The official Olympic thread.

[magius]

put down the viagra, turn off the laker game. settle down.

why not? kobe's forte isn't exactly getting his points in the flow - i think it would be more efficient for the team to save him for the 4th (if he's needed) and let him hoist whatever shots he wants off the bench. im not saying he's worse than ray allen or tmac, i just think the team would play better with tmac or allen (or even rip) starting.

[kinokong]

heres my lineup

c: dwight howard
pf: amare stoudemire
sf: lebron james
sg: michael redd
pg: chauncey billups

backup c: channing frye
backup pf: chris bosh
backup sf: tayshaun prince
backup sg: rip hamilton
backup pg: chris paul

11th and 12th men: kirk hinrich and emeka okafor

that team brings veteran leadership and all the qualities needed to beat international teams (zone busters, tough tested point guards, a go to guy, big men who can score, block, and rebound, and tough defenders)

[Mikki]

Which coach in their right mind is gonna put kobe on the bench? You must be on a crack.

Not Kobe (in coach mode) for sure.

[KDawg295]

When did Amare commit?.. I didnt hear about it. or is he just a possibilty?. Like Shaq?

[Jowe]

shaq will be washed up by the time 08 rolls around.

[gifted]

battier is a great team player and all, but it would be crazy to think of starting him in front of marion. the USA team should consist of mostly young talent, so they get the international experience and chemistry for olympic events. stoudemire, marion, james, kobe, billups would be a nice starting lineup. to prevent the same thing from what happened in 2004, they need specialty players off the bench: shooters in redd and allen, scoring in rip, and AI, post defense/rebounding in camby/howard. besides that, add the other superstars willing to play and good role players.

[beau_boy04]

heres my lineup

c: dwight howard
pf: amare stoudemire
sf: lebron james
sg: michael redd
pg: chauncey billups

backup c: channing frye
backup pf: chris bosh
backup sf: tayshaun prince
backup sg: rip hamilton
backup pg: chris paul

11th and 12th men: kirk hinrich and emeka okafor

that team brings veteran leadership and all the qualities needed to beat international teams (zone busters, tough tested point guards, a go to guy, big men who can score, block, and rebound, and tough defenders)

I'm really liking your proposed line-up. I'm not sure if Howard will be able to handle himself as a C at an international level but he'll be 2 years older by then so yeah... I can't wait to see Kobe, Lebron and Stoudemire playing togher Its like having 2 MJ's wannabes and Shaq in the same team

[BIG GREEN]

put down the viagra, turn off the laker game. settle down.

You're saying this to incinuate that im some sort of kobe/laker fan boy? I dont really like the dude personality wise nor the lakers. I'm making a subjective comment....im happy for you that you think kobe would be good only for the 4th quarter of a game..but no coach will do that. No coach who is worth coaching an olympic team that is.