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- 07/06/2012, 09:54PM ET
USA Basketball... who should get the last three spots?
Marlins Fan said 07/07, 12:37 AM
So far Team USA includes:
Center Tyson Chandler
Forward LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love
Guard Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook
There are six guys competing for the final three spots. The six contenders are:
Blake Griffin
Anthony Davis
Rudy Gay
Andre Iguodala
James Harden
Eric Gordon
In my opinion, Team USA's final roster should include Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala and Eric Gordon. Here's why:
The Team only has one center and one true PF, unless you include Durant, who would make two. Either way, the Team needs big men, big time. Griffin is more proven than The Unibrow and Davis is coming off an injury anyway, so Griffin is an easy choice.
This team is stacked on the wing, with LBJ, Durant, etc. They don't need offense, but they could use Iguodala's outstanding overall defense and defensive versatility (he can guard multiple positions).
The team needs a SG because so far they have three PGs and only one SG, Kobe. That means they could pick Harden or Gordon. Gordon already has Olympic experience and Harden is a little too inconsistent for my likes.
Bloggers Needed said 07/07, 02:07 AM
I think Harden's Finals cyost him the spot on the squad, so I agree with you there.
The problem you have in the games is Spain. They have some great bigs, and that can beat on this smaller US team. The problem we have is the US has 1 big who would take 20 minutes to win a game of 21 if he was playing by himself, and a rebounding machine who loves the three so much he gets hives if he touches the paint.
Add Blake- the only Big on the team who can hit a 10 foot shot.
So I take Gordon, to help Kobe, Blake.
And the Brow.
I do this to give me another big, but also to ensure Blake stays at PF unless Love is feeling it or LeBron wants to.
This also allows Coach K to have the same set for Tyson and Brow. When K says 5 does this- both guys are interchangeable.
Marlins Fan said 07/07, 05:29 PM
Basically this boils down to my pick of Andre Iguodala against your pick of Anthony Davis.
Couple reasons why the Team needs Iguodala. For one thing, the worldwide game of basketball is different than the NBA. In the NBA, a classic, shot-blocking Center is a critical piece towards winning games. But the world's version of basketball is a lot different... their bigs aren't classic, back-to-the-hoop type players; they're 7 footers who live on the perimeter and jack up three pointers. What's Davis gonna do when he finds himself out on the wing guarding 7 foot jump shooters? He'd be lost. But Iguodala wouldn't.
Iggy has the length and athleticism to guard virtually every position in the international game, and defense is the name of the game, since neither Iguodala nor Davis are remarkable offensive players.
Plus there's another detracting factor regarding Davis; he's hurt. Davis' camp says he "suffered a severely sprained ankle in a workout" on June 30th and ""almost assuredly will bypass a chance to play for Team USA this summer in the London Olympics". Those are direct quotes.
Anthony Davis won't be able to play; Andre Iguodala will. Iggy is the correct choice.
Bloggers Needed said 07/10, 01:27 PM
ok I'm moving on as the TD was started.
I still think Harden was a bad move.
I don't care that Davis is a "little hurt" I don't need Davis until the games, he's got a MONTH to get ready.
Lets face it, for half of these games the USA could leave Davis on one end of the floor and play 4 on 5 on offense.
I need Davis for 10 minutes a game when Chandler is taking a blow.
I don't NEED Iggy, Tell you the truth, I got guys that do the SAME THING. Is Iggy going to take Marc Gasol? Is he going to low post on a switch when China brings out 15 7 footers they are growing in Nepal?
Starters
Chander
Durant
LeBron
Kobe
Paul
Backups
Davis
Blake
Melo
Gordo
Russell
Defense-Big
Chandler
Griffith
LeBron
Melo
Paul
3 Pt
Davis
Love
Melo
Gordo
Paul
Keep in Mind I STILL need to poop minutes for D-Will
Where does Iggy fit in here? You are going to BENCH Kobe, Melo, Bron and Durant for ANDRE IGUODALA??
Thats the PROBLEM with this team- I got THREE Points, plus LeBron is pretty decent bringing the ball up. I can shift everyone up, but LeBron HATES playing PF. You putting Kobe/Melo at PF?
Marlins Fan said 07/10, 10:59 PM
No, Uguodala wouldn't guard Marc Gasol. There would be no need for that, since the Team already includes Chandler, Griffin and Love. Plenty of height/bulk to slow down international centers. Which really isn't a huge priority, because international teams don't play the NBA-style game based around a dominant big man. NBA teams play the inside-out game; international teams tend to employ a scheme more similar to Mike Dantoni's, where the "big men" tend to be power forwards and the rest of the guys are guards. Quickness over size, in other words.
Which is why Iguodala is such a valuable asset. He can guard EVERY position other than center and has the size, speed, and athleticism to dominate foreign players defensively. He also has some decent moves in transition and at time shas a decent jumper. His jumpshot isn't worse than Davis', that's for sure, and Iggy's experience and defensive versatility make this one an open and shut case.
Again, Davis is hurt, he's inexperienced, he's never even played against NBA players, much less international players. He's also not needed, since the international game is different.
No reason to pick Davis; plenty of reason to pick Iggy
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Comments (46) Add A Comment
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Dirk, Tony Parker and Pau Gasol. That's probably all wrong though(ha-ha).
W_A_M_U?
Total Comments (64442)
They aren't American!
DetroitFan*: It Is?!
Total Comments (30950)
Get outta here? Oh s-h-!-t, you're right!
W_A_M_U?
Total Comments (64442)
I think Pau Gasol is from a Dr. Seuss book, Dirk Nowitzki is really the grumpy old troll that lives under the bridge, and Tony Parker lives in the tunnel slide at your local playground.
DetroitFan*: It Is?!
Total Comments (30950)
That's a pretty good breakdown there. What about Manu Ginobili?
W_A_M_U?
Total Comments (64442)
HA-HA-HA, I thought that was Verne Troyer.
W_A_M_U?
Total Comments (64442)
I'd do this.
That new guy
Chicago, IL
Total Comments (11)
It's pretty insane how many star players are injured right now. If Team USA takes anything less than gold I'm blaming injuries.
(Un)mautre
Inferiority Complex Group, FN
Total Comments (16203)
even with the injuries the roster should be good enough.
That new guy
Chicago, IL
Total Comments (11)
The Dwight Howard injury is the only one that really concerns me. That's the one that makes USA vulnerable - still the favorite, but vulnerable.
(Un)mautre
Inferiority Complex Group, FN
Total Comments (16203)
Yeah, but what other countries have rosters that are good enough? USA has Chandler and Love, as well as Lebron who can match up big. My guess is Griffin or Davis, maybe even both, are added as well. They should be fine defensively, and offensively they will be by far the best team. They should have no problems imo.
That new guy
Chicago, IL
Total Comments (11)
I'll take it if you want.
harrisplz
Total Comments (382)
After 2004 I don't take Olympic basketball for granted.
(Un)mautre
Inferiority Complex Group, FN
Total Comments (16203)
I'd suggest using the most offensive and discriminatory selection criteria possible.
(Un)mautre
Inferiority Complex Group, FN
Total Comments (16203)
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