NBA / Jun 16, 2008 / 4:57 pm
Who’s Going to Beijing?
ESPN.com’s Chris Sheriden puts together his Team USA locks, bubble players and guys in the program who have no shot at going to this summer’s Olympics.
His final prediction:
With Coach K planning to use Anthony and James extensively at the power forward spot, there is serious consideration being given to bringing only three true bigs to Beijing.
I think it would be a colossal mistake, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Still, I have to believe sanity will win out and Chandler will get the nod over Prince for the final spot. So here’s my 12:
Starters: Kidd, Bryant, James, Anthony, Howard
Reserves: Wade, Boozer, Bosh, Paul, Williams, Redd and Chandler
Go HERE for Sheriden’s full breakdown.
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Obama says:
Not enough long range shooters… And no white guys. You know there has to at least be one white guy. (Kidd doesn’t count)
June 16th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I guess Obama isn’t racist after all. Look at him pulling for a white guy on the Olympic team.
I agree though. If this is an accurate prediction there is just not enough consistent outside shooters. Defensively the centers are good but offensively they’re lacking. The US team did so bad in 2004 because they couldn’t shoot and were outplayed inside.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Camp Lo says:
I’d replace Bosh with Amare or Tayshaun. CB4 has played like a bum in FIBA play.
I’d also like to see Joe Johnson on the squad, although I don’t know whose spot he’d take.
Also, do we really need 3 PG’s on the team?
June 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
AB_40 says:
chris paul is actualy what 5’11? and boozz is actualy 6’6 or summin like that they are far to short too succeed in the half court oriented fiba basketball euro style. remember dwayne wade embarasing himself in 04 cuzz he couldn’t do ish against the oponents who stood in a zone. replace those 2 with Joe Johnson who can also play the point and either amare stoudamire or tyson chandler.
June 16th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Camp Lo says:
Hey Obama, how do you like this squad?
PG: Luke Ridnour
SG: JJ Redick
SF: Adam Morrison
PF: Nick Collison
C: Brad Miller
BTW: Who do you guys think is the best non foreign-born white guy in the league? Mike Miller? Chris Kaman? David Lee?
June 16th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Mike Miller I’d say…
Hinrich, Kaman, and Lee are all solid Pros.
JJ=Trash
Ridnour=Trash
Morrison=TBD-So far, trash
Collison=Decent
Miller=Above Average
Hopefully Joe Alexander and Chase Buddinger will pan out
June 16th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
doc says:
I would keep Mike Miller or get somebody else for 3 pt purposes.I’d get rid of Boozer,Bosh,or Wade just because I seen them stink it up in Olympic play before.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Obama says:
@Camp Lo
I like that squad for the local YMCA “No Dunking” league.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
David Lee is probably the most athletic non foreign white guy but if you go by contribution and importance it’s probably Kaman or Miller.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Remy N says:
Gary Sheffield once stated, “When you are not black all the way then you are white.”
That is coming from a black man.
Sheffield was referring to Derek Jeter.
J’Kidd is white.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
K Dizzle says:
Amare’s takin Booz’s spot. Mike Miller takin Chandler’s spot. You heard it here first
Kidd, Kobe, Bron, Melo, Howard
Amare, Bosh, Redd, Paul, Miller,Wade, D-Will
June 16th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
heavy d says:
Wade and Boozer are my 2 big question marks because I don’t feel that fit the international game well enough.
Kidd, Kobe, LeBron, Melo, Howard
D-Williams, Chris Paul, Redd, Bosh, Chandler, Mike Miller, Tayshaun Prince would be my lineup.
Mike Miller played well last year and gives range and size. Tayshaun Prince gives a defensive stopper to replace the injured Battier.
If Paul Pierce has any left in his tank after the playoffs I wouldn’t mind giving him a chance to redeem himself after his last international experience (2002 Fiba 6th place team).
June 16th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
Remy-If Kidd is white then so are D-Will and Prince.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Chosen says:
i think wade will be fine not being the only option out there so he wont NEED to force it. plus for sure the zone will collapse unevenly once the ball gets into the man child howard, so the guards will get good shots. and who cares if cp3 was 4’11 have you ever played a zone against someone that can handle,penetrate,drive to the hoop, is sitting on the bench 2nd to someone he knows he owns and is stupid hungry after almost burying all of the san antonio senior center. two thumbs up for miller, seen him ball up the lakers at staples alongside rudy gangsta
June 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Imperial-Mel says:
Take off CP3, CB3 and Wade, they will all stinknit up, there is a need for solid inside play…opps there are none in the NBA other than….the old guys!
Replace, Melo as well, he’s a flop, and add shooters to the roster i.e. Bron’s sidekick Boobie, a Barry, yes a white guy, and mabey even one of the incomming rookies. they are not completly out of the picture,
btw what happened to Kevin Durant?
June 17th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Kudabeen says:
Bosh out Amare in
Hate to do it, but Wade out, coming off injury (who has reports of his game? Is his J better?)
Mike Miller In.
I wouldn’t mind seeing a guy like David Lee on the team over Boozer, especially if he is going to be as shook as he looked at times in the Playoffs. Lee gives you Defense and rebounding. Boozer does act as a pressure relief for Dwight though. He won’t be the only one down low bangin’.
With Kobe plugging holes, LeBron bullying, Carmelo scoring, Dwight beasting, Redd raining, D Will and CP3 cutting cats up I thing the rest should fall in place.
June 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
MJAX says:
The team should win regardless, because Kobe will be playing angry after loosing the finals. Other reasons include the fact that: Bron is a man child, Howard is not fully human, Melo just got Bernard King game, and Wade will be so amped to be playing. Redd is rested and has 1 job. With that said, they should replace Williams or Paul with Joe Johnson, he plays point just the same is bigger and can shoot. Who can deal with JJ, Bron, Melo,Kobe and DHOW?!? Also get Amare in there for Bosh, you get power, intimidation, and a post game scoring presence. Bosh gets had in the paint on most occasions, and he’s light in the tail….
June 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Diego says:
Joe Johnson does not play point any more than say Kobe or Lebron. The experiment at point guard for the Hawks a couple of years ago lasted about half a game. (Now, Josh Childress plays point guard frequently for the Hawks, and I’ve only seen him get picked of the rock about once.) Nevertheless, the team needs JJ and/or Pierce and more outside shooters, or prepare yourself for another potential loss.
P.S.: Most athletic American-born white guy: David Lee (won McDonald’s H.S. All American dunk contest, I believe). Best American-born white guy: Kaman.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Rico says:
They better find a non-white coach or they’re screwed.