Building Team USA

[xcoriate]

Just chucking this out there but the average height your going to come up against will be well lower than yours. So you probably dont need to take traditional Cs or long SFs because the will be quite a few inches taller than there opponent....

[JMarkJohns]

BTW, here's my team:

PG: Brevin Knight, Mike Bibby, Chris Paul
SG: AI, Wade, Rip, Morrison
SF: Redd, Lebron, Prince, Artest
PF: Duncan, KG (if he'd play), Howard
C: Amare, Brad Miller

Lots of interchangeable parts at SF and SG, as well as PF and C.

Coaching staff:

HC: Gregg Popovich
Assistant 1: Flip Saunders
Assistant 2: Mike Brown
Assistant 3: Mike Dunleavy

I like you team alot. I like Rasheed Wallace over Artest. I know most think they need a lockdown perimeter defender, but they have several very good post defenders and two studs on the perimeter (Hamilton, Prince).

I might find a place for Battier as well. Maybe over Paul or Knight since Iverson and Wade can handle PG duties.


I have no problem with you thinking Pops deserves the spot. I have no problem with you saying D'Antoni is a a so-so coach. I have no problem with you saying that the coaching staff hasn't proven they can win les in the NBA. That's all fine, but D'Antoni is a Euro coach and Krzyzewski is a great teacher. They are trying to start a foundation of player who'll commit to a three year plan, learn a system and be a team.

Like I said... 7/9 All-Stars (unselfish, team oriented) with 3/5 solid role players (who aren't detrimental with a serious flaw like Ben Wallace on offense). You need mobile big men with a good jumper and passing skills, wings who can shoot and defend and PG's who can create offense and move without the ball and push tempo.

You team is very good. My team is very good.

Who knows which coach could actually do what with it come Olympic time under FIBA rules...

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I might find a place for Battier as well. Maybe over Paul or Knight since Iverson and Wade can handle PG duties.

Sorry, I disagree.

If you were paying attention the last Olympics, we need a true point guard. Not a guy who *can* play point, we need a guy who acts like a point, plays like a point, and thinks like a point.

Brevin Knight is the closest thing Team America has to Steve Nash. He's on a team with marginal talent (to the rest of the league) in Charlotte and rattles off double digit assist nights like they're going out of style.

Same thing for Paul, he's a point first, and he's young and aggressive. Great backup to Knight in that not only could he handle starting if need be, but as a young guy you form a relationship that you can count on him for the Olympics for the next 12-16 years.

Battier, while a nice "player", doesn't have the quicks for the international game.

I threw in Artest, but he's really interchangeable with Bowen. The downside to Bowen is that I don't think he can recover in the short turnaround times required for the international games.

'Sheed isn't necessary - you need a quick perimeter player who is a lock down defender for the typical Olympic Euro who gets hot outside, 'Sheed doesn't fill that role.

[ABDENOUR POWER]

My team:

Iverson > Billups > Bibby
Kobe > Wade > Redd
LeBron > Marion > Prince
KG > Amare > Sheed
Duncan > J O'Neal > Miller

[JMarkJohns]

That's fine, but does USA really need three real PG's? With Knight and Bibby, isn't that good enough considering Iverson can play PG?

I think it is. I agree that they need a real PG, just not three...

I'd rather have Rasheed than Battier. Wallace over Paul or Bibby from your team. After that, the only player I don't like is Artest and it's only because of his at ude. I'd take Bowen or perhaps Eddie Jones? Is he still a solid on-ball defender? What about Josh Howard? I like Artest, I just fear his potential disruption.

BTW, I was thinking of Wallace as a center to complement Amare. Open up the lane on offense, but is a better post up defender on defense.

[JMarkJohns]

My team:

Iverson > Billups > Bibby
Kobe > Wade > Redd
LeBron > Marion > Prince
KG > Amare > Sheed
Duncan > J O'Neal > Miller

Only a roster of 12. You have 15.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

No Ben Wallace. He doesn't have the offensive skills. Teams would take advantage of that defensively against us.

I don't know how much run Paul would get, it'd be more of a learning experience for him the first time.

[JMarkJohns]

Not Ben Wallace... Rasheed Wallace.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

It all depends...if you have AI, Kobe or Wade, Garnett and Duncan, then Wallace can perfectly fit there. He wouldn't have to shoot, in fact, his rebounding would be very important with Kobe/Wade and AI there.

Pop not coaching Team USA is very good news for the rest of the world.

Saludos.

I agree.

[JMarkJohns]

No, no, Ben Wallace doesn't work in the FIBA game. No... There are plenty of quality rebounder and shot blockers (like Brand) who have offensive ablity and a consistant jumper. No need for Wallace. Rasheed is another story... I maintain he's the perfect FIBA center.

[strangeweather]

Brevin Knight is the closest thing Team America has to Steve Nash. He's on a team with marginal talent (to the rest of the league) in Charlotte and rattles off double digit assist nights like they're going out of style.

Is Knight's J good enough for FIBA ball? Someone like Billups who can space the floor as well as serve as a setup man seems like a better choice.

[TheTruth]

AI > Bibby > Heinrich
Wade > Rip > Allen
James > Prince
Brand > R. Wallace
Duncan > Amare

[Mr. Defense]

I wonder if there's any chance at all that Duncan is willing to participate. I seriously doubt it, especially since Pop isn't coaching.

It will be interesting to see which players actually want to make the 3-year commitment.

billups.
ben wallace.
emeka okafur.
ron artest.
bruce bowen.

Defense wins championships. Period.

[JMarkJohns]

billups.
ben wallace.
emeka okafur.
ron artest.
bruce bowen.

Defense wins championships. Period.

If this is your Olympic team, then they get smoked...

[ajh18]

Ok, I agree that Pop would be a tremendous coach for team USA, but overall I really like the choice of Coach K. He has much longer to develop gameplans and recruit given the shorter college season (and restrictions on collegiate practice time etc). He also holds a certain degree of authority as a well-respected outside coach who has no biases towards any particular NBA teams or players (outside of perhaps hs ex-dukies). This will be especially beneficial if a number of young players are selected, and coach k, like pop, excels at getting talented players to accept roles in the framework of the team.

I agree in the philosophy of a core of star vetrans, but only ones that are truly coachable and wouldn't make waves. Duncan, Iverson, Garnett. Possibly Kobe (though personally I wouldnt want to be associated with his image), simply because he is really a gifted player and he respects Coach K enough to play within his system. Then role players and young stars, with as little ego as possible, and who are proven winners and team players. Players like Billups and Heinrich are both very coachable, have good outside shots and passing ability, and are winners. Redd and Hamilton at the two provide zone-breaking mid-range and three-point shooting. Maybe add Wade for his penetration ability. If they took Kobe (which I think they will), I would start him at the 3, with Battier off the bench as a defender and to help with offensive/defensive sets. Garnett at the four, and I'd really go after Dwight Howard for his work on the boards and because he seems very humble and coachable. At center, I'd go with Duncan and Brand, who, though a bit undersized, plays against bigger fours in the league every night.

That leaves a lineup of:

PG: Iverson, Billups, Heinrich
SG: Redd, Hamilton, Wade
SF: Bryant, Battier
PF: Garnett, Howard
C: Duncan, Brand

That's a 12 man team with great defense, outside and midrange shooting, tremendous leadership, and team-first pointguard play. It has inside scoring and penetration skills, and all 12 players (except kobe) have proven they can put the team ahead of the individual. The only concern would be inside shot-blocking beside Duncan, where a Marcus Camby might fit better than Brand (It's just a shame given Brand's play this year).

[ThugJohnson]

If this is your Olympic team, then they get smoked...

you don't know basketball son. step away from the keyboard and read and learn.

[smdanss]

You only have one true point guard, Bibby, on the team. Bibby's a good choice, but it would be nice to have a second distributor, like Chauncey, Baron Davis, or Cassell.

My suggestions:

PG: Bibby, Billups, Cassell
SG: Redd, Allen, Hamilton
SF: McGrady, James, T-Mac
PF: Garnett, Amare, Odom
C: Duncan, Brad Miller, Dwight Howard

The basic goal is to find PGs who can both distribute and shoot, SGs who are dedicated shooters, perimeter stars at SF that can both drive and shoot, PFs that can space the floor out or grapple for rebounds inside, and pure post players at C.

Not all of these guys are going to want to join the team, and really, it's not necessary to have Kobe, T-Mac, and LeBron on the same team anyway. So you get whatever stars you can get, then fill in with solid role players like Battier who are willing to take a back seat and play their roles.

Do you know McGrady and T-Mac is te same player?

Like the line-ups:
PG - AI, Billups, Davis
SG - Wade, T-Mac, Allen
SF - James, O'Neal, Marion, Bowen
PF - Duncan, KG, Amare
C - Amare, Duncan, Camby

[alamo50]

Jefferson wants to play in Beijing

BY OHM YOUNGMISUK
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER


CLEVELAND - Richard Jefferson and LeBron James have had memorable showdowns in their short time in the NBA together and tonight should be no different.
They've also been teammates on the 2004 USA Olympic team and Jefferson wonders if he and James will be reunited for the 2008 Games in Beijing.

While James would seem to be a must-have for Team USA, Jefferson says he has not yet been contacted by the USA Basketball committee, which reportedly has reached out to a handful of players thus far.


Richard Jefferson, who played for U.S. in 2004 Olympics, has yet to hear from USA Basketball on '08 Games.

Jefferson said he is willing to make the three-year commitment the committee requires. But sacrificing summers is the least daunting part of the Olympic experience for the small forward.

"I want to be a part of it, but whatever direction they choose to go in...they would have to think about it," said Jefferson, who was also on the undefeated pre-Olympic qualifying team in 2003.

"It is a very high-risk, high-reward thing. Not many things in sports are. If you lose one or two games - high risk - you will be embarrassed by the media. You will be degraded, they will talk bad about you. But the reward is winning a gold medal."

Jefferson still feels slighted by the fact that he, James and the other 2004 Olympians were criticized for not winning gold and not caring enough when so many NBA players declined invitations to go to Athens.

"They had to ask 30-some odd players to come and they found 12 and the 12 were criticized for going," Jefferson said of a group that featured several young stars like Amare Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade.

"If we didn't care, obviously the more popular thing was to say no. But we got criticized for going over there and (had the media) saying we didn't want to play and didn't want to be there."

The Nets have three former Olympians in Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Jefferson. Kidd, 32, already has won gold at the 2000 Games in Sydney and likely has played in his last Olympics. Carter, 28, said that the birth of his daughter this summer likely will keep him from being able to commit to Team USA, which will be coached by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski.

Jefferson wonders if the basketball committee, headed by managing director Jerry Colangelo, will invite him and some of the 2004 class back.

"They might not," Jefferson said of Team USA, which finished a lowly sixth at the 2002 World Championships.

"They might try and stay away from some of the guys (from that team) and I will be 28 by the time (the Olympics) come around. They might want to go in a younger direction and struggle a little bit in the world championships but build up for the Olympics. You never know.

"The Olympic committee is very smart and intelligent. Ninety-nine percent I would do it and make that commitment if they ask me."

Link

[JMarkJohns]

I'm a UofA guy and I want Jefferson no where near Team USA. He's the epitomy of the NBA player that CAN NOT play FIBA style.

[JMarkJohns]

you don't know basketball son. step away from the keyboard and read and learn.

I'm not talking NBA, moron, I'm talking FIBA where the premium is on offensive know-how, and shooting. Defense would not win in FIBA.

[velik_m]

I'm not talking NBA, moron, I'm talking FIBA where the premium is on offensive know-how, and shooting. Defense would not win in FIBA.

your wrong... defense is still the key, but it's by fiba rules (smaller court,3pt line closer...), and it's TEAM defense. Can the USA players adapt to FIBA rules AND learn to play like a TEAM fast enough?

many teams play together for years ever since juniors (argentina,spain...) they can get into system quick, USA has to learn the rules and build a team.

i doubt Duncan will play it's a three year commitment

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I'm a UofA guy and I want Jefferson no where near Team USA. He's the epitomy of the NBA player that CAN NOT play FIBA style.

Agree, he is exactly the kind of player that is worthless in FIBA. Maybe Nocioni could be said to have a similar style, but Nocioni has a lot more of hustle than Jefferson.

[donkey hote]

From the list of names it looks like Team USA hasn't learned a damn thing. Team USA still appears to be working the dream team mentality, when they need to pick a couple of core stars and then build around those guys with role players.

AI > Bibby > Heinrich
Wade > Rip > Allen
James > Prince
Brand > R. Wallace
Duncan > Amare

Now that's a team. If only all of them are willing to play like the internationals.

Slim pickin's at point guard for USA if you're excluding over-the-hill guys (Kidd, Payton). Hinrich is a good choice as a pure pg, but anyone like B-Diddy as a candidate?

[donkey hote]

billups.
ben wallace.
emeka okafur.
ron artest.
bruce bowen.

Defense wins championships. Period.

If this is your Olympic team, then they get smoked...

That's a pretty good team if we want to start another Palace brawl at the Olympics

[FreshPrince22]

I bet this team wins it:

PG- Billups
SG- Rip
SF- Prince
PF- Sheed
C- Ben
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