Does Team USA Have a Size Issue?
Can Dwight hold it down in the post?With the FIBA Olympic Qualifying tournament is underway in Athens, Greece, a couple of familiar names have shot to the top of the leaderboards right off the bat. Dirk is averaging 25.5 in Germany’s two wins. Chris Kaman’s added 15 points per outing. Rasho Nesterovic is shooting 71% from the field, as he’s tallied 20 points per game. Tiago Splitter is carrying the Brazilian front lines with just under 15 per game.
If international basketball in the summer of ‘08 continues to be the summer of the big man, could Team USA run into trouble? Remember the only true bigs that they’re carrying to Beijing are Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh. While no one doubts that Dwight would eat Rasho’s post game for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, what happens when the Slovenian front court up-fakes Dwight until he draws two fouls?
On the flip side, what can Mike Krzyzewski and his staff do to discipline Howard, Bosh and Boozer? Though all of the press leading into these Games is about Kobe, LeBron and ‘Melo leading Team USA’s road to redemption, these three guys might not be as important to their success as thosewho comprise the front court.
Remember, the Olympics are a March Madness of sorts – in order to take home gold, teams play eight games in fourteen days. Not only will the team need to sustain the physical abuse as each team puts everything they have on the line each night, but they’ll also have to stay perfect mentally. If games are closely contested, guys might have to play long minutes, thereby making that an even tougher task.
Even if the bigs are carrying the biggest burden in Beijing, Jerry Colangelo didn’t think that he needed to prep Team USA for the Games by matching them up with a serious force in the post. The USA Basketball Select Team includes Derrick Rose, Rodney Stuckey, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Martin, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Luther Head, LaMarcus Aldridge and Al Horford.
Aldrige and Horford aren’t a comparable test to the Gasol boys, Yao, or the oh-so-terrifying Iranian Hamed Ehadadi. The only time that Horford really gives Dwight a run for his money is when they square off in NBA Ballers: The Chosen One.
Without a tougher test before Beijing, are you worried about Team USA’s size heading into the Olympics?
July 17th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
hahns says:
a big part of why team usa didnt get gold in greece was bc tim duncan was in foul trouble EVERY game. he constantly had that pouty face on and after the games he vowed never to play fiba ball again bc the refs called him for so many fouls.
although we all know that the 2004 team was poory constructed, the fact that tim d was in constant foul trouble should be a harbringer for 2k8’s team.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Scott says:
Maybe in the past… but when the plan is to run LeBron and Melo at the 4 for good chunks of time, foul trouble for Dwight doesn’t loom as troublesome. Plus aside from Dirk, which of those other bigs is gonna drop 40+ points on team USA? And if a big does do that, really, who cares, cuz the guards should be locked down from the defense of Kobe, CP3 and J-Kidd (hopefully he doesn’t get the CP treatment from the international points). Also figure that the 2004 team didn’t have Kobe, and everyone saw what he did last summer. They won the bronze without Kobe, I don’t think its unrealistic to say that his addition to the team could put them over the edge and into Gold territory.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Prof. TX says:
They’re going to regret cutting Chandler. I don’t know why they looked at the competition and thought that a solid defender/rebounder who doesn’t need the ball all the time would be the best choice to leave behind.
Unless maybe FIBA is planning to use two or three balls in play at once, then the USA guards/wings should be fine.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Andrew Katz says:
The one thing is that Chandler will travel with Team USA to Beijing as the alternate if someone gets hurt.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
SayItAintSo says:
In which case…someone should break Boozer’s ankle right now. As far as I’m concerned Booze is etra baggage. What does he have to offer that you don’t already have from Dwight and Bosh (who bring it better).
He is undersized and overrated. I love heart as much as the next guy but Chandler is exactly what USA needed in that last puzzle piece.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Ross says:
I agree, Andrew. This was something that should have been addressed. I thought that the previous team should have kept Bruce Bowen to help defend pick/rolls better, and they ended up needed help in that department. Chandler would have been a much better fit for this team than Bosh or Boozer, IMO.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Stiletto says:
there is no size issue LJ or CA can perfectly play the 4 at the Olympics without any doubt there are only 3 teams dangerous for the us Spain, argentina and Greece and perhaps lituania but the rest will be crashed without any doubt
July 17th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
K Dizzle says:
Without a tougher test before Beijing, are you worried about Team USA’s size heading into the Olympics?
no……..
July 17th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
nick says:
i would have taken chandler over boozer. offense is not what the team needs to worry about its defense and foul trouble. bosh is the best of the bigs they have at getting to the line and causing the other teams bigs to foul. howard’s sheer size and strength will cause that but not so much from his offensive moves.
I personally think the other teams are more concerned with how are they gotta stop the usa’s perimeter players.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Bruce says:
How are the other teams gonna stop TEam USA guards and wings player?
July 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Tha Boddy says:
Does Team USA have a Size Issue???- Yes
July 17th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
carlos burgos a.k.a DaQuEStiOn says:
ive watched the tournament and yes they do have a size issue. there are teams that have 2 or 3 7 footers, although team usa is more talented that could create a problem
July 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
D says:
I thought I saw on the ESPN ticker that Howard has a cracked sternum or something, but will continue to play. I completely agree that we should have taken Chandler. And in the even that Dwight is the injured guy, that would suck because we’d still only have one really great defender. I gotta think that Booze isn’t fast enough to defend the high-post Euro style. I like Bosh and Booze’s game, but having a presence on the boards means a lot. lets hope it won’t come back to bite them.
July 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
hahns says:
@scott
the problem isnt other bigs droppin 40, its that our bigs will foul out, THEN other bigs can start to dominate
July 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Scott says:
@ hahns
Honestly, I think the only big that really might have a problem with fouls would be Dwight.
Bosh only fouled out once last season, and generally doesn’t pickup that many fouls. And thats against NBA bigs.
Boozer, like everyone else I could care less about. He’s 5 fouls and hopefully some boards. But I do agree his selection doesn’t make sense, especially if you’re going to run LBJ and Melo at the 4, why not get another 4/5 like Bosh and Dwight.
Overall I think Team USA could easily do themselves a favor by attacking the basket as much as humanly possible, make the opposing bigs get in foul trouble before yours do. Seems simple enough. And when you have guys like Dwight, Bosh, LBJ, Kobe, Melo, etc who regularly get to the line, you gotta believe it’ll translate to a certain degree in FIBA play.
BTW, does anyone think that LBJ or Melo for that matter could be stopped if they stick to a post-up game?
July 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
bballinca says:
I can’t wait to see the other good teams pick and roll the US team to death.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
babyboi says:
Luther Head!
July 17th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
souss says:
Gay porn picture of DH you have up there!!
July 17th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Jim says:
Foul Trouble. See also, Tim Duncan, circa August 2004.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Student Of The Game says:
Ive been scratchin my head wondering ever since the roster had been announced, “Why are there only 2 1/2 bigs on Team U.S.A. (Chris Bosh is 1/2 a big)?” I dont see why you cant add a Tyson Chandler for a Michael Redd. They also better not think about startin J-Kidd over CP3
July 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
doc says:
I would’ve put Tyson on also that was a Coach K Dukie thing with Boozer but Im not worried.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
josh says:
hadadi is a scary looking dude.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Meica says:
I think if Dirk is getting 25 and Kaman is getting 15 it just proves that most of the big men in Olympic play are, how shall we say, mediocre?
July 18th, 2008 at 6:25 am
pEpE says:
Howard is great and a nature force, but is a slow-paced static game, with lots of changing defenses, helps, and positionings he is gonna be lost in ofensive game…
Melo and LB are great ahtletes, but they will have problems agains savier powerforwards with good moves in the paint cause they aint used to defend in the paint, sure they’ll get some blocks but they’ll be in trouble.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:43 am
N B says:
Meica, those averages for Dirk and Kaman are typically what they average in the NBA, sooooo your statement is pretty worthless.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Miljan says:
LOL at the Ballers Chosen one punch line.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
What are you guys talking about Booze has a sick game for international comp. He can score in the lane with either hand. Make a jim browski out to 15 feet consistently and grabs boards because of his bulk. Dude is like the new school Mailman and you saw what he did in international comp. Not to mention how well he knows how to play the pick and roll. With the passing gaurds we have he is the single best offensive big we have.