When the NBA season is over, I usually start getting hyped about the draft and then I go straight into hibernation until training camp starts. But this year, we get an extra dose of basketball with the Olympics and it could not come any sooner. Even with more basketball games lined up, I’m a little worried about my team.
Jerry Colangelo and Coach K recently annouced their roster which consists of: Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince, Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Michael Redd. The first thing that comes to mind is that the team is seriously lacking in big men. Dwight Howard is a legitimate big man but instead of having Amare Stoudamire come in to relieve him, there is jump shooting Chris Bosh. That brings the center count to 1 and a half. I wonder if Bosh can get down there and take the punishment that made even the great Tim Duncan withdraw from the Olympics. Boozer will probably be used at center as well and while he has the skills to over match the centers of the world, he is going to be giving up a ton of height. Expect him to lead the team in shots rejected.
In addition to the lack of big men, the Americans’ biggest weakness, outside shooting, still lingers. Michael Redd is still the team’s only pure shooter and I hope he’s okay after last year’s Milwaukee disaster. That season might bring anyone down. Kobe is amazing from the outside but aside from him and Redd, there aren’t any real 3-point threats on the team. With the shorter 3-point line, opposing teams have routinely torched the Americans from beyond the arc and they must be able to come back with their own 3-point bombs. LeBron has developed more range and consistency to his jumper and Williams has shown that his can hit the 3 also, but overall, I think outside shooting is still a glaring weakness.
Despite these weaknesses, the Americans have a ton of talent and maybe more imporantly experience together.This alone should have them competing for the gold metal that the USA needs. A starting five of Kidd, Bryant, James, Anthony and Howard is just scary. If they stay humble and focused, there’s no reason why they can not bring the gold back. That gold will definitely wake me up from my hibernation.
strong team we can’t get complacent. The rest of the world is catching up. We need to play better as a team, not just 5 individuals as in years past.
- Freddie Footballer
US will win Gold This team is coached by Coach K. It has had some set backs, but the set backs have been selfish players that are more talented dropping out. This team would have been stronger with more talent down low like Amare, but this is a team full of players who can play together. Kobe showed us last summer that he can focus on defense when he is on a team that has this kind of talent. They are smaller, but how can any other country guard Kobe, Lebron and Carmelo at the same time? They just cannot. CP3 off the bench, will be a spark off the bench even though he should be a starter. These guys will not have any trouble winning the Olympics.
re: It’s a very well made team, especially for International play. International teams don’t use real centers, so the fact that we have athletic and tall PFs like Dwight and Bosh bodes well. We learned from last time that having a roster of volume shooters doesn’t work, so I expect these results to be much better with a much more balanced and well coached roster.
__________
LB23