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Divac hopes to confront Dream Team in gold-medal round

By Daily Bruin Staff

July 7, 1996 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 7, 1996

Before joining Hornets, ex-Laker will play for Yugoslavia at
Olympic GamesBy Brent Boyd

Summer Bruin Senior Staff

Over the last few weeks, Vlade Divac has been on a roller
coaster.

First, it was announced that the Lakers’ starting center was
being traded to the Charlotte Hornets. This didn’t suit Divac, who
threatened retirement to avoid becoming a Hornet. He changed his
mind on June 31 and decided to humbly accept the transfer to
Tobacco Road.

According to Divac, there is still a place in his heart for the
Lakers, but he will try to make his new city proud.

For the summer, however, his loyalty lies with his country’s
team. Divac is playing with the Yugoslavian National Team as it
prepares for the 1996 Olympic Games.

"I don’t think about not returning to the Lakers all the time
any more," Divac said. "I am now taking a lot of pride in playing
for my national team. I am extremely proud to be able to play in
the Olympics."

And on July 3 he and his teammates entered Pauley Pavilion for
the first of a four-game United States pre-Olympic tour, facing the
U.S. All-Stars in all four games.

Led by players such as Pig Miller, Duane Cooper, Reggie Theus
and Bruin alumni Derrick Martin, the U.S. All-Stars consisted of
former NBA players and league journeymen.

Anchored by the 23 points from former Lakers’ guard Frankie
King, the All-Stars kept the score close for the majority of the
game but fell to the Olympians in the game’s last few minutes.

Down 75-71 with eight minutes remaining, Yugoslavia fed off of
the energy of the partisan crowd and rallied for 10 consecutive
points in a four-minute stretch. Trading baskets for the final four
minutes of play, the Yugoslavs left Pauley with a 92-85 victory.
Miami Heat guard Predrag Danilovic led the Yugoslavian squad with
21 points.

According to Divac, playing against the U.S. All-Stars provides
his country with good preparation for America’s Dream Team. The
Yugoslavs are learning to play defense against the fast-break,
up-and-down style of American teams.

Having just completed a five-game tour in Europe, Divac believed
that his team’s performance in Pauley was not its best.

"Despite the victory, we didn’t play very well tonight," Divac
said. "A lot of the players are still on European time ­
around 4 a.m."

In Divac’s last game in the Los Angeles area as a member of the
Lakers, he combined his 19 points with 4 assists.

The Yugoslavs, featuring five NBA players, do not have one
person that can dominate the game. Instead, they use an abundance
of picks and a well-oiled passing game as their primary
weapons.

Divac is hoping this style of play can help Yugoslavia succeed
this summer in Atlanta.

"Our goal is to play in the gold-medal game against the Dream
Team," Divac said. "If we play like we are capable, I know we
can."

However, defeating the Dream Team is another story.

"I can wish that we beat them," he said. "I’m a sportsman and I
don’t like to lose, but I realize the odds that are against us.
It’s a 99 percent chance that we are going to lose, but we’ll
definitely take our chances."

They will have to wait to face the United States until at least
the medal round. Yugoslavia was placed in Group B, the bracket
opposite the Dream Team and will open Olympic play on July 20
against Greece.

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