USA Basketball Team

[Coach]

The Sports Guy had a great article on how the USA basketball team should be built...as a team and not a collection of all-stars. He also had a good point in that Pistons with Duncan instead of Okur would work better as a team than any all-star squad. He also explains why the 1992 Dream Team was able to overcome these problems. I still think they will win the gold medal, but it would be a lot smoother ride if they followed his plan....

Click here

[CMJ]

I've always thought that the NBA Champion should be our representative to the Olympics. OR - we send our team as is, but give them more time to gell. Their first practice was like 3 weeks ago. That's just idiotic - espec ially with some of these national teams we play being together for months.

In Olympic years the NBA playoffs should end a few weeks, or maybe a month earler, and Team USA should start practice about 2-3 weeks after that. Honestly, I pretty much like the make-up of the squad this year(I've watched at least some of all of their preliminary games so far).

Edited August 11, 2004 by CMJ

[Coach]

I think the players on the team are very good, nothing against them at all. But they didn't include any shooters, a pass first point guard (I understand that those are more rare now and Kidd was hurt), and Sports Guy is right, some bench warming energy guys (like what Najera does for the Mavs) would do wonders with this team.

I haven't got a chance to watch them yet, all I have is rabbit ears on my TV, so I will get to see them once ABC picks up a game.

[CMJ]

I don't know, Boozer has been a real role player type. Okafor has been good at coming in for a minute here and there to grab a board. Wade might not be a "true" PG, but he's played the 1 really well. Marbury has been competent, but I hope he comes off the bench in Athens. Duncan has really established his leadership the last couple of games. Iverson doesn't have a great J, but he's hit some big ones.

Lebron and Marion have been duds(to me). Carmello continues to impress as does Jefferson. Our defense was shaky at first, but it's started to shore up. I really think the debacle against Italy was the best thing that coulda happened to us.

Edited August 11, 2004 by CMJ

[Zeke]

I think it should be the NBA champion + 2-3 other NBA members of their own choosing. In addition, I think that we should send college kids to the World Championsips. It isn't special to be on an Olympic team anymore because every other year is a "Dream Team" (horrible term) year. Then more stars would be willing to go if it were a once twice a decade event (roughly). Can you imagine the Pistons in Athens including Duncan and Shaq?

[Coach]

I'm a sucker for this stuff...

Here is my USA team if everyone is healthy and willing to go overseas.

PG: Kidd, Bibby, Hinrich

SG: Redd, Hamilton, Hoiberg

SF: KG, James

PF: Martin, J. O'Neal,

C: Duncan, S. O'Neal

This team has pass first PGs, a dead on shooter at SG with a pure scorer behind him, guys who can play more than one position up front with KG, Duncan, and Jermaine. A dominant force inside with Shaq, a defender/rebounder with KMart. And two good shooters who don't care about playing time as the 11th and 12th men.

Why no Kobe? The last thing team USA needs is the biggest ball-hog of our generation.