http://www.nba.com/features/usabasketball_...mer_071807.htmlWhat 5 do you think are getting cut? and whats your starting line-up?
<span style="font-family:Tahoma">USA is gonna own.PG: Jason KiddSG: Kobe BryantSF: LeBron JamesPF: Chris BoshC: Dwight HowardBench: Amare, Billups, Williams, Redd, Melo, Durant, Prince, Kirk... Oden not gonna play, eh? </span>
The 5 guys who are going to get cut IMO are:JJ Redick = They have Michael Redd, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant for shooting. I don't really see the point in adding redick.Mike Miller= He'll be playing alongside Tayshaun Prince, Kevin Durant, Shane Battier, and LeBron James. Team USA has no need for 4 SF's and I would take any of those guys over Miller.Tyson Chandler= Amare Stoudamire and Dwight Howard will both likely be taking away tons of center minutes. He'll likely be on the bench for a good amount of time if he does in fact make it. However, he's defensive minded similar to Howard who is a 1 year veteran of Team USA.Deron Williams= Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, and Kirk Hinrich are all invited to the camp. Team USA wants Billups/Kidd's team leadership and Hinrich is now a 1 year veteran of Team USA who knows the difference in style of play. Despite Williams being young and athletic, young and athletic didn't deliver the win last year.Anyone who doesn't impress in USA camp will likely be the final cut.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Jul 20 2007, 10:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The 5 guys who are going to get cut IMO are:JJ Redick = They have Michael Redd, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant for shooting. I don't really see the point in adding redick.Mike Miller= He'll be playing alongside Tayshaun Prince, Kevin Durant, Shane Battier, and LeBron James. Team USA has no need for 4 SF's and I would take any of those guys over Miller.Tyson Chandler= Amare Stoudamire and Dwight Howard will both likely be taking away tons of center minutes. He'll likely be on the bench for a good amount of time if he does in fact make it. However, he's defensive minded similar to Howard who is a 1 year veteran of Team USA.Deron Williams= Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, and Kirk Hinrich are all invited to the camp. Team USA wants Billups/Kidd's team leadership and Hinrich is now a 1 year veteran of Team USA who knows the difference in style of play. Despite Williams being young and athletic, young and athletic didn't deliver the win last year.Anyone who doesn't impress in USA camp will likely be the final cut.</div>I agree with that list, then I think the last cut will be Prince. He really doesn't add anything else to the team that another player doesn't add. I just see him being the odd man out.
I hope Williams makes it over Hinrich, but it might be tough now since Hinrich is experienced with the team.Besides that, I like that list GArenas.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Jul 20 2007, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The 5 guys who are going to get cut IMO are:JJ Redick = They have Michael Redd, Kevin Durant, and Kobe Bryant for shooting. I don't really see the point in adding redick.Mike Miller= He'll be playing alongside Tayshaun Prince, Kevin Durant, Shane Battier, and LeBron James. Team USA has no need for 4 SF's and I would take any of those guys over Miller.Tyson Chandler= Amare Stoudamire and Dwight Howard will both likely be taking away tons of center minutes. He'll likely be on the bench for a good amount of time if he does in fact make it. However, he's defensive minded similar to Howard who is a 1 year veteran of Team USA.Deron Williams= Chauncey Billups, Jason Kidd, and Kirk Hinrich are all invited to the camp. Team USA wants Billups/Kidd's team leadership and Hinrich is now a 1 year veteran of Team USA who knows the difference in style of play. Despite Williams being young and athletic, young and athletic didn't deliver the win last year.Anyone who doesn't impress in USA camp will likely be the final cut.</div><span style="font-family:Tahoma">I agree with this list, too. Even though I have Williams on my bench, I don't really believe he'll make the team. But you never know, hes the one that could stand out and play amazingly.. But then again, the guys hes going up against might be to good for him.</span>
Personally, I don't like Kobe on this team. I know he won't get cut, but I just don't like the idea of having someone like him on a team where it is teamwork oriented and the leading scorers put up like 18 pts a game or something (forget exact stats).Maybe its just me tho
Its really sad that Dwight Howard led this team last summer in rebounding with 4.7 rpg, when hes used to like 12-13 a game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (STAT @ Jul 20 2007, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Personally, I don't like Kobe on this team. I know he won't get cut, but I just don't like the idea of having someone like him on a team where it is teamwork oriented and the leading scorers put up like 18 pts a game or something (forget exact stats).Maybe its just me tho</div>It's just you. That was one of the most retarded statements I have read in a while. Ugh...Kobe shouldn't be on the team...ugh. lmao Typical Suns Fan.Kobe is so motivated for this team. He lost 19 pounds this off-season so far, he is ready. I'm excited.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RaptorFan#1 @ Jul 20 2007, 12:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Its really sad that Dwight Howard led this team last summer in rebounding with 4.7 rpg, when hes used to like 12-13 a game.</div>Well, Team USA rebounded as a team last year, while in the NBA, teams usually have one or two players who will grab the majority of the boards downlow. With this team, I don't think it will be any different. Put Howard, Bosh, Stoudamire, Chandler, LeBron, and Durant on the same team, there won't be one player who sticks out significantly rebounding.Hmm. Under Howard it says he led the team in rebounding with 4.7 RPG. But under LeBron, it says he had 4.8 RPG. Oh well, it doesn't really matter.
<span style="font-family:Tahoma">The biggest reason I am so excited is because Kobe is on the team. Watching him and LeBron, thats just unfair for the other team. </span>
People say Kobe will just a mess up the team, but I think Kobe is what Team USA was missing last summer. He's a player that you know you can give the ball to when you're down and not making any shots, and he will find a way to score. Carmelo was really the only consistent go-to man last season, and really, they needed more than one. Also, Kobe will be able to lock players down defensively on the perimeter, which will hurt a lot of the European teams who like to win by shooting 3s. Put Kobe and Hinrich on that perimeter, and a lot of teams will have a tough time getting decent shots off from behind the arc.
If Kobe actually had some decent players that will hit their shots (HE HAS THEM HERE) he would be praised. He is a great fit, instant offense. He is the best player right now, why not have him? He can shut some players down on D as well.
Im not trying to be a homer or anything, but if Miller does what hes supposed to do(shoot) hes not going to be cut. Jerry Colangelo said one of the weaknesses last summer the USA team has was 3 point shooting and thats exactly why Mike Miller is being brought in. Everybody GArenas named arent stars(except D Williams) and thats probably how he based his list. Remember, they are building a team, not a allstar team. Not to mention Miller can play SG and PG...he isnt just limited to SF. Like I said, if he comes in and does well what hes supposed to do...he'll probably get on the team. Not to mention hes a good chemistry player.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BluffCityBlue @ Jul 20 2007, 05:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Im not trying to be a homer or anything, but if Miller does what hes supposed to do(shoot) hes not going to be cut. Jerry Colangelo said one of the weaknesses last summer the USA team has was 3 point shooting and thats exactly why Mike Miller is being brought in. Everybody GArenas named arent stars(except D Williams) and thats probably how he based his list. Remember, they are building a team, not a allstar team. Not to mention Miller can play SG and PG...he isnt just limited to SF. Like I said, if he comes in and does well what hes supposed to do...he'll probably get on the team. Not to mention hes a good chemistry player.</div>Kobe, Shane Battier, Lebron, Michael Redd, Tayshaun Prince, Billups, Melo, and Kevin Durant can all shoot threes. The only thing Mike Miller really brings to the table is shooting, so they don't really need him. He's not multi dimensional like Shane Battier either. He can't play defense well.
With Mike Miller's history of getting banged up easily, I'm not so sure I want him playing for Team USA, seeing we are going to need him very badly next season when we're looking to make a playoff run. If he does make the team, I will be happy for him, but if he doesn't it won't upset me one bit.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GrizzFanTaylor @ Jul 20 2007, 03:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>With Mike Miller's history of getting banged up easily, I'm not so sure I want him playing for Team USA, seeing we are going to need him very badly next season when we're looking to make a playoff run. If he does make the team, I will be happy for him, but if he doesn't it won't upset me one bit.</div>Im the same, I honestly dont want him to play either, although it is a honor. Shane Battier on the team is good enough for me...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Jul 20 2007, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe, Shane Battier, Lebron, Michael Redd, Tayshaun Prince, Billups, Melo, and Kevin Durant can all shoot threes. The only thing Mike Miller really brings to the table is shooting, so they don't really need him. He's not multi dimensional like Shane Battier either. He can't play defense well.</div>Only Redd, Kobe and Billups(who didnt even make it last time) can shoot 3s just as good or better than Miller. And once again, your talking about a player you obviously know nothing about. Yes his specialty is 3 point shooting, but hes a very nice rebounder, very good passer for his position and hes smart. He may not be a lockdown defender, but because hes got a high basketball IQ, he knows how to play team defense and help defense very well. Im not saying hes going to make it...but he was brought in to shoot 3s well, and if he does that and makes good decisions, he has a nice chance of making the team. You also have to balance the team out where certain players games compliments others. Besides maybe Redd and Redick....nobody else are going to simply do spotup shooting(Kobe could...but he probably wont). Mike Miller would be a very good spotupshooter.They just dont bring in guys just to cut them....and it seems by the way your post reads CB4, that its a obvious pick that Miller shouldnt make the team...which I disagree with....and obviously the USA Team staff disagrees with also.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (STAT @ Jul 20 2007, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Personally, I don't like Kobe on this team. I know he won't get cut, but I just don't like the idea of having someone like him on a team where it is teamwork oriented and the leading scorers put up like 18 pts a game or something (forget exact stats).Maybe its just me tho</div>Hate is the new love. This is USA's year.
There is no need for him on the team. He wouldn't even get that much playing time. Sure, he is a great (albeit streaky) shooter, but like someone said before alot of the other people here can shoot. He won't have the ball as much as in Memphis, and he would barely do any damage. No knock on his game at all, just why bring in something you don't need?
