The debate over who should, and should not, be included on the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team will rage on for the next few months. Pundits will attempt to convince you that they truly know which players will complement one another the best. Like those talking heads, I too will weigh in on this topic.
After the U.S. Men's disastrous showing in Athens in 2004, David Stern, Jerry Colangelo and the U.S. Olympic Association got serious about turning around the program that had been the gold standard for global basketball. By the Summer of 2007, it was clear that they had succeeded in their endeavor, even if the first reboot in August of 2006 failed to past muster.
In August 2007, I watched in amazement as the team, split in to two squads, blue and white, and played a nationally-televised scrimmage. On one team you had LeBron and Wade, and on the other you had the old veteran, Kobe Bryant, and the rookie, Kevin Durant. During a timeout with less than a minute to go in the game, Bryant took Durant under his shoulder, literally, and explained to him how to better execute a defensive assignment. Durant nodded, and the two returned to the court to finish out the game. Down one point, Durant inbounded the ball, Kobe caught it near the top of the key, and, in dramatic fashion, nailed the game-winning basket as time expired. Right there, right then, we saw the present and the future of U.S. Basketball.
The following summer, Kobe would once again lead the U.S. to victory, this time against their arch-rival, Spain. The gold medal game was much closer than many people remember, and were it not for Bryant and Wade's defensive stops and clutch shooting in the last eight minutes of the game, Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio would have been perched along the top position of the dais. Since then, Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard have not participated in Olympic Basketball games. Nevertheless, a new crop of All-Stars have played an integral part in keeping the Men's team at the top of Olympic Basketball.
Led by Durant, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook, the 2010 Men's team was victorious in the FIBA Championship in Istanbul. Though veterans like Lamar Odom and Tyson Chandler played a huge part in establishing a defensive mindset for the rest of the squad, it was the young-guns who really helped further the program, allowing the team to succeed in the absence of such big names as Kobe and LeBron.
Below are the finalists for the 2012 U.S. Basketball Team. While I am confident that I could create a successful team including some players not mentioned on the list below, I will stick to the list, make my picks, and explain why certain players belong in London, and why others are not right for this team, or perhaps not right for international basketball... yet.
Finalists:
LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Tyson Chandler,
Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams.
Who's Out:
Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love Lamar Odom, and Russell Westbrook.
Why They're Out:
Chauncey Billups, Tyson Chandler and Lamar Odom: They're too old and they don't fit in to the future plans for Team U.S.A. Billups is still a strong-willed leader, and a terrific clutch shooter. Nevertheless, on a team that is sure to carry Chris Paul, Derrick Rose and Deron Williams, Billups is the odd man out. Chandler is a great defensive anchor in the middle, but he is incredibly limited on the other end of the court. While Team U.S.A. will never be short of offense with players like LeBron, Wade and Kobe around to pour in buckets, Chandler is not a good fit for an international basketball team. He doesn't stretch the defense like other international big men (think Pau Gasol or Luis Scola) and there is a recent invitee who is a better fit to play up front (Spoiler Alert: his first name rhymes with "JaMarcus.") While the same argument can be made about Dwight Howard, D12 is a transcendent defensive player, and he cannot be omitted from this team. As for Odom, his recent play in Dallas, his age, and his undefined position make him a sure-fire candidate to be cut before the team heads across the pond. While he is great at initiating the offense, can play virtually every position on defense, and is an adept shooter from outside, I just can't see him making it over guys like Bosh, Aldridge, or even Kevin Love.
Blake Griffin and Russell Westbrook: They are not ready for the international game. In international basketball, the most important skill that a player must possess on the offensive end is the ability to shoot a jump shot. For Westbrook this is less of an issue as his blazing speed allows him to blow by any defender. For Griffin however, this is a major blow to his chances to join the team in London. Griffin - like Westbrook - is a great athlete, and he might be the best dunker in the NBA. Nevertheless, his offensive game is severely limited to dunks, put-backs, and the occasional up-and-under. Unlike Westbrook, Griffin is also a woeful defender and can not be trusted to defend players like Pau or Marc Gasol. While I fully expect both of these guys to join the team in 2016, I think that Team U.S.A. would be detrimentally affected by having them on the court this summer.
Andre Iguodala: He is a great "jack of all trades, master of none," and with guys like LeBron James Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and Rudy Gay likely to make the team, there are too many wing players as is. Iguodala also possesses a rather shaky outside shot, and while he is one of the ten best defenders in the NBA, once again you need to have a strong jump shot to make it to the Olympics.
Eric Gordon and Kevin Love: These guys are the wild card players. If Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge don't get the nod to join the 12-man roster, I believe these will be the two players who fill out the roster. Eric Gordon is the perfect player to man the 2-spot for the U.S. Men's team. Gordon is a prolific outside shooter, he is a bulldog of a defender, and an underrated passer. He is likely to be kept off the team this Summer as he is recovering from a litany of injuries and his future is a bit in question as he might try to play on a one year deal with New Orleans before exercising his free agency in the Summer of 2013. As for Love, if he were a better defender, he would be the prototypical international big man. He is the best shooter taller than 6'9" in the NBA who doesn't have a German accent. He is an amazing passer and the best rebounder the NBA has seen since Dennis Rodman. He is also incredibly cerebral and a true competitor. As I said, these are the two guys I can possibly see making it this Summer over Aldridge and Gay.
Who's In:
LaMarcus Aldridge, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Dwayne Wade, and Deron Williams.
Why They're In:
Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade and Deron Williams: They've been there before, they got the job done, and they still have more than enough in the tank to bring home the gold in the Summer of 2012. This is an incredibly strong eight-man core of returning players and gives Team U.S.A. everything that they need. Antony is as pure a scorer as anyone in the NBA, and his ability to play either forward spot in the international game is an added asset for the American team. Bosh is a great inside-outside big man, a player whose defense is underrated, and a player capable of spelling Dwight Howard for long periods of the game. Kobe Bryant is still one of the best wing defenders in the NBA, a player capable of shutting down the opposing team's best wing scorer on any given night, a prolific scorer, and above all else a player who wants to win. Dwight Howard gives the team their defensive presence inside and in international basketball, where tip-ins are allowed and not considered offensive goal-tending, his impact on the offensive end is much needed. LeBron James is the best all-around athlete in the NBA, a point guard in a power forward's body, and a two-time MVP. Chris Paul is the best pure passer, and the best defender for speedy point guards. Dwayne Wade is another great scorer, a man who possesses a beautiful mid-range jump shot, and someone who - like Bryant - is able to turn it on defensively and set the tone for the rest of the team. Deron Williams is a powerful point guard with a more refined offensive skill-set than Chris Paul, and while he is not quite the defender that Paul is he provides the American team with a different look against bigger guards.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay: In my opinion Aldridge is the perfect big man for Team U.S.A. He is a great inside scorer, but is also the best mid-range jump shooting big man outside of Pau Gasol in the NBA. He is a long, agile defender who is capable of manning the 5-position for the American team, and he knows what it takes to win, having helped Portland to the playoffs last year despite all the injuries they sustained. Rudy Gay is another fantastic scorer, who is also able to lock down opposing wings on defense. He showed a lot of growth, maturity and leadership in the Summer of 2010 in Istanbul, and if he is healthy, he should absolutely join the team in London. If either one of these guys is left off the squad, then Kevin Love and Eric Gordon should be added to replace them.
Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose: They are the future of American Basketball. Kevin Durant is a fantastic basketball player and is only getting better. This season he has already increased his free throw rate and has taken the ball inside more, adding another dimension to his offensive game. On defense, he won't be asked to do too much, but his ability to get in passing lanes with his long arms will allow the Americans to get the fast break moving and score easy buckets. Derrick Rose is the reigning MVP, a player who once was unable to shoot and is now a deadly jump shooter, a strong passer and defender, and a bona fide leader. If healthy, these two players will likely play on the next three Olympic teams for the United States.
So, those are my thoughts, my picks, and my feelings on U.S.A. basketball. Who makes the squad remains to be seen, but if there ever was a year when the United States needs to ensure that they bring the right guys to the games, this is it. Spain is much improved from their 2008 team. And with a front court that includes Serge Ibaka and the Gasol brothers, a back court full of shooters to go along with Ricky Rubio's virtuoso passing performances, and a cohesive spirit unlike any other nation's team, they could beat the Americans. That is if Team U.S.A. does not come to play.
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