THE Team USA Thread(KOBE hits gamewinner in open run!)

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

[
When the summer comes this is arguably the best time of the year. Team USA Basketball is about to be at it's peak. They've got great players on they're team. Even their BENCH has loads of talent. They could be at the point that the dream team was at but Colangelo doesn't really seem to care about the quality talent at this point. I know that we won't be at their point but the competition that team USA went against was virtually GARBAGE. The talent we have now across the world, much much better than it was in '92, '96, hell even 2000 with Mcgrady, Kidd, and Garnett with the talent and players they went against you could say the talent USA opposed was subpar.

So, my question is that with the talent that team usa has with players like Bryant, Kidd, Mcgrady, James, Wade, Anthony, Howard, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, etc. etc., will they come away with the gold???
And please discuss waht you like/dislike/envy about the roster or post what you think could be a potential starting lineup. Training Camp is July 15.

Projected Starters(Barring Injuries)
PG- Jason Kidd
SG- Kobe Bryant
SF- Lebron James
PF- Dwight Howard
C- Amare Stoudemire


EDIT: The talent they WENT against was subpar. Not them

[cyanide]

You know what, the entire Team USA since 92 has more talent than any team in the world, and calling a crop that includes McGrady, Kidd, and Garnett "subpar" is ridiculous. Even when they lost to Greece last year, you can't say Greece has more talent. Or Argentina. Or Serbia & Montenegro. Team USA always have, and always have the best talent. Problem is, they have a lack of chemistry because they haven't been playing together for more than months.

It doesn't matter how talented the lineup is, as long as there's chemistry. If they can gel together as a team well on both ends of the court, then they will win gold. Simple as that.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

No i meant the talent they went against. The USA teams were Superior in talent and anything else otherwise

[maes]

The amount of offensive talent on Team USA is excellent, it's always been that way. It's the other 50% of the game Team USA had problems with.

We didn't lose to Greece because we weren't scoring, our scoring was good and running smoothly. It's that we let Greece shoot, what, 65% against us?

Team USA played the heaviest minutes to probably their worst defenders: Melo, Wade, and James.

Until the goal is to actually win games instead of just having this be a giant marketing event for the NBA, they'll always run the risk of losing the gold.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

Team USA played the heaviest minutes to probably their worst defenders: Melo, Wade, and James.

James and Wade are standout defenders. Carmelo couldn't play D if George Bush was chasing him with a knife.

But the USA team should be something to watch. So many athletes, role players, etc. etc. Kobe and Lebron should lead that team to gold, but that's my opinion.

EDIT: Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups SHouldn't have made the roster

[Dro]

Team USA played the heaviest minutes to probably their worst defenders: Melo, Wade, and James.

James and Wade are standout defenders. Carmelo couldn't play D if George Bush was chasing him with a knife.

But the USA team should be something to watch. So many athletes, role players, etc. etc. Kobe and Lebron should lead that team to gold, but that's my opinion.

EDIT: Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups SHouldn't have made the roster

-Wade and James are average defenders, AT BEST.
-Who exactly on the roster is a role player? Is Brad Miller still on the team? Bruce Bowen? Everybody you listed is a first or second option on their team.
-I agree that Billups shouldn't be there...the team needs pass-first PGs. But Tayshaun Prince is EXACTLY the type of player team USA needs; consistent shooter, excellent defense, and a high basketball IQ.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

Team USA played the heaviest minutes to probably their worst defenders: Melo, Wade, and James.

James and Wade are standout defenders. Carmelo couldn't play D if George Bush was chasing him with a knife.

But the USA team should be something to watch. So many athletes, role players, etc. etc. Kobe and Lebron should lead that team to gold, but that's my opinion.

EDIT: Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups SHouldn't have made the roster

-Wade and James are average defenders, AT BEST.
-Who exactly on the roster is a role player? Is Brad Miller still on the team? Bruce Bowen? Everybody you listed is a first or second option on their team.
-I agree that Billups shouldn't be there...the team needs pass-first PGs. But Tayshaun Prince is EXACTLY the type of player team USA needs; consistent shooter, excellent defense, and a high basketball IQ.

Wade might be, but I disagree with you on Lebron.

Everybody except a few players like Battier, Bowen,Jason Kidd, and Kirk Hinrich (IF he's still on).

Tayshaun Prince and Carlos Boozer do not need to be on that roster. I mean, we have 5 all-pro defenders on the team already. We need more OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER. That's what Colangelo, Rudy T, Larry Brown, and Coach K are looking at doing. I hope VC and Kevin Garnett decide to accept their invitations. They need SOME leadership

[sucram]

Carmelo couldn't play D if George Bush was chasing him with a knife.

My question being, what the fuck?

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

That's how sorry of a defender he is. I'm sorry I couldn't find a better analogy

[Dro]

Wade might be, but I disagree with you on Lebron.

Everybody except a few players like Battier, Bowen,Jason Kidd, and Kirk Hinrich (IF he's still on).

Tayshaun Prince and Carlos Boozer do not need to be on that roster. I mean, we have 5 all-pro defenders on the team already. We need more OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER. That's what Colangelo, Rudy T, Larry Brown, and Coach K are looking at doing. I hope VC and Kevin Garnett decide to accept their invitations. They need SOME leadership

There's basically nothing I agree on with your post:

I'm not saying Lebron is a bad defender...I just don't see why you consider him to be "standout". He doesn't lock his man down and he doesn't get a big amount of steals or blocks. Sounds pretty average to me.

Jason Kidd and Kirk Hinrich are role players?! Kidd is the 2nd best point guard (some would argue 1st) in the NBA, and Hinrich is going to be an all-star in the very near future.

To say offensive firepower is the problem is ridiculous. No team in the world has offensive talent on par with the likes of James, Carmelo, Wade, Stoudemire, etc.

KG is a helluva leader. Vince Carter? HA! VC's most defining qualities are his disloyalty, his willingness to settle for extreme degree of difficulty jumpers, and the toughness of a fluffy pillow.

EDIT: I guess we do agree that the team needs veteran leadership. I looked up and down the 2006 roster that got Bronze in the World Championships and didn't really see anybody who is a great veteran leader, such as a KG or Duncan.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

Wade might be, but I disagree with you on Lebron.

Everybody except a few players like Battier, Bowen,Jason Kidd, and Kirk Hinrich (IF he's still on).

Tayshaun Prince and Carlos Boozer do not need to be on that roster. I mean, we have 5 all-pro defenders on the team already. We need more OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER. That's what Colangelo, Rudy T, Larry Brown, and Coach K are looking at doing. I hope VC and Kevin Garnett decide to accept their invitations. They need SOME leadership

There's basically nothing I agree on with your post:

I'm not saying Lebron is a bad defender...I just don't see why you consider him to be "standout". He doesn't lock his man down and he doesn't get a big amount of steals or blocks. Sounds pretty average to me.

Jason Kidd and Kirk Hinrich are role players?! Kidd is the 2nd best point guard (some would argue 1st) in the NBA, and Hinrich is going to be an all-star in the very near future.

To say offensive firepower is the problem is ridiculous. No team in the world has offensive talent on par with the likes of James, Carmelo, Wade, Stoudemire, etc.

KG is a helluva leader. Vince Carter? HA! VC's most defining qualities are his disloyalty, his willingness to settle for extreme degree of difficulty jumpers, and the toughness of a fluffy pillow.

Ok I see what you mean with that being Lebron is an average defender despite the fact he made the All-NBA Defensive 2nd team. SO then what's Shane Battier doing on the roster?? Because he does the same things.

I meant in the essence of scoring and otherwise. Hinrich, for now, along with Brad and Mike Miller, Joe Johnson, Shane Battier, and Bruce Bowen is a role player. He can't take over a game. If Ben gordon was on INSTEAD of Hinrich, that would be different. My fault about J-Kidd, I looked at it Scoring-wise. FOrgot about the former MVP and DPOY.

I know that. They have 4 of the top 7 leading scorers in the league on their team. They're trying to get a SHITLOAD of that for their team, is the point I was trying to express.

Were you being sarcastic about KG???? LOL you're right about VC. He IS a showoff. If Duncan and Iverson and Ray Allen were back on with THIS unit, they would Unanimously win gold. Kobe, Mcgrady, and Kidd are going to be the only leaders on this team. Everyone else is worried about Shining.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

EDIT: We have a TON of offensive and Defensive Firepower

[Dro]

Ok I see what you mean with that being Lebron is an average defender despite the fact he made the All-NBA Defensive 2nd team. SO then what's Shane Battier doing on the roster?? Because he does the same things.

I meant in the essence of scoring and otherwise. Hinrich, for now, along with Brad and Mike Miller, Joe Johnson, Shane Battier, and Bruce Bowen is a role player. He can't take over a game. If Ben gordon was on INSTEAD of Hinrich, that would be different. My fault about J-Kidd, I looked at it Scoring-wise. FOrgot about the former MVP and DPOY.

I know that. They have 4 of the top 7 leading scorers in the league on their team. They're trying to get a SHITLOAD of that for their team, is the point I was trying to express.

Were you being sarcastic about KG???? LOL you're right about VC. He IS a showoff. If Duncan and Iverson and Ray Allen were back on with THIS unit, they would Unanimously win gold. Kobe, Mcgrady, and Kidd are going to be the only leaders on this team. Everyone else is worried about Shining.

I wasn't aware of Lebron being on the All-Defensive 2nd team...a little shocking to me, to tell you the truth. I still don't agree that JJ and Hinrich are role-players, but we can disagree on that.

And nah I wasn't being sarcastic about KG actually...I think he's a great emotional leader that the 2006 team was really missing. Lebron, Wade, and Carmelo are all great players but they seem a too apathetic at times. Carmelo was the most productive player on the team, but I think there was an overall lack of fire from those 3.

I also agree about Duncan and Ray Allen. No one in the world can stop Tim Duncan, and Ray Allen is the perimeter machine that the 2006 team was missing. Also, I don't like the idea of both T-mac and Kobe on the team. Both players are identical as far as their style of play goes, with Kobe being the flat-out better player on both ends of the floor. Seems kind of redundant to have both on the team.

Is Duncan going to be on the team this time around? If they could put him on there and run the offense through him, nobody will get close to beating USA. Put 3 great perimeter players on the floor with him along with a Stoudemire or Howard and that team is unstoppable. Having the team built around perimeter players just isn't going to get it done anymore. How did Greece beat us? Pick and roll after pick and roll resulting in that Greek forward who was built like a tank on the finishing end. You think that would happen with Duncan in the middle?

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

Ok I see what you mean with that being Lebron is an average defender despite the fact he made the All-NBA Defensive 2nd team. SO then what's Shane Battier doing on the roster?? Because he does the same things.

I meant in the essence of scoring and otherwise. Hinrich, for now, along with Brad and Mike Miller, Joe Johnson, Shane Battier, and Bruce Bowen is a role player. He can't take over a game. If Ben gordon was on INSTEAD of Hinrich, that would be different. My fault about J-Kidd, I looked at it Scoring-wise. FOrgot about the former MVP and DPOY.

I know that. They have 4 of the top 7 leading scorers in the league on their team. They're trying to get a SHITLOAD of that for their team, is the point I was trying to express.

Were you being sarcastic about KG???? LOL you're right about VC. He IS a showoff. If Duncan and Iverson and Ray Allen were back on with THIS unit, they would Unanimously win gold. Kobe, Mcgrady, and Kidd are going to be the only leaders on this team. Everyone else is worried about Shining.

I wasn't aware of Lebron being on the All-Defensive 2nd team...a little shocking to me, to tell you the truth. I still don't agree that JJ and Hinrich are role-players, but we can disagree on that.

And nah I wasn't being sarcastic about KG actually...I think he's a great emotional leader that the 2006 team was really missing. Lebron, Wade, and Carmelo are all great players but they seem a too apathetic at times. Carmelo was the most productive player on the team, but I think there was an overall lack of fire from those 3.

I also agree about Duncan and Ray Allen. No one in the world can stop Tim Duncan, and Ray Allen is the perimeter machine that the 2006 team was missing. Also, I don't like the idea of both T-mac and Kobe on the team. Both players are identical as far as their style of play goes, with Kobe being the flat-out better player on both ends of the floor. Seems kind of redundant to have both on the team.

Is Duncan going to be on the team this time around? If they could put him on there and run the offense through him, nobody will get close to beating USA. Put 3 great perimeter players on the floor with him along with a Stoudemire or Howard and that team is unstoppable. Having the team built around perimeter players just isn't going to get it done anymore. How did Greece beat us? Pick and roll after pick and roll resulting in that Greek forward who was built like a tank on the finishing end. You think that would happen with Duncan in the middle?

I see you on JJ and Hinrich, but Hinrich just can't take a game over at this stage in his career. He doesn't possess that instinct.


KG is very emothional. Unlike Duncan, he won't shut his mouth when something is done wrong. I see you with Melo Wade and Bron. They relied on them TOO much.

I saw on ESPN (I'll have to look for it) wehre it said that T-Mac said that he wants to be on the team but he's not sure if he should be. Injuries, chemistry, and his back are concerns with him. He said yes he will accept the invitation for bhe team, but USA never made it official. I wonder Why?? But all those Players, Kobe, T-Mac, Bron, JJ, Hinrich, Melo, Mike Miller, J-Kidd, how is playing time going to be factored?????



I doubt if him or Ray Ray will accept their invitations. Ray is too lazy to join and Tim said he had second thoughts. Just think. We could have an Amazing team if those guys were on it. Duncan is DPOY talent in the middle. He DID learn from David Robinson. Ray Allen might be a Liability on D but he would be a TERRIFIC asset for that team. Tremendous Shooter. I believe Kobe will be a terrific shooter

[NovU]

PG- Chauncey Billups
SG- Bryant
SF- James
PF- Dwight Howard
C- Amare

whoa!!! that roster is like... bestestestest ever...
but chemistry?

http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/Boozer_Wil ... m_USA.html

previous team usa had no chem at all. hopely not this one.
meamwhile, my real dream team usa would be something like this;

starters
C- Shaq
PF- Duncan
SF- Bowen
SG- Kobe
PG- sam cassell

bench
dwight, sheed, vince, ray allen, baron davis, etc

they all know how to share min, floor, space & experienced. know how 2 win, how 2 play off each other, and bench bringing intensity to the floor, etc.


in international games, therez only 2 refs on court so itz more physical than in nba. less foul calls & more 3 pointers... seems nba players go thru tough time adopting to the inter-rules. i'd luv to see more veterans coming out for the nation & bring usa back to the top.
don't u guys honestly think it'd offer more chance of winning it all if the team was built around shaq & kobe, proven chemistry wid a lot more potential than bron/melo/wade selfish combo?

[1CenT]

err
i disagree with most of the things from Air Zoom Kobe

i am SURE lebron didn't make all defensive 2nd team.. he made the all nba 2nd team..

Wade is a decent defender, lebron is avg.... they are strong and fast.. but they work
so hard on offense, that they don't really really play def ALL the time..

from wut i remember all def first team was
Camby
Duncan
Bowen
Bell
Kobe (don't deserve it)

2nd team was
Ben Wallace
KG
Prince
Kidd
Hinrich..
well i'm pretty sure those are da players..

USA lacks offensive firepower????!???! Like maes said.. the problem is the defense and chemistry.

They need a powerful coach that will BENCH lebron, melo and wade for not hounding their defenders the whole game.. NBA players are extremely long athletic and can play a lot of minutes.. in a 40 minutes FIBA game with at least 10 capable players.. the coaching staff really have to get on the players....

Howard had problems scoring the ball inside.. and Wade/Lebron are not consistent outside shooters.. That was a huge problem.. We had Duncan.. but Duncan isn't spectacular offensively.. This is where a dominating Shaq is much better....
So they weren't really dominating in the post... and they had weak shooters... + bad defence.. that is why USA didn't win gold....

I suggest Ray Allen and Michael Redd play on the team.. Billups would actually be great.. he is a great defender + shooter... Kobe would be great.. that guy can flat out shoot with the best of them.. KG is a great shooter as well..

Guys like TMac, Lebron, Wade, Jkidd can be a problem when shooting the ball... They (esp tmac, lebron and wade) are very good at making contested and off balance shots.. but they are not as accurate as the Europeans playing loose shooting open jumpers with NOTHING to lose..

Players i think will be great
Front Court:
Dwight, Duncan, KG, Boozer, Amare, Camby
Back Court:
Billups, Kidd, Kobe, Wade, Allen, Redd, Tmac
Others:
Melo, Lebron, Pierce, Battier, Marion, Prince, Bowen

So how many people make the roster? And who is invited?

My fav lineups:
Should be starting.. includes 5 veterans.. who are DEFENSIVE STOPPERS...
C - Duncan
PF - KG
SF - Battier/Prince
SG - Kobe
PG - Billups
tell me a team that can beat them? 3pt shooting from the 1-3 spots... KG and Duncan.. WOW... crazy rebounding, individual defense, help defense, intensity, can really grind it out...

Run and gun like theres no tommorrow... Kidd running the show.. Dwight, Amare, Lebron and Wade running the floor... Sounds like NBA Street doing a 4 consecutive lobs.... Team will rely on penetration of Wade, Lebron in the half court.. or a 2 man game between Amare + Kidd/Wade/Lebron ( 3 good passers )

Will fall behind maybe if they have to dump inside for a post play.. and bad outside shooting....
C - Dwight/Camby
PF - Amare/Boozer
SF - Lebron
SG - Wade
PG - Kidd

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

err
i disagree with most of the things from Air Zoom Kobe

i am SURE lebron didn't make all defensive 2nd team.. he made the all nba 2nd team..

Wade is a decent defender, lebron is avg.... they are strong and fast.. but they work
so hard on offense, that they don't really really play def ALL the time..

from wut i remember all def first team was
Camby
Duncan
Bowen
Bell
Kobe (don't deserve it)

2nd team was
Ben Wallace
KG
Prince
Kidd
Hinrich..
well i'm pretty sure those are da players..

USA lacks offensive firepower????!???! Like maes said.. the problem is the defense and chemistry.

They need a powerful coach that will BENCH lebron, melo and wade for not hounding their defenders the whole game.. NBA players are extremely long athletic and can play a lot of minutes.. in a 40 minutes FIBA game with at least 10 capable players.. the coaching staff really have to get on the players....

Howard had problems scoring the ball inside.. and Wade/Lebron are not consistent outside shooters.. That was a huge problem.. We had Duncan.. but Duncan isn't spectacular offensively.. This is where a dominating Shaq is much better....
So they weren't really dominating in the post... and they had weak shooters... + bad defence.. that is why USA didn't win gold....

I suggest Ray Allen and Michael Redd play on the team.. Billups would actually be great.. he is a great defender + shooter... Kobe would be great.. that guy can flat out shoot with the best of them.. KG is a great shooter as well..

Guys like TMac, Lebron, Wade, Jkidd can be a problem when shooting the ball... They (esp tmac, lebron and wade) are very good at making contested and off balance shots.. but they are not as accurate as the Europeans playing loose shooting open jumpers with NOTHING to lose..

Players i think will be great
Front Court:
Dwight, Duncan, KG, Boozer, Amare, Camby
Back Court:
Billups, Kidd, Kobe, Wade, Allen, Redd, Tmac
Others:
Melo, Lebron, Pierce, Battier, Marion, Prince, Bowen

So how many people make the roster? And who is invited?

My fav lineups:
Should be starting.. includes 5 veterans.. who are DEFENSIVE STOPPERS...
C - Duncan
PF - KG
SF - Battier/Prince
SG - Kobe
PG - Billups
tell me a team that can beat them? 3pt shooting from the 1-3 spots... KG and Duncan.. WOW... crazy rebounding, individual defense, help defense, intensity, can really grind it out...

Run and gun like theres no tommorrow... Kidd running the show.. Dwight, Amare, Lebron and Wade running the floor... Sounds like NBA Street doing a 4 consecutive lobs.... Team will rely on penetration of Wade, Lebron in the half court.. or a 2 man game between Amare + Kidd/Wade/Lebron ( 3 good passers )

Will fall behind maybe if they have to dump inside for a post play.. and bad outside shooting....
C - Dwight/Camby
PF - Amare/Boozer
SF - Lebron
SG - Wade
PG - Kidd

I could have sworn that Lebron made All NBA and Defensive 2nd team.
I must be mistaken then

I didn't say they did that's what all of the coaches seem to want to do because they aren't focused on d.

They added Boozer, Chandler, Durant, Kidd, Mcgrady, Brad Miller, Mike Miller, Oden, Prince, and Deron WIlliams

The Injured players that can't participate THIS year are: Arenas, Bibby, Iverson, Jefferson, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Lamar Odom, Jermaine O'neal, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce, and Dwyane Wade.

The ones that are already on are: Carmelo, Battier, Billups, Bowen, Brand, Kobe Bryant, Kirk Hinrich, Dwight Howard, Lebron James, Antawn Jamison, Shawn Marion, Adam Morrison, Michael Redd, JJ Redick, Luke Ridnour, and Amare Stoudamire.

Other Players that were sent invitations and have declined/haven't decided are: Kevin Garnett, Sam Cassell, Shaquille O'neal, Tim Duncan, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Jason Richardson, Vince Carter, Ben Wallace, Stephon Marbury, and more.


I don't know off of the top of my head who makes the roster but I KNOW there will be cuts.

The team they have now, they can easily do the same stuff but with Kobe, Lebron, and Carmelo. Kidd and Hinrich can run the show, and if Iverson and Chris Paul were healthy that would really help.

In my mind, we have 4 or 5 ALL Pro defenders on our team and we shouldn't be having players like Battier, Boozer, Jefferson, Hinrich, guys like that on the team. Team USA needs to start doing it big. That means only SUPERSTARS. THe Kobe's, the Mcgradys, The Vince Carters, the Paul Pierces, the Ray ALLens, the guys like that

[_marsal]

I couldn't disagree with you more Air Zoom Kobe I. IMO this team needs max. 5 superstars, all others should be role players. You need to win in real life, not nba live.
One would ask why wouldn't a team with only superstars win every game. Because the superstars are what they are because they need the ball in their hands and need to take many shots to be effective (there are exceptions - Kidd, Nash, KG, Ben Wallace etc.). Which they are if you give them the ball. If you don't give them the ball, they become redundant. That's how real teams are "constructed". That's how international teams win games. They have 3,4 key guys and everyone else is a role player.
IMO, if Team USA was represented by an NBA champion, noone would stand a chance against them (of course, we couldn't send the Spurs because their key guys are international). Otherwise, my Team USA lineup would be:

C Howard
PF James (he should play PF in international games)
SF Bowen
SG Wade
PG Hinrich
6 B. Miller
7 Boozer
8 Anthony
9 M. Miller
10 Billups

Many will probably disagree with me.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

I couldn't disagree with you more Air Zoom Kobe I. IMO this team needs max. 5 superstars, all others should be role players. You need to win in real life, not nba live.
One would ask why wouldn't a team with only superstars win every game. Because the superstars are what they are because they need the ball in their hands and need to take many shots to be effective (there are exceptions - Kidd, Nash, KG, Ben Wallace etc.). Which they are if you give them the ball. If you don't give them the ball, they become redundant. That's how real teams are "constructed". That's how international teams win games. They have 3,4 key guys and everyone else is a role player.
IMO, if Team USA was represented by an NBA champion, noone would stand a chance against them (of course, we couldn't send the Spurs because their key guys are international). Otherwise, my Team USA lineup would be:

C Howard
PF James (he should play PF in international games)
SF Bowen
SG Wade
PG Hinrich
6 B. Miller
7 Boozer
8 Anthony
9 M. Miller
10 Billups

Many will probably disagree with me.

Goddammit wh is everyone diagreeing with me ??
Look at the '92 dream team. They had so many players who were stars on their respective teams and they gelled together to be a great team. Same with the '96 team.

What do you mean "NBA Champion??"?? Like the Bulls or something


I don't agree with your starting lineup because they can stop people but they have inconsistent and overrated players. Any player on the team they have in Vegas can take over a game and change the outcome by themselves if they wanted to.

I mean, just think about it, if we had a team of superstars like the 92, 96,and 2000 dream teams, could any team stop us?????

[Eugene]

You can't have guys who've been alpha dogs all their careers suddenly play together and expect results. Basketball is a game of habits. The 92 Dream Team only worked because 1. The superstars on that roster were legendary even before they were on the Dream Team and the other countries were terrified and 2. The 2 older statesmen, Larry and Magic were pass first players who had the experience and clout to instill that mentality in everyone. The only stars with that much pull right now are Kidd, Duncan, and maybe Shaq.

Also, Chris Paul and Deron Williams should take over the point position for Team USA for the next decade or so. There's no debate about this. None.

That said, I think this should be the roster

C: Dwight Howard (by default--there's no other available center)
PF: Carlos Boozer (who rebounds, scores, sets bruising screens, played for Coach K, and has a sweet 15 jumper. Tailor-made for this team).
SF: Tayshaun Prince (Glue guy, great defense, decent jumper)
SG: Kobe (If Duncan, Kidd, and Shaq are out, then Kobe should be the undisputed leader of this ball club. And I don't know if that's a good thing)
PG: Chris Paul (ask me tomorrow and it's Deron Williams)

And I filling the bench with athletic glue guys who won't mind coming off the bench and can play multiple roles, such as:

Dwyane Wade, Michael Redd, Williams, David Lee, Shane Battier, and obligatory Oden and Durant.

That's a team that can hurt you in different ways without a weak link offensively or defensively. It can play different styles and has the toughness to battle the rougher European teams.

Two things we need to win in international games: we need to play the pick and roll on both ends (offense and defense) and versatility. You can go small with this team with Boozer, Prince, Kobe, Wade and Paul, and their best five--Howard, Boozer, Kobe, Wade and Paul--is almost a natural fit. And you can go big with Kobe and Wade in a backcourt and still run on them all day long.

[jonthefon]

The '92 Dream Team had great chemistry players on it...Stockton, MJ, Magic, Bird were all good for chemistry and the rest of the players molded together really well.

Personally, I'm just going to wait and see.

[---]

Look at the '92 dream team

I haven't really read anything in this thread but this is a stupid thing to say. International basketball wasn't at the level it is now 15 years ago.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

I haven't really read anything in this thread but this is a stupid thing to say. International basketball wasn't at the level it is now 15 years ago.

Despite the fact that that's true, we're not putting our best product on the floor.

[cyanide]

Despite the fact that that's true, we're not putting our best product on the floor.

Even if you guys do have the best lineup imaginable, there's no guarantee that they'll get gold. There was an abundance of talent from the previous USA teams, and they still lost.

[Air Zoom Kobe I]

U must not be talking about the Athens team, or the 2002 World team because those teams lacked talent if anything.