FIBA 2010, USA vs the World

[REDardWIZskin]

I don't even think any of the NBA guys like Dirk and Pau are playing for their teams this year. Most of the best players the Euro teams have are even younger than our guys and will be in the draft next yr. I think the KD led team with billups will be enough to run the table. There are no guards overseas that come close to the athletic ability and quickness of Rose, westbrook and rondo. The best they have had to offer is beaubois who is young as well

[closg00]

I don't even think any of the NBA guys like Dirk and Pau are playing for their teams this year. Most of the best players the Euro teams have are even younger than our guys and will be in the draft next yr. I think the KD led team with billups will be enough to run the table. There are no guards overseas that come close to the athletic ability and quickness of Rose, westbrook and rondo. The best they have had to offer is beaubois who is young as well

Whoah slow-down there a bit, Pau is not playing, but his brother Marc is not a shabby stand-in. Spain has a very formidable team of guys who are used to playing together. The Spanish team playing our Dream Team in 08 was able to hang for two quarters with us, this same returning team (on-paper) should be able to be competative against this thrown-together team of mostly NBA B-List guys. Greece and Argentina also have very good teams.

The Spain roster.
http://turkey2010.fiba.com/pages/eng/fe ... rview.html

Edit:
The Brazilan team has:
Leandro Barbosa
Tiago Splitter
Side-Show Varejao
Rodney Hilario

[REDardWIZskin]

Closeg00 what are you saying all of the guys that you just named are B list NBA players playing for their national teams. I would say KD and Rose are right on the cusp of the A list, the weakness on the USA team is the bigs. The bigs did not even contribute much in 08 for the USA team. Rubio could not even score on Jennings when he was overseas.
Marc is not shabby but he's no Pau.
This team is young but do not underestimate the coaching staff.
Rose and Rondo will get to the basket at will.
I think they will surprise you all.

[closg00]

Closeg00 what are you saying all of the guys that you just named are B list NBA players playing for their national teams. I would say KD and Rose are right on the cusp of the A list, the weakness on the USA team is the bigs. The bigs did not even contribute much in 08 for the USA team. Rubio could not even score on Jennings when he was overseas.
Marc is not shabby but he's no Pau.
This team is young but do not underestimate the coaching staff.
Rose and Rondo will get to the basket at will.
I think they will surprise you all.

You mentioned the lack of NBA players on other teams (possibly as an indicactor of the level of competition perhaps?) I wanted to point out that Brazil has a nice group of them.

You mentioned that bigs did not contribute much in 08, we had the Dream Team in 2008 with Kobe, Wade, LeBron and Bosh, no Center really needed then, not the case this year.

Totally agree about the coaching, that could be the difference-maker for us. Coach K knows how to make adjustments with what he has.

[Induveca]

USA should medal, but won't win the gold. Any of the TEAMS 1-5 below have a great chance of beating this USA squad on any given night....these are just some of the CONFIRMED players who will be playing for each squad.

I've highlighted in blue players who have either played in the NBA, or have been drafted by an NBA squad. For those quick to say certain players stand no shot in the NBA, keep in mind many of them even not highlighted could make the jump if desired. The economy in the EU states presents just as many opportunities for these guys to make as much, if not more on the open market (and not pay taxes if they're smart about it).

1. Spain
Fran Vazquez
Marc Gasol
Rudy Fernandez
Ricky Rubio
Jose Manuel Calderon
Juan Carlos Navarro
Jorge Garbajosa

2. Argentina:
Luis Scola
Fabricio Oberto
Carlos Delfino
Pablo Prigioni
Paulo Quinteros,
Federico Kammerichs

3. Brazil
Tiago Splitter
Leandro Barbosa
Nene Hilario
Anderson Varejao
Macelinho Huertas

4. Greece
Dimitris Diamantidis
Vassilis Spanoulis
Kostas Vasileiaidis
Kostas Tsartsaris
Ioannis Bourousis
Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Georgios Printezis

5. Slovenia
Beno Udrih
Jara Lakovic
Goran Drajic
Bostjan Nachbar
Primoz Brezec
Sani Becirovic

6. Serbia:
Kosta Perovic
Nenad Krstic
Darko Milicic
Nikola Velickovic
Nemanja Bjelica

7. Croatia
Marko Tomas
Zoran Planinic
Rok-Leni Ukic
Ante Tomic
Marko Banic
Bojan Bogdanovic

8. Puerto Rico
Carlos Arroyo
Juan Jose Barea
Renaldo Balkman
Daniel Santiago
Larry Ayuso
Peter John Ramos

I have them as my favorites to beat the USA, 1-8. No Pietrus, Parker, Noah or Seraphin for France or they'd be on there too (Parker, Diaw, Beaubouis, Pietrus, Noah, Batum, Turiaf)

But if I'm a betting man I take the Spanish squad over everyone pretty handily. Too much experience/depth/savvy.......and a great coach and team mentality. Just the fact McGee is on the squad tells you everything you need to know about us. Of course I still have us as the third favorite behind Spain and Argentina. Even without Ginobili Argentina is a very very tough squad.....tons of experience.

[doclinkin]

The French have a real nice team with good size, good athletes all around. Noah, Ian Mahinmi, Nico Batum on the perimeter, Roddy Buckets, Mikael Gelabale and his hair-do, Boris Diaw.

Don't sleep on the Russian team, coached by David Blatt.

Puerto Rico should be fun to watch with PJR, JJBarea et al.

I''m curious to see how Nick Calathes looks on the Greek team.

The Argentines always play good team ball. Nasty, good spacing, clever cheating.

I like our squad, but most of the team will be adjusting to a new rule set, playing against teams motivated to crush 'em, and with referees often biased from the start. The coach on the squad with the most international experience is Mike D'antoni, Koach K had a relatively easy time of it with his last crew of megastars, he'll be scrambling this =time with a group that's a little younger and more wet behind the ears.

Should be a fun battle every game.

EDIT -- what induveca said. Is Noah out? They still have him listed on the FIBA site.

[fishercob]

D'Antoni won't be there either. He had to bow out on doctor's advice because of back issues.

[Kanyewest]

1- Rose/Billups/Rondo/Westbrook/Curry
2-Curry/Westbrook/Eric Gordon/Iguodala/Durant
3- Durant/Granger/Gay/Iguodala
4- Odom/Love/Green/Granger
5- Chandler/McGee/Odom/Love

I like the US chances the most but being that it's single elimination and past success at the World Championship, it won't be an easy road.

[closg00]

Agree with Induveca and Doc, group chemistry is a real concern, something that the Redeem Team was able to raise-above with sheer talent.

Nice article in Fanhouse today.

Never mind that the current roster is a half-dozen steps below the previous version in terms of talent -- there's still no chemistry here. Team USA has one set of teammates (Durant and Russell Westbrook), while players on other teams have been playing together for 5-10 years. That's a hard deficit to overcome, no matter how amazing Durant can be and how solid the backcourt looks. Team USA should blow out most teams, but the fellow contenders will challenge the Olympic champs.

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/08/05/fanh ... -favorite/

[Kanyewest]

Green is also a teammate of Durant and Westbrook with the Thunder. Westbrook and Love were also teammates at UCLA.

[Induveca]

Green is also a teammate of Durant and Westbrook with the Thunder. Westbrook and Love were also teammates at UCLA.

Jeff Green and Westbrook aren't striking fear into anyone's hearts internationally. Neither of these guys have ever played with any real pressure on them........I don't see either of them doing much. Green is notoriously streaky to begin with.

He shot 32% vs the Lakers in the playoffs after shooting 45% in the regular season. Seems the pressure got to him. Westbrook actually shot 47% vs 41% in the regular season, he might have a shot of doing something.

I just get the feeling this team will be dominated by Durant, and the result will be much the same as the Thunder vs Lakers when they go up against someone like Spain, Argentina or Greece.

[closg00]

Green is also a teammate of Durant and Westbrook with the Thunder. Westbrook and Love were also teammates at UCLA.

I thought Green was cut.

[Kanyewest]

Nope Jeff Green made it.

Link: http://www.examiner.com/x-33314-Georget ... r-team-USA

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

USA should medal, but won't win the gold. Any of the TEAMS 1-5 below have a great chance of beating this USA squad on any given night....these are just some of the CONFIRMED players who will be playing for each squad.

I've highlighted in blue players who have either played in the NBA, or have been drafted by an NBA squad. For those quick to say certain players stand no shot in the NBA, keep in mind many of them even not highlighted could make the jump if desired. The economy in the EU states presents just as many opportunities for these guys to make as much, if not more on the open market (and not pay taxes if they're smart about it).

1. Spain
Fran Vazquez
Marc Gasol
Rudy Fernandez
Ricky Rubio
Jose Manuel Calderon
Juan Carlos Navarro
Jorge Garbajosa

2. Argentina:
Luis Scola
Fabricio Oberto
Carlos Delfino
Pablo Prigioni
Paulo Quinteros,
Federico Kammerichs

3. Brazil
Tiago Splitter
Leandro Barbosa
Nene Hilario
Anderson Varejao
Macelinho Huertas

4. Greece
Dimitris Diamantidis
Vassilis Spanoulis
Kostas Vasileiaidis
Kostas Tsartsaris
Ioannis Bourousis
Sofoklis Schortsanitis
Georgios Printezis

5. Slovenia
Beno Udrih
Jara Lakovic
Goran Drajic
Bostjan Nachbar
Primoz Brezec
Sani Becirovic

6. Serbia:
Kosta Perovic
Nenad Krstic
Darko Milicic
Nikola Velickovic
Nemanja Bjelica

7. Croatia
Marko Tomas
Zoran Planinic
Rok-Leni Ukic
Ante Tomic
Marko Banic
Bojan Bogdanovic

8. Puerto Rico
Carlos Arroyo
Juan Jose Barea
Renaldo Balkman
Daniel Santiago
Larry Ayuso
Peter John Ramos

I have them as my favorites to beat the USA, 1-8. No Pietrus, Parker, Noah or Seraphin for France or they'd be on there too (Parker, Diaw, Beaubouis, Pietrus, Noah, Batum, Turiaf)

But if I'm a betting man I take the Spanish squad over everyone pretty handily. Too much experience/depth/savvy.......and a great coach and team mentality. Just the fact McGee is on the squad tells you everything you need to know about us. Of course I still have us as the third favorite behind Spain and Argentina. Even without Ginobili Argentina is a very very tough squad.....tons of experience.

Hey Indu, Jose Manuel Calderon makes the whole Spanish team blue. Jose might not have performed like an NBA player for the Raptors last year, but they paid him his contract value. I am ashamed to admit I wanted Calderon for the Wizards a while back because of his shooting %s.

I agree with you about the Spanish team, but the coaching matters. Also, Spain doesn't have Pau Gasol and that helps the rest of the teams' chances.

Even without those guys I wouldn't sleep on France. France's team is as good as the US team IMHO.

I am happy that Javale (and Yi) get to be a part of this.

[closg00]

Check-out Spain getting a good scare from a scrappy Cote D'Ivoire team this week.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GwIj1Qwk_k[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45cDGRfpoqU[/youtube][/quote]

[Kanyewest]

Jeff Green and Westbrook aren't striking fear into anyone's hearts internationally. Neither of these guys have ever played with any real pressure on them........I don't see either of them doing much. Green is notoriously streaky to begin with.

He shot 32% vs the Lakers in the playoffs after shooting 45% in the regular season. Seems the pressure got to him. Westbrook actually shot 47% vs 41% in the regular season, he might have a shot of doing something.

I just get the feeling this team will be dominated by Durant, and the result will be much the same as the Thunder vs Lakers when they go up against someone like Spain, Argentina or Greece.

I was just saying that Team USA has SOME more chemistry that that previous link indicated; (you can argue if that's insignificant but it's moreso than the article gave credence to). And if you want guys that have done it the playoffs, look no further than NBA finals MVP Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo (probably would have been the NBA Finals MVP the Celtics managed to win), Lamar Odom who was on back to back championship teams. Even someone like Love and Jeff Green, who are not in the top 9 in the rotation IMO, have been the primary cogs in their team's run to the final four so they have pressure as "the man". But Team USA needs role players moreso.

While this team isn't as strong as the 2008 team, I like this team a lot more than the 2004 team that the US sent to the Olympics. International teams weren't going to be scared regardless, international teams certainly weren't when the US had Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade on the team.

I still like that the US has guys who should play into their roles IMO. Guys like Westbrook and Rondo while not great shooters are going be pretty good defensively. And there are shooters on this US team, Durant, Curry, Billups, Granger, and Gordon. I agree that the US is a bit green but I think they still have enough talent to win. Plus they have enough guys who have had pressure on them: Durant, Westbrook, Odom, Billups, Rose, Rondo, Iguodala. I grant you, it's not the best that the US has to offer.

And no to the Thunder/Lakers example to the Team USA/International example. Team USA is taking the Thunders 3 best players and adding to it. The Lakers are a better team than any team internationally- even Pau Gasol isn't playing for Spain. As much as I like Ibaka, if the Thunder had this supporting cast to surround Durant, Westbrook, and Green, they would have a much better chance to beat the Lakers. That being said, the international game is much different from the US game, plus it's single elimination so who knows how the US will react in a game where they start facing adversity.

[hands11]

Team USA is well coached. I don't think they'll ask more of McGee than what he can do.

McGee can play alongside Love. Love can rebound and Javale can concentrate on catching lobs for dunks, on running the court to score in transition, and to block shots from the weakside.

I would love to see a coach take a chapter out of Hakeem and Ralph Sampson and to play McGee with Chandler some. Who defends them?

That is the first thing that came to mind for me. Would it work ? But are a little ... ah not complete.

If they were running it would be interesting. Two Ally Ooopers

[hands11]

I would love to see a coach take a chapter out of Hakeem and Ralph Sampson and to play McGee with Chandler some. Who defends them?

It would be easy to defend them. Just back off of them, give them the 17-footer, and deny them the lob pass. Meanwhile, it would easier to defend the paint because you don't have to challenge McGee or Chandler on the perimeter. And it's not like McGee and Chandler have good enough post games to take advantage of being guarded by smaller players.

McGee has been working hard on his three ball all summer. He is the second coming of Ray Allen.

[closg00]

France coach Vincent Collet has confirmed that Joakim Noah will not play in the FIBA World Championship. France had been waiting to learn the outcome of contract negotiations between Noah and the Chicago Bulls but now Collet has closed the door on the center playing in Turkey. "I was pessimistic and now I can tell you it's a done deal," he said. "We must turn the page. That is what I have done."

Re: Seraphin, would he have made the French team were it not for his knee injury?

[Induveca]

All the news reports here in Paris made it quite clear Seraphin WAS on the squad if he desired.....he just said no to prepare for the NBA and not risk injury.