Players named as finalists include: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Houston Rockets); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kirk Hinrich (Chicago Bulls); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets); Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).

Iverson should be in this team! How can Hinrich be in it and not AI??What a disgrace!

Kobe's undergoing minor sugery, and should be reintroduced to the team later on ... shaq has still not said yes or no - and the coaching staff have said that if/when he says yes they will make room for him (as long as it's not a week beforehand ...)

89901,

I suppose Chris Paul doesnt count now he has one year under his belt.

I think the "rookie" tag was reserved for Morrison and Reddick and possibly Oden - who is a non-participating member of the squad.

Isaac,

Add to that - Shaq can pretty much step into a role with the team at his own discretion as he was given a blessing from Colangelo. I dont think he will though - unless his mind-set drastically changes or a couple of bigs go down with injury.


PhilaDelfia Fan ,

AI has totally the wrong attitude to play in this team. It has long been known that Coach K wants point guards who are going to distribute the ball and be unselfish. IVERSON is selfish !!
He is also not a great influence when there are this many young guys on the squad and was rightly not INVITED. The farce that was the backcourt of Marbury and Iverson can never happen again.

Paul has proven himself at NBA level, carrying the Hornets all year. He is a true pass first point guard - not many left. I would certainly prefer him over Ridnour who was the other PG in the squad.

And yes, I did mean Morrison and Reddick when referring to rookies. Past USA teams have had the token rookie riding the bench.

How good is a starting 5 of:

PG - Paul
SG - Wade
SF - Bowen
PF - Brand
C - Stoudemire

Replace Bowen with LeBron if other team doesn't really have a flat out scorer.

Geez Doc,

you're not given Lebron a starting spot!?!
Surely you'd pick him over Bowen no matter what the other team has or hasn't got!

Have to agree with MC. LBJ has to start for this team.

Sub LBJ for Bowen and I think you'd be looking at the most talented 5 right there. I really like Hinrich though, and he may get the nod ahead of CP3 for his superior outside shooting. CP3 would be great to have off the bench to push the tempo, IMO.

I actually wouldn't mind seeing Brad Miller start over Amare either. He's a bit more of a "pass first" centre & with LBJ & Wade on the floor, they'll need people willing to get them the ball.

Brand will be useful because he does the dirty work, has worked for Coach K before & will be a handful in the low block.

If they're all happy to accept that none of them will average 30ppg, none of them will get to be "the man" & none of them will play full games, I don't see why they wouldn't romp through the competition.

Not necessarily. Bowen for defence and spot shooting. You can't just stack a team with stars and expect to win, you have to coach a balanced team with all positions filled on both ends. Other international teams are too well drilled - hence the poor results in the last few comps for the USA.

The team has enough scoring power without LeBron in the first 5.

Bowen is an awful defender. I don't know how he got his rep, but he certainly doesn't deserve it. All he does is overguard the sideline, and when (not IF) his defender gets past, he hopes that Fundamental cleans up his mess. Can't believe Bowen was selected in the squad, let alone the final fifteen.

shane battier??? why i ask why?

Maybe I didn't see enough of the games, but wasn't Iverson one of the guys that actually did OK in Athens, along with Duncan? I remember LBJ struggled along with a few of the others.

Athens stats - Iverson led USA in scoring (only US player in double figures each game), though Marbury topped him in assists.

Isaac, keep in mind Iverson VOLUNTEERED to play for the USA then with a BROKEN THUMB because no one else wanted to play for them.... And they cut him? Yeh good move America..... Idiots

This team will not dominate like dream teams of old, they won't even compete in the gold medal game!

I think people forget how long it has been since the USA has won an olympics or world champs. Sydney 2000 I think. They just arn't that far ahead anymore!

Daniel, the guy has made the last 6 All-NBA defensive teams. For an awful defender, he has done pretty well. Unlike Wallace though, he has offence. He used to be only a three point shooter from the corner (where he is automatic) but now he has a very reliable jump shot both spot-up and off the dribble.

That's why he was picked.

i tend to think that the good old USA pride will get them back in the gold medal game. it does appear as though they have picked a more balanced team, and despite iverson being a freakish player, maybe it is better for team balance to leave him out, as you already have wade and james who can score at will. i reckon i could coach this team to the gold medal, surely with a top level coach, they will return to the top. is stoudamire fit?? LBJ has to start on any team he plays in.

I like LBJ, and he is a pretty good defender himself, so no real issue there. Just that he and Wade would play a similar role in that team, being the go to guy late in the shot clock. Not sure how often they will both be on the court at the same time. I put Wade ahead of LBJ at the minute - not sure why, I just like his game.

I'm from the old school - defence wins championships, and gold medals, so Bad Boy Bruce gets minutes if I'm the coach, as does Brand and Battier.

Doc, would it be because Wade has proven himself a winner already?
Not bagging LBJ but D.Wade has the wood on him there...
I agree with not starting them both, sub in LBJ for Wade and start with the defender for balance.
US will be in the Gold medal game.

My starting 5 would be

Pg Paul
SG Wade
SF LBJ
PF Melo
C Miller

Carmelo could be swapped out with Howard or Bosh depending on the number of shots the other guys are taking.

Daniel -

"Bowen is an awful defender "

Yes, if you mean he's 'awfully good'

WTF ? are you serious ???? The guy has a very limited offensive game, HE MAKES HIS $$ PLAYING D on a very stingy (in the past) Spurs team !
He was chosen to defend people- not just hit the occassional 3 pointer from the baseline in offense.

Please enlighten us as to how he is so terrible on the defensive end .