Whats your 2012 Olympic team
PG Chris Paul- best pg on the planet IMO
PG Deron Williams- will play off the ball alot, like Billups
PG Russell Westbrook- played great in the 2010 World Championships. Elite athlete, defender
SG Kobe Bryant- Dude just loves to ball, Coach K favorite
SG Dwayne Wade- Was amazing in the last Olympics as a 6th man
SG Eric Gordon- Knockdown shooter
SF Lebron James- Best perimeter defender in the world, can play all 5 spots, won't have to take last shot
SF Kevin Durant- Major coming out party in the World Championships, will play mostly at the 4, coach K loves this guy and he will be the focal point of the offense
SF Andre Iguodala- glue guy, doesnt need the ball to effect the game
PF Kevin Love- Love how Barkley called him Groundhog day, brings it every night, perfect international big
C Dwight Howard- Best Defender in the world, game changer
C Tyson Chandler- Perfect size and attitude, winner
Can't believe I left Rose off this team, easliy could have him on over Westbrook, more likey is that Wade doesn't play and Rose takes over his 6th man role. Really no room for Carmelo, Durant took over his role on the World Championship team and did it better, need more than just scoring coming off the bench. With Durant and Lebron playing lots of 4 I put Iggy on the team, if only having 2 legit centers is a concern I would put Aldridge on over Iggy, something tells me Bosh would make it though. Aldridge is a new addition to USA basketball and Bosh played the screen roll better than any big last time around. Amazing what Jerry Colangelo and Coach K have done to USA basketball. So many great players willing to play now, gonna be some bruised egos going on.
Starters:
PG - Paul
SG - Kobe
SF - Lebron
PF - Odom
C - Howard
Reserves:
G - Rose
G - Westbrook
G - Wade
F - Anthony
F - Durant
F - Love
C - Chandler
Most people will bash my Odom pick over Bosh, Griffin and Aldridge but I feel like he is more suited to play alongside a guy like Howard than any of the other PF's are. No disrespect to the rest of them but Odom is a role player and the type of guy that this team would need. I considered inserting Iggy instead of Westbrook simply because there are enough ball dominating guards on this team but I know that the Olympic team seems to always carry three PG's.
1st Team
Paul- plenty of athletes and scoring, need floor general.
Kobe- leader and go to guy.
Lebron- doesn't have to be the man, gets to do it all, shut down guys and play and guard 4 positions.
Durant - has height of position and team usa used him as well as Melo at 4 quite a bit so not a huge stretch.
Howard- not skilled, but will feast off put back, altering shots and protect the boards.
2nd Team
Williams- provides good shooting, passing and defense (overlook what's going on in NJ for now)
Wade- if healthy, hard to contain, will score and defend.
Melo- responds well to Coach K, can hit outside shots and create mismatches.
Bosh- can play solid system defense, effecient on offense, can't have enough skilled bigs.
Aldridge- good size, good skill.
Utility
Gordon- lack of 3 point threat, good defender.
Love - lack of 3 point threats on team, can stretch floor, rebound and pass.
My biggest omission was Rose. I don't think he is equipped for this type of play. Not a defender or shooter and I think he is too similiar to Wade. Westbrook's low IQ and forgetting about how to play with other great players makes him a liability. I like Odom's versatility, but the other guys at his position offer more. Tyson not needed. Tired of seeing guys make teams because they are tall. He's not a skilled big and does not rebound well. Obviously people think of Bynum should have been on the team, but I could have made a case for someone like Marcus Camby though neither is an option. Iggy probably would have been my last guy out. I like how he defends and I think he knows how to play a role. Griffin, although fun, just not skilled enough for it.
Allen makes a ton of sense for them, but I think they were big on guys getting into the program a few years back and then picking from that pool. Allen would definitely make the team if he was an option.
I wouldn't be surprised if Wade and Melo play a deul 6th man role. I can see Wade being first guard off bench and Melo being first forward. It wouldn't be too far fetched to not see much of your 4s in the Olympics unless one of them plays at the 5 or matchup dictates it. I think Melo, Lebron and Durant may be at the 4 much more than any of you are used to seeing.
As far as the Rose comments go, I don't think he's a definite. They have plenty of scorers, which is what Rose does best. While I would love for him to be on the team because I think it would help him continue to grow as a player, I don't think he fits. He's a streaky shooter. You have enough of those. Doesn't get to the free throw line enough considering his ability. A good, but not great passer and nothing special as a defender. Sure he had his moments in 2010, but as the competition got better, he faded. Not everyone excels in international competition and it's not about just grabbing your 12 best guys. What role does he fit or need does he fit on THIS team? If the team needs anything it's probably another 3 point threat and a more defensive minded big. Neither of which is much of an option from the 20 that were picked. If Curry had been given a chance to make the team, I would have had him higher than Rose too. He's not better than Rose, but once again he fits a need and his deficiences are going to be minimized by some of the other guys around him.
This can be 1 of the best olympic team. The players that could make the team are amazing. Some of you picked some good rosters BUT whoever thinks rose shouldnt make it....slap yourself for saying that. 1st off is everybody thats going to be on the 2012 all star team that are starting are going to make the team. This should be the 12 man team: 1) Carmelo SF/PF 2) Kobe G/SF 3) Kevin Durant SF/PF 4) Blake PF/C 5) Dwight C 6) Bron SF/PF 7) CP3 G 8) D Rose G 9) D Wade G/SF 10) K Love C 11) Deron Williams G 12) Westbrook or Andre
JMHO but Deron Williams is a better fit than Rose, he's just a better player in the international game cause of his shooting ability and passing.
To me CP3 and Deron are the 1st and 2nd team PG's. If they decide to have 3 PG's Rose would be the third, there is no place for Russel Westbrook on this team, he is not a good international player.
@Delfam
Did you watch the World Games??? Westbrook was tenacious at the defensive end and could penetrate against any defense. He outplayed Rose in my opinion.
It'll be tough to cut Westbrook because he's amazing in the run and jump defense that Team USA loved to play.
Deron and Russ battling for that last spot should be fun to watch.
And it'll be interesting to see if Love or Griffin can beat out Bosh or Aldridge. I think Aldridge and Bosh are locks though due to their ability to play both sides of the ball. And they both can play center.
I think it's safe to say that the players who won Gold in 2008 are locks. Paul, Williams, Kobe, Wade, James, Melo, Bosh and Howard. That's 8 spots. 4 left.
Durant is a lock. D. Rose isn't getting cut. Might as well call him a lock. That's 10 spots. 2 spots left.
Team USA carried a third big and shooting guard in 2008. Odom, Aldridge, Griffin and Love will battle it out. I'd like Odom's chances IF his mind is there... If not, then it's Aldridge. He defends better than Love and Griifin, plus stretches the floor and plays both big spots.
With Billups' Achilles injury, I think Gordon is the logical choice for the designated shooter role.
Id put LA in for Tyson. And Blake in for Iggy. Its been too long since weve had a guy in the olympics that could jump over a 7 footer.