USA Basketball

[PLACforever]

With the FIBA World Cup coming up at the end of the month and all the news lately, I figured I'd get this going.

USA Basketball | Official Site

USA Men's Basketball National Team Roster 2014-16 | USAB

 

[PLACforever]

Paul George Breaks His Leg Horrifically In Team USA Scrimmage [GRAPHIC]

 

[Irish#1]

As a Pacer fan this is terrible news. I hope his has a complete recovery.

 

[notredomer23]

That injury to me was more gruesome than Kevin Ware's.

Side note, Coach K was present for both injuries.

 

[ND NYC]

and so marks the beginning of the end for the top NBA guys playing for USA Basketball....get well soon Paul George

 

[Fbolt]

Beyond pain! At least DR is playing well.

 

[Irish#1]

That injury to me was more gruesome than Kevin Ware's.

Side note, Coach K was present for both injuries.

Never could figure out why I didn't care for him, until now. lol

 

[zelezo vlk]

John Wall, Bradley Beal, Paul Millsap have all been cut from the roster. Coach K needs to pare the roster down to 12 from 16.

John Wall, Bradley Beal, Paul Millsap among Team USA roster cuts - ESPN

Any thoughts on who should make the roster out of the 16 available?

I got:

Rose
Curry
Harden
KD
Davis

Kyrie
Klay
DMC
Drummond
Hayward
Faried
Parsons.

Leaves out: Korver, Plumlee, Dame and DeRozan.

I could see taking any of those 4 over some of the bench though with the exception of Korver. I just don't see a place for him that I wouldn't rather have filled by any of the other options and I say that with all respect possible for the best 3 point shooter in the NBA.

 

[SoIll]

don't rule of Lilliard.. Coach K and staff love how he gets after it on the defensive end..

 

[anarin]

I don't see this team winning it. Maybe I'm just nay saying.

 

[zelezo vlk]

don't rule of Lilliard.. Coach K and staff love how he gets after it on the defensive end..

Well that would definitely earn him a spot unless Coach K allows his previous experience with Kyrie to trump everything. He and the other coaches just cut one of two point guards invited who play a lick of D. Kyrie and Dame to me are very similar players, but if Lillard is playing some D, there's no way that Kyrie will get the spot.

I don't see this team winning it. Maybe I'm just nay saying.

I think that they can win it all. Obviously the title runs through Spain (since it's in Spain and they're typically considered the second best national team in the world). We better hope that Davis can stay out of foul trouble, because I'm not too thrilled with the idea of playing any other center big minutes. KD also better not get overpowered by Pau or else that will tilt the game in Spain's favor.

I'm actually really excited to watch this tournament. If Team USA was at full strength it wouldn't actually be much of a contest. I think this should allow for much better games.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Not gonna get much better than the last Olympic team in the near future.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Not gonna get much better than the last Olympic team in the near future.

That's true. Team USA won't have Lebron under 30 ever again. He may be amazing, but it's hard to think that he'll be just as good in 2016 as he was in 2012. However, the team, as always, will be stocked with talent.

 

[pumpdog20]

Durant single-handedly won worlds last time. He'll do it again.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I wouldn't say single-handedly, but he's more than capable of dominating enough to need minimal help. He's the second best basketball player in the world and can outplay the best at any time.

This team still needs to hold the Gasol brothers.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Not good. Not good at all. KD is reportedly withdrawing.

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[Irish Insanity]

Kevin Durant withdraws from Team USA, won't play in FIBA World Cup - CBSSports.com

 

[zelezo vlk]

That was worst case scenario for Team USA.

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[PLACforever]

Really disappointed in KD.
I can understand guys backing out because of injuries or K Love, whose status was unclear until today, but backing out because you're 'tired' is weak-sauce.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Really disappointed in KD.
I can understand guys backing out because of injuries or K Love, whose status was unclear until today, but backing out because you're 'tired' is weak-sauce.

He is mentally exhausted. Get it right.

 

[Emcee77]

Kevin Durant withdraws from Team USA, won't play in FIBA World Cup - CBSSports.com

Wow really?? I am really disappointed too. I expected better from him.

Only thing I'll say for him is that in 2010, none of our other stars wanted to play, and he was the only one who answered the bell, and he led us to the gold. If he feels like it's someone else's turn now, maybe I should respect that.

Maybe. But I expected better.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I'm a Durant fan, so this is thru beer goggles, but here are my thoughts.

1st. Is there something more to this. A family issue. Ill family member. Something. This just doesn't align with his character.

2nd. Does he see next year as a do or die year and wants to utilize the entire offseason preparing and working with the OKC staff.

3rd. Lets not overstate this in reference to him, is Lebron on the team? Or several other top players?

 

[zelezo vlk]

I'm a Durant fan, so this is thru beer goggles, but here are my thoughts.

1st. Is there something more to this. A family issue. Ill family member. Something. This just doesn't align with his character.

2nd. Does he see next year as a do or die year and wants to utilize the entire offseason preparing and working with the OKC staff.

3rd. Lets not overstate this in reference to him, is Lebron on the team? Or several other top players?

No, which is why this is such a big deal. The best player on the team may in fact be Derrick Rose. I think with a gun to my head I'd say Anthony Davis right now especially because of his versatility, but there is nobody else I'd rather have on the team than Rose right now. He's a vet (one of two on the team from the 2010 Champ team) and looks to be close to pre-injury form. Lebron opted out. Love backed out at the last minute. Griffin did too. Aldridge backed out. And with KD out, Team USA is at a significant disadvantage vs the other top contender Spain.

As to 1 and 2, some are mentioning his upcoming mega deal with UA for $300+ mil, but I think 2 is just as important. There would be a lot of pressure on him to succeed in this tournament and if he shows any fatigue from the World Cup in the regular season, he'd be criticized. Everyone knows how big of a deal this next season is for the Thunder. It could be Scott Brooks' last year or could be the tipping point to make KD leave. It's certainly possible.

I still hold out hope for Team USA, but they are going to be at a significant disadvantage vs Spain now in the frontcourt. The only hope is that the superior shooting and playmaking ability of Team USA can more than make up the difference.

 

[woolybug25]

Mentally exhausted from his demanding career of playing freaking basketball? I wish my job entailed playing a game all day.

I'm disapointed in all of the stars, not just Durant, that backed out. Have some freaking pride in your country and the tradition of Team USA. If we lose, I blame them. Sucks for guys like Rose that are giving it a go for their country.

Bunch of candy-asses.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Mentally exhausted from his demanding career of playing freaking basketball? I wish my job entailed playing a game all day.

I'm disapointed in all of the stars, not just Durant, that backed out. Have some freaking pride in your country and the tradition of Team USA. If we lose, I blame them. Sucks for guys like Rose that are giving it a go for their country.

Bunch of candy-asses.

To be fair, he's the focus of a large portion of our nation. Everything he does is under close scrutiny. Every single minute he plays is dissected and analyzed.

I dunno about you but that's an awful lot of pressure to put on anybody, let alone a 25 year old.

 

[woolybug25]

To be fair, he's the focus of a large portion of our nation. Everything he does is under close scrutiny. Every single minute he plays is dissected and analyzed.

I dunno about you but that's an awful lot of pressure to put on anybody, let alone a 25 year old.

but yeah... he plays basketball. It's not like he is the attorney general or anything. His entire workload is playing a game, working out and spending the millions of dollars he gets paid for it. I kind of find it insulting to the rest of America who wakes up every morning, pulls up their bootstraps and slings it so they can put a roof over their head. Those people are "tired", those people are "exhausted". Durant is just being lazy.

In fact, I kinda feel like Team USA is a representation of what we are today in the US. A bunch of entitled pussies that have been completely desensitized to the meaning of responsibility. I guarantee you that guys like Jordan and Magic had plenty of stuff going on when they joined the original Dream Team. But those guys knew and understood that it was the right way to honor their country. Now, pretty much every NBA star (sans Rose) has decided to put themselves before their country. The same country that made it possible for them to enjoy the carefree lifestyle they enjoy. Setting a terrific example of whats important for our country's youth.

"It's not what you can do for your country, but what your country can do for you"

 

[zelezo vlk]

Okay. Then don't pay attention and don't watch the games. If you feel so strongly about his "insult", then don't watch.

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[woolybug25]

Okay. Then don't pay attention and don't watch the games. If you feel so strongly about his "insult", then don't watch.

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How would not watching Team USA change anything? I could understand not watching Durant's games, but not paying attention to Team USA is doing the same thing he is doing.

I don't get your point at all.

 

[zelezo vlk]

How would not watching Team USA change anything? I could understand not watching Durant's games, but not paying attention to Team USA is doing the same thing he is doing.

I don't get your point at all.

Exactly. Don't watch Durant's games. Or anybody else who opted out.

I understand your point, but this is his job. He treats the game and his image line anybody else treats their job. He has plenty going on outside of the NBA and Team USA too. Camps, appearances, nonstop training. This isn't just a game he plays 100 times a year. To downplay his exhaustion because he plays a game for his career is more insulting than his comment.

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[PLACforever]

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