Picking Team USA

-KeefeThe NBA Finals is just the start for what should be a tremendous summer for basketball. August will bring the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and a chance for Team USA to recapture their rightful title as the World’s Best Basketball Team. 2004 was the first time since using pros (not using Dream Teams, there is only 1 Dream Team. Don't compare any other team to the one in '92 with Jordan, Magic, Bird, Barkley, Ewing, Robinson, Malone, Stockton, Pippen, Mullen, Drexler, and token college star Laettner, that was a Dream Team). USA followed up that Gold two more in '96 and 2000. But 4 years ago there was a rude awakening. Other countries could, in fact, play the game. The likes of Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni, Carlos Delfino, Walter Herrmann, Fabricio Oberto, and Argentina took home the top prize. America didn’t even made it to the final game, and settled for the Bronze.

A concerted effort has since been put in place to lead the US back to the top of the hoops mountain. Jerry Colangelo serves as the managing director of the team. He selected Coach K to lead his squad and set up a program where he got a commitment from many star players. Instead of choosing 12 All-Stars and maybe have a scrimmage or two before being tossed into major competition, Colangelo turned this into a real team that can be built upon. It was evident in the FIBA Tournament of the Ameircas where Team USA steam rolled the every squad in their path, but this summer they'll be playing against the world's best.

33 finalists were chosen a couple years ago to both qualify for and win the Olympic games. With less than 2 months before the Opening Ceremony, I thought I would offer my humble opinion on who should make up this “Gold Medal or Bust” team. There has still been no official word on who the 12 players will be, but looking at the lists of hopefuls you can clearly see, locks to me on, and locks to be off. Let’s take a look.

The 33 players available to Team USA:

Carmelo Anthony
Gilbert Arenas
Shane Battier
Chauncey Billups
Chris Bosh
Carlos Boozer
Bruce Bowen
Elton Brand
Kobe Bryant
Tyson Chandler
Nick Collison
Kevin Durant
Kirk Hinrich
Dwight Howard
Joe Johnson
Jason Kidd
LeBron James
Antawn Jamison
Shawn Marion
Brad Miller
Mike Miller
Adam Morrison
Greg Oden
Lamar Odom
Chris Paul
Paul Pierce
Tayshaun Prince
Michael Redd
J.J. Redick
Luke Ridnour
Amare Stoudemire
Dwayne Wade
Deron Williams

For my first round of cuts I will simply get rid of the obvious picks. Some of these guys just have no business being on Team USA in 2008, and in a few cases, ever.

1st cuts: Bruce Bowen, Nick Collison, Kevin Durant, Kirk Hinrich, Brad Miller, Adam Morrison, Greg Oden, J.J. Redick, Luke Ridnour

That leaves you with 24 players, exactly twice as many guys as you are allowed to dress out in Beijing.

Remaining players:

Carmelo Anthony
Gilbert Arenas
Shane Battier
Chauncey Billups
Chris Bosh
Carlos Boozer
Elton Brand
Kobe Bryant
Tyson Chandler
Dwight Howard
Joe Johnson
Jason Kidd
LeBron James
Antawn Jamison
Shawn Marion
Mike Miller
Lamar Odom
Chris Paul
Paul Pierce
Tayshaun Prince
Michael Redd
Amare Stoudemire
Dwayne Wade
Deron Williams

2nd round of cuts gets rid of 6 very talented players. It’s difficult picking any of these players to leave behind. Injuries play a major role in saying goodbye to most (not all) of these guys. They may be healthy by Beijing, but after missing time in the regular season no need to rush back with so many other able bodies. I’ll have to reluctantly part with: Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chauncey Billups, Elton Brand, Shawn Marion, and Tayshaun Prince.

Remaining players:

Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Carlos Boozer
Kobe Bryant
Tyson Chandler
Dwight Howard
Joe Johnson
Jason Kidd
LeBron James
Antawn Jamison
Mike Miller
Lamar Odom
Chris Paul
Paul Pierce
Michael Redd
Amare Stoudemire
Dwayne Wade
Deron Williams

Now you have to start looking at positions. If you’ve seen the international games you know that it’s different that just a point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. Quality lineups usually have 1 big man, a point guard, and basically 3 wing type players.

Point guards left: Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Deron Williams

Wing/ slasher/ shooters left: Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Joe Johnson, LeBron James, (Antawn Jamison), Mike Miller, Lamar Odom, Paul Pierce, Michael Redd, Dwayne Wade

Big men: Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Tyson Chandler, Dwight Howard, (Antawn Jamison), Amare Stoudemire

In my opinion you need 2-3 from group 1, 6-7 group 2, and 3-4 from group 3.

Starters: Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwight Howard

2nd unit: Deron Williams, Dwayne Wade, Michael Redd, Antawn Jamison, Amare Stoudemire

That’s my 10 man squad; therefore you’re left to pick 2 players out of the following: Jason Kidd, Joe Johnson, Mike Miller, Lamar Odom, Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, and Tyson Chandler.

There are 2 point guards, 5(6) wings, and 2(3) big men. Probably should take a low post rebounder type (Bosh, Boozer, or Chandler) and a slasher/ scorer (Johnson, Miller, Odom, Pierce). I love Paul Pierce, (he’s my favorite player and pre-series pick for Finals MVP) but his history with the front office of Team USA, and fellow wing players will keep him off. Miller isn’t bad, but with Redd on the team he can stay home, and Lamar Odom doesn’t do it for me here either. I’ll take Joe Johnson, a guy who can do it all, and as the 11th man that’s a luxury. Up front is difficult to sort out. Chandler is the best defender/rebounder, Boozer the best scorer, and Bosh probably a combination of the two. You’ll do well with any of these guys. However I wouldn’t expect a ton of time from any of them. It’s hard to leave Kidd out, and maybe they’ll want his experience, but his play in Dallas coupled with the growth of both Paul and Williams leave him off my roster.

So here is my 2008 Team USA Olympic Team:

Carmelo Anthony
Chris Bosh
Kobe Bryant
Dwight Howard
Joe Johnson
LeBron James
Antawn Jamison
Chris Paul
Michael Redd
Amare Stoudemire
Dwayne Wade
Deron Williams

Let’s hope they can bring back the gold.