USA Senior Team Roster

[coachjon]

Here is what I think the roster should look like
C Dwight Howard/Tyson Chandler
PF Amare Stoudamire/Chris Bosh
SF Lebron James/Carmelo Anthony
SG Kobe Bryant/Michael Redd/Mike Miller
PG Jason Kidd/Deron Williams/Chauncy Billups

The 5 to get cut in order of hardest to cut to easiest to cut:
Tayshaun Prince, Kirk Hinrich, Shane Battier, Kevin Durant, JJ Redick.

[nextstar1019]

i like that a lot
i think that kidd will help make everyone play together and he will not just be looking for his own shots all the time...as long as we have a pass first pg in there we will be fine because there is plenty of scoring all over this roster

what is your reasoning for durant being cut? not mature enough?

also, do you really think that morrison can make the team?

i pretty much agree with the roster, thanks

[coachjon]

they are only having 12 players so 5 have to be cut. durant played well tonight and is good but like you said they have enough scorers and that is mostly what he provides. i think more mature guys and shooters like miller and billups (clutch, has won a title, NBA finals MVP) derserve to be on the team durant will have his chance in the future. miller played very well tonight.

morrison is not eligible to be on the roster this summer the 17 guys i listed are the guys fighting for the 12 spots.

[Aton]

I think it's a wonderful team and they will have no trouble playing in Las Vegas this year. But I'm not ready to say they are my favorites for the Olympics yet, because (based on coachjon's roster):

- players on positions 1 and 3 are very inconsistent with their outside shooting;
- on positions 4 and 5 you have some issues on offense. Howard still has an unpolished offensive game and Chandler doesn't have one. Amare is great, but has played the role of a finisher for years in PHX and has found it difficult when he had to create opportunities.

That said, I see teams gathering in the middle and hoping Kobe Bryant has an off night. It may never work, but it can certainly happen in a championship where youll be playing 3 or 4 elimination games.

[coachjon]

i agree shooting and playing against a zone was the US's biggest weakness. guys that can shoot at the 1-3 spot include chauncey billups (that's why you carry him as a third PG for when we are getting zoned and he can play the 2), kobe (can shoot only real main scoring option on the team that can), michael redd (one of best shooters in the league), mike miller (you carry him as a third wing because he can play the 2/3 and give you a versatile shooter and he is one of best shooters in league).

with the bigs that's why you can't play howard and chandler at the same time. they both give you a rebounder and defensive big and if you saw the scrimmage tonight the way kidd can get it into the post if they both run the floor which chandler does very well and keep alert they can get easy transition baskets. stoudamire and bosh give you the offensive bigs. also carmelo can play the 4 also in a smaller lineup and give them a post threat. so i think they have a good mix of bigs because chandler and howard aren't great offensively but are known for their defense and stoudamire and bosh are scorers that aren't really known for their defense.

[Aton]

Well, I said that I'd comment based on your lineup, so I considered that only one of the shooters you mentioned would be on court for most of the time. If I were to break your line up, it'd be to put Melo and LB on the court at the same time, and not Redd and Kobe.

Billups would be the third PG and would see limited time. If you move him to a starting role, then you might have the best fit, as he is a solid shooter. I didn't consider the option before though.

Regarding the bigs, the options you mentioned don't solve the problem. Stoudamire and Bosh would still suffer with a zone defense focused on protecting the paint, or a man-to-man D with the same purpose. And so would Howard, Chandler, Lebron and Carmelo. They all have problems with that setting.

I didn't see the scrimmage, and frankly, I don't think it makes a difference. The only thing that matters is what they will show in the elimination games in the Olympics next year against the likes of Argentina, Greece or Spain in that type of setting.

[nextstar1019]

ok, btw durant had 22 in the game

it will be interesting to see how the final roster looks

[wombat6802]

Battier was the best all-around player for USA in the WBC. I doubt he gets cut.

[Hitster]

I'd probably include Battier for Miller as he gives you options in the swing position and offers something different to the offensive minded LeBron and Mello or you cut one of the PG's for Battier, you have two pass first PG's in Kidd and Williams/Billups and Kobe can play PG if required thus giving the squad both Miller and Battier who can do the dirty work alongside the scorers at 2 or 3 and gives an option to go small at 4 if needed.

Personally I's go:-

C - Stoudamire, Chandler
PF - Howard, Bosh,
SF - James, Anthony, Battier
SG - Bryant,Redd, Miller
PG - Kidd, Billups

Dropping Williams is hard but he'll be around for future World Championships and 2012 Olympics etc and having a floor general could gel the "Dream Team"

[bestb]

The scrimmage was really entertaining but still the defense of US-senior team, is just horrible. They lack almost of everything, even the fastbrake defense is bad. Though the FIBA Americas Championship is very weak comparing to European Championship, i think there is opportunity that some team will beat them.

[mullet is gone]

Id probably find a spot for Hinrich, in the Greece game as the clock was winding down he seemed like the only won on the team with the will to try and get them back in the game....I have no idea who you leave out though....

I think the US are ok as long as Kidd runs the point. Bryant is an unknown quantity playing international ball but I dont see there being any problems

3pt shooting will make or break this team. Its hard to predict how many points theyll get from the frontcourt.

[wombat6802]

I posted a lineup on my blog awhile ago with a bunch of reasons/analysis. This is what I have:

PG: Kidd/Hinrich/Williams
SG: Bryant/Redd
SF: Anthony/James
PF: Bosh/Stoudemire/Battier
C: Chandler/Howard

Here is a link:
Olympic Analysis (diaw-chic.blogspot.com)

[nextstar1019]

chandler starting
i dont mind bosh but i think howad and amare shoud start up front

[wombat6802]

Bosh has a year of Olympic experience with Coach K and was getting solid playing time in last year's system. You can't discount experience. Stoudemire was a bit player on one of the worst Olympic team's ever. Howard was good and it's a literal tossup between the two players because both bring very similar games. However, Howard often is a blackhole in the center and Chandler is a much more mature player on the baseline, especially considering most of the scoring is going to come from the perimeter and the PF position on this team. Just a thought. Nextstar, I posted analysis on my blog. If you're interested as to why I thought what I thought, I'd recommend reading it. I explain it much better I think.

[mullet is gone]

Although Redd has come on a lot (all star numbers), I like Miller a bit more. I think he's as good a spot shooter and he's a better passer (had to play point occaisonally for the grizz and looked pretty comfortable doing it). I agree mostly with the starting five, Id go with Howard over Chandler though. He has the strength to cause havoc inside. Neither have polished post games. Random prediction: FT% will be a big factor in Team USA success, both are sub 60%, I can see them being in very awkward situations come crunch time.

[nextstar1019]

i read it on your blog and respect your decision but was just wondering your reasoning for it. thanks for the imput