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How to Buy Online: Kobe Bryant and Jason Kidd Key USA 's Olympic Basketball Quest The U.S. national team, the group that hopes to win the men's 2008 Olympic gold medal in Beijing , resumes training in Las Vegas Wednesday in preparation for the FIBA qualifying tournament there later this month. After losing at the world championships last summer, the USA must finish first or second at the Tournament of the Americas that tips off Aug. 22 to earn an Olympic berth. There are only two automatic Olympic berths - the host country ( China ) and the current world champion ( Spain ). Everyone else has to qualify for the 10 other spots. The U.S. team will have a different look as Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jason Kidd of the New Jersey Nets, Chauncey Billups of the Detroit Pistons and Amare Stoudemire of the Phoenix Suns have been added to the squad. They are welcome additions to coach Mike Krzyzewski's team. "Having those veterans is very big thing," Krzyzewski said. "We're a lot better than we were last summer, and that's because of the veterans we added to the team and the maturity of our team, both physically and emotionally." The squad got together for the first time for three days last month. If the USA fails to qualify in the 10-team tournament in Las Vegas , the third, fourth and fifth-place finishers get one more chance in the World Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year, just prior to start of the Beijing Games. "I think we have a more experienced team," said Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, the USA 's leading scorer at last summer's world championship with a 19.9 average. "We have more depth, a lot of shooters, experienced (point guards). I think everybody got better from last year." Shooters Michael Redd of the Milwaukee Bucks and Mike Miller of the Memphis Grizzlies and defensive specialist Tayshaun Prince of the Pistons have also been added to the USA roster. Anthony is one of only four players on the squad who played on the world championship team that won the silver medal. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors are the others. The point guards on the world championship team were Kirk Hinrich and Chris Paul. Neither is playing this summer, Paul because of injury and Hinrich for personal reasons. Forward Shane Battier also is not with the team for personal reasons. Forward-center Nick Collison of the Seattle SuperSonics was added to the team Monday, bringing the number of those competing for the 12 spots on the team to 16. "We're way ahead of where we were last summer," said the team's managing director, Jerry Colangelo, "because of the leadership we have. It gives us a whole different look. We have an edge now." Sign up for last minute specials, merchandise giveaways and more!
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