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Pierce is not out yet
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Paul Pierce is back in the running for the U.S. national team now that Kobe Bryant's sore shoulder might require surgery and keep him from this summer's Olympic qualifying.
USA Basketball senior men's chair (and NBA vice president) Stu Jackson said the door might soon be open for the Celtics co-captain, who was on the U.S. club for last year's World Championships.
``We don't definitely know that Kobe is going to be out of the qualifying tournament, but I'm certain that if he is, Paul would be someone that would receive strong consideration to replace him.''
Pierce was hoping to be on the club that will advance to the 2004 Olympics in Athens if it is successful this summer. The combination of high-profile players stepping in and the disappointing performance at the Worlds, however, kept him off. Pierce was targeted for much of the blame for that team's failure, but Jackson has remained in his corner.
``I've always been a Paul Pierce fan,'' Jackson said. ``I think he's one of the best players in our game today, and I'm positive that he's going to be one of the first people we consider if there's an opening on the . . . team.
``We won't know for sure there's an opening until Kobe tells us he can't play, but it's looking like that right now.''
Celtics coach Jim O'Brien has stated mixed feelings in the past about Pierce being on the team, understanding the honor of playing for the country while hoping his star gets rest.
With regard to Pierce's candidacy should Bryant back out, O'Brien said: ``I have no feel for that whatsoever. But any time there's an opening on an international team, if they don't seriously consider Paul Pierce I don't think they're being diligent enough.''
Pierce, by the way, will be the subject of Fox Sports Net's ``Beyond the Glory.'' The program will premiere this Sunday at 8 p.m., and word is it's heavy on the Celtics legacy as well as the irony of Pierce being known as ``The Truth'' but not knowing the truth about his stabbing. Pierce is not out yet
<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">
Pierce is not out yet
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Paul Pierce is back in the running for the U.S. national team now that Kobe Bryant's sore shoulder might require surgery and keep him from this summer's Olympic qualifying.
USA Basketball senior men's chair (and NBA vice president) Stu Jackson said the door might soon be open for the Celtics co-captain, who was on the U.S. club for last year's World Championships.
``We don't definitely know that Kobe is going to be out of the qualifying tournament, but I'm certain that if he is, Paul would be someone that would receive strong consideration to replace him.''
Pierce was hoping to be on the club that will advance to the 2004 Olympics in Athens if it is successful this summer. The combination of high-profile players stepping in and the disappointing performance at the Worlds, however, kept him off. Pierce was targeted for much of the blame for that team's failure, but Jackson has remained in his corner.
``I've always been a Paul Pierce fan,'' Jackson said. ``I think he's one of the best players in our game today, and I'm positive that he's going to be one of the first people we consider if there's an opening on the . . . team.
``We won't know for sure there's an opening until Kobe tells us he can't play, but it's looking like that right now.''
Celtics coach Jim O'Brien has stated mixed feelings in the past about Pierce being on the team, understanding the honor of playing for the country while hoping his star gets rest.
With regard to Pierce's candidacy should Bryant back out, O'Brien said: ``I have no feel for that whatsoever. But any time there's an opening on an international team, if they don't seriously consider Paul Pierce I don't think they're being diligent enough.''
Pierce, by the way, will be the subject of Fox Sports Net's ``Beyond the Glory.'' The program will premiere this Sunday at 8 p.m., and word is it's heavy on the Celtics legacy as well as the irony of Pierce being known as ``The Truth'' but not knowing the truth about his stabbing. Pierce is not out yet
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