Photo. Jonathan MannionTeam USA’s rotation is rounding into shape with the Olympic qualifying tourney coming up. With Bosh, Brand, Boozer and Marion all out of the mix, Carmelo Anthony is the team’s starting power forward. Why not LeBron, though? After seeing him abuse Bruce Bowen in the post whenever Mike Brown put him down there during the Finals, and seeing as ‘Bron has less range (and consistency) on his jumper than ‘Melo, it seems like putting him at the four makes more sense. Coack K obviously has his reasons though … And it looks like Chauncey Billups has a hold on the backup PG spot over Deron Williams. This was one of the most debated spots, but we thought from the beginning that Chauncey’s experience and better long-range J made him the best candidate. The question is still out there of whether Deron makes the roster at all. Do they need three point guards? … The Heat are reportedly still looking to land Ron Artest in a trade, dangling Udonis Haslem in front of the Kings. If Sacto hadn’t already drafted Spencer Hawes and signed Mikki Moore this summer, that’d be more realistic. At this point, do they need another PF to throw into the mix with Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim (both under contract for another three years) and Mikki? Even though Haslem is better than all three of those guys, it’d be overloading one position in the name of giving up arguably your best all-around player … Kendrick Perkins to the Boston Globe: “Each day I can come in here and a coach can kill me and make me throw up after my workout. That’s what I want.” Big man has dropped 20 pounds already this summer to put him at 270. He wants to come into camp at 260. When we talked to Ray Allen recently for his next piece in the magazine, he said the C’s have committed to getting in shape now so they don’t have to waste training camp time on conditioning … LeBron on his new-look conference: “It’s about time we got some pros over in the Eastern Conference. I think it’s going to be good. I think the Eastern Conference is definitely going to step up a notch now because Boston wasn’t a playoff team, but now they’re looking like they’re going to be a playoff team. New York is definitely going to have a good shot at it again, and the Eastern Conference is definitely stepping it up.” Agreed … Add Mark Madsen to the list of guys who’ve been hurt doing something you probably shouldn’t do when you get paid millions of dollars to keep your body in working order. Mad Dog is gonna miss the next three months following shoulder surgery due to an injury he suffered while jet skiing. Madsen probably isn’t gonna get a lot of burn this year even when he is healthy, but the young T’wolves could use his veteran influence and leadership — even if he’s gonna be on some “do as I say, not as I do” status for a while … When Pau Gasol found out that his boy Juan Carlos Navarro was coming to the Grizzlies, he reportedly threw his hands up and shouted “It’s done!” in a crowded restaurant. Wonder if he did that when he heard about the Darko signing … We’re out like Madsen …
August 20th, 2007 at 6:15 am
Lucky Lester says:
I just want to say, how can Elton Brand (survey to the right) not be the guy who could have helped the most? He’s a shot blocker (yes, dude blocks shots with those long ass arms) and he can open up the floor because his midrange jumper is nice. Bosh has a bright future, but he’s not a physical, Brand does more for this team. Boozer is a good jump shooter too, but he doesn’t change many shots being cemented to the floor like he is. Marion’s great, but there are a lot of players with a similar skill-set to what he has. 2s and 3s galore. And I know Marion can play some 4, but he’s not a true Power Forward. Anyway, all great players, but Brand’s game would have helped USA the most.
And, ah, how would you feel as a Kings fan if you got Udonis for Artest? Icky… I don’t know how much better Haslem is that the guys Sac-Town has, honestly, I think he gets a ton of open looks and backside rebounds with Shaq and Wade getting lots of a attention. But maybe he’s just good for 10 and 10 anywhere, I can’t be sure either way.
August 20th, 2007 at 6:43 am
Amar says:
elton is the most consistent, well-rounded and defensively sound guy on that list. he is a vet’s vet, and an all of that other good stuff, but he’s kinda not an option due to health.
marion has the most diversity, but is kind of a locker room cancer (he’s unhappy with his stature on a phoenix team with nash and amare . . . is that going to improve on a team with kobe, lebron, etc?), so I think chemistry is important so I think marion is the worst out of that bunch.
bosh is probably the best of those four right now, but the majority of non-league pass America does not know enough about his game. he’s a leader, hits game winners, blocks shots in crunch time (see: Arenas, Gilbert’s potential game winner that bosh got), is a super FT shooter (something like 80+%), and has very good range on his shot. being left handed also adds another dimension for him (not having to reach accross his body to block some shots, and his ability to turn on the baseline when posted up in ways that right handed guys cannot). all of that considred, BC is very protective of his franchise guy, and isn’t going to let him be available unless he is 100%.
booz plays as good defense as yinka dare sets up his team mates. in college boozer could block a few shots, in the nba we haven’t seen much of that. we did see him block duncan in the west finals though. so the potential is there. he is an absolute beast on the boards (didn’t he have something like 22 in the playoffs), especially the offensive ones (right yao?), and has enough post moves and one on one moves to get a jumper or baby hook off against taller, slower defenders (yao, you got 41 on your face… in the playoffs). he’s also functionally ambidexterious so that also helps. unlike bosh and brand, he’s healthy. (not participating this summer because his wife just had twins) unlike marion, he’s a team guy who is used to coach k’s system.
I’d go for either brand or bosh, but both are pipe dreams, so I voted for booz.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:07 am
Mirko says:
The US Team definetely needs Deron Williams! More than Chris Paul - who still needs some time to get back in shape…
http://www.squidoo.com/DeronWilliams
August 20th, 2007 at 7:14 am
sans says:
how on Earth is Shawn Marion not a team player? He’s a team unto himself in all the fluid motions he makes on the court. He hits the boards, can play three positions, hit the three, rip apart rims, pass, and most importantly, he gets his with hustle. Phx hasn;t called a play for him in years and he gets his every night by outworking defenders and teammates. Steve Nash is the main reason that Amare is the monster he is–Marion is a monster because that’s WHO he is.
Anyone who disagrees hasn’t followed basketball since the turn of the millentium.
Also, ‘Bron is the fit at the four. I already do that sometimes in 2K7, not that that’s saying much, and he gets his, plus a lot of putbacks. He’s just too quick down low. I am quietly crossing my fingers that the Cavs will trade Donyell Marshall for a bag of balls and one of Houston’s point guards. Particularly for Skip or Brooks. Time to buy out Damon Jones and get The Gift some help before he goes all-Kobe and starts stuttering in public about wanting to get traded/ wanting to stay forever.
Seriously, has any star player noticed that Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu aren’t chasing their max contracts, just rings? Bitch and moan, but, no, never offer to reduce your own salary to get those sidekicks you’ve been dreaming about.
If you’re not part of the solution then you might be the root of the problem.
Peace
August 20th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Amar says:
don’t get me wrong, marion is very talented and is able to do what he does best to help a team win . . . and phoenix’ shot friendly style of play affords a virtual garbage man on offense enough chances to score and keep smiling. by garbage man I don’t mean that marion isn’t good enough to have plays run for him — but as you pointed out, he gets points without having plays run for him (hence garbage man, think of how millsap scores points). there is nothing wrong with marion’s play on the court. it is the chemistry issue and locker room component which i am referencing. there are rumors of grumbles from that locker room about this exact thing.
marion would do what he is doing regardless of what team he is on, and I agree, Nash has made more for amare than for the matrix. this is indisputable. (similar to stockton feeding malone for 20 seasons)
bron can be a monster as an international four with his combo of speed, strength, quickness and ability to finish around the rim. good call, guys.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:28 am
João says:
I would love to have a starting lineup of
J-Will - D-Wade - R-Artest - A-Walker - Shaq
Thats better than Boston, and we have Smush, Penny, Dorrel and Zo on the bench ,,,
Now, about USA team, all they need to do is play defense. The USA team never play defense, they came to the game thinking that if they play 50% they would win ,,, sorry … not gonna hapen ,,, They have to play playoffs defense, 3/4 of the floor , to make other teams point guards make mistakes. And them have a lot of points of. Instead of what they have done the past years of waiting others teams in the defense court and attack against a zone defense well posted. I out like the winter in Brazil ,,, 34° C …
August 20th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Celts Fan says:
sans, obviously you don’t follow basketball. Marion and Amare are having this battle for alpha-dog status on a team that already has one (Nash) and just can’t get along. Rumors are that it’s more Marion than Amare and that he’s not satisfied and feels under-appreciated. Memo to Shawn Marion, the checks are still coming right? And your team’s still winning a lot right? Good, then shut the f*ck up and play.
August 20th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Lucky Lester says:
the poll was, “Who WOULD have helped Team USA more?” - not who can right now, and who will get voted in…
I think Bosh is a beast, i know his game, i’ve seen him play, I don’t ignore our northern brethren - but I just hink Brand is more of a strength and consistent force down low right now - so he WOULD have been the most useful. None of these guys are going to play this year, so its just for discussion’s sake.
August 20th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
sans says:
so when did Marion become the huge cancer? Because of rumors that he gets overlooked by the national media? He’s never asked to be traded, or asked for anyone else to be traded to appease him, so, what the f is this cancer talk all about? Are Matrix and STAT feuding, ever? Has he pulled a Joe Johnson “It’s my turn now!” act? No. He doesn’t talk about what’s in his head to the national media (who doesn’t care much for him any way) and he does his job.
By the way, Team USA needs a gritty guy to get the garbage buckets the way that everyone chucks bad jumpers all day.
Marion plays. He isn’t Kobe, JO, T-Mac, Vinsanity, or Corey Maggette…i.e., he doesn’t bitch and moan publicly about the concerns in his head space.
Celt’s fan–have fun for now before you go another 20 years without a decent squad.
August 20th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
IGP says:
what do you know Joao with a new Heat line up and more Squidoo bullshit.
Brand is the one who would most help team USA. He’s a legit big guy who can score on the block, rebound and block shots, good help D, etc. Man, as a Clippers fan I’m really gonna get frustrated this season. At least I have the Hawks to look forward to?
August 20th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
bron42 says:
for people hatin on bosh…last i checked, brand didnt do much of anything last time either when it counted.It was the dwight howard show with bosh,brand and brad miller chillen on the bench. Doesn’t really matter since none of those 3 are playin this year anyway.
And who knows clippers fan, maybe al thorton will explode and surprise a few people ala young richard jefferson..or…the clippers go back to lottery