whole lives. It happens."

The bronze behind Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union in Krzyzewski’s first attempt was understandable, since the Yugoslav team that stopped the Americans featured five future NBA players, including Vlade Divac, Toni Kukoc and the late Drazen Petrovic.

"The first time was the last time the college kids played, and Russia and Yugoslavia were still together. There’s no way you were going to beat them. Both of them could have been NBA teams at that time, and a lot of their players ended up being in the NBA," Krzyzewski said.

He committed to return as national team coach last year in part because he and USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo want to make the world championships more of a priority. They believed they would be joined by some players from the 2008 Olympic gold medal squad, but all declined to play this summer.

Had those players come to Istanbul, the United States would have been heavily favored to finally get Krzyzewski that world championship. Instead, the Americans are considered only a slight favorite — or even behind defending champion Spain to some.

Colangelo tried to sell the players on returning because they had "unfinished business" from 2006. But when it comes to the world championships, they’re hardly the only Americans who didn’t get the job done.

"It just tells you how good international basketball is now and you can’t just put a team together and go over and expect to win every year," guard Stephen Curry said. "It’s a tough thing to do and it’s going to make it that much more special if we take care of business and get it done while we’re here."

Brawl leaves 2 top teams reeling from suspensions

KAYSERI, Turkey (AP) — The brawl between Greece and Serbia in a warmup game has left two of the top teams at the basketball world championship reeling from suspensions that have ruled out some of their best players for the start of the tournament.

Serbia will be without center Nenad Krstic for the first three games and guard Milos Teodosic for the first two. Power forward Antonis Fotsis and center Sofoklis Schortsanitis will miss Greece’s first two games for their role in the Aug. 19 brawl.

The tournaments that starts on Saturday in four Turkish cities already is missing a number of top stars for various reasons, including Kobe Bryant and all the Olympic champion U.S., Pau Gasol of Spain and Dirk Nowitzki of Germany.

The suspensions handed out by FIBA on Thursday infuriated the coaches of Serbia and Greece, but the players involved did not seem surprised.

"This is something unbelievable," Greece coach Jonas Kazlauskas said Friday in Ankara.

FIBA’s ruling was a blow to Kazlauskas ahead of Saturday’s opening game against China. Both Fotsis and Schortsanitis will also be sitting on the bench during Sunday’s game against Puerto Rico in Group C.

Serbia’s 66-year-old veteran coach, Dusan Ivkovic, noted the brawl at a game in a warmup tournament in Athens took place on Aug. 19 and FIBA was slow to hand out punishment so close to the start of the tournament.

"FIBA could have reacted quicker," said Ivkovic, who led the former Yugoslavia to one of its record five world titles in 1990. "It was buying time.

"We have to react in a very short time, I have to prepare my players mentally," Ivkovic added. "Krstic is our captain, or pillar, our main offensive option. Without Teodosic, we lose a lot of creativity. Our qualification (for the quarterfinals) is now under threat."

Ivkovic said Serbia has lost "two key players" for the games against Angola, Germany and Jordan in Group A in Kayseri.

The fight broke out during the last game of the Acropolis Tournament, which was abandoned with 2:40 remaining and Greece leading by one point. The players from both teams exchanged punches and kicks on the floor and in the tunnels leading to the dressing rooms.

It began when former NBA player Fotsis moved threateningly against Teodosic, who had fouled him. Krstic, of the Oklahoma City Thunder, then grabbed Fotsis by the throat and threw a chair toward Schortsanitis, who was pursuing him. The chair hit Yannis Bouroussis, who had not played because of a hand injury, and left him with a bloody wound on the side of his head.

Fotsis and Schortsanitis said they expected to be punished.

"This is the decision. We can’t change it," Fotsis said. "It was very difficult not to punish us. We accept this punishment."

Schortsanitis said he would be ready to help the team when his suspension is over.

"I am not angry," said the Greece center, who is known as Baby Shaq. "We expected it."

Krstic also said he was not surprised by the suspensions.

"We expected something like this. Of course I am disappointed. Now, it’s behind us and I don’t want to talk about it too much," Krstic said. "We have to look ahead and think about the upcoming games."

The former Yugoslavia won two of the last three world titles and Serbia is hoping to extend the success for the first time as an independent nation. Ivkovic’s young team surprised by finishing runner-up to Spain at last year’s European championship.

Spain is seeking is to become only the third country to win back-to-back world basketball titles. Yugoslavia was the last team to do it, in 1998-2002, while Brazil managed it in 1959-63.

Although Spain will be without the Los Angeles Lakers center Gasol, who decided to take a break, and guard Jose Manuel Calderon of the Toronto Raptors because of injury, it has plenty of other talent, including 19-year-old point guard Ricky Rubio. Spain is based in Izmir in Group D.

The United States beat Spain for the 2008 Olympic gold medal, but none of the Americans have returned and the so-called "B team" will play in Group B in Istanbul. The Americans dominate the Olympics but have won only three world titles, the last time in 1994.

Six teams are in each group, and four from each pool will advance to the single-elimination round starting Sept. 4 in Istanbul, with the gold medal game on Sept. 12.

-- Nesha Starcevic

Serbia coach Ivkovic devastated by suspensions

KAYSERI, Turkey (AP) — Serbia has been devastated by the suspensions of its two top players for the start of the world basketball championships, coach Dusan Ivkovic said Friday.

Ivkovic criticized FIBA for waiting until less than 48 hours before the start of the tournament to suspend center Nenad Krstic and guard Milos Teodosic for their roles in a brawl in Greece.

Krstic will miss the first three games and Teodosic the first two. Ivkovic said Serbia has lost "two key players" for the games against Angola, Germany and Jordan.

"We will be playing 10 against 12 in the first two matches and 11 against 12 in the third and that’s a big handicap," Ivkovic said.

"We have to react in a very short time, I have to prepare my players mentally," Ivkovic added. "Krstic is our captain, or pillar, our main offensive option. Without Teodosic, we lose a lot of creativity."

The 66-year-old veteran coach, who also cut center Miroslav Raduljica from the final 12-man squad, noted that the brawl at a game in a warmup tournament took place on Aug. 19 and that FIBA was "perfidious" in waiting to hand out punishment.

"FIBA could have reacted quicker," said Ivkovic, who led the former Yugoslavia to one of its record five world titles in 1990. "It was buying time."

Krstic was punished for throwing a chair at Yannis Bouroussis, who was not playing for Greece because of an injury.

The bench-clearing fight started after an altercation between Teodosic and Antonis Fotsis. Fotsis and Greece teammate Sofoklis Schortsanitis also have been suspended for two games each.

Krstic, the Oklahoma Thunder center, said he was not surprised by the suspensions.

"We expected something like this. Of course I am disappointed. Now, it’s behind us and I don’t want to talk about it too much," Krstic said. "We have to look ahead and think about the upcoming games."

Krstic will be available for the final two Group A games against Australia and Argentina, but Ivkovic said his players were very disappointed when they heard about the suspensions during a practice.

"Now I have to lift their spirit, to raise their heads," Ivkovic said, adding that the opening game Saturday against Angola was the "key match" for his team.

"They may not have the height, but they are exceptionally athletic and rebound well," Ivkovic said.

With Ivkovic in charge, Serbia’s young team finished runner-up to Spain at last year’s European Championship. Spain is also the defending champion in Turkey.

-- Nesha Starcevic

Greece coach Kazlauskas slams FIBA punishment

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — FIBA’s decision to suspend Antonis Fotsis and Sofoklis Schortsanitis for their part in last week’s brawl in an exhibition game against Serbia was "something unbelievable," Greece coach Jonas Kazlauskas said Friday.

FIBA’s decision altered Kazlauskas’ plans ahead of Saturday’s opening game against China at the world basketball championships in Turkey. Both Fotsis and Schortsanitis will also be sitting on the bench during Sunday’s game against Puerto Rico.

"It is a disappointment," Kazlauskas said at Ankara Arena after practice. "This is something unbelievable."

Both Fotsis and Schortsanitis, however, said they expected to be punished.

"This is the decision. We can’t change it," Fotsis said. "It was very difficult not to punish us. We accept this punishment."

Schortsanitis said he would be ready to help the team when his suspension is over.

"I am not angry," said the Greece center, who is known as Baby Shaq. "We expected it."

The fight broke out during the last game of the Acropolis Tournament, which was abandoned with 2:40 remaining and Greece leading by one point. The players from both teams exchanged punches and kicks on the floor and in the tunnels leading to the dressing rooms.

It began when former NBA player Fotsis moved threateningly against Serbia guard Milos Teodosic, who had fouled him. Nenad Krstic, a center for the Oklahoma City Thunder, then grabbed Fotsis by the throat and threw a chair toward Schortsanitis, who was pursuing him. The chair hit Yannis Bouroussis, who had not played because of a hand injury, and left him with a bloody wound on the side of his head.

The teams were finally separated after they had carried the fray off the court.

China coach Bob Donewald said Greece was one of the best teams in the world and that the suspensions are unlikely to cause any serious problems.

"If the entire Greek team is suspended, then they might be affected," Donewald said. "They have so much talent, I don’t think it will affect them."

Greece, the runner-up at the previous worlds in 2006, is in Group C with China, the Ivory Coast, Puerto Rico, Russia and Turkey.

-- Selcan Hacaoglu

NBA

Nuggets hire Ujiri as new GM

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets have hired a man with global basketball experience to manage a team that’s in a world of hurt: two big men sidelined, a player under police investigation and its superstar’s signature missing from a contract extension.

Former Nuggets international scout Masai Ujiri was appointed the team’s new executive vice president of basketball operations on Friday.

Ujiri (whose name is pronounced ma-SIGH u-JEER-e) served as a scout for the Nuggets from 2003-07 before joining the Toronto Raptors as director of international scouting in 2008. He most recently served as the Raptors’ assistant general manager in charge of player personnel.

The Nigerian-born Ujiri played at Bismarck State College and Montana State and professionally in Europe for six seasons before beginning his NBA career as an international scout for the Orlando Magic in 2002.

Ujiri, 39, also served as director of the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program the last eight years.

The Nuggets had been without a front office leader since the contracts of Mark Warkentien and Rex Chapman expired earlier this month, although team adviser Bret Bearup has played a role in personnel decisions for several years.

"We are very pleased to welcome Masai back to Denver," Nuggets official Josh Kroenke said in a statement. "He brings a diverse basketball background and a unique perspective that will be valuable to our organization. He is respected in basketball circles throughout the world."

Kroenke is the 30-year-old son of owner Stan Kroenke, who agreed to turn over operational and financial control of the Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche as a condition for taking over as majority owner of the NFL’s St. Louis Rams on Wednesday.

Ujiri rejoins a team at a crossroads.

Coach George Karl hopes to return to the sideline this fall after missing the final two months last season while undergoing treatment for throat and neck cancer. In his absence, the Nuggets went from conference contender to first-round flop in the playoffs under assistant Adrian Dantley a year after taking the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink in the Western Conference finals.

All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who has guided the Nuggets to the playoffs every season since leading Syracuse to the national title as a freshman in 2003, hasn’t signed a three-year, $65 million extension that’s been on the table for two months, leading to alarm that his seven-year stint in Denver could be coming to a close.

Anthony can opt out of the final year of his contract after this season and become the headliner of the 2011 free agent class a year after LeBron James and Chris Bosh shook up the league’s balance of power by taking their talents to South Beach to play with Dwyane Wade and the Heat.

The Nuggets aren’t likely to let it go that far and would almost certainly try to trade Anthony before the February deadline so they can get players and/or picks in return for the superstar rather than risk losing him without compensation next summer.

Ujiri wasn’t made available to the media on Friday but in an interview posted on the team’s website, he said he was eager to meet with Anthony.

"I don’t know what difference I’m going to make, but I’m excited. This has been Melo’s team and Melo’s city almost, basketball-wise. He’s built a legacy here. The players who have played in one city and stayed in one city have done pretty well," Ujiri told nuggets.com.

"I know last year there was a challenge with George Karl and his illness. But I’ve talked to him and he’s in full spirits. He’s pumped up about the season. That’s positive," Ujiri added. "I think I can bring a general positive vibe into everything, from the front office to the team. "

Anthony has said he wanted to see the team bolster its frontcourt, a sentiment shared by the old regime, which failed to get back into the draft in June to select a big man and was then unsuccessful in its pursuits of free agents Jermaine O’Neal and Udonis Haslem.

They ended up signing free agent Al Harrington, who is slated to start at power forward with Nene at center when the season begins because Kenyon Martin and Chris "Birdman" Andersen are expected to miss a chunk of the upcoming season following offseason knee surgeries.

And sixth man J.R. Smith might finally have worn out his welcome in Denver. The talented but often-troubled scorer is under police investigation for an alleged altercation he had with a person at the team’s practice facility earlier this month.

Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Thursday that officers went to the facility Aug. 13 after a report of an altercation involving Smith and another non-NBA player in a pickup game. The district attorney previously declined to pursue the complaint against Smith, but the investigation has been reopened because another witness came forward, Jackson said.

-- Arnie Stapleton

NBA suspends 3 players for separate incidents

NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Rush of the Indiana Pacers was suspended for five games by the NBA on Friday for violating the league’s drug agreement, while Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings and Kenny Hasbrouck of the Miami Heat drew suspensions for driving offenses.

Rush was suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. He started 64 games for the Pacers last season and averaged 9.4 points.

Pacers president Larry Bird said in a statement that the organization would support Rush.

"We have been made aware that Brandon Rush has been suspended for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy," Bird said. "We will do what we can to provide Brandon help going forward."

Evans, the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, was suspended without pay for one game for pleading no contest to reckless driving in California. He averaged 20.1 points last season.

Hasbrouck, a former Siena guard, was suspended without pay for two games for pleading guilty to driving while intoxicated in New York.

Rush’s suspension was the latest blow to Indiana’s attempts to clean up its image.

The Pacers released the core of their team the past several years while trying to repair a reputation damaged by the brawl between Pacers players and Pistons fans in 2004 and several incidents after that in which Pacers players had brushes with the law.

Most recently, second-round draft pick Lance Stephenson was arrested earlier this month in New York on assault, menacing and harassment charges. Prosecutors said he pushed his girlfriend down a flight of stairs, then grabbed her and hit her head on the bottom step. The Pacers have not announced how they will deal with that incident.

Knicks sign Ewing to free-agent deal