[Team USA] Coach K Picks Gerald Wallace over Iggy and Granger

jvu · Jul 20, 2010

Granger > Wallace offensively
Wallace >>> Granger defensively

worzel gummidge · Jul 20, 2010

Stephen Jackson > Wallace.

showmedamoney28 · Jul 20, 2010

Who Will Make The Cut?
LAS VEGAS -- In five weeks, Team USA's roster will be set.

The 22 players who reported for the start of minicamp Tuesday will have been cut down to 12, and the Americans will begin their quest to win the FIBA World Championship for the first time since 1994.

Plenty can happen between now and then, and it's a 99.9 percent certainty that LeBron James or any of his Beijing brethren will not be walking through that door between now and mid-August.

So as we begin what will be a nearly two-month sojourn from Las Vegas to New York to Springfield, Mass., to Madrid to Athens to Istanbul, it is both worthwhile and fun to take an educated guess at who will be on the 12-man roster when Team USA opens pool play against Croatia on Aug. 28.

Here is my best guess at the composition of the squad (and although it is an early guess, it is an educated one based partly on conversations with various NBA and USA Basketball officials, partly on my own experience having covered Team USA at every major international basketball competition since 1996):

GUARDS
Chauncey Billups, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry.

Cuts: Rajon Rondo (free throw inaccuracy), Eric Gordon (loses designated shooter role to Curry), O.J. Mayo (superfluous).

FORWARDS
Rudy Gay, Gerald Wallace, Lamar Odom, David Lee, Kevin Love.

Cuts: Danny Granger (not as good a defender as Wallace), Jeff Green (out-burlymanned by Lee), Andre Iguodala (superfluous with Wallace), Amare Stoudemire (contract insurance difficulties).

CENTERS
Brook Lopez.

Cuts: Tyson Chandler (conditioning, free throw inaccuracy), JaVale McGee (victim of numbers game, but a sleeper to make final 12), Robin Lopez (a project for 2014 and beyond).

-- Chris Sheridan
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Reading comprehension.

dakeem1 · Jul 20, 2010

Gerald was picked over the other two because he is a better fit for what TEAM USA is trying to achieve.
They were looking for a PF who can play on the perimeter because that is how the Euro teams play.
Granger and Iggy cannot play PF (Maybe Granger).

This doesn't make Wallace better than the other 2 players. I would say that Wallace is better than Iggy, but not Granger. But it's very close.

ROCKCITY · Jul 21, 2010

According to Brad Miller, didn't Wallace sit on the bench for Adelman when he was in Sacramento? I'm guessing the two don't get along because Wallace couldn't learn the system. Personally, I'd still rather have Granger/Iggy than Wallace.

Htown's2kFinest · Jul 21, 2010

They had training camp on NBAtv and haven't picked anyone yet for all I know but you can of course pencil in Durant cause he is for sure on the squad. Lee dislocated his pinky finger so he maybe won't be playing. Doubt it though. Brook Lopez is a safe bet. They'll be lacking size in the post and will need him. Brings me to why I could kinda see coach K picking Wallace over Iggy and Granger (if he does) cause Wallace can play PF and rebound. Hope McGee gets in.

roslolian · Jul 21, 2010

BrandyonTX said:

I agree that they cut them due to the fact that there are similar players on the team, but also that those similar players must have been viewed as the better players. I'd still love to grab someone like Granger around the trade deadline myself, but I also this does speak for those who believe that they would be much less impressive on our roster.
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Cuts haven't been made yet. Its just the author's guesses, which is what I realized when I actually clicked on the link.

ASidd_1990 · Jul 21, 2010

Can't start new threads so Im going to post this article hear.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Au_3FLG1nTlXb9pylOCTnDG8vLYF?slug=mc-durantteamusa072010

Durant aims for golden moment at worlds

By Marc J. Spears, Yahoo! Sports
4 hours, 0 minutes ago

Email Print LAS VEGAS – With Kobe Bryant(notes), LeBron James(notes) and the rest of the Beijing Olympic team taking the summer off, USA Basketball’s roster is wide open for next month’s world championships in Turkey. There is one prospect, however, with better odds than anyone to be wearing the red, white and blue.

”Hopefully, everything works out,” Kevin Durant(notes) said, ”and I make the team.”

At just 21 years old, Kevin Durant is regarded by many as one of the top five players in the NBA.

(NBAE/ Getty Images)
Three years into his NBA career, Durant still doesn’t lack for humility. Since his arrival as the No. 2 pick of the 2008 draft, he has insisted on being treated as just one of the guys. He has never yearned to play in a bigger market, instead signing a five-year, $87 million extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer. True to form, he quietly announced the new contract on his Twitter account. Even after winning the NBA’s scoring title this past season, Durant chose to practice with the Thunder’s summer league team.

Still, with the U.S. roster missing all of its superstar gold medalists – and All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire(notes) now out because of an insurance issue with his contract – the team is desperate for a leader in the world championships. Chauncey Billups(notes), Lamar Odom(notes) and Rajon Rondo(notes) have won NBA titles. And point guards Derrick Rose(notes) and Russell Westbrook(notes) should someday be stars in their own right. But if Team USA intends to win the world championships for the first time since 1994, then Durant will likely need to help lead it – even if he refuses to acknowledge he’s been assured a spot on the roster.

”It’s not one guy going out there and representing the U.S.,” Durant said on the first day of Team USA’s minicamp. ”That’s what I really like. Not one guy on that last team [was the face of the team]. Kobe Bryant wasn’t. LeBron James wasn’t. Everybody was equal.

”Outside of the locker room, everyone says I’m the face, which is really untrue. But once we step in between these lines and in these team meetings, I think everyone is equal. That’s a great feeling to have and a lot of pressure off my back as well.”

Durant believes that, but at just 21 years old, he’s also now one of the five best players in the NBA. And Bryant, James and Wade won’t be in Turkey, so the spotlight will shine brightest on him.

Said USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo: ”Is he the centerpiece? Absolutely.”

Having a couple of veterans like Billups and Odom should help Durant and Team USA’s other young players.

”I’m not a champion like Lamar Odom or Chauncey Billups,” Durant said. ”I’m not a Finals MVP like Chauncey Billups. I haven’t played as many playoff games as some of the guys here. Those guys have one up on me. I just had the most points in the NBA. That’s all. It’s one year. That’s about it. I just want to learn from those guys and get better.

”Any day this can be taken away from me. I won’t take it for granted.”

Durant hasn’t forgotten that just two years ago, he was turned down for a spot on the Beijing roster.

”I always wanted to be on the Olympic team and I always wanted to be a part of something like this no matter what,” Durant said. ”If I was a free agent and I didn’t get my deal done or whatever, I’d still be here. I just want to play the game and wanted USA across my chest.

”It would have been cool to see a lot of veterans here just to help us out a little bit. But it’s a new team and we’re looking forward to moving on.” During the 2008 Olympics, Jason Kidd’s(notes) role was to help bring leadership to a team loaded with young talent. But with Bryant, James and Wade already USA Basketball veterans, Kidd never had to be extremely vocal. Kidd is attending this week’s minicamp as a consultant, and he thinks Durant will only benefit from this summer’s experience.

”He just has to grow and be the leader,” Kidd said. ”When you want to be the best in the league, in these types of situations you step up.”

Durant received a lot of attention when his Thunder challenged the Lakers in the first round of this year’s playoffs. Few people had even expected the Thunder to qualify for the postseason, let alone win 50 games and give the Lakers a fight. Expectations, however, have risen dramatically, and they arrive early for Durant this summer with Team USA.

There is nothing Durant faced in high school, with the Texas Longhorns in college or in his first three seasons with the Thunder that’s placed more pressure on him than wearing a USA jersey this summer. So far, the only thing anyone has questioned about Durant’s game is his ability to win big. Delivering a gold medal in the world championships would go a long way toward putting those concerns to rest.

And if the U.S. needs a last-second shot or big offensive spark in Turkey? The ball will probably be in Durant’s hands.

”I have to sacrifice and tone it down a little bit more,” Durant said. ”I’m willing to do that and can’t wait to do that and be the leader.”
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I freakin have a Man-Crush on Durant!

worzel gummidge · Jul 21, 2010

”Any day this can be taken away from me. I won’t take it for granted.”
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I wonder if some of the vet stars are dodging the Worlds because they're afraid losing as Team USA won't be with its best.

ASidd_1990 · Jul 21, 2010

worzel gummidge said:

I wonder if some of the vet stars are dodging the Worlds because they're afraid losing as Team USA won't be with its best.
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They got a pretty solid roster right now. I think if Durant is the leader, they will win Gold.

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[Team USA] Coach K Picks Gerald Wallace over Iggy and Granger

jvu Member

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