US National Team's Preparation for World Championship

Seeing Battier is part of U.S. National Team makes me feel that the trade may not be as one sided as I thought...

 

battier is always a nice player to have. the problem is how you get him.

 

accourding to Coach K, Battier is the best he has ever coached. pretty surprising considering he had Hill, Brand and Maggette.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketba/marchmania/2001mens/stories/2001-04-03-duke-battier.htm

 

why are they practicing with those weird balls? im guessing those are the type of balls theyre going to use in the world cup? pretty weird, but interesting.

 

How can you refer it as a problem when you dont even know how Gay will play at the NBA level?

 

Here's the roster of folks that made a 3 year commitment.

Pick 12 of the 20 that are present and willing to travel for your squad...

1. Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony, Age: 22.
2. Wizards G Gilbert Arenas, Age: 24.
3. Rockets F Shane Battier, Age: 27.
4. Pistons G Chauncey Billups, Age: 29.
5. Raptors F Chris Bosh, Age: 22.
6. Spurs F Bruce Bowen, Age: 35.
7. Clippers F Elton Brand, Age: 27.
8. *Lakers G Kobe Bryant, Age: 27.
9. Bulls G Kirk Hinrich, Age: 25.
10. Magic C Dwight Howard, Age: 20.
11. Cavaliers F LeBron James, Age: 21.
12. Wizards F Antawn Jamison, Age: 30.
13. Hawks G Joe Johnson, Age: 25.
14. Suns F Shawn Marion, Age: 28.
15. Kings C Brad Miller, Age: 30.
16. Bobcats F Adam Morrison, Age: 21.
17. *Lakers F Lamar Odom, Age: 26.
18. Hornets G Chris Paul, Age: 21.
19. *Celtics F Paul Pierce, Age: 28.
20. *Magic G J.J. Redick, Age: 22.
21. Bucks G Michael Redd, Age: 26.
22. SuperSonics G Luke Ridnour, Age: 25.
23. Suns C Amare Stoudemire, Age: 23.
24. Heat G Dwyane Wade, Age: 24.
25. **Ohio State C Greg Oden, Age: 18.

* -- Will not participate because of personal reason or injury.
** -- Will attend, but will not actively participate in practices.

 

C - Howard, Miller
F - James, Brand, Bosh, Battier*, Morrison
G - Arenas, Paul, Hinrich, Redd, Wade

* - If Bruce Bowen clearly outplays Battier, take him instead.

 

Id take:
Guards: Hinrich, Billups, Wade, Johnson, Bryant
Forwards: LBJ, Odom, Marion, Battier/Bowen, Bosh
Center: Miller, Howard

id start Billups, LBJ, Marion, Odom, and Miller cuz its a very very balanced team... everyone can pass, rebound, play good defense (maybe not LBJ, but its close enough), and shoot from anywhere
Id pull in battier/bowen for peremiter defense, bring in kobe when i need to score alot fast. I wouldn't start Kobe cuz he takes too many shots and even tho he makes an effort to pass now, he is still wants to be the superstar.

 

team1 (half court):
pg kirk hinrich
sg dwayne wade
sf lebron james
pf elton brand
c brad miller

team2 (run n' gun):
pg chris paul
sg joe johnson
sf shawn marion
pf chris bosh
c amare stoudemire

res dwight howard (for size)
res michael redd (for downtown)

kobe and lamar odom ommitted.
Bruce Bowen better not make it. Not only is he bald and ugly - which in itself is reason enough not to pick him - but he's older than everybody else (by at least 5 years) and significantly less talented. He's probably just there to force the kids to play defense ("man, I hope they dont pick that dinasour over me").

 

Erm.. because those are the same balls that international leagues use and.. that's the same ball the NBA will be using next year.

 

As long as Dwyane Wade and Lebron James are on the team, we can win it all. You can surround them with anybody.

 

Erm... wrong.

well, partially, at least.

I'm sure they're practicing with it because that's what will be used in the tournament. And maybe it is the ball most international leagues use, but...

The NBA is still going to be using spalding, not "molten", whatever brand that is..

Also there's no gold stripes on the NBA ball, and the black stripe pattern is totally different on the new NBA ball.

 

I think they'll take Bowen for this year's FIBA tourney and have Battier for the Olympics instead.

Bowen is 35, up there in age, probably won't be as effective as he is now, may even be retired, by 2008. You want to reward him right now. Battier is only 27, he can wait a couple years.

 

Would Bettier be a starter?

 

Billups will not be playing this summer because his wife is having a baby. Morrison is too inexperienced. Amare is not 100%. He says he is a self-proclaimed 80%. Wouldn't be fair taking someone else's spot. Hinrich tweaked his hamstring last week in practice, but played through the pain. For the Carmelo haters out there, the coaches have been raving about his motivation and work ethic, and he has been deemed one of top 5 in camp. There won't be clear PF or C's. They want the versatility of big men to go with the flow of the international game. The coaches don't want to make the mistake of clogging the lane with big men a la 2004 Tim Duncan. So with these in mind, here is what I think should be, and will be, the 12-15 man team for this year's tournament in Japan, and games before that in China.

PG: Paul, Arenas, Hinrich
SG: Wade, Redd, Johnson (stock has been rising in camp as well)
SF: James, Anthony, Marion, Bowen
PF/C: Howard, Bosh, Brand, Miller

Hinrich over Ridnour, Bowen over Battier, Brand over Jamison (Brand is a lock to be on the team, and they play essentially the same position), Miller is in for his 1998 National Team experience and only true center.

 

Why isn't Redick playing?