January 29, 2012

Team USA Basketball. Who Makes The Cut?

Have you ever had to pick between a Maserati and a Bentley?
Ever struggled with which actress to date, Halle Berry or Angelina Jolie? Has your company's success depended on Perfect Option A or Perfect Option B?
If so, you've dealt with the "agonizing" decision that awaits Team USA Chairman Jerry Colangelo in the coming months.
USA Basketball has an embarrassment of riches to choose from for it's 12-man roster heading into this year's Summer Olympics in London. Earlier this month the national team released its 20-man roster. The final 20 seem to be an amalgamation of the 2008 Olympic "Redeem Team" and the 2010 World Championship Squad. The following is a list of the squad.


Guards:
Chris Paul
Russel Westbrook
Deron Williams
Derrick Rose
Eric Gordon
Chauncey Billups
Kobe Bryant
Dwyane Wade
LeBron James
Carmelo Anthony
Kevin Durant
Andre Iguodala
Lamar Odom


Forwards:
Chris Bosh
Blake Griffin
Kevin Love
Dwight Howard
LaMarcus Aldridge
Tyson Chandler


There is really no surprises on the roster except for veteran guard Chauncey Billups. It is safe to say that Paul, Rose, Bryant, Wade, James and Durant are locks at the guard spots. Howard is the only lock in the front court for Team USA. 
That leaves five spots available for the 12-man roster. The battles will likely begin with point guards Eric Gordon Russell Westbrook Deron Williams and Billips. It will be tough for some of the small forwards to make the team between Lamar Odom, Andre Iguodala and Carmelo Anthony The team needs more depth in the front court and will already be carrying an inordinate amount of versatile guards.
The real battle will come at the power forward spot where Bosh, Griffin, Love, and Aldridge will probably be fighting for 2-3 spots. If Colangelo and Co believe Bosh can play the 5 spot as a backup to Howard that might open up room for the other power forwards but might eliminate Chandler. If not Bosh might be out of the final 12 to make room for Chandler.


Coach's Final 5:
*DISCLAIMER* The Final 5 is indicative of who Coach thinks should be retained, not who's most likely to do so.


Russell Westbrook should be taken to give team USA a third option on both offense and defense that can score on his own and play bigger ones and twos. Carmelo Anthony should be taken based purely on talent and the ability to play multiple positions on the court. Love and Aldridge should be taken for rebounding ability and ability to make outside shots from the power forward position. Bosh should accompany Aldridge as they both can play the center spot as well, giving team USA more versatility to add extra guards and swing players.


Regardless of who Team USA takes to London this summer it will have all the necessary pieces to come back with the Gold. A hard decision for Jerry Colangelo is an easy decision to the rest of the world: take 12 great players and win the Gold. Here is a reminder of what team USA has done in the past four years:






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