Charley Rosen: "Bowen's defense could have been a big plus against Greece"

[ducks]

Charley Rosen: "Bowen's defense could have been a big plus against Greece"

Hi, Charley. After the third-place finish in Japan, are there any players you would add to Team USA? Which players would you cut? — Jerard

I've never liked Antawn Jamison's lightweight game, so he'd be the first to go. Brad Miller would have been helpful against zone defenses, but Coach K decided to play isos and two-man games with Team USA's man-to-man offense stagnant and surprisingly defensible — so opponents rarely resorted to zones. In addition, I've always thought that Miller was primarily a passer and jump shooter but not much of a banger. He'd be my next cut. Chris Bosh's lack of defense also makes him expendable.

Who to add is much more complicated.

If the ultimate goal of Team USA is to win the gold in Beijing, I can understand keeping 28-year-old Shane Battier at the expense of 35-year-old Bruce Bowen. But Bowen's defense could have been a big plus against Greece. And with Bowen and Battier on the roster, one defensive specialist could have been on the floor during the entire game.

Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Michael Redd, Ray Allen and the Shaqster, of course, would have been significant factors, but they each had their reasons for staying home.

Of the available players, I like Shawn Marion's defense and ability to be effective without the ball — also, Gilbert Arenas for his shooting and Marcus Camby for his quick and lively baseline rotations and basket coverage. While the powers-that-be want nothing to do with Ron Artest (and understandably so), he'd be a big-time contributor.

But the 2008 Summer Games are a long time from now.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

So Rosen would send the dirtiest player in the game to represent America? Odd.

[z0sa]

Dirty? Maybe. But the skill is there clearly - it simply can't be overlooked.

[Solid D]

I agree with Rosen on most everything except the part about the opposition not using zone D much. I saw zones used quite often.

[101A]

Marion's game, if memory serves, did not translate well to international ball.

[AdmiralMVP]

I think we're forgetting something about Bowen. Not only would his defense have helped the USA team, but his 3-point shooting would have been a nice addition, too. When will we learn that sending a bunch of SF/SG's with identical skills sets is not going to win us gold? Granted not all of our BEST players were participating, but I still think having a more rounded team would be better than what we've been putting out there.

[JamStone]

To be realistic though, Bowen could not have helped much sitting at the end of the bench. And, I have a feeling, even if Bowen was on the team, Coach K would not have played him against Greece.

[AdmiralMVP]

To be realistic though, Bowen could not have helped much sitting at the end of the bench. And, I have a feeling, even if Bowen was on the team, Coach K would not have played him against Greece.

Am I the only one who thought Coach K made some bad decisions putting Brand at C and leaving Miller to rot on the bench? What was with those lineups?

Anyway, you're probably right. Bowen most likely wouldn't have been used very often.

[Marcus Bryant]

Greece. We lost to.