Team USA roster announced

[wdleehi]

Other than Kidd and Carmelo, I don't have a huge problem with it.  I would have seriously considered putting Big Al on the team; who's going to stop him on the block?

Those are two I don't mind if you are trying to win.  Kidd has an amazing record with Team USA.   And Melo's game is better with the international rules.  

[Who]

Huh .... only three big men. Guess Melo and LeBron are playing some power forward which they're both capable of doing. Boozer is a great fit for this team and so is Howard. Bosh is middlin' fit wise.

Dwyane Wade shouldn't be on the team. He messes everything up. Chris Paul shouldn't have been selected either.

Tayshaun Prince shouldn't be on the roster because he's not good enough. The whole role players idea is awful, just bring superstars who know how to play with good teammates and they'll figure out the rest.

[Casperian]

I predict another debacle. These all-superstar teams do not work anymore without the right attitude. LeBron, Kobe, Melo?? These guys are used to have the most shots on their teams and the ball in their hands and never played together except for a few games last year. The euros and south american teams have less talent, but they are built like real teams, and they play together for several years.

Additionally, the NBA rules (read: Superstar boni) hurt the US players when they play on the international stage. LeBron is not used to get called for Traveling, but the international refs will call it when they see it.

I would love to see a new Dream Team, but I just can´t see it in this team.

[hpantazo]

give them the gold right now

unfortunately these guys are going to get their ass kicked again. This looks like another poorly constructed team.

how do u come to that conculsion?  please elaborate.

that is just based on the play of team USA in recent international competitions, including the past olympic games and world championships in japan  (the loss to greece is just one example). They don't know how to play international ball, and the team is not built for international play. Lebron and Wade were horrible last time. Teams were getting layups at will against us while we came down and tried to play one on one ball against zone defense. With this roster I don't see that changing. Rasheed and big Al would have been nice.

[EarthBall]

Am I the only one who doesn't care at all about the Olympics? The NBA already has an international flavor, so what is the purpose of the Olympics? 1992 was good because we hadn't seen the NBA play international teams.

Furthermore, for the last 10 years, the only story has been the Americans have great players, but can't play good enough team ball and aren't diverse enough to overcome the other teams that have playing together for years and play a different style of ball. We're not going to solve this problem by picking players from the NBA when the playoffs end a month before the Olympics. Why not go back to college players? They might not be as good as Kobe, Lebron, etc., but they might play better team ball coming from college and can practice together for longer. And wouldn't the magic of some amateurs playing the pros come back (a la 1980 in Lake Placid)?

[Who]

Why not go back to college players? They might not be as good as Kobe, Lebron, etc., but they might play better team ball coming from college and can practice together for longer. And wouldn't the magic of some amateurs playing the pros come back (a la 1980 in Lake Placid)?

A bunch of college players are going to get smacked around by grown men.

Then they're going to face NBA stars like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker and get ripped apart.

College basketball is awful compared to the NBA. The standard is so very very low.

[bbc3341]

I'd have thought Ray Allen would have been perfect for international play...

[jay_jay54]

Am I the only one who doesn't care at all about the Olympics? The NBA already has an international flavor, so what is the purpose of the Olympics? 1992 was good because we hadn't seen the NBA play international teams.

Furthermore, for the last 10 years, the only story has been the Americans have great players, but can't play good enough team ball and aren't diverse enough to overcome the other teams that have playing together for years and play a different style of ball. We're not going to solve this problem by picking players from the NBA when the playoffs end a month before the Olympics. Why not go back to college players? They might not be as good as Kobe, Lebron, etc., but they might play better team ball coming from college and can practice together for longer. And wouldn't the magic of some amateurs playing the pros come back (a la 1980 in Lake Placid)?

Good points Earthball...i feel the same in a sense..Tp for your post.

[Chris]

Huh .... only three big men. Guess Melo and LeBron are playing some power forward which they're both capable of doing. Boozer is a great fit for this team and so is Howard. Bosh is middlin' fit wise.

Dwyane Wade shouldn't be on the team. He messes everything up. Chris Paul shouldn't have been selected either.

Tayshaun Prince shouldn't be on the roster because he's not good enough. The whole role players idea is awful, just bring superstars who know how to play with good teammates and they'll figure out the rest.

I agree that Wade should not be on the team...Chris Paul absolutely deserves it though.  He is the best PG in the world, and can do absolutely everything on the offensive end of the floor.

Prince is an interesting choice.  I agree to a point that the role player thing is overrated (it is more about having a team that fits together), but I just think Prince is a great fit for international ball.  He has the length and quickness to cover any 2, 3, or 4 in the world, and he is a good outside shooter.

[Redz]

Yeh, globalization, commercialism, cheating drugs, professionals being allowed to play...what am I missing for reasons the Olympics just ain't what they used to be?

[greg_kite]

If they're going for role players why not a guy like Chris Kaman?  I think he fits international play much better than Bosh or Boozer.  

Big Al would have been nice too.  Imagine Big Al playing in the post NEXT to Howard?  Two unstoppable beasts.  Hopefully next time.  And only 3 big guys?  I guess they plan on playing Lebron/Melo at the 4 a lot.  They might get battered on the boards and not get their running game going.  They're going to be in big trouble if Howard gets in foul trouble, which is actually very likely.

The good thing is that all the starters besides the PF should be above average rebounders for their positions.

If I could choose I would get rid of Wade(duplication) and add Al or Kaman.  I know Kaman is playing for the Germans but if the USA came calling I'm sure he'd go with them.  Germany will be tough with him and Dirk though.

[EarthBall]

A bunch of college players are going to get smacked around by grown men.

Then they're going to face NBA stars like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker and get ripped apart.

College basketball is awful compared to the NBA. The standard is so very very low.

I agree college ball as it's played sucks. But I don't recall an all-star type college game recently, so if a bunch of very good to great players got together, then it might be better. They could also put a few young NBAers on the team acting as big brothers that could cover the Manus, Tonys and Dirks.

I think if college guys played then their popularity would grow immensely and more fans would follow them in the NBA. Right now, everyone only cares about Kobe, Lebron, etc. This way, more focus will be on more players. 

[WBrownTrophy]

No Shane Battier? I thought he as a great role player and fit for the team.

[Roy Hobbs]

Dwyane Wade shouldn't be on the team. He messes everything up. Chris Paul shouldn't have been selected either.

Wade is arguable, and I can see where his skills are duplicated by others on the roster.  I'd have him on there (assuming he's healthy), but I understand the contrary argument.

No Chris Paul, though?  Why on earth not?  He's the best point guard in the world.

[Who]

Huh .... only three big men. Guess Melo and LeBron are playing some power forward which they're both capable of doing. Boozer is a great fit for this team and so is Howard. Bosh is middlin' fit wise.

Dwyane Wade shouldn't be on the team. He messes everything up. Chris Paul shouldn't have been selected either.

Tayshaun Prince shouldn't be on the roster because he's not good enough. The whole role players idea is awful, just bring superstars who know how to play with good teammates and they'll figure out the rest.

I agree that Wade should not be on the team...Chris Paul absolutely deserves it though.  He is the best PG in the world, and can do absolutely everything on the offensive end of the floor.

Chris Paul was awful in Japan. His indecision and bad decisions cost the US the Championship. He couldn't run the offense to save his life. When he isn't allowed to dominate the ball and the play his performance falls substantially. The sight of Chris Paul wasting away the shot clock on nearly every possession down was just too much.

He'll be better this time because he actually has a jump shot that he trusts this time but he's still a long way off from being the best choice for international competition.

The two best PGs are hands down Kidd and Deron. Kidd has that magical thing were he can involve everyone, get the team good shots and constantly push the tempo better than anyone else in the world so he's a fantastic guy to have on a team full of star scorers. Deron is big, very good defensively, excellent shooter, can create for both himself and his teammates and actually understands how to let his teammates make plays while still being effective. Billups is the third choice but I'd rather not play or bring a third point because the drop off is too large.