[JNixonParticipant]

I don’t know how heavily this game weighs in the decision on who to keep (probably not ALL that great) but I’ll pretend it does weigh sizably :).

White:

Kevin Durant- He’s definitely the best and most talented player on the floor. Makes his plays look easy. Scored 28, and it was the smoothest you’d ever see. No need to go in depth. Lock to make the team

Derrick Rose- He may be the fastest player on Earth with the ball in his hands lmao. I watch him play and every time I’m amazed by his speed. Has like 3 gears. Also did a good job creating in the drive and dish. Should make the team. Provides an athletic freak who can create from himself and others easily.

Andre Iguodala- Did pretty good. Defended effectively on everyone he switched on to. Made his outside shots. Made good passes via ball swings. Did OK in transition. He was a little erratic at times though and tried a few difficult/impossible plays. I believe he’ll make it, and his game tonight certainly doesn’t change my mind. Provides some of everything, and his shot was falling tonight.

Stephen Curry- Every time he misses a jumper, it’s like a bit og surprise to me. He didn’t do a great job of getting in the teeth of the D, but he did a solid job shooting I think lol. He struggled a little on D though. Still, with his combo guard abilities and jump shot he should make it. Perfect for FIBA ball.

Eric Gordon- Jump shot was great and he made athletic plays in transition. Played solid D too, especially on the ball. He’s not a great shot-creator for himself in the half-court, as he is an iffy ball-handler in traffic. Played a little PG sparingly. Still, I’d say he has a very good chance of making it (?).

Tyson Chandler- I thought he was OK. Probably the overall best performance of any of the true low post guys. He’s never been a shot-creator, but he blocked shots and scored around the rim and showed himself for open shots. He provides the rebounding (especially on the offensive end) and shot-blocking to make the team.

Gerald Wallace- He provided some toughness and things that don’t go on the stat sheet. Thing is, he struggled in half-court and his jump shot didn’t look good. I have doubts he’ll make it.

Danny Granger- He kinda blended in out there. He has the ability to score without the ball, but he was a little lethargic I thought. Also played shaky D. He could make it, but this game doesn’t help.

Lamar Odom- Can play 5 positions and rebounds well. He should make the team with his versatility, but he just may not. Didn’t play very good.

Blue:

Rudy Gay- Provides serious scoring punch of course. The thing is, will he pass the ball and defend? He can rack up points, but he’s a little bit of a chucker and he’s a little one-dimensional. The fact that he can play SG, SF, and PF will help him though. I’d be shocked if he didn’t make it.

Rajon Rondo- He can defend and made some nice passes. He also tried to do a bit too much at times, and gambled too much on D. He could make it, but I don’t know. His great D, slashing and playmaking will all weigh heavily.

Javale McGee- Continues to show that he will be a breakout guy next year. Continues to show a strong post arsenal and explosive athleticism. Not a great rebounder really. Still, his athleticism, ability to score in spurts, and the injury risks of bigs could see him on the team.

Russell Westbrook- Also extremely fast. His jump shot is poor though. VERY poor. His ability to play 2 spots and defend help, but his lack of shooting ability makes him a bit unsafe to make the team I’d say.

Brook Lopez- He’s not looking good IMO. He is a shaky rebounder and defender for his size, and it has shown at times this game a little. Although much better and talented than Chandler, he might not be better for the team and hasn’t outplayed him really either. Not even in the practices on NBATV that I watched.

OJ Mayo- Aggressive on D and a polished scorer. I’d keep him. Him and Eric Gordon are in a TIGHT race. I can’t call who I think will come out on top either.

Kevin Love- He is a beast on the glass and has some finesse skill, but his D limits him. Also not a shot-blocker. Doubt he makes it.

Chauncey Billups was mediocre to below. He made open shots, and ran the team alright, but he made some lazy plays (including a blown breakaway lay-up) and wasn’t great on D, especially in transition. He has the intangibles and shooting to make it, but he honestly looked “old” in the game, especially when matched with Derrick Rose.

Jeff Green- Played bad I’d say. Lacked aggression and rarely made his presence felt. Doubt he makes it. I almost want to say he played nervous.

[llperez]

i htink love makes it. He hit the glass harder then anyone on the court and had one posseieion where he got 3 offensive rebounds in a row. He passes and knocks down jumpers. I like his chances over mcgee, green and lopez for inside players.

[JNixonParticipant]

He could, he fits FIBA ball well. I don’t think he’ll make it, but this is a good setting for him so I could very well be wrong.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

I really dont know why they kept playing Billups & Rondo together…That was a bad combo…They had no chemistry and struggled to score..Mayo pushed to tempo and hit some shots when he came in..

Lamar Odom looked out of shape.

4 guys that should be cut next week..

Rondo…Odom…Wallace…Green

[llperez]

no way odom should be cut. His versatility is too important. Only thing he did bad was take jumpers and miss them. His passing and moving the ball for a big man will be very valuable.

[JNixonParticipant]

Yeah Odom is the only guy who can play 5 spots, and he has experience. I wouldn’t cut him.

[llperez]

of these 18, i would cut wallace, granger, westbrook, mcgee, green and rondo.

I love westbrook, but his jumper was the most broke of any of the gaurds. You could easily flip flop gay and granger, either could make it but probably not both. Rondo, im not hating cuase he actually impresses me more and more but style wise, not really liking him on this team. Green didnt do anything to impress me today. Mcgee is young. Wallace is a scrap player, but once again, the theme is shooting and he doesnt bring that.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’d keep McGee instead of Lopez on *this* team.

I think McGee runs the floor and blocks shots better. He seems to play with more energy as well.

[llperez]

mcgee will bring more energy and running the court and finishing ability. Lopez brings more toughness and physicality around the rim. Could go either way. But brook looked out of his element today and the up and down pickup game style was a better fit for mcgees game.

[Stojakovicfor3Participant]

I think Love will make it. He provides rebounding and his game is fit for international play with his 3-point range and fantastic passing ability. Only 3 centers right now and I wouldn’t be suprised if McGee made the team. Like you guys said I would rather have McGee over Chandler also. I agree with everyting you said especially Jeff Green playing like crap. Rondo had that amazing crossover and then faked the pass and passed it to Green for an easy layup and he missed it. I think he missed 4 or 5 easy layups.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Lopez’s main strength is his low post offense and that won’t really be an emphasis for team USA. I think a front court of Chandler, McGee, Love and Odom would be the best way to go.

I like Durant, Iguodala, Billups, Rose and Curry to make it. I think Lopez, Wallace and Green will be cut.

I have a tough time choosing between:

– Mayo and Gordon
– Granger and Gay
– Westbrook and Rondo

[JNixonParticipant]

Gay should easily make it over Granger I’d say if it’s between those 2.

I’d pick Rondo over Westbrook too..

The hard one is Gordon or Mayo. They provide and don’t provide the same exact things. That’s tough.

[marcusfizer21Participant]

Rajon Rondo’s "gambling" decisions on D is too risky… He is definitely prone to foul troubles if he makes the team… Now, this is not the NBA, this is FIBA where referees can be head scratchers most of the time in terms of their calls…

Gerald Wallace and Jeff Green are sure to be cut… I will be very very surprise if they make the 15 man roster…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’m not a huge fan of Gay’s style of play. He dribbles too much and can be a ball stopper. He also doesn’t defend.

IF I could, I’d keep both Gordon and Mayo and cut Rondo and Westbrook. IF I had to choose between those two, I’d go with Gordon. I like his length, strength and athleticism… He doesn’t pressue the ball like Mayo, but he’s a very good defender. They’re about equal in shooting.

Then I’d keep Rondo over Westbrook. I don’t like Westbrook’s shot selection and his jumper is broke.

[CelticJayhawkParticipant]

I didn’t watch the game (saw inception instead), but as long as this team isn’t like the paul pierce-led team usa that finished 6th? I’ll be happy. That was so embarrassing.

[ChewyParticipant]

pg D.Rose
sg S. Curry
sf K. Durant
pf Granger or Gay
c T. Chandler

pg2 C. Billups
sg2 OJ Mayo
sf2 Granger or Gay
pf2 L. Odom
c2 B. Lopez

sub E. Gordon
sub J. Mcgee

[bullsfan121212]

PG- Derrick Rose
SG- AI
SF- Kevin Durant
PF- Kevin Love
C- Tyson Chandler

PG- Eric Gordan
SG- Curry
SF- Granger
PF- Gay
C- Odom

Lopez and Billups

[ChewyParticipant]

bullsfan, do you think iggy can handle playing the two? The US is trying to play a two pg offense and im not sure about his ball handling.

also, no OJ Mayo? how come?

[bullsfan121212]

i think iggy would be a good physical two for the press. but he would still get some time at the three two.

just like gordan would get time at the two as well

i just like having three centers on a team and three pgs.

[Author]

Posts