A lot of the big names probably won't play for team USA this summer (Kobe for health reasons, others due to FA and other things), so, who do you think will realistically be on the team this time around? If you were Jerry Colangelo and Coach K, who do you go after?
I think the main guys need to be Dwight, Danny Granger, and Kevin Durant. Other players I would like to see are CP3, Deron Williams, and even Kevin Martin.
The only guy I'm sure of is gonna be Durant. YOu'd be better asking me who isn't gonna be in it. Kobe(as mentioned above) Lebron(free agency and no point in risking injury when you can't get a gold medal) Dwight(think he siad he's not gonna be in it) Boozer(FA)
Here are the player that I think are going to play... Kevin Durant Chris Bosh LeBron James Dwyane Wade Kobe Bryant Chris Paul Deron Williams Carmelo Anthony Amare Stoudemire Carlos Boozer Dwight Howard and either a shooter or a defender (maybe Shane)? or Joe Johnson. I don't think Kobe or Bron will sit out... I don't know about Jason Kidd... he's a great shooter though (at least he was this past season). I will say this though, regardless of who is out on team USA... we'll still be crushing everyone come august in the FIBA world championships. I expect every game to be a blow out.
Deron/Rondo/Curry Kobe/wade Lebron/Melo Amar'e/Durant/Noah Dwight/bosh last two were tough decisions...i'd like a third pg, but some more solid 3 pt shooting, which excludes CP , whos coming off an injury yr anyway, and rose....so i'd go with curry the last player would probably be another big, maybe noah, he's great defensively and plays with a lot of heart. They'd be loaded at the 2/3 spots and i couldnt leave out any of those guys so i'd give durant some time at the 4 to spread the floor with Dwight and also when going small.
Kobe is going to have knee surgery so he isn't going to play. I also highly doubt Wade or LBJ play. Wade has all the off the court stuff going on with trying to gain permenant custody of his children (as well as free agency) and LeBron's free agency will likely prevent him from making a solid commitment
I would try to assemble the best team. I think at guard assumming williams and paul play, those are my pg's.Also, a guy like curry would be nice as a 3rd pg if you felt you needed one. Since i have 2 ball control pg's, now i need some catch and shoot guys. Rip and martin would be good at the sg. Assumming lebron doesn't play, durant,granger,and prince as smalls. Alridge,howard(if he plays), lopez,troy murphy,Noah. Young guys with some vets.
I couldnt recall who was doing what...but without those 3 i'd go with: Deron/Rondo/Curry Roy/Martin Melo/Durant Bosh/Amar'e Dwight/Lopez/noah Has rondo turned down his invite? I'm surprised there's isn't much talk about him joining the team..
Deron/Rondo/AB Roy/Wade Anthony/Durant Amare/Duncan/Boozer Howard/Bosh Others: CP3, Kobe, LBJ, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith...
I think Battiyey might get a call. He'd be a decent 9-10th player on the roster to come give a defensive spark. I hope they'd let B-level players tryout, such as our own Ariza.
Its really doesn't matter who we send, even the NBA B-Listers, we will still have by far the most talented team. I would prefer team USA be composed of role players who are committed to playing team basketball. The team we usually send is an all-star team that plays glorified pick up games. The only reason we ever win is because we overwhelm the competition with talent. Most of the superstars are gonna beg off, but we don't need them to win. Offense is never a problem for team USA, we can never stop people because we don't play team defense. So considering that. My team C-Emeka Okafor (I'd much prefer Howard, but i doubt he'll play) PF-Josh Smith SF-Shane Battier SG-Kevin Durant PG-Deron Williams (If CP3 and williams won't go i wouldn't mind Rondo and Westbrook) C-Kevin Love PF-David Lee SF-Tayshaun Prince SG-Brandon Roy PG-Chris Paul SF-Grant Hill SG-Kirk Hinrich
