Sep 21, 2011, 10:42 pm
Ok I'll get the Olympic conversation started. The US World Championship team loses out from the US automatically qualifying for the Olympics and not having to play in the Americas championship this summer. There was an "If it ain't broke don't fix it" attitude towards the roster that won the world championship last summer. That was last year and already nobody recalls the past so I fully expect the US to take the best team possible next year dependent on injuries and player availability.
This is my prediction/what I would like to see in the starting lineup.
PG: Deron Williams - he is one of the best PGs on the planet. He is bigger and more physically dominant than his competition and his move to Besiktas will better familiarize him with the international style of play and players that the US will potentially face in the Olympics. This gives him the edge in the most competitive roster battle on Team USA.
SG: Kobe Bryant - if you have a lights out shooter you take him. If you have a lockdown defender you take him. With Kobe you get both.
SF: Kevin Durant - Durant showed in the WC that as long as he is on the court the US will be able to compete. He is the closest player to a lock for next year's olympics that the US has.
PF: LeBron James - I already hate myself for writing this. I hate LeBron, I hate him in the NBA and I think that he is an arrogant d*ck. However, when it comes to Team USA he has been able to control his ego. He doesn't demand the ball and he does what it takes to win. In fact, he is ideal due to the matchup problems that he creates. He can play SG, SF or PF well at the international level. In this lineup alone he can rotate with Durant as to who plays downlow. He said in the past that he might not want to play for Team USA so who knows.
C: Dwight Howard - I don't need an explanation, if Howard is available the job is his.
Bench: I won't go into too much detail on the bench to save some discussion for later. I will say that I absolutely want to see these two players on the team:
1) Russel Westbrook - Lightning quick and he demonstrated in the WC that he can play PG, SG and SF in FIBA play. That is too much versatility to leave at home.
2) Kevin Love - the fan in me wants Love in my starting lineup instead of LeBron. Love is a rebounding machine, he has to make the team.
This is my prediction/what I would like to see in the starting lineup.
PG: Deron Williams - he is one of the best PGs on the planet. He is bigger and more physically dominant than his competition and his move to Besiktas will better familiarize him with the international style of play and players that the US will potentially face in the Olympics. This gives him the edge in the most competitive roster battle on Team USA.
SG: Kobe Bryant - if you have a lights out shooter you take him. If you have a lockdown defender you take him. With Kobe you get both.
SF: Kevin Durant - Durant showed in the WC that as long as he is on the court the US will be able to compete. He is the closest player to a lock for next year's olympics that the US has.
PF: LeBron James - I already hate myself for writing this. I hate LeBron, I hate him in the NBA and I think that he is an arrogant d*ck. However, when it comes to Team USA he has been able to control his ego. He doesn't demand the ball and he does what it takes to win. In fact, he is ideal due to the matchup problems that he creates. He can play SG, SF or PF well at the international level. In this lineup alone he can rotate with Durant as to who plays downlow. He said in the past that he might not want to play for Team USA so who knows.
C: Dwight Howard - I don't need an explanation, if Howard is available the job is his.
Bench: I won't go into too much detail on the bench to save some discussion for later. I will say that I absolutely want to see these two players on the team:
1) Russel Westbrook - Lightning quick and he demonstrated in the WC that he can play PG, SG and SF in FIBA play. That is too much versatility to leave at home.
2) Kevin Love - the fan in me wants Love in my starting lineup instead of LeBron. Love is a rebounding machine, he has to make the team.