Anyone better than Martin?

[deNIEd]

So, I've been watching Olympics nonstop like everyone else, and was thinking about USA basketball and the international game.

The team lacked an excellent catch and shoot/efficient shooter (Redd was theirs this year). For the next Olympic's, do you guys think there is anyone better than Kevin Martin as a backup SG?

His efficiency would off the charts as likely being the 5th offensive option. Martin is an excellent catch and shooter especially at the close 3pt line in international play.

What do you guys think.

[pillwenney]

I think Kevin would be a fine option, but IMO the team's biggest weakness (from the little I saw) was their D. Small ball is probably good to play most of the time in international ball, but they have to be able to go bigger at times and continue to work to improve their team D. That's the main thing I see.

[KF10]

Yeah, the Olympic team did lack an efficient shooter (Catch and shoot base player). Even though, Redd was their player under that assumption. But he played like the 2nd fewest minutes in roster.

Kevin Martin would be an excellent fit under FIBA rules. Martin's strength would probably maximize under these rules. His off ball game and his general game would compliment both FIBA and Team USA style of play. I truly believe that Martin would excel under his scenario. Due to this, I'm very surprise that people have left Martin off their list (Other forum- "Projected" 2012 Roster). It does kinda disturbs me to an extent. One still undervalue Martin's strength and still have a limited perspective of Martin...

And agree with mitch as well. Defense is also a concern.

[_SRV_]

Kevin would fit better than Redd, there is simply no off the ball perimeter player on that team other than Prince, and he played PF mostly, you could see that guys like Deron, Kobe (when he played off the ball) are simply not familiar enough and not comfortable enough, the only one who did a good job was Wade.
I don't think the defense was an issue in any game other than the finals, the moment the US started half court pressure, they simply suffocated the other teams, and with their quickness they nullified every screen. Against Spain with the Kidd/Kobe/LeBron/Melo lineup they couldn't do that because they weren't mobile enough and Spain is very quick, when Wade/Paul were thrown it was a different story, but Spain is a great team and played the game of their lives in a crazy pace style.

[deNIEd]

Well, Mitch
I thought the biggest hole in the team was size. Against Spain, when Bron, Howard, and Melo got into foul trouble, Bosh became the center which is obviously fine. But the PF became Prince, and I think at times Kobe (I think I saw Paul/Deron/Wade/Kobe/Bosh) on the floor for a second.

The problem is when you go against a legit PF/C size wise, we simply can't defend them. It doesn't matter how good a defender is, no SG will ever contain a legit PF.

I think, all the young bigs watching at home, will realize how important they are, and hopefully want to play next time. (Oden, Bynum, Jefferson, Horford, Aldridge, Beasley, Hawes)

However, I do think USA would be much better with Martin, simply because of the reasons you guys already mentioned. SRV, I think you hit it, on the team, there is no off the ball perimeter player, and with a team of Bron, Wade, Dwight, etc. you need off the ball players.

[a-rod]

Yeah, the Olympic team did lack an efficient shooter (Catch and shoot base player). Even though, Redd was their player under that assumption. But he played like the 2nd fewest minutes in roster.

Kevin Martin would be an excellent fit under FIBA rules. Martin's strength would probably maximize under these rules. His off ball game and his general game would compliment both FIBA and Team USA style of play. I truly believe that Martin would excel under his scenario. Due to this, I'm very surprise that people have left Martin off their list (Other forum- "Projected" 2012 Roster). It does kinda disturbs me to an extent. One still undervalue Martin's strength and still have a limited perspective of Martin...

And agree with mitch as well. Defense is also a concern.

totally agree, martin moves without the ball intelligently and presents himself well around the basket for easy finishes and that exactly what the usa team needed from their SG (Kobe he doesn't know how to play without the ball in his hands a lot)or he didn't seem comfortable....

[KF10]

totally agree, martin moves without the ball intelligently and presents himself well around the basket for easy finishes and that exactly what the usa team needed from their SG (Kobe he doesn't know how to play without the ball in his hands a lot)or he didn't seem comfortable....

Yeah, I know. Martin moves w/o the ball with a PURPOSE unlike other players around the league...That is what I like about Martin. Martin is a high IQ basketball player that knows how to do a particular thing effectively and efficiently almost all the time.

[pillwenney]

Well, Mitch
I thought the biggest hole in the team was size. Against Spain, when Bron, Howard, and Melo got into foul trouble, Bosh became the center which is obviously fine. But the PF became Prince, and I think at times Kobe (I think I saw Paul/Deron/Wade/Kobe/Bosh) on the floor for a second.

The problem is when you go against a legit PF/C size wise, we simply can't defend them. It doesn't matter how good a defender is, no SG will ever contain a legit PF.

I think, all the young bigs watching at home, will realize how important they are, and hopefully want to play next time. (Oden, Bynum, Jefferson, Horford, Aldridge, Beasley, Hawes)

However, I do think USA would be much better with Martin, simply because of the reasons you guys already mentioned. SRV, I think you hit it, on the team, there is no off the ball perimeter player, and with a team of Bron, Wade, Dwight, etc. you need off the ball players.

Oh that's what I was getting at--I think it was a combination of size, poor rotations, and some unintelligent defense by the guards (Navarro simply should not get past them that easily). And again, I'm not talking about size all the time--that we would need to play with a traditional NBA lineup all the time or anything. I just think another big is necessary.

But Kevin would be a nice fit in many respects. The only thing is that, even though he scores off the ball, he still is another scorer, which shouldn't be the team's main priority necessarily. But still, I think he could be a good fit.

[Smills91]

TEAM USA needs more SHOOTERS if they want to repeat in 2010 (World's) and 2012 (London - Olympics). While they won on sheer athleticism and talent alone, the team had TOO many slashers and not enough shooters. It's a good thing Melo was hot as hell from downtown throughout.

[KM44]

I would love to agree with all of you, but they got the gold... I think martin would have been better than redd, but they won it all, so this is irrelevant IMO.

[KF10]

I would love to agree with all of you, but they got the gold... I think martin would have been better than redd, but they won it all, so this is irrelevant IMO.

Well, maybe. But this is for the 2012 Olympics. Many of the current players won't return unless everyone will come back...Which I doubt...Kidd, Redd, Prince and etc won't come back IMO...

[deNIEd]

They were a few lucky bounces away from a silver.

4 point game at 2 minutes (i'm pretty sure), is anyone's game. single digits during the 4th quarter is anyone's game. Yes we won, but it shouldn't have been so hard.

The team was definitely flawed, yes we won, but again, the team could be improved and should be improved. USA can't just use athleticism and talent to win international competitions, because other countries are starting to develop as good if not better sporting programs.

The team only had 3 legit bigs. I think we would need 4 most likely 5 to be truly successful. Maybe something along the lines of Bosh, Howard, Oden, Jefferson.

[pillwenney]

Jefferson probably wouldn't work too well. The thing is that more traditional interior bigs aren't as effective because of the style of defense and the differences in the rules and the key. Even Dwight's only real asset to the team was as a garbage man.

[Ballings7]

Agreed about the defense, still some touching up to do there.

Definitely need a couple more shooters... Joe Johnson I was surprised was not on the team. For 2012, Kevin, and Brandon Rush or like Martell Webster (who has come along pretty well, and will continue to get better) would really be improvements there. If not Joe Johnson. I really think they need two, in addition to whoever else would be there. Total, I think they need 3-4 strongish shooters. Brandon Rush I think would flourish as a great, athletic utility guy on both sides of the ball.

Chandler was actually going to replace Amare (who declined), but he got hurt... so i'm sure there'll be another big next time. Aside from it being obvious in general a 4th big guy is needed.

-------

They'll be making rule changes for the future... I know the trapezoidial lane will be gone, 3PT-line will be moved back to 22 feet (even more of a reason to add a couple shooters), a restricted area will be added, but I'm not sure if they're going to add illegal defense.

More low-post oriented players will be able to be real factors if they add illegal defense.

[_SRV_]

They were a few lucky bounces away from a silver.

4 point game at 2 minutes (i'm pretty sure), is anyone's game. single digits during the 4th quarter is anyone's game. Yes we won, but it shouldn't have been so hard.

The team was definitely flawed, yes we won, but again, the team could be improved and should be improved. USA can't just use athleticism and talent to win international competitions, because other countries are starting to develop as good if not better sporting programs.

The team only had 3 legit bigs. I think we would need 4 most likely 5 to be truly successful. Maybe something along the lines of Bosh, Howard, Oden, Jefferson.

The main flaw was lack of familiarity with each other (something teams like Argentina and Spain are better at), I don't think a US team will ever have that, simply because of the basketball system in the US, and the frequency the players play with each other.
Another big would've helped, but this team was much better than the other US teams that had bigs, the team wouldn't be the same fast break/pressure defense nightmare (which was their main weapon in destroying teams) was with LeBron/Carmelo replaced with Chandler for example.

[Joseph17]

I think Martin would be perfect for the international game. He probably will be on the USA team in the future since he's young and they invited him to be on the select team. I would take him over Redd any day of the week. Kevin Martin = NBA's leading scorer for the 08-09 season.