big ben not in us team...

[aldrin]

Ben Wallace doesn't want to represent the United States in the Olympics because he had his feelings hurt. Grow up, Big Ben.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 00359/1127

[Matt]

Ben doesn't say anywhere he had his feelings hurt, it's the writers speculation.

Who cares anyway, good news for Pistons!!!

[Fresh8]

In related news, Steve Francis wants to be on the national team.

[Metsis]

Steve Francis shouldn't be allowed any where near the national team...

The optimum team has a couple of all-around players and then specialists to fill in the blanks...

Let's say you get Garnett, Duncan and Kobe for example to be the "stars" on that team.

To fill 'er up, you could use players like Mourning for inside defense and some offense. TJ Ford to man the point, he's flashy and can deliver the ball to the "stars". Michael Redd to shoot the three ball well... Bruce Bowen as perimeter defender. Billups as another point guard and maybe even Hamilton to back up Kobe. Those two have played together and off of each other for some years now and would probably give the US team some "team" mentality. Jermaine O'Neal could play center too... I think James could too play a good passing game and score some points too...

I think Alonzo, Garnett, LeBron, Kobe and Ford would be a nice lineup and one that could match against anyone... The undersized shooting guards masquarating as point guards shouldn't even be on the roster. Guys like Marbury, Iverson etc. It would be good that the point guard could score and shoot, but it's important that it's not the first option in his mind...

To sum it all up... The US should try to bring a TEAM to the next big tournament... Instead of scraping some individuals together and try make them a team by giving them matching uniforms...

[Matt]

Mourning...No, he'd foul out quickly in international play, and he gives up too many second chance opportunities. Does the team really need him to flex his muscles either? not exactly good for the image.

Ford...No, can't shoot and can't play D.

Bruce Bowen...50/50....international teams don't play 1-on-1, you can easily shoot over him, and his "rough" play would get him fouled out like Fortson does every night.


I think some guys USA could do with would be.....

1. Billups - Plays D, is unselfish, scores, clutch, can play 1 or 2....basically all you want in a PG

2. Shawn Marion - stands @ 6-7 and yet there is very few that can outrebound him. In previous comps he's always been good. Always rebounded well, hustled and outruns other bigs.

3. Joe Johnson - versatile guy that can do it all.

I'd say....

C Duncan
F Marion
F Kobe
G Johnson
G Billups

[J@3]

I'd take Billups at PG too, only I'd be more inclined with:

C: Duncan
PF: Garnett
SF: Kobe
SG: Hamilton
PG: Billups

[Fenix]

Duncan&Garnett will be over thirty years old. I don't believe that they'll even interested to be part of this experiment for that long.

Guys I would consider: Prince, Deron Williams, Salim Stoudamire, Amare, Reddick, Jermaine O'Neal, Korver, Iguodala, Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, Channing Frye, Maurice Evans, Matt Bonner, Arenas (if he stops gunning that much), Billups, Paul, Kobe, Hamilton, Lebron, Joe Johnson, Brand, Bosh, Adam Morrison, Emeka, Dwight Howard and Tyson Chandler.

[Jackal]

No Amare? Tch tch.

[Its_asdf]

The optimum team has a couple of all-around players and then specialists to fill in the blanks...

I know that Steve Francis isn't considered an all-star or a playmaker for that matter, but he is a pretty good all around player in terms of rebounding, scoring and assists. I get what you mean though.

Anyway, I hope Chris Bosh can make it to the US team. That guy definitely needs some recognition somehow.

[Cloudy]

Actually, I think they can win with the Pistons starting five of now, and the starting 5 of clippers as bench. Perfect. 10 men rotation

[Drex]

No Amare? Tch tch.

Guys I would consider: Prince, Deron Williams, Salim Stoudamire, Amare, Reddick, Jermaine O'Neal, Korver, Iguodala, Kirk Hinrich, T.J. Ford, Channing Frye, Maurice Evans, Matt Bonner, Arenas (if he stops gunning that much), Billups, Paul, Kobe, Hamilton, Lebron, Joe Johnson, Brand, Bosh, Adam Morrison, Emeka, Dwight Howard and Tyson Chandler.

[Matt]

Add Elton Brand & Bosh to my list.

[Laxation]

wait... im confused

did aldrin just start a topic NOT related to Duncan in any way?

[Matt]

yes.

Like i said before, Billups, Prince & Hamilton would be perfect for USA, but i'd prefer none played since it works out better for Pistons.,

[J@3]

Duncan&Garnett will be over thirty years old. I don't believe that they'll even interested to be part of this experiment for that long.

Older = more experienced = smarter. They're not going to be Shaq-like 30 years olds with 900 injuries and a phobia of exercise, they'll be more Karl Malone. KG especially.

[cklitsie]

Adam Morrison

WORD.

[Rip32]

Hey uh aldrin,

Go say hi to Andrew Bogut ok buddy?

homer...

[air gordon]

shaq needs to be on this team. he may not be good for even the half the game but at least set the tone for the team by either getting opposing teams big men in foul trouble or getting good looks for the perimeter players. the nba's best post player, tim duncan, was neutralized last time because of the zone defenses and the wider international lane

a pass first guard who can defend is a must. someone like billups or hinrich fits the bill. if baron davis could defer to the other stars on this team, he'd be great

the SG has to be in the pure shooting mold to break the zones. Rip, Redd, Ray Allen

the SF should be a jack of all trades guy- McGrady, James, Bryant, Marion

PF- guys that score on the blocks/midrange and great defensive presences: Duncan, Garnett, Jermaine O'neal

C- Shaq, Ben Wallace

did the committee decide who the coach is?

[Mikki]

Matt Bonner, Adam Morrison

looooooooooool WTF?

did the committee decide who the coach is?

Coach K.

[Fenix]

Coach K is gonna be the coach. And Bonner was a joke.

[Matt]

what about Brian Cardinal? that dude hustles hard. Adam Morrison is crazy. Shane Battier should be on the team.

[#12]

if you add a team of all stars, the team would be good. the 2004 team was not good because all of the players there were not all stars except duncan and iverson. lebron and wade bloomed AFTER the olympics

[Matt]

The team also had useless players like Boozer. Plus neither AI or Marbury played D, Jefferson couldn't hit an open shot.

[Laxation]

Hey uh aldrin,

Go say hi to Andrew Bogut ok buddy?

homer...

wtf is this sposed to mean?

[Rip32]

Hey uh aldrin,

Go say hi to Andrew Bogut ok buddy?

homer...

wtf is this sposed to mean?

Andrew Bogut beat the Spurs at the buzzer yesterday...