Sixers' Iguodala shaping up to be part of Team USA

NEW YORK - Andre Iguodala gets the ball at the top of the key in coach Mike Krzyzewski's motion offense and finds Stephen Curry coming off a screen in the right corner. Swish. Assist Iguodala.

Derrick Rose begins a fastbreak and feeds Kevin Durant on a wing, who throws the ball toward the basket. "I thought it was a terrible pass, but Andre went way up and got it," Rose said. Slam.

Iguodala gets a steal in his team's hounding defense, starts a break and finds Durant coasting down the sideline. Durant pulls up and hits his patented, 18-foot jump shot.

Such is life for Iguodala as one of the 15 players in New York trying to secure a spot on a 12-man roster for Team USA, which will compete in the world championships in Istanbul, Turkey, beginning Aug. 28.

Iguodala was impressive in workouts in Las Vegas last month and in the few days the team has spent in New York this week. The burden of having to be the man, as often happens when he is donning a 76ers uniform, is obsolete.

"I basically try to do the same things [as during the regular season], but I have a little more energy," Iguodala said. "Everybody does. K.D. [Durant] has more energy to score, same with Rudy Gay. Our shooters have a lot of energy to shoot and our defenders spend a lot of time defending. I think everybody is playing to their strength. I really have to play defense. We're small, so I have to rebound. I really have to focus on that area and just knock down open shots and take care of the ball. Everyone's game is really simple."

If Iguodala continues to play to his strengths, which he has been doing throughout the workouts, according to Krzyzewski he will be more than just a good piece to a puzzle that has a lot of really good pieces.

"For us, Andre's been one of our best players," Krzyzewski said. "He's in great shape, he's in midseason shape. He's doing the things that come naturally to him that are easier for him most of the time. Like, he's playing defense. He's filling a lane, he's driving the ball, he's not forcing shots. He's really been an easy guy to play with. Athletically, he's as good an athlete we have.

"In doing [those things] you become somewhat dominant. If you go to your skills and they're as good as anybody's and you do what you do well all the time and what you do real well is actually terrific, then you become a fantastic player.

"There's a guy going into the Hall of Fame, Scottie Pippen, who did that to the highest level. Andre's a little bit like him. I think Andre's unique. He should celebrate his uniqueness."

Should he make the team, which could be announced Monday after Sunday's exhibition game against France at Madison Square Garden, Iguodala certainly will be in a mood to celebrate.

"I think, mentally, I'm just good," Iguodala said. "This summer, I got a chance to take a vacation and get away from the game. I started back training early and I've just been real happy this summer. It's been a lot of fun. With these guys it's been a big help, but, overall, I've just been happy."

Getting a new coach (Doug Collins) and the second overall pick (Evan Turner) after a 27-win season will do that to a player. And Iguodala's play has made his U.S. teammates quite chipper, too.

"Man, he's so versatile and can play almost all the positions," Durant said. "He can go to the point, play the 2, the 3, the 4 or 5. He can shoot it, pass it. He's so athletic. He's doing everything he does with Philly here, and we're going to need that from him in the championship games. We are going to need him. He is so good at using his athleticism at both ends of the floor. He's a treat to play with. I threw him a lob that I thought was a terrible pass and he went up there to get it and made me look good. He's fun to play with."

"He plays hard, plays with a lot of energy," Rose said. "When you see him playing defense that hard, you have to try to get up to his level. If not, the coach is going to be mad, he's going to be mad. If anything, you're just trying to go out there and work as hard as him or go out there and just try to be equal."

Chris Bosh paid a visit to the team yesterday. Mike Krzyzewski said he talked to the new member of the Miami Heat briefly. "He looks like he's been in Miami, all decked out in orange," Coach K said . . . Rajon Rondo missed yesterday's workout to attend a funeral of a family member. He was expected back last night. Danny Granger was out after hurting a finger. X-rays were negative. *

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