Who makes your 2008 USA Olympic Basketball team?
Posted: Tue Apr 8, 2008 6:13 am
Take into account injuries, team chemistry, etc., and give a starter and a bench player at each position. Don't limit yourself to players who played on the 2007 FIBA Americas team. Explain your choices.
The general blueprint for my team is:
- Dominant rebounding from my Cs, PFs and SFs. Crush the soft Euros on the boards
- Back to the basket centers
- PFs who can hit mid-range shots
- Outside shooting and slashing ability from my PGs, SGs and SFs (a lack of shooters has really hurt the US in recent tourneys)
- Youth (brings energy, and the team can stay together for a long time)
C - Dwight/Chandler
PF - Amare/Boozer
SF - LeBron/Melo
SG - Kobe/Kevin Martin
PG - Paul/Deron
Notes: I figure Wade and Oden will still be recovering, and LAL/Raps will probably want Bosh and Bynum to rest their knees. Bosh and Oden would maybe not make it anyways, and I likely also wouldn't include Wade, since this team has more than enough slashers, but lacks guys who can really knock down the 3. I'd go with Boozer/West instead of Amare/Boozer if Phoenix wants Amare to rest his knees. I went with Kevin Martin because this team needs shooters, and I didn't want to put someone like Redd or Gordon in there. I went with Chandler for the rebounding and size, though I'd take Bynum instead if he was healthy enough.
The general blueprint for my team is:
- Dominant rebounding from my Cs, PFs and SFs. Crush the soft Euros on the boards
- Back to the basket centers
- PFs who can hit mid-range shots
- Outside shooting and slashing ability from my PGs, SGs and SFs (a lack of shooters has really hurt the US in recent tourneys)
- Youth (brings energy, and the team can stay together for a long time)
C - Dwight/Chandler
PF - Amare/Boozer
SF - LeBron/Melo
SG - Kobe/Kevin Martin
PG - Paul/Deron
Notes: I figure Wade and Oden will still be recovering, and LAL/Raps will probably want Bosh and Bynum to rest their knees. Bosh and Oden would maybe not make it anyways, and I likely also wouldn't include Wade, since this team has more than enough slashers, but lacks guys who can really knock down the 3. I'd go with Boozer/West instead of Amare/Boozer if Phoenix wants Amare to rest his knees. I went with Kevin Martin because this team needs shooters, and I didn't want to put someone like Redd or Gordon in there. I went with Chandler for the rebounding and size, though I'd take Bynum instead if he was healthy enough.