[TeoTheGreek13]

^^^The 2nd one is offensive foul.
Just saying.

[skangles]

Raze Lupin, on 06 April 2012 - 04:32 AM, said:

I don't believe Blake Griffin should be included in the 2012 NT because his ofensive game needs to improve. Once BG develops a better jumper he will be deadly. It would be nice to see BG do this to the Spanish NT this summer. BG destroys Pau Gasol!

1st




2nd

I think that you take him for the experience. Griffin and Westbrook are two guys that can ignite the team off of the bench (from an energy perspective). He can also get playing time in the Group stage in games that Team USA is in control but late in a close game, no thank you.

[Raze Lupin]

TeoTheGreek13, on 06 April 2012 - 07:55 AM, said:

^^^The 2nd one is offensive foul.
Just saying.

I agree with you 100%. I also think the 2nd should have been called a double foul. Foul on Pau for jumping into the offender(contact foul). The foul on BG is obvious to me. He hit Pau in the head face area! It was a spectacular air battle!

[stefans]

TeoTheGreek13, on 06 April 2012 - 07:55 AM, said:

^^^The 2nd one is offensive foul.
Just saying.

[Raze Lupin]

Speaking of Russell Westbrook here is a recent dunk over Turk Asik. I'm genuinely upset that Turkey and Serbia will not be in the Olympics. This is very disappointing. I WAS ACTUALLY AT THIS GAME!Omer Asik is a beast in person. The guy is huge. It was also good to see Deng. With Durant, Westbrook, Asik, Deng, Joakim Noah and Ibaka there was a lot of National team talent to observe. USA, Turkey, France, Britain, Spain all represented.

This post has been edited by Raze Lupin: 07 April 2012 - 02:47 AM

[Raze Lupin]

Team USA's Kevin Durant on Jimmy Kimmel Live.




http://www.youtube.c...n&v=TOxIbkUylg8


Westbrook to Durant half court alleyoop

This post has been edited by Raze Lupin: 07 April 2012 - 03:07 AM

[Raze Lupin]

@Skangles OK after hearing this rock song I have changed my mind and decided to throw all logic out the window. Blake Griffin should be on Team USA. The world should not be deprived of "The Ginger Mamba" aka "The Big Throw Down" The song starts at :29 seconds.

This post has been edited by Raze Lupin: 07 April 2012 - 03:29 AM

[stefans]

Raze Lupin, on 07 April 2012 - 02:45 AM, said:

Speaking of Russell Westbrook here is a recent dunk over Turk Asik. I'm genuinely upset that Turkey and Serbia will not be in the Olympics. This is very disappointing. I WAS ACTUALLY AT THIS GAME!Omer Asik is a beast in person. The guy is huge. It was also good to see Deng. With Durant, Westbrook, Asik, Deng, Joakim Noah and Ibaka there was a lot of National team talent to observe. USA, Turkey, France, Britain, Spain all represented.

Asik probably don't saw this,because he is blind on one eye

[Raze Lupin]

stefans, on 12 April 2012 - 05:35 PM, said:

Asik probably don't saw this,because he is blind on one eye

HAHAHAHA!! Yes I forgot Asik is a cyclops now! He lost his eye in Serbian match. FIBA is still looking for his eye.

[TeoTheGreek13]

Raze Lupin, on 13 April 2012 - 01:16 PM, said:

HAHAHAHA!! Yes I forgot Asik is a cyclops now! He lost his eye in Serbian match. FIBA is still looking for his eye.

What do you mean?
I'm obviously some episodes back...!
What happened with Omer?

[Raze Lupin]

TeoTheGreek13, on 13 April 2012 - 02:17 PM, said:

What do you mean?
I'm obviously some episodes back...!
What happened with Omer?

During the 2010 FIBA world cup match between SERBIA and TURKEY there were many bad calls by the refs. One call Omer Asik flopped and held his face like he got hit in the eye. I think he even fell on the ground like he was hurt. When you look at the reply he didn't even get hit in the face. I can't find the video I'll have to ask one of my Serbian friends to find it.

[Raze Lupin]

Team USA has suffered more injury set backs to its preliminary roster. Here is a full list.

Chauncey Billups pg has ruptured achilles tendon.
http://www.nba.com/c...ate-120207.html

Derrick Rose has missed 24 games this season. He has had back injuries, torn groin, severe ankle sprang.
http://espn.go.com/c...new-york-knicks

LaMarcus Aldridge out with season ending hip injury.
http://www.sbnation....surgery-blazers

Dwight Howard with herniated disk in lower back.
http://www.chicagotr...0,6599216.story

Lamar Odom with deprssion

[skangles]

Team USA is getting thin in the front court. A'mare should really take this summer off given his injuries but who knows if he will. Bosh isn't really a banger and Love isn't really a center. Tyson Chandler is a logical fit given his past experience with the team and what he offers. Bynum would be my top choice to replace Dwight but there is no chance that the Lakers would release him to play with his horrible injury history.

[straight forward]

Raze Lupin, on 06 April 2012 - 04:32 AM, said:

I don't believe Blake Griffin should be included in the 2012 NT because his ofensive game needs to improve. Once BG develops a better jumper he will be deadly. It would be nice to see BG do this to the Spanish NT this summer. BG destroys Pau Gasol!

1st




2nd

So no fucking obvious offensive foul right?

5 poisition is the only limited position of USA. I mean limitet in terms of USA standarts, but the problem is USA can win it even without dominant centers.

[Black Urum]

Dwight Howard to undergo surgery, will probably miss Olympics

[Raze Lupin]

Hey guys I felt the need to update the Team USA injury list. I added shooting guard Eric Gordon to the list of potential absentees. Eric Gordon had knee surgery early in the 2011-2012 season. Gordon is back and playing well but I doubt he will play in the Olympics. He will most probably take the summer to properly recover. As others have posted i.e. Black Urum and Straight Forward the USA front court is decimated. Dwight Howard, Lamar Odom, LaMarcus Aldridge are definitely out of the Olympic picture. New York Knick's Tyson Chandler who has been suffering but playiny with a brusied knee is the only pure center on team USA's preliminary roster. Point guard Derrick Rose is highly unlikely to play.

Eric Gordon sg knee surgery and wrist injuries


Chauncey Billups pg has ruptured achilles tendon.
http://www.nba.com/c...ate-120207.html

Derrick Rose has missed 24 games this season. He has had back injuries, torn groin, severe ankle sprang.
http://espn.go.com/c...new-york-knicks

LaMarcus Aldridge out with season ending hip injury.
http://www.sbnation....surgery-blazers

Dwight Howard with herniated disk in lower back.


What do you guys think the chances of USA winning a gold medal are without a pure center?
The USA has plenty of 6'10 - 7'1 serviceable centers that would do well in FIBA ball but none of them are on the preliminary roster.

This post has been edited by Raze Lupin: 20 April 2012 - 11:59 PM

[Raze Lupin]

Derrick Rose says he will play in the summer Olympics assuming he is healthy.

Rose says he's playing in the Olympics

Quote

"I really haven't thought about it," Rose said. "But I've said before if I get the opportunity to play in those, it would be a great opportunity. I would have to make the smart decision. But I don't think it would change my mind because if I'm able to play through the playoffs, I should be able to play in the Olympics.

"You also have to remember I probably wouldn't play that many minutes because of the great team we would have. Representing your country is a huge honor."

[skangles]

Raze Lupin, on 20 April 2012 - 11:55 PM, said:

Hey guys I felt the need to update the Team USA injury list. I added shooting guard Eric Gordon to the list of potential absentees. Eric Gordon had knee surgery early in the 2011-2012 season. Gordon is back and playing well but I doubt he will play in the Olympics. He will most probably take the summer to properly recover. As others have posted i.e. Black Urum and Straight Forward the USA front court is decimated. Dwight Howard, Lamar Odom, LaMarcus Aldridge are definitely out of the Olympic picture. New York Knick's Tyson Chandler who has been suffering but playiny with a brusied knee is the only pure center on team USA's preliminary roster. Point guard Derrick Rose is highly unlikely to play.

Eric Gordon sg knee surgery and wrist injuries


Chauncey Billups pg has ruptured achilles tendon.
http://www.nba.com/c...ate-120207.html

Derrick Rose has missed 24 games this season. He has had back injuries, torn groin, severe ankle sprang.
http://espn.go.com/c...new-york-knicks

LaMarcus Aldridge out with season ending hip injury.
http://www.sbnation....surgery-blazers

Dwight Howard with herniated disk in lower back.


What do you guys think the chances of USA winning a gold medal are without a pure center?
The USA has plenty of 6'10 - 7'1 serviceable centers that would do well in FIBA ball but none of them are on the preliminary roster.

I'd say the USA's chances are around 65% of winning gold without a pure center. I would have probably said 75-80% with Howard. Here are the "centers" that the 2010 gold medal team went with: Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom. As long as Durant plays the US are the favorites and if you put some more fire power around him like LeBron, Wade, Williams, etc they are still too quick for any team to really handle. With that said, I think that they got quite lucky in 2010 and I wouldn't be surprised if they lost a game during the group stage. For me it comes down to whether the backcourt/wings view it as "we're so good that we don't need a true center" or "we will persevere despite our lack of centers." Coach K is about as good as it gets in promoting the latter but he has some tough nuts to crack on this roster.

[TeoTheGreek13]

Raze Lupin, on 20 April 2012 - 11:55 PM, said:

Hey guys I felt the need to update the Team USA injury list. I added shooting guard Eric Gordon to the list of potential absentees. Eric Gordon had knee surgery early in the 2011-2012 season. Gordon is back and playing well but I doubt he will play in the Olympics. He will most probably take the summer to properly recover. As others have posted i.e. Black Urum and Straight Forward the USA front court is decimated. Dwight Howard, Lamar Odom, LaMarcus Aldridge are definitely out of the Olympic picture. New York Knick's Tyson Chandler who has been suffering but playiny with a brusied knee is the only pure center on team USA's preliminary roster. Point guard Derrick Rose is highly unlikely to play.

Eric Gordon sg knee surgery and wrist injuries


Chauncey Billups pg has ruptured achilles tendon.
http://www.nba.com/c...ate-120207.html

Derrick Rose has missed 24 games this season. He has had back injuries, torn groin, severe ankle sprang.
http://espn.go.com/c...new-york-knicks

LaMarcus Aldridge out with season ending hip injury.
http://www.sbnation....surgery-blazers

Dwight Howard with herniated disk in lower back.


What do you guys think the chances of USA winning a gold medal are without a pure center?
The USA has plenty of 6'10 - 7'1 serviceable centers that would do well in FIBA ball but none of them are on the preliminary roster.

I relly want to see Rose in he Olympics(he's my second favourite player in the NBA)! I like that he said he'll play!!!

About your question.
I think that Dwight's absence doesn't reduce USA's chances for the gold.
As you may have realised, I think there is no way USA won't win the gold. I mean, they'll have one of the closest teams in terms of talent, to the Dream Team, IMO.
Bynum would be a great replacement for Howard. Although, he has some attitude issues.
If not Bynum, I believe that you should call Chandler who's a great rebounder, defender and he has A LOT of intensity!!!

I was thinking about Al Jefferson too. What do you think???

***I think that the USA team should have a center.

[skangles]

I agree that Bynum is a headcase but he has been playing out of his mind this year. DeMarcus Cousins is another headcase who has been playing well. The interesting thing about the center position is that besides Howard the elite centers tend to be foreign: Gasols, Bogut, Noah, Horford, Nene.
To me Al Jefferson is an empty stats player. He looks good in the box score but doesn't really help his team win. With that said, he would more than suffice on this roster.

Here are a couple of wild card options.
1) Anthony Davis - Team USA could pull a Christian Laettner and take a college kid. He isn't that big but he is one hell of an exciting player who brings all the defensive intensity that you'd get from Chandler. Plus Davis is going to be an integral part of Team USA for years to come (in my opinion). May as well bleed him in early.

2) Kevin Garnett - I don't know if KG would realistically consider ending his career on a high note Jason Kidd-esque given that he already has a gold medal but he's pretty much a perfect fit on this roster. While not a true center he can keep up with the pace that the US wants to play and basically play the Lamar Odom role from 2010 only as a better defender, better rebounder, better banger and with a better jump shot.