the perfect team USA (based on 07 season)

this will be a great whole season debate, but who d'you guys think make a perfect 12 man line up for team USA if they were to play international ball right now?

I think it would be the latest roster, just with Kobe and Amare playing...

The team that played this summer was pretty much perfect, except for the fact that they had no vets. I would have had Iverson on the team, he poured his heart out when nobody else on the team gave 2 shits and I'd love to see him playing with the young guys that actually care. If they had the precense of a vet I honestly believe the team would have won gold instead of bronze.

The current team is well suited for what D'Antoni wants, but his style has its own drawbacks, especially in the half-court setting (which is the majority of international ball), as Greece exploted again, and again, and again.

I'd send a more traditional team. Problem is a lot of guys won't play because their bodies need rest, but theoretically...

PG Kidd / CP
With as much talent on an international team the point should be a past first type. Not to mention that Kidd is undefeated in international play.

SG Ray Allen / Rip Hamilton
The off guard needs to punish zones, be automatic from a variety of spots on the floor, and disrupt defenses by running through screens constantly, not just standing out by the 3 point line waiting for a kickout. By the end of the game the opposing SG should be black & blue with a minor concussion. I'd actually send Reggie Miller if that was allowed.

SF Bryant / LeBron
This swing position needs to do everything on the floor, run the break, attack the basket, defend, rebound, shoot. LeBron has poor defensive footwork but can do everything else and has enough hops to challenge shots.

PF Duncan / Brand
You've got to set screens and play off-ball, and be able to nail the mid range shot off a pick and roll, as well as defend a pick & roll. Basic high school fundamentals, which is actually rare for US players. No wonder the NBA is increasingly looking overseas for their big men, like Yao & Dirk.

C B Wallace / Camby
Needs to challenge guards incoming a pick & roll, needs to rotate over on switches, needs to block out, board...defensive fundamentals. Ideally i'd like to see the main rebounder be a good outlet passer...but that art seems to be dead in today's kids. .

Last edited by maes on Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

They needed Ray Allen and Kobe

have to agree with maes, also Boozer, Pierce and amybe Iverson too

BOSH !

I'm too lazy to do more than a starting five.

PG Jason Kidd, SG Kobe Bryant SF Lebron James PF Tim Duncan C Shaquille O'Neal.

I don't see anyone stopping something like that.

The point of having all these young guys on the team is so that we have a solid core that knows how to play with each other for years to come. Wade, Lebron, Carmelo, and CP3 are going to be leading Team USA for the next 10 or so years, with Oden possibly being the center (but we'll have to see how he does in his first 2 years). I don't see Duncan, Shaq or Kidd being on the team. Guys like Brand, Ray Allen and Ben Wallace will have limited roles at best.

Jason Kidd, Chris Paul
Allen, Redd, Rip ( 3 shooters )
Lebron, Kobe, Melo ( i prefer lebron cuz hes the most unselfish one, Kobe is the best scorer and defender here, Melo is basically a scorer only )
Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand, Boozer ( Banger, rebounders )
Tim Duncan, Marcus Camby

If they are running, i would prefer those 2 PGs, but if they were playing half court, they will be better off with Bibby and a deadlier shooter.. I'll love someone like szerbiak

Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan...
What a great team

i think thats a big improvement over
Chris Paul, Wade, Melo, Lebron, Brand

They will have better rebounding, scoring (Kobe outsie, KG, TD inside), shot blocking, interior defence, more touches for Bryant and James as well..

Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan...
What a great team

i think thats a big improvement over
Chris Paul, Wade, Melo, Lebron, Brand

They will have better rebounding, scoring (Kobe outsie, KG, TD inside), shot blocking, interior defence, more touches for Bryant and James as well..

Not to mention experience, especially playoff experience, where they know what it's like to play at high level.

VINCE CARTER!!! he plays pretty gud for team USA

The thing is that a lot of players don't want to play for Team USA which is a shame... and now what's worse is it's invite only... so I'm thinking, if Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Kidd, Allen, Carter, etc all say they want to try out, would they let them? And the answer would be no which is sort of bogus but I understand that USA Basketball wants a squad made for 4 years to build chemistry...

You cannot count Melo out, He played much better than Lebron at the games, he will be in the side forever. I would get Iverson, Kobe, Dwight , Garnett and Melo in the starting 5.

So after 3, maybe 4 matches everything changes from here does it?
http://www.nbaliveforums.com/ftopic40196.php
http://www.nbaliveforums.com/ftopic41252.php

Ive got an idea, how about every week everyone post a new lineup of who they think should be in the team.

Pierce should play C, he got 19 rebounds


I think all that alcohol has killed your brain cells McGuyver...

C Duncan
PF Garnett
SF Tay Prince
SG Kobe
PG Billups

6 Ray Allen
7 Lamar Odom
8 Grant Hill (he's still a good defender and has excellent mid-range shot)
9 Chris Paul
10 D Howard
11 Camby
12 Charlie Bell

So after 3, maybe 4 matches everything changes from here does it?
http://www.nbaliveforums.com/ftopic40196.php
http://www.nbaliveforums.com/ftopic41252.php

Ive got an idea, how about every week everyone post a new lineup of who they think should be in the team.

Pierce should play C, he got 19 rebounds


I think all that alcohol has killed your brain cells McGuyver...

i thinks so but this thread is for discussion purposes only, maybe a thing or too for my team in 2007. i usually do a yearly TEAM USA roster to play in nba lives

Kidd PG
Kobe SG
Anthony SF
James PF
Camby C

You cannot count Melo out, He played much better than Lebron at the games, he will be in the side forever. I would get Iverson, Kobe, Dwight , Garnett and Melo in the starting 5.

LOL LEBRON would kick ANTHONY's butt in a 1 on 1.. Clearly.. I'd rather pick LEBRON over ANTHONY anytime..

Here's my Lineup:

C---Jermaine O'Neal (Great Defender, Great Post Scoring, Midranger)
PF--Rasheed Wallace (Same as JO but tougher)
SF--LeBron James (Pretty Much All of the Above)
SG--Rip Hamilton (Pure Shooter, OK Defense)
PG--Dwyane Wade (Does Everything)

BENCH:

SF--Carmelo Anthony (Scorer)
C---Dwight Howard (Post Scoring, Defense)
PG--Allen Iverson (Scorer--but bench because of ballhogging)
SG--Kobe Bryant (Scorer --but same as AI)
PF--Brad Miller (Post Scoring, Midranger, Three Balls, OK Defense)
PG--Kirk Hinrich (Pass First, Threes)
SF--Shawn Marion (Does Everything)

-----------------------

But if all else fails..Just send the whole MIAMI HEAT squad or put up a competition for every team in the league this season and whoever wins gets to compete for TEAM USA..

All the teams in the NBA have great team chemistry already so they need not build chemistry in a small span of time..

LOL LEBRON would kick ANTHONY's butt in a 1 on 1.. Clearly.. I'd rather pick LEBRON over ANTHONY anytime..

The thing is Melo wouldn't be taking LBJ one on one in the World Champs/Olympics... Carmelo's game is much more suited to score against the international defences anyway. As good as LeBron is, Carmelo gets the nod when it comes to international play.

Maes, actually there would be no rule against sending Reggie, and he actually said he'd be interested in playing for the US on the Dan Patrick show. Take that for what its worth.

I'd send a lineup like this:

PG- Chris Paul/Allen Iverson
SG- Michael Redd/Kobe Bryant
SF- LeBron James/Bruce Bowen
PF- Elton Brand/Jeff Foster
C- Dwight Howard/Ben Wallace

C - Dwight Howard | Brad Miller
PF - Elton Brand | Shane Battier
SF - LeBron James | Carmelo Anthony
SG - Kobe Bryant | Gilbert Arenas
PG - Chauncey Billups | Chris Paul

PG - Jason Kidd / Chris Paul / Gilbert Arenas
SG - Kobe Bryant / Dwyane Wade / Vince Carter
SF - Shawn Marion / Lebron James / Carmelo Anthony
PF - Kevin Garnett / Tim Duncan / Elton Brand
C - Dwight Howard / Ben Wallace / Chris Bosh

nets4life, the roster is only 10 players.

yea well, incase of injury