OT - 2012 Dream Team - Who do you keep and who do you start?
I just saw this on ESPN's facebook page and I thought it could bring up some pretty interesting conversations.
The Finalist Roster for the 2012 United States Olympic Men's Basketball team consists of:
- Carmelo Anthony
- Blake Griffin
- Kobe Bryant
- Tyson Chandler
- Anthony Davis
- Kevin Durant
- Rudy Gay
- Eric Gordon
- James Harden
- Andre Iguodala
- Lebron James
- Kevin Love
- Lamar Odom
- Chris Paul
- Russell Westbrook
- Deron Williams
The roster is going to be 12 players, who would you cut and who would you start?
I would definitely start:
PG: Chris Paul
SG: Kobe Bryant
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: Lebron James (loved him as a PF in the finals)
C: Kevin Love
I would cut Rudy Gay and Andre Iguodala because of the abundance great of small forwards on the list, KD, Lebron and Melo. I think I would then cut Eric Gordon and Lamar Odom based on the talent above them. The two that it would depend how they practiced is definately Anthony Davis, and James Harden.
Starters:
PG: Deron
SG: Kobe
SF: Durant
PF: James
C: Davis
I start Davis only because he will patrol the paint and get out and run on the break.
Rondo should definitely be on this list. The fact Odom is still in consideration is a joke-I think AI is actually going to be an integral part of the team. I don't think there's a role for Blake Griffin on this team-we are used to getting highlights of great dunks (Vince Carter vs. France) during the olympics, but he's not a good enough shooter or perimeter defender for the international game. I agree w/ the starting five above, but I'd but Chandler in at center.
This is not, nor will it ever be, the dream team. These guys would get worked over and taught how to play with hustle and defense.
they should have one guy out of school with no NBA experience every year, like laettner in 92.
Charlie Villanueva
The loss of likely team members Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose and Dwayne Wade to injuries poses dangers for team USA. However, I believe that, of the 16 remaining players eligible to make the roster, only Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin and James Harden have no international experience.
Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Deron Williams are the only returning members of the 2008 USA Olympic team, and they all should be on the 2012 team.
Tyson Chandler, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom and Russell Westbrook were members of the 2010 World Championship team.
Because of the USA’s height deficiencies, it might be tough to cut Lamar Odom and Anthony Davis. Odom was a co-captain of the 2010 USA World Championship team and played on the 2004 Olympic team, but his play this past season and Davis’s lack of international experience and competitive play since the NCAA championship game could make them likely cuts. James Harden had a long NBA season, struggled a bit in the finals and because of his lack of international experience, despite his 3-point shooting skills, probably would be my third cut. My final cut would come down to a tossup between Gordon and Iguodala. I’d keep Iguodala for his defense.
I expect the USA to start with the Syracuse 2-3 zone on defense until other teams break it down, so I’d probably start Anthony, Bryant, Chandler, Love and Paul, because (1) Kobe at the top of the zone could be a nightmare for other teams, (2) Anthony, who supposedly has been training hard and has shed all his extra weight from the NBA season, knows that defense very well, (3) all of them should be better rested than Durant, James and Westbrook, (4) I’d hope that it would reduce the anticipated foul problems due to international officiating and (5) the USA avoids the taller teams from China, Spain and Brazil in group play. They should be a good starting five to get the USA through group play.
The only problems I could envision would be (1) having Chandler and Love on the court at the same time, if they’re both going to be expected to play in the middle of the zone on defense and (2) the potentially icy interaction among Anthony, Chandler and former Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni. Jim Boeheim might have to handle the mediation.