Hoop-a-holic
Years ago
The USA Olympic Team has been finalised.
G - Dwyane Wade
G - Alen Iverson
G - Stephon Mabury
G/F - LeBron James
F - Richard Jefferson
F - Shawn Marion
F - Carmelo Anthony
F - Lamar Odom
F/C - Emekar Okafor
C - Amare Stoudemire
C - Tim Duncan
What are people's thoughts?
Bootney Farnsworth
Years ago
Wow, the team is full of guards & small forwards. Tim D being the only legit centre and their only 7 footer.
Olympic, European ball is so much drive & dish & lotsa zones so maybe the U.S is looking at trying to play that style, opposed the NBA's isolation plays.
The U.S needed to drastically change the way they play international ball but I think they might struggle with the smaller line up.
No doubt this team will be vulnerable to the stronger European teams. It is inevitable that a professional US team will lose at some stage, with this lineup it may well be a the Olympics. How many top line players from other countries are sitting out the Olympics due to lack interest, concerns about contracts or minor niggles. Its a farce and reflects very poorly on the athletes who are sitting out. Maher is busting his arse to come back from Back surgery to got to his 3rd Olympics while these selfish players place self before injury
Kent Brockman
Years ago
Have a look at www.blogmaverick.com for some of Cubans thoughts on why owners are reluctant to let their stars play in the Olmpics....it has more to do with $$$ and broadcast rites than country prid.e
Maher also plays about 35 games a year. The NBA guys play 82 regular season + play offs.
They're also getting A LOT of dollars to play and an injury at Olyimpics could end a multi million dollar career.
While it's disappointing to see the best of the best won't be playing it is a bit unfair to compare Maher to say Jermaine O'Neal or the like.
MW
Years ago
I think that team is going to do quite well, there will not be much defense but the offense will more than cover it
Hoop-a-holic
Years ago
MW,
If you have a look at how young guys like this do at international events go and find the America's U20 qualifiers. Carmelo could only average 8pts, and outside of the two Illinois guards nobody else, Chris Bosh included could average double digre points. Being so young and having played a majority of NBA ball, these guys will not be able to deal with help defence. Just like a guy like Paul Peirce struggled at the worlds. Too many guys who shoot a bad percentage and take too many shots. Look at the last Worlds and Olympic teams the US had. They struggled and were better than this team.
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