No excuses for failure in US bid to reclaim global hoops throne

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2006

SAITAMA, Japan (AFP) — Dwyane Wade knows that when you have no crown, you take no breaks and you make no excuses. Wade's backcourt heroics sparked the Miami Heat to a National Basketball Association title in June and his efforts here are expected to help the United States reclaim a global throne at the World Basketball Championship on Sunday.

The 24-year-old superstar guard says the unbeaten Americans, trying to erase the sting of a sixth-place effort at the 2002 worlds and a 2004 Olympic bronze medal, have no excuses for not winning Wednesday's quarter-final over Germany. "When we step on the court we try to make a statement. But we also try to get better as a team," Wade said. "Physically all the guys are all right and we have a couple days of rest before the next game so...