Beyond the Association > Global Basketball

12 Americans

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Androslav:
The strongest basketball team in the world rarely gets its top 10 players (1992, 2008) in its 12 representatives.
Here is my take on what, in theory, could be the strongest basketball team currently assembled.
It is a 3 guards - 6 wings - 3 bigs format.

Guards:
Steph Curry
Kyrie Irving
James Harden

Forwards:
Kevin Durant
Kawhi Leonard
Lebron James
Paul George
Klay Thompson
Gordon Hayward

Bigs:
Anthony Davis
DeAndre Jordan
DeMarcus Cousins

The team looks stacked at guards and forwards, while bigs look a bit disappointing (sans AD).
It seems like there are a lot of foreign centers that would have made it or at least would contend for the spot: Gobert, KAT, Horford, Marc Gasol, Jokić, Kristaps, Embiid (in one of the universes). Dray was underwhelming at Rio Olympics, either too small of too physical (fouls), and we know that he isn't much of a spacer. If NBA rules were in place he would be my 2nd big.

Here is my "almost made the cut" list:

Damien Lillard - others are better, no one to squeeze out
Chris Paul - others are better, no one left to squeeze out
John Wall - lacks a 3 pt shot
Russell Westbrook - lacks a better 3 pt shot
Jimmy Butler - lacks a better 3 pt shot
Draymond Green - poor prior FIBA play

What you think, where does this team stack up against the best USA teams?

safecracker:
You need better playmaking and defense at the point. I would easily replace Irving with Paul or Wall.

Btw, I actually came here today to talk about "Yugoslavian" basketball, with Serbia and Slovenia being in the Euro finals. What would be the current All Star "Yugoslavian" team?
Looks like it would be pretty strong. It would be great to hear your views.

Celtics4ever:

--- Quote ---You need better playmaking and defense at the point. I would easily replace Irving with Paul or Wall.
--- End quote ---

That team would cream international competition, it does not need anything.    I agree one could have a more ideal lineup but that team would smoke any international team in the world.

Eddie20:

--- Quote from: safecracker on September 16, 2017, 07:26:44 AM ---You need better playmaking and defense at the point. I would easily replace Irving with Paul or Wall.

Btw, I actually came here today to talk about "Yugoslavian" basketball, with Serbia and Slovenia being in the Euro finals. What would be the current All Star "Yugoslavian" team?
Looks like it would be pretty strong. It would be great to hear your views.

--- End quote ---

A Yugo team would be a force and have some of the best passing around.

Androslav:

--- Quote from: safecracker on September 16, 2017, 07:26:44 AM ---You need better playmaking and defense at the point. I would easily replace Irving with Paul or Wall.

Btw, I actually came here today to talk about "Yugoslavian" basketball, with Serbia and Slovenia being in the Euro finals. What would be the current All Star "Yugoslavian" team?
Looks like it would be pretty strong. It would be great to hear your views.

--- End quote ---
We were discussing it on the Eurobasket thread.
I made a roster, hard to pick the best team.
My 12 (5g/5f/2c) would be:

Dragić (Slovenia) - above average starting NBA PG
Bogdanović (Serbia) - spaces, can defend much better than Teo
Dončić (Slovenia) - the defense would suffer, but he spaces and creates (Kalinić and Cro Bogdanović are my close 2nd choices) recency bias
Šarić (Croatia) - best NBA 4 body out of the bunch, energy guy, passer
Jokić (Serbia) - Point Center, The Joker has many tricks

Teodosić (Serbia) - he can make any offense great.
Bogdanović (Croatia) - spaces, scores, NBA body
Kalinić (Serbia) - can defend, run, good BBIQ and shoot some/corner threes
Teletović (BIH)- spaces as good as anybody, 3 point lineups
Nurkić (BIH)/Marjanović (Serbia)/Vučević (MTNG) - one of the behemoths
Jović
Marković (Serbia)- would be good 4th and 5th guards 1/2.

This squad could realy use defenders to cover combo forwards. Someone like an idealy/perfectly developed Bender. But then again, the passing (especially) and shooting is so sweet, I can't even comprehand. The offense wins championships now and this roster has it.
USA would need a good game to beat them as 1 game is a tricky thing when facing an exposive offense.

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