USA Basketball announces 20 finalists for Olympic team

[lefty]

When USA Basketball sends a dozen players to the Olympics in London this summer, the roster will come from these 20 finalists, released by USA Basketball on Monday (http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/national/12_Moly_Finalists.html):
Guards: Dwyane Wade (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/931/dwyane-wade), Deron Williams (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1130/deron-williams), Chris Paul (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1115/chris-paul), Eric Gordon (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1496/eric-gordon), Russell Westbrook (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1509/russell-westbrook), Chauncey Billups (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/468/chauncey-billups), Derrick Rose (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1476/derrick-rose), Kobe Bryant (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/430/kobe-bryant)
Forwards: LeBron James (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/927/lebron-james), Andre Iguodala (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1049/andre-iguodala), Rudy Gay (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1257/rudy-gay), Kevin Durant (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1358/kevin-durant), Carmelo Anthony (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/929/carmelo-anthony), Chris Bosh (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/930/chris-bosh), Blake Griffin (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1593/blake-griffin), Lamar Odom (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/608/lamar-odom), LaMarcus Aldridge (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1249/lamarcus-aldridge), Kevin Love (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1504/kevin-love).
Centers: Dwight Howard (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1041/dwight-howard), Tyson Chandler (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/765/tyson-chandler).
This is similar but a little expanded from the list leaked last week (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/10/report-team-usa-sets-19-players-for-preliminary-roster/).
I don’t envy Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the cuts he has to make to get this down to 12. (Cuts he will have to make without a training camp as the Olympic roster has to be sent in by June 20, before the NBA finals likely end.) As I said before it really gets hard because I think you need to keep both Howard and Chandler on the roster at center to match up with the size that Spain will throw out there with Marc Gasol (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1418/marc-gasol), Pau Gasol (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/766/pau-gasol) and Serge Ibaka (http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nba/1521/serge-ibaka) off the bench. Spain and the USA are the two clear favorites to meet in the Gold Medal game.
If you keep those two plus the sure things such as LeBron, Durant, ‘Melo, Bosh, Kobe, Wade, CP3 and Rose and suddenly you are down to two final spots for a lot of good players. I think you need Kevin Love (his game fits well with international ball). Then with that last spot do you take Griffin or Aldridge for size, Odom for versatility, E. Gordon because he can shoot or a slasher like Iguodala or Gay? Let go of Chandler so you can take two of them?
Tough choices. But that is going to be one stacked team?

[monosylab1k]

Why is Bosh a sure thing? He licked balls last time. I'd rather take Griffin or Aldridge or both.

[Giuseppe]

Only pussies & assholes do Olympics.

[TD21-FTW]

Rose, Paul, Williams, Wade, Bryant, Durant, Anthony, James, Love, Griffin, Aldridge, Howard

[jeebus]

Odom is one of the 20? :lol

[mavs>spurs]

Wade, Paul, Gordon, Rose, Kobe
Lebron, Gay, Melo, Aldridge
howard, chandler

[DeadlyDynasty]

Rose, Paul, Williams, Wade, Bryant, Durant, Anthony, James, Love, Griffin, Aldridge, Howard

[cantthinkofanything]

Wade, Paul, Gordon, Rose, Kobe
Lebron, Gay, Melo, Aldridge
howard, chandler

racist much?

[NewcastleKEG]

Why is Bryant playing? Your old, let the young guys have their time

[Banzai]

Why is Bryant playing? Your old, let the young guys have their time

Wtf???

[lefty]

Wtf???
:lol

[NewcastleKEG]

Wtf???
Kobe won't let someone else have their time & shine

Billups & Bryant shouldn't be playing. It's 2012 not 2006

[Magua]

NewcastleKEG ain't the brightest poster on this forum, dets for sure:lol

He probably scored lower than Derrick Rose on his SAT's (pre-cheating):lol

[NewcastleKEG]

You had your time Kobe. Now step aside and let the younger guys establish their own legacies. Go away already

[Giuseppe]

^Against the Griz, New, really?

:lmao

[NewcastleKEG]

^Against the Griz, New, really?

:lmao
Grizz are legit. But yeah not having Rose (BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE) made the difference :king

[Giuseppe]

Grizz are legit. But yeah not having Rose (BEST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE) made the difference :king

Dude, we don't do injuries here on this Forum. Only pussies & assholes do the injury card.

You lost to the Grizz like a bunch a pansies.

[pass1st]

We can put D-league players out there and still beat Greece by 50+

Spain is gonna put up a fight tbh

[mavs>spurs]

racist much?

i'm pretty racist but not in this post

[JamStone]

I'll go with:

Chris Paul / Derrick Rose
Kobe Bryant / Dwyane Wade
Kevin Durant / Carmelo Anthony
LeBron James / Blake Griffin / LaMarcus Aldridge
Dwight Howard / Kevin Love

I'm having a tough time for the 12th spot. Could go a number of different directions. Maybe Chandler for Dwight Howard foul insurance. Or maybe Iguodala for perimeter defense. Deron Williams in the mix as well.

[mavs>spurs]

why not gordon bro? international game is very friendly towards shooters. not having any shooters screwed us that year we got the bronze.

[ElNono]

We can put D-league players out there and still beat Greece by 50+

Spain is gonna put up a fight tbh

[JamStone]

why not gordon bro? international game is very friendly towards shooters. not having any shooters screwed us that year we got the bronze.

Easier to get away with less shooting when you have the very best players on the roster. Other than Duncan and arguably Iverson, the 2004 team had third tier US born NBA players. This team still has LeBron, Dwight, CP3, Kobe, Wade, Melo, and Durant. When you have a bunch of top 10 players in the league, it's a little bit different. And there is shooting with Durant, Love, Aldridge, Wade, Kobe. Maybe not prolific three point shooters other than Durant. But probably good enough considering the overall talent on the roster. Gordon probably wouldn't get much run anyway.

[mavs>spurs]

I can live with no Gordon but I don't really like the idea of Love at center. We need a solid anchor in at all times to play good team D tbh.

[fevertrees]

No Tim Duncan = Fail

[Dunc n Dave]

I'll go with:

Chris Paul / Derrick Rose
Kobe Bryant / Dwyane Wade
Kevin Durant / Carmelo Anthony
LeBron James / Blake Griffin / LaMarcus Aldridge
Dwight Howard / Kevin Love

I'm having a tough time for the 12th spot. Could go a number of different directions. Maybe Chandler for Dwight Howard foul insurance. Or maybe Iguodala for perimeter defense. Deron Williams in the mix as well.

In the Olympics, Team USA will neeed all the bigs they can afford to take. Guys like Dwight will regularly be in foul trouble like Duncan was, due to the fact they call a foul on any block attempt if body contact is made with the off arm of the shot blocker. (Duncan regularly got called for his off hand on the hip of the shooter down low, as he blocked the shot up high).

It frustrated Duncan to no end and will do the same to shot blockers like Howard and Chandler.

[mavs>spurs]

I think Durant might actually suck in international play...he's proven to not play at his best whenever the defender is allowed to get physical with him.

[NewcastleKEG]

Drop Mello, pick up Amare

[Technique]

Drop Mello, pick up Amare

Why would you drop the best scorer in the league.

Drop Blake pick up Amar'e.

[NewcastleKEG]

Why would you drop the best scorer in the league.

Drop Blake pick up Amar'e.
Give me a rebounder & 3 point shooter instead of isolation SF

[Technique]

Give me a rebounder & 3 point shooter instead of isolation SF

Except Melo does all three and more. He's an underrated passer and defender. He's a walking mismatch against any 3 the other countries have to offer.

Anyways, why state you want Amar'e then say you need a rebounder, that's an oxymoron. Amar'e is there for his athleticism and unguardable offense. Basically a more polished version of Blake.

My ideal USA basketball team:

Paul / Williams
Wade / Rose
James / Melo / Durant
Griffin (Amar'e) / Love / Aldridge
Howard / Chandler

[mavs>spurs]

melo always owns asses in international play

[m>s]

need big tough n!ggas who can defend and rebound imho, just throw the big muscles in da paint (no defensive 3sec rule) and dominate the shit out of the opponents with ease

[pass1st]

I'd say Bynum should go in, but his knee will probably explode if they haven't at that point.

[m>s]

a big offensive power would bring a world of benefits to this team tbh, if bynum is healthy and stays so then he'd be a wonderful pick for this team. TC is a great player too but there isn't much point having him in when DH is also on your squad imho