Right now, I think the only person that should definitely be replaced is Mike Miller. He just seems really erratic out there. Tyson Chandler doesn't have much of an offensive game, but his interior defense has been rock solid, which will be really helpful against the large frontcourts of the European teams next summer. Michael Redd has been streaky, but when he gets on, those outside shots are just like layups. If Chris Paul makes it to next summer without an injury, I can see him taking one of the backup guard spots. Otherwise, the core of this group is the best since 1992. The real suprise has been Jason Kidd. I thought he would have a hard time keeping the offense fast paced, considering the number of games played on consecutive days, but he has run the fast break to perfection.
I'm not so sure about Chris Paul. Deron Williams is my choice for backup PG behind Kidd. I can't choose between Paul and Billups for 3rd string right now. I agree on Mike Miller. He doesn't belong on the team. He will be pulled for Wade. Hopefully Durant will have a great rookie year and push Tayshaun Prince off the team. If Oden turns out to be special, maybe he pushes Chandler off. My list of bubble players are Billups, Miller, Chandler and Prince. I can't see them removing Michael Redd.
No. The 1996 team had: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, David Robinson, John Stockton, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq O'Neal, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond, Anfernee Hardaway, Grant Hill and Gary Payton. How many of the guys from the current team would even make that team? Two? Four at the most.
It will probably depend on the degree to which Durant and Oden excel. If they do well, but not great, I don't see them being put on the team simply because the whole premise behind the revamped program familiarizing the players with each other by playing as a team for a couple years. I think Deron Williams is the solid backup because he is so strong. Wade will probably be put on the team in place of Mike Miller, but I don't see them taking out Redd. Tyson Chandler provides solid interior defense. Part of the beauty is that they don't need an inside player with an array of offensive moves because there are already so many scorers on the team. Watching Team USA during the FIBA tourney was a thing a beauty. I can't wait till the 08 Olympics and see how they fare against all the fully loaded teams. EDIT: This is post 666 for me.
Did I say 1992? Those damn 2 and 6 keys are right next to each other. I think at their current skill level, Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo, Kidd, Redd, and Amare could make the 1996 team
while i really liked how paul started at the world championship, he fell off at the end and his poor shooting eventually became more and more of a liability. since there is going to be a sharp dropoff in running the break (and offense in general) after kidd, if i have to choose between billups, williams, or paul, i'm taking the guys with the outside shot, so no paul. i'm not sure what his final 3 point shooting numbers were, but billups seemed quite comfortable taking those pullup 3's he takes on the pistons any time someone backed off of him a little. in fact, while we may not have a team of the greatest shooters ever (though certainly damn good as evidenced by the last 2 games), we seem to have a lot of guys who are comfortable from the 20 foot international distance. melo obviously loves it, but it's right in lebron's range as well (while 3 feet farther out really isn't), kobe takes a ton of 20 footers on the wing in nba games, prince is solid out to that range, and billups little set shots can only be better at that range. maybe that's why for once people were hitting their shots like they should. even with the poor shooting teams we've sent in the past, their overall percentages have even been below their NBA 3 pt %'s, which is amazing considering the line is shorter and the shots are more open. going 20-41 with the types of shooters we have and the open looks they get should not be all that hard to do, and if we're hitting like that, no one should really have a chance. now we just have to avoid a crazy 5-25 type game while running into a greece-type team that sucks at shooting but suddenly makes every 3 they take. do that and the gold should be ours, even against a loaded argentina (though beating them will not be easy no matter how talented we are, b/c they're just plain good). and for once having big men w/o great offensive games is basically irrelevant with the kobe/lebron/melo trio surrounded by good shooters. keeping this team from scoring is almost impossible, no matter what the big guys do. while miller will get replaced by wade, and while he turned it over a bunch in garbage time, i actually thought he did what he was supposed to do, and that was hit shots, and hit them consistently. i don't remember too many off nights, and that shouldn't be undervalued. i'm fine with prince and mostly everyone else, though i suppose bosh for chandler wouldn't be a problem considering bosh is better and chandler hardly played. now we just need to make sure everyone actually shows up in beijing. we crushed everyone in the last tournament of the americas with duncan, tmac, bibby, ray allen, iverson, and several other guys, and then only duncan (a post player when post play is limited in international play) and iverson (a streaky and poor outside shooter when it's at a premium in international play) showed up and we suffered. hopefully lebron, kobe, and melo can avoid injuries, weddings, fatigue concerns, etc before summer 2008.
http://www.usabasketball.com/seniormen/2007/stats/USA.HTM Mike Miller had the 2nd worst overall shooting % on the team next to Chauncey Billups (though decent 3pt % for the amount he took). Sucks the standard is raised for him to "prove" he should be on the team but he's the replaceable one. Would think out of all teams the US would benefit the from the shorter 3pt line and wondered why they'd shoot WORSE %'s, even the players who normally arent marksman from outside (Wade, Odom, Marion, Iverson, etc). They added a couple outside gunners and a capable point guard & now EVERYONE'S burying the outside shot (Melo, Lebron, Kobe). Even Jason Kidd was 5-8 from 3pt. Figured outside shooting would open things up but didnt think it'd be this beneficial. I'm fine with Tayshaun and Chandler, need a couple scrappy guys in there. I'm fine with Chauncey at the point guard cuz I think having veteran guys running the point brings more cohesion, calmness, and confidence. Instead of young guys like Paul trying to find their way and going purely off ability. In fact I'm fine with the team as-is and wouldnt be mad if they DIDNT make any changes.
elton brand might nto be 100 percent by next summer. shawn marion is same as prince imo. even though, as much as i like paul, williams is a better back-up to kidd. i agree miller will be replaced wade. i'm hoping if we do get brand back, that we use his offensive game. when hes on fire... wow. hes amazing.
I forgot to mention Joe Johnson. He will bump either Redd or Prince from the team. JJ and Wade are 100% definite additions if they are healthy. With these two guys added, I have no doubt our Olympic team will be better than this year's team.
No way dude, Joe Johnson is just another shooter and I do not see how he will help with team chemistry. It seems like the team is rock solid when it comes to offense; Tyson Chandler stays!
I don't think Wade should be playing for international champ, he is just not that type of player. Prince is a def. specialist. If he is replaced, I will expect the replacement will be a def. specialist as well, such as Battier from Rockets. Mike Miller is an odd man since he is a less-effective player behind Reed. He might be replaced by Joe Johnson, and if they really want Wade, then Wade wil take his spot. Tyson is fine, but if you got a better option, then he's on the thin ice.
I wouldn't get rid of Michael Redd. He's the perfect kind of player for those international tournaments. He's worth 10 Allen Iverson's in Olympic competition.
You obviously don't know much about Joe Johnson. Have you even seen him play? He is the exact type of player Team USA wants: He is completely committed to the cause, play hard on defense, rebounds, will drill the open outside shots guaranteed to be there when opposing teams pack the middle on Team USA in the Olympics, can handle the ball like a PG, is a very good passer with excellent court vision and was unselfish when he was on the team last year. And to whoever had a problem with Wade: There is no better player for the 6th man role on Team USA. Not even close. Wade is committed to the cause and has checked his ego at the door. Injuries were the only reason he and JJ weren't playing in Vegas. I'd say replace Miller with Wade and Prince with JJ. I would keep Redd over Prince because shooting 20ft three pointers will be at a premium next summer. I know Bosh will be put on the team but he doesn't have enough "power" at the PF spot IMO. And he didn't play very well last year at the World Games.
