frontcurry01.jpg

By Tyler Ingle

The 2010 FIBA World Championship kicks off on August 28. This year the usually dominate USA Team will have no gold medal handed to them on a silver platter. They will be playing tough competition, while having a new, young batch of players that are trying to mesh together to form a winning team. Coach Mike Krzyzewski has been saying that he wants a defensive-minded team, with versatile players who can guard multiple positions. This will factor into the decision of who are the last three among the current 15 players to get cut from the roster. The roster must be cut to 12 at least a day before the USA plays it’s first game in Istanbul, Turkey against Croatia. Let’s take a look at who is likely to represent the USA in the 2010 FIBA World Championship this summer.

Guards

Derrick Rose – There isn’t much question about whether or not Rose will make the final cut. Talent-wise, he is arguably the second best player on the roster. He has a big, strong body that will really bode well for him in international play. His remarkable penetrating ability will allow him to score at will and create for his teammates. Rose is also a steady floor general, who won’t make reckless decisions in crunch time. If he has improved his shooting ability as much as he says he has, then not only will he take FIBA by storm, but he could also find himself on the Olympic roster in 2012 vying for a starting role.

Chauncey Billups – Billups is as reliable as they come. He may not have the same defensive ability that he used to, but he is another big guard who can post up and shoot efficiently. He knows how to run a competitive team better than anybody else on the roster. He lacks the flash and quickness of Westbrook, Rose or Rondo, but he knows how to use his abilities to be effective. Don’t count on this savvy veteran getting cut from the roster.

Stephen Curry – Curry’s basketball IQ and shooting ability puts him in a prime postion to get big minutes. He also possesses a rare attribute that nobody talks about enough, adaptability. He can play either the 1 or the 2 and he can play well with or without the ball. This kind of versatility and unselfishness is exactly what Mike Krzyzewski is looking for. Curry should only see positive results playing against international competition. Look for him to put up big numbers.

Russell Westbrook – Westbrook is a tenacious defender. He has the ability to overwhelm the opposing team’s ball handler into making a lot of mistakes. When Mike Krzyzewski wants his team to press on defense, Westbrook will prove to be extremely valuable. Westbrook’s length, size, quickness and explosiveness will allow him to play and guard two different positions. He may be asked to play off the ball a bit more than he does with the Thunder, which could end up helping him play more efficiently. Unlike Billups and Rose, Westbrook is by no means a lock to make the final roster. Eric Gordon or Rajon Rondo could end up being the last guard selected.

Forwards

Andre Iguodala – Iguodala has been impressing a lot of people so far in camp. He has been shooting the ball well (made all three long range attempts in the blue/white scrimmage) and he fits the bill of what Mike Krzyzewski wants to a tee; defense and versatility. Iguodala is apparently a shoo-in to make the team, and his role will be the lock-down defender for Team USA. His ability to guard four positions will ensure that he gets a good deal of time on the floor.

Kevin Durant – Kevin Durant will be the primary scorer on Team USA. It’s tough to think of any players in the tournament who legitimately have a chance of stopping him. His combination of length, quickness, and downright ridiculous shooting ability is going to make him just about unguardable. Durant can (and most likely will) play four different positions for the USA. He also has the vision and unselfishness to be a fantastic team player, but don’t think that this will confine him in any way. Right now this is his team, and it is refreshing to see him embrace that leadership and commit to winning.

Rudy Gay – When Gay is on the floor, his job will be to shoot the rock. He lit it up during the blue/white scrimmage with a team-high 23 points. He should again be able to use his skill set to put up points in a hurry, while contesting shots on the defensive end of the floor. Gay will be best suited as a catch-and-shoot player, finding seems and making open shots. He could prove to be another valuable role player for Coach K, even in limited minutes.

Lamar Odom – Another veteran on the team couldn’t hurt, especially one as versatile as Lamar Odom is. He’s another passer, another rebounder, another defender and somebody who can handle the ball and break down the defense. Mike Krzyzewski will likely use him in as many roles as possible. We might even see him play center at times if Tyson Chandler gets into foul trouble or JaVale McGee doesn’t make the team.

Jeff Green – If Green survives the last cut, then he would likely play a similar role to Lamar Odom. He lacks the same experience that Odom has, but is a better outside shooter. Coach Krzyzewski is apparently very high on Green, due to his defense and versatility, and with all of the front court uncertainty it’s hard to blame him. Still, Green doesn’t have any standout skills that Lamar Odom and Rudy Gay don’t have. For this reason, Jeff Green might not see a lot of playing time.

Centers

Tyson Chandler – Once considered a long shot to make the team, Chandler is in a position where he will most likely be starting for the USA. Players like Amare Stoudemire, David Lee, Brook Lopez and Robin Lopez all had better chances of making the team than Chandler, who is coming off a season where he only averaged 6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. Now he has the very big responsibility of protecting the paint on defense, and cleaning up the glass. There are a lot of talented big men among the participating teams in this year’s tournament, so Chandler is going to have his hands full. He isn’t Dwight Howard, but he will be asked to play a similar role.

Kevin Love – Every team needs a real offensive post presence. Kevin Love brings that to this team. He’s a big’s big, who can score inside and out. He is a gifted passer, and a relentless rebounder. He may not be the most gifted defender, but at least he has the girth to hold his position on the block. Love fits well in the front court with Chandler, McGee and Odom and his vision is sure to make shooters like Durant and Curry happy. I think that Kevin Love is really going to come in handy off the bench for the USA.

JaVale McGee – Ehhh, I don’t believe for a second the McGee is on the same level as the rest of these guys. Maybe at some point in the future, but right now McGee only makes the team so they have more than one 7-footer. At the moment, he brings shot-blocking to the team. He should also be able to score a few points in transition, by using his uncanny mobility and size. I am somewhat skeptical that McGee survives the final cuts, but if he does, his role in game situations will likely be minimal. It’s good experience for him though and his potential is still through the roof.

Cuts

Rajon Rondo – Rondo is a tough cut. He has proven that he can play with stars and be effective. He is a monster defensively and uses his speed to get anywhere he wants to go. His big issue is outside shooting. Westbrook isn’t a much better shooter, but has proven to be able to play multiple positions. Something that the smaller Rajon Rondo wouldn’t have the same success with.

Eric Gordon – Gordon has been getting good reviews and has been playing solid for Team USA, but he doesn’t display the same versatility as Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala or Stephen Curry. His shooting ability and defense could land him a spot as a role player if the USA opts to cut JaVale McGee, but currently there is a bevy of talented guards on the roster, and only a few bigs. Unfortunately, it appears that Eric Gordon is the odd man out.

Danny Granger – Well, this will upset a lot of fans. Granger is a very talented scorer/shooter and he has the size to play multiple positions. However, their have been some questions about his defense (Larry Bird went so far as to say that his defense is poor when he feels he can overmatch his opponent). Also you have to take into account that he is much more ball-dominant than Iguodala and Gay. Granger has a chance to make the team over Green, but he will have to do much better than he did in the blue/white scrimmage (5 points, 5 fouls).

Facebooktwitterredditmail
41 Comments

41 Comments

  2. I think it should be:
    Billups
    I think it should be:

    Billups (Has good leadership qualities and shooting is good for FIBA ball)
    Curry (Perfect for FIBA)
    Durant (Obvious)
    Odom (Will be bigger than every opponent he faces and can move just as well)
    Chandler (Defensive purposes)

  3. Rondo is not getting
    Rondo is not getting cut….thats kind of ridiculous….I think that you substitute Rondo and Granger in for Green and McGee and thats your roster for the team

    My starting 5 would be

    PG- Rose
    SG- Billups
    SF- Iguodala
    PF- Durant
    C- Chandler

    Its tough because Rose and Billups may not be the best backcourt combination, but Billups provides leadership, and Rose is too good not to start….Curry probably fits in better with that starting lineup, but i think thats what the 5 will be

  5. “Gay will be best suited as a
    “Gay will be best suited as a catch-and-shoot player.”

    He’s never been that type of player in his life. He’s not really an efficient/score on limited shots/minutes type of player. He’s a volume shooter and stops ball movement.

    “Also you have to take into account that he (Granger) is much more ball-dominant than Iguodala and Gay.”

    No, he’s not… Granger scores most of his points off of catch and shoot, one/two dribble pull ups and playing off of the ball. He’s not even close to be as ball dominant or needing of isolations to score as Iguodala and Gay.

    And IF they cut Gordon, they won’t have a true two guard on the roster.

    • Nice Starting Lineup
      Yeah I agree with your line up as it can hopefully overwhelm teams with its combination of length and athleticism, from the start. Plus putting the 2 vets in from the beginning is a good idea. Odom can keep the floor open with his range. Bring the uptempo guys off the bench to speed the game up even more. It will be a smaller lineup off the bench but unmatched in speed and the press.

      PG- Billups
      SG- Iguodala
      SF- Durant
      PF- Odom
      C- Chandler

      Bench:
      Rose
      Curry
      Rondo
      Westbrook
      Love
      McGee/Green
      Gay

      But also if the lineup starts as we say then it means you only have Gay off the bench at a forward/Wing spot, think maybe Green makes the team over both Granger and McGee.

  8. Granger is more ball-dominant
    Granger is more ball-dominant than Iguodala is. Iguodala doesn’t score/play in isos all that much at all honestly. Iguodala also doesn’t look to score as much as Granger.

  9. No he’s not. Looking to score
    No he’s not. Looking to score doesn’t mean Granger is more “ball dominant”.

    Ball dominant means what it says… That a player dominates the ball. Granger does NOT dominate the ball at all. He plays primarily off of the ball and scores most of his points off of catch/shoot or one/two dribble pull ups.

    He doesn’t handle the ball nearly as much as Iguodala. And he also doesn’t rely on isolations to score or stop ball movement anything close to what Gay does.

  10. If you use possessions more,
    If you use possessions more, which happens when you look to score more, you then become more ball-dominant. Also, until this past season Iguodala was an off-ball scorer and distributor. Granger has dominated the ball more than Iguodala for roughly the past 3 years now.I watch enough Granger and more than enough Iguodala to know he’s not more ball-dominant than Granger is. Even in a season like last year when Iguodala was more ball-dominant than ever, I can’t say he had the ball more than Granger did.

  11. Rose
    Curry
    Durant
    Love
    Chandl
    Rose
    Curry
    Durant
    Love
    Chandler
    Off the bench Iggy, billups, and Odom/Green will be getting the majority of the minutes. J. Green should go on this team because he is accustomed to defending PF which only Odom and Love can do, with both of those guys guarding the 5 spot as well, he’ll be able to find minutes on the court.

  12. opinion
    This starting list is very impressive – young, versatile, defencive. But there is one problem, too, with that and that will be on the offensive end of the floor. This team is TOO much versatile and does not possess brutal strength from inside or plain and simple strengthness, how to get 8 – 12 easy baskets (fast-breaks not considered), which limites offensive possibilites for team USA remarkably. What´s going to happen:

    European teams can read. And one thing is certain – european teams are tactically very advanced. Now they know, that
    1. USA will press all the time
    2. USA counts for fast-break-baskets
    3. USA does not have proper body in center or PF to produce inside.
    4. USA does not have something especially strong to defend inside
    5. USA wants to shoot from all over the floor, except inside the paint
    6. USA wants to play pick and roll and is prepared to defend pick and roll.
    USA media has communicated team USA-s war-plan whole summer long. European team know – how USA will play. USA:
    1. does not know, how european teams intend to play
    2. what will they try to stop the machine.

    Long story short: European teams will pack the paint. Which is already known. But they will use not only the zone defence, but mostly helping man – to – man, what they are used to play for years. They will callenge every outside shot and cause relatively low percentige behind the arc. THEY WILL get the rebounds – in smaller area you dont have to be so agile to get the rebaound – and if u have 2.20 ( 7.3 or 7.4) centers, you will get the boards. Then they gonna bring the ball over with quick ball movement, not try to dribble the ball. Once they are set – they going to run multiple combinations, to get open looks. They gonna still play pick and roll against weaker bigman – JaVale McGee and draw the fouls. There is a really big difference between 5 and 6 fouls per game. They gonna get McGee or Chandler into a foul trouble, and then it´s going to be easier to run a more balanced offence. And team USA can be quite sure, that every team comes with a surprises both in defence and offence. They gonna use strength to score from inside – Sophokles Shortsanitis for example from Greece etc.

    Some of teams gonna still loose. But some of them gonna win USA before the final. And as a result – USA will not gonna see a gold medal this time. Everyone know the story of David and Kolyat. If you gonne try to win with brutal force, somebody outsmarts you sooner or later. And that´s what gonna happen this time.

  15. Ralwarez
    Ralwarez, you are clearly foreign by the grammatical structuring of your sentences (or lack thereof) and a hater of USA basketball. Just because European teams know how the USA will play doesn’t mean they have the ability to stop them in transition or in the pick and roll offense.

    Also the USA bigs are used to a much more physical game in the NBA so they will be able to handle any inside scorers opposing teams can throw at them. Green, Odom, and Love will be able to play acceptable defense in the post.

    Lastly Coach K is one of the best coaches in the world. He will instruct the team how to attack and defend against international basketball. The USA players will be in the right positions and with their exceptional athletic abilities and length it will be tough for other teams to score and defend.

  18. wow
    im gunna go with

    billups
    rose
    durant
    gay
    chandler

    but we could really use dwight howard or at least amare… just sayin the center game is lookin pretty week when were playin against guys like bogut, nowitzki and marc gasol in there environment. even big sofo is gunna have his way with tyson im sorry to say. hopefully we can spread the floor and maybe even go small with iggy instead of chandler if it works. to me this doesnt look like a gold medal team tho

  19. answer
    Yes, I´m european. And no – I´m not a hater of USA basketball – actually my favourite league in the world is NCAA and then NBA. I am not saying, that european teams can stop USA in transition – my prognosis is, that USA will get less boards than they think – and that´s what really does´nt let them run transition as much as they hope.
    About physicality – generally NBA bigmen are much more physical then european players, which does not mean, that there is no physical players in europe. But there are two thing:
    1. Big men in this USA team are not very physical – except Kevin Love. Chandler and Green are quite tweeners actually at this level. Odom is mediocre.
    2. European whistle style does not give so much advantage for the offender in the paint than in NBA. At the same time in europe u can use your hands in defence and rebounding qute a lot. The “handcheck rule” does not actually applie here, especially in the paint. I don´t like it, but that´s the way it is.
    Lastly – coach K is really very, very good coach, especially valuated in USA. But no way I can agree, that he is one of the best coaches in the world. First of all – he still is mainly a college coach – and college ball is not pro ball, as fine as the competition at NCAA basketball is. He does have olympic gold. But there are several coaches, who have olympic gold, World Championship gold and several other international wins. Dushan Ivkovic for example. Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania, Italy, Spain etc have really strong basketball scene as well. And then – of course – Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers, Larry Brown etc. As much as I respect coach K, I cannot compare him with them. personally I consider several college coaches a better tacticians than coach K – Tom Izzo, Bill Self, Frank Martin, Bob Huggins for example.

    It´s not so smart to guess, that everyone, who brings up arguments, which does not conclude, that team USA is supreme and will win the gold medals in any case, is a hater on unted states basketball. What the next guess would be, that he is an enemy of united states or islamic terrorist? Your story sounds like a prayer or or some kind of propaganda. As you like to name USA a free country – I wish more free thinking and mental tolerance.

  21. billups has to start
    i dont see USA not starting billups as he is the best leader with the most experience, both international and professional
    he also has the best shot(except maybe curry and gordon), which is what USA needs out of their backcourt
    i see him being like jason kidd, meaning he starts the game and they see what they do throughout the rest..

  22. My starting 5…….
    I’ll go with these 5 guys as starters

    Billups
    Rose
    Durant
    Odom
    Love

    I think though the starters will actually change depending on the team we are playing. We will need some type of inside scoring, and Love and Odom provide that much more than either Chandler or McGee. Odom has the ability catch the ball at the high post, inside the zone defenses we’ll face most of the time, and make plays. Our 3 pt shooting, rebounding, and defense will be the keys. Our transition game will be unstopable with any of our players, but it will be our execution in the half-court against the zones that will determine our success.

    I think the cuts will be Granger, Green, and Rondo; I think Gordon makes it as another “zone-buster” 3 pt shooter.

  23. team usa go small
    It’s a long term strategy for team usa to go small.I think team usa will bring no more than 3 low post player to international competitions ever after they study the international games. International big teams excel at advanced game plan and precise execution that team usa find difficult to match. Team usa needs to use their players’ superior atheletism and enomous talent to neutralize opponents’ solid fundamentals and off-the-charts basketball IQ.

    team usa’ biggest advantage is their depth,therefore turn the game into an endurance contest is a very smart move.fatigue will cause precision and execution efficiency drop.

    grange and gordon should stay.

  24. “the blue/white scrimmage” is some sort of All star game
    I don’t think you can judge any player simply in one game, especially it’s not against other national teams.

    Granger and Gordon should all make to the final roster since they are shooters and you got to have them when facing the zone defense in half-court offense.

    Since Odom has already prepared playing the center, I doubt that McGee would make the cut.

    Startings lineup:
    Billups, Iggy, Durant, Odom, Chandler

    Bench:
    Rose, Curry, Westbrook, Gordon, Granger, Gay, and Love

  25. there are some non 2008 Gold
    there are some non 2008 Gold medal guys who I think could have been on this squad if they were asked or not injured

    I mean the PGs are set so I don’t really need to mention others although Brooks, Stuckey, Wall and Mo Will woulda been nice to see get out there

    Brandon Roy- recovering from knee surgery, a perfect 2nd option to Durant- still in the pool for 2012 from what I heard

    Joe Johnson- veteran scorer/shooter and can guard 3 positions

    Kevin Martin- prolly would have been a specialist like they’re gonna use Curry

    JJ Redick- specialist and he can somewhat defend

    Shane Battier- leader, winner and defensive specialist

    Lamarcus Aldridge- his game is perfect for international play…head scratcher why he backed out

    Greg Oden- would have been an anchor defensively but might have trouble staying on the court pickin up dumb fouls

    Blake Griffin- i said last summer he’d be in for sure if he was healthy…hopefully he’ll be on the 2012 squad

    Andrew Bynum- another enforcer if not hurt or hadn’t declined

    Marcus Camby- an older version of Mcgee..haha

    Josh Smith- game doesn’t fit in the internationall game but he blocks shots n rebounds

    DeMarcus Cousins- this is a stretch I know, but he’s 6’11 and he rebounds n the coaching staff would not have any of his tantrums. he’d get in check real quick

    Carl Landry- brings his hard hat and lunch pale every night

  27. My starting
    My starting 5:

    Rose
    Curry
    Durant
    Odom
    Chandler

    I say rose at point because he’ll be able to break down defenses regardless of the resistance and also be able to get to the rim and the line regularly as well as create for his other guys. Curry should start because he excels in moving without the ball and can be efficient in catch and shoot situations. Durant is obvious as i don’t know if theres anyone with the tools to match up with him in FIBA. Odom is another guy capable of hitting the occasional outside shot as well as breaking down his defender and chandler can finish and obviously protect the rim. Rebounding won’t be an issue as chandler, odom, and durant can all rebound well and they are all long so it makes the ‘rebounding issue’ obsolete

  28. Ralwarez
    Take it easy I wasn’t calling you calling you a hater of America. I was only responding to your pessimistic view of the USA’s chances at gold. You are entitled to your opinion and I don’t care what it is, you are allowed to say it. There is no need to get so defensive over my comments. I was not being an ugly ignorant American (which, not necessarily you, but a lot of foreigners stereotype americans to be), just someone trying to start a debate.

    I believe the USA bigs will be fine because of their length and all of the guards and small forwards who are good rebounders as well. The rebounding differential will be negligible. Chandler and Odom aren’t Dwight Howard but in a smaller lineup that focuses on athleticism they should be fine.

    You do bring up a decent point with the officials. I know the FIBA rules are different so what is and what is not a foul or traveling (big problem) will be a factor but the handcheck rule works two ways and the US can do it too. It will take some time to get used to it but hopefully by the time the US reaches the medal games they will have adjusted to the differences.

    My Closing 5 (more important than the starting 5) are

    Rose
    Billups
    Iguadola
    Durant
    Odom

  30. Rondo getting cut?
    With all those scorers why would you get rid of the guy who will find them in their spots all night. Shred every guard who tries to keep him out the paint. Coach K loves defense and Rondo is the best there. I would be shocked if he is cut. No offense to Rose I know how much yall love him, but Rondo is a more logical starter too for Coach K. Defensive minded.

  32. First of all, the two biggest
    First of all, the two biggest shortcomings of this roster are elite shot-making ability and big-game experience. Granger is too good of a scorer not to keep around, just in case everyone has a fluke shooting night. Rondo doesn’t possess the pure height that the other guards on this team do, but he makes up for it in out-of-this-world length. Also, Rajon executes and defends the pick-and-roll (a key element in int’l competition) better than anyone else on the squad, and has a ring to show for it. None of the likely starting five have gotten to the NBA Finals, and only one has experienced the postseason past the 1st round.

    Rose and Gordon are joined at the hip. That’s not to say that Eric can’t stake a claim to the starting SG spot on his own merit, but their chemistry from playing together since their AAU days is too special not to capitalize to the fullest. Curry is pushing to start, but is a slight liability a defender, especially at SG. Coming off the bench with a plus-defender like Westbrook will mask those concerns, and allow him to be THE gunner while he’s on the floor. Speaking of, Russell and Kevin Love will log alot of PT together, and the lethal, Montana-Rice-esque outlet passes from their time at UCLA will be a key contribution with the starters out. K experimented with Love and Chandler together, but I think Love’s scoring and rebounding will be of more use when Iggy and KD are off the floor.

    Billups will be the big shock among the cuts. K likes to have veteran leadership on the perimeter, but I think he’s satisfied with the “advisory” role Kidd is playing for the youngsters.

    Rose – Gordon – Iguodala – Durant – Chandler
    Westbrook – Curry – Gay – Odom – Love
    Rondo – Granger

    Cuts: Billups, Green, McGee

  33. http://www.indystar.com/artic
    http://www.indystar.com/article/20100809/SPORTS04/8090334/1088/SPORTS04

    “In Granger, you have a solid pro,” Krzyzewski said. “In the NBA, he’s a 3 (small forward) or a 4 (power forward), and that’s a 3 or 4 that really stretches the defense. He’s an outstanding shooter. And he’s a really good guy, ***easy to play with because he doesn’t need the ball for long periods of time***.”

    So much for this whole “Granger is too ball dominant” theory.

  34. http://www.indystar.com/artic
    http://www.indystar.com/article/20100809/SPORTS04/8090334/1088/SPORTS04

    “In Granger, you have a solid pro,” Krzyzewski said. “In the NBA, he’s a 3 (small forward) or a 4 (power forward), and that’s a 3 or 4 that really stretches the defense. He’s an outstanding shooter. And he’s a really good guy, ***easy to play with because he doesn’t need the ball for long periods of time***.”

    So much for this whole “Granger is too ball dominant” theory.

  37. worlds starters
    here is your starting 5

    guards rose point guard shooting guard curry small foward kevin durant power forward lamar odom center kevin love that is the best 5 on the floor curry is amazing at 1 or 2 durant is durant and the reason u choose love he can score big and plys defense bigger keeps durant out of any foul troble he would get in at the 4 or 5 and are guards what can i say rose is a beast on both sides and curry can think and make a basket from the oppsing teams side of the court compliment them with billups and chandler and we have the guys to do it i know the rule are different i dont even know them but these guys do and they are gonna do it for us americans bring home the gold and prove everybody wrong coach mike one word of advice prepare every game like its north carolina lol

  38. worlds starters
    here is your starting 5

    guards rose point guard shooting guard curry small foward kevin durant power forward lamar odom center kevin love that is the best 5 on the floor curry is amazing at 1 or 2 durant is durant and the reason u choose love he can score big and plys defense bigger keeps durant out of any foul troble he would get in at the 4 or 5 and are guards what can i say rose is a beast on both sides and curry can think and make a basket from the oppsing teams side of the court compliment them with billups and chandler and we have the guys to do it i know the rule are different i dont even know them but these guys do and they are gonna do it for us americans bring home the gold and prove everybody wrong coach mike one word of advice prepare every game like its north carolina lol

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.