[Winning_TimeParticipant]

How is it that Lamar Odom is still on our national team, are they gonna give him the boot already or is he really gonna play ball for us?

Also, if Boeheim and D’Antoni are assistant coaches, are we gonna play zone and run or are they just kinda there?

 

[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

It would be a bad idea to have Odom on the Olympic team considering he only tries when celebrities are in the stands and I doubt Denzel, Andy Garcia, Fergie, Mark Wahleberg and Jack Nicholson make the tript o London.

[Winning_TimeParticipant]

 Is there any shot Lin plays for China, I know he was born in LA and stuff and would have to become a chinese citizen, but does he have an interest?

 

[llperez]

Well odom was the second best player on the ’10 team behind durant. But he won’t make the Olympic roster. They just haven’t dismissed him, but I doubt he’s in their plans.

[frogmanParticipant]

It should never happen but Lin probably could play for China with the ridiculous loopholes that Olympic basketball has.  I mean if Chris Kaman can end up playing for Germany anythings possible.  Hell I’m probably eligible to play for Angola because of some far off ancestor I didn’t even know I had.

 

[raybeasParticipant]

vacated by Odom (although he’s healthy), Rose(knee), Howard(back), Bosh(abdominal), Kidd(age). Aldridge would be in line, but he’s injured too. Cousins, Griffin, Harden, Kyrie should fill some of those spots, but still one or two left.

[ChewyParticipant]

are there because while the US won’t play much zone, but pretty much every other team in the thing will try it against the US. It’s good to have people on staff that know how zones work and how to attack them. Plus, name a coach with more international experience than D’Antoni.

[Sewok15Participant]

Odom should be forced to play overseas the rest of his career because he represents everything that is wrong with the NBA today.

[benjo34]

 Odom was important player to that 10 team,but i dont see him in the roster for the olympic games..About Lin,i heard that he is in Select Team with Wall,Irving,Cousins,Favors,Demar DeRozan etc.

[NYK2010Participant]

Damn really, not like he got paid 20 million a year and was out of shape.

He shouldn’t have been paid when the Mavs let him go though.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I don’t get it… IF Lamar Odom is healthy enough, both physically and mentally, why won’t he have a shot at the Olympics? He’s more versatile than both Kevin Love and Blake Griffin combined and he was Team USA’s second best player in the World Games.

I don’t get the harsh words towards him either. It didn’t work out in Dallas for multiple reasons. The fit wasn’t right. They never really found out how to use him. He wasn’t in the best shape due to the lockout (Dirk wasn’t either). He was dealing with a ton of personal issues. Yea, he’s a professional NBA player and paid millions, but the man is only human.

 

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

He’s old, and he’s more concerned with his reality Tv show then his NBA career…

I also don’t won’t Wade representing the USA either, he and Odom can stay home, so can Amare and Melo for that matter, we don’t need to show the world a team full of selfish spoiled pampered cry babies and divas…I want a Young Olympic Team full of hard workers

I want Kevin Durant and Tyson Chandler to lead our team as Captains

[aamir543Participant]

What’s worse is what his wife said, here are what "sources" said.

“The real reason she [Khloe] wants Lamar to be picked [for the U.S. Olympic basketball team] is so they can tape episodes for Khloe & Lamar or some reality show. Khloe wants a more diverse fan base and is hoping London will do the trick, considering that’s where the 2012 Olympics will be,”

“Plus all the Kardashians are going to London this summer to tape Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Khloe is putting tons of pressure on Lamar and he is completely stressed out. He feels like he has to be picked not only because of his own career, but because of Khloe and her mom, whom he considers his own mom. It’s too much pressure for Lamar,”

“Khloé thinks the best way for Lamar to get a new deal with a NBA team is if pro coaches were to see how he performs at the Olympics. Lamar would love to sign a new deal with either the Lakers or Clippers, because Los Angeles is his home, but he loves the game so much that he will go where he is needed. Lamar isn’t ready to retire, period.”

That is just complete BS. I’ve never liked the Kardashians, but every single one of them seems annoying as hell. The olympic team is not some attitude rehabilitation center, it’s a place where GREAT players help their country win gold, not where a depressed past his prime vet can come and get his life together. There was another quote saying how Khloe said their relationship depended on it. What? I mean these people need to do some real soul searching and stop seeking attention at every corner.

Even if Lamar had continued at the level of play that got him 6th man of the year, I doubt he would make it even then, but now there’s no way whatsoever, Coach K said all returners will get consideration, but personally there are at least 50-100 players I would take over Odom at this point, and with this baggage, no one probably even wants him on their team, but someone will take a flier hoping the talent is still there.

And the fact that he doesn’t want to play anywhere outside of LA is crazy. You’re a damn professional! Not an emotional Diva on a Reality show. I’m just really fed up with that whole situation.

[boffacheeriosParticipant]

Lin isn’t even chinese, so no he wouldn’t play for china.

[UNCbasketballbumParticipant]

The Kardashians need to be sent to the moon and we should never send a ship back for them.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

What y’all are talking about is irrellevant. I could give a F about the Kardashians or they’re reality tv show.

IF Lamar Odom goes into camp mentally and physically healthy and he EARNS his spot, then why shouldn’t he represent the USA?

During the World Championships, he was probably the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team.

[invalidParticipant]

 i thought lin is taiwanese

[aamir543Participant]

But Indiana Basketball, look at these players.

Lebron, Kobe, Wade, Paul, Durant, Chandler, Melo, Bosh, D-Will, Westbrook, and Love.

That’s 11 guys that are head and shoulders better than Lamar. A couple of those guys might not be on it, but then there’s still Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Danny Granger, Iggy, and Rondo. 

Dwight, D-Rose, possibly LaMarcus Aldridge, and Amare won’t be healthy for the Olympics, but even then there are so many choices.

I agree with what you’re saying about Lamar coming in with a fresh mind and playing his a$$ off, but there are just so many other talented guys, I haven’t even mentioned up and comers that could warrant one spot, like Cousins, Anthony Davis, Curry, Jennings, Wall. They most likely won’t get on this year, but I’m pretty sure that Odom will have too much competition to make it, but then again, he is still one damn talented player so you never know.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 Lin is Taiwanese, but he has ancestors from China and China doesn’t respect Taiwan’s sovereignty, so China sees him as Chinese.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@aamir543

 

Of those players you mentioned, you should take out those who aren’t capable of playing the 4/5. Lamar Odom won’t be competing against Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, etc, etc for a spot.

 

Here are the facts. Dwight Howard is out. Lamarcus Aldridge is out. Chris Bosh could be out, depending on his abdominal injury, which takes quite awhile to heal. Amare Stoudemire isn’t an option. That leaves Tyson Chandler, who’s offensively challenged. Carmelo Anthony will be there at the four. Kevin Love will be there, considering he brings not only shooting/rebounding, but also experience. After that, who do you have? Blake Griffin can’t defend, isn’t a reliable shooter and has no FIBA experience. Odom is the only big man that provides the versatility at both ends, plus has the experience Team USA needs.

 

Another thing is this isn’t the NBA. This is the Olympics. The rules are different and so is the style of play. Kevin Love won’t be the star on this team. He’ll play a role. He won’t get to shoot 20 times like he does in Minnesota. He’ll be a pick and pop big man, who rebounds and outlets to guards on this team.

[Seamo15Participant]

 As an Australian I’m going to be going for USA and Australia equally. Our best player will be Patty Mills since Bogut is injured and Kyrie Irving decided not to play for us, so I expect to see us no where near medal contention.

[Author]

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