The Quick Report 08.04.08: Looking at Team USA
Posted by Ben Quick on 08.04.2008
Will we see redemption or further failure?
Well, unlike last week, this week there are several topics to discuss. We have an ex-referee getting a prison sentence, Ron Artest got traded again, a few new contracts being handed out and European basketball appears to be on the track to one day becoming a true competitor with NBA for talent. Still, more importantly than any side story, basketball is being played! That trumps all else as far as I'm concerned. On August 10th the preliminary rounds of the 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament begins. Now, I don't want disrespect any of my non-American readers, but the whole focus is on if the USA can regain its spot at the top of world basketball. With unarguably the best talent, many feel the US should never lose at basketball, period. Yet, in 2004, with a combination of lack of team play and internal conflict Team USA went home with the bronze medal. Four years later anything other than a first place finish and gold medals will be considered another massive failure. After the 2004 collapse in Athens, the entire USA basketball program was rebuilt. The idea being a player was selected on his fitting with the team, and not that of his individual talent. All of which can be seen in the 2008 roster, which combines perennial all-star talent with expected strong role players. So, let's take a deeper look at the supposed new and improved US Olympic roster.
Carmelo Anthony
As many analysts have noted, Carmelo Anthony seems to be actually a better international player than an NBA one. Anthony is able to play the power forward slot on Team USA and therefore he has the advantage against bigger, but slower defenders who have a hard time guarding him with his strong mid range shot. What Carmelo brings to Team USA is an ability to create a mismatch every night and a game that isn't built solely on penetration. Over the last two years no player has been as essential to Team USA as Anthony.
Carlos Boozer
Boozer is going to have to play well for this team to be successful. The obvious weakness for Team USA at first glance is the lack of size in the frontcourt. Along with Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer is the only other true big on the roster. His ability to get easy baskets will be key to success.
Chris Bosh
In the NBA Chris Bosh is a little undersized at the four, but he makes do. Looking at this roster one would expect not only would Bosh have the play his position of power forward, but that he will be probably asked to play center as well. This lack of size seems to be the true weakness of Team USA and I would imagine it's the first thing other countries will try to attack.
Kobe Bryant
More than any other player on the roster, Kobe Bryant gives Americans the most confidence of a gold medal. Kobe Bryant is arguably the best player in the world and one of the most dangerous offensive threats in history. One good sign coming from The Black Mamba is his demand of being assigned to guard the opposing team's best perimeter player each night. Team USA isn't going to lack offensive fire power and so Kobe Bryant shouldn't be in a mindset to score. Kobe Bryant can be one of the more tenacious defenders; he should do well as a defensive stopper.
Dwight Howard
Maybe more than any other player on the roster, Dwight Howard is going to have to play well. He is the only legitimate center on the team. His ability in the NBA to dominate the boards will need to transfer to the international game. I tend to dream about the possibilities for alley-oop after alley-oop when thinking of putting him on the floor with Chris Paul. Dwight Howard was the most dominant center in the NBA last year. He needs to be just as dominant in Beijing.
LeBron James
LeBron James is a mismatch for any opposing team whether in the NBA or anywhere else. Over the last few years we've seen him use his size and anticipation skills to become a pretty decent defender. Still, he's more of the offensive fire power that Team USA hopes that will overwhelm their opponents. One would think that any team that has Kobe Bryant and LeBron James in it's starting line up would dominate anybody. Since the two have teamed up, that's exactly what they've done.
Jason Kidd
This is probably the roster selection that I've seen people complain about the most. It seems to be residual feelings from the botched Dallas Mavericks trade, but that doesn't really factor into how Kidd plays with Team USA. Last year in the FIBA tournament I thought Jason Kidd was the most important part of the team. When he was on the floor the team moved and shared the ball. When this team is able to do that, it can't be stopped. Whenever Kidd left the game the drop in play was evident. Jason Kidd is undefeated in international play and is the only player on roster to have an Olympic gold medal. His experience will be invaluable.
Chris Paul
Last season Chris Paul was the best point guard in the NBA. His ability to get to rim and either score or dish to open teammates is astonishing. It will be interesting to see how Coach K divides the point guard duties coming off the bench between him and Deron Williams. So far in the exhibition games Paul and Williams have meshed pretty well playing together on the court. While I consider both about equally talented, there is a huge contrast. Chris Paul is more about speed and Williams will bring size. One or the other will probably be the starting point guard on 2012's squad.
Tayshaun Prince
I both understand and disagree with Tayshaun Prince's selection. Prince does fill a few requirements for the roster. First, he's a great defensive player, as Reggie Miller can testify. Second, he fills the need for a small forward coming off the bench. Still, it might have been a better idea to pick another power forward or center(Elton Brand or Amare Stoudemire?) and let Carmelo Anthony come off the bench. This squad has a lot of guards, so I can see where Prince fits in.
Michael Redd
Michael Redd is a little scary in that he, along with Kobe Bryant, is the only legitimate threat Team USA has from long range. The problem is that both Kobe and Redd are sort of streaky shooters from the three point line. When foreign teams play zone Michael Redd's shooting will have to go a long way into breaking down the defense. Still, other than maybe Mike Miller, not many other players would probably be much better.
Dwyane Wade
From all accounts the idea is for Dwyane Wade to be Team USA's sixth man. So far, Wade is seems to be finally healthy and ready to go. That's a very dangerous proposition if it holds true. Dwyane Wade is capable of being as strong of an offensive threat as anyone on the team when he's healthy. If he can play like he did before his shoulder separation a year and a half ago, that's very scary to see coming off the bench just as Kobe and LeBron are sitting down.
Deron Williams
Like I said earlier, how well Williams plays will be due mostly to how many minutes he has to share with Chris Paul and Jason Kidd. Williams is a very big point guard with a lot of strength and excellent court vision. Plus, you can't sag off him because he does have a pretty solid jump shot. One thing I will be watching as closely as anything else is how well he matches Chris Paul's play. Both plan to be contending for being known as the best point guard in the world in the next several years, so you know there should be some competitive energy there.
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The straight forward complaints about Team USA comes from it's lack of size and shooting range. The team will still have much more talent and ability than any of it's opponents this year. One of the big weaknesses I see for Team USA is that they can so easily blow a team out by obscene totals and so they rarely are tested. Then, late in the tournament, they come up against a strong team and falter. My official stance doesn't exactly come from an analytical stand point, but what the hell. I have a hard time seeing any team that consists of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade losing this year, but I was saying the same thing two years ago about the team that got spanked by Greece. So, despite all my aimless ramblings above, I still would say that the status quo is "We'll see."
