No Olympics for Brad Miller

No, not a shocker at all. On the other hand given that they chose to take along THREE total PF/Cs, one of whom is only 6'8" (Boozer), there was a role for somebody. The talent is obviously overwhelming, and the power on the wings incredible. But you can't play 3 PGs, no matter how good they are, and up front that team is actually going to be borderline undersized against some fo the world teams. As long as everybody is helathy and stays out of foul trouble, fine. But 3 PGs, 3 OGs, 3 SFs, and 3 total big men is an odd decision.
 
I think Colangelo should have added Tyson Chandler or David West instead of Kidd, if either was available. Kidd already has an Olympic Gold, I believe in 2000. I think Paul and Deron with help from Kobe is enough leadership and there is enough veteran presence (smarts) with Kobe, LeBron, Prince, Wade and Redd. I would keep Redd over Kidd for his spot up shooting ability.
 
Jason Kidd seems like an odd choice for this team. I am not sure that Brad would be the best available big guy, but that said, what an incredible amount of basketball talent on this. If they actually play as a team, what international team could beat them?
 
Kidd seems like an odd choice, until you remember just how Team USA played when Kidd was running the point last year. If I remember correctly, and with all this damn studying my memory may be suspect, his teammates were gushing about playing with Kidd and his leadership.

I do agree, however, that the size is a worry. Tyson Chandler would have been a nice pick-up. I would take Chandler over Prince, but thats just me.
 
There's no chance that Kidd was not going to make this team; they hand-picked him for this exact purpose. Prince fits with the team, and he's a great defender... but, who's kidding who? He's not going to play, between Bryant, James and Anthony, unless they decide to try him at PF.

For all that, Anthony can do everything that Bosh can do; they might as well play him at PF. I'd have felt much more comfortable had they selected Chandler, and at least one more F/C. Instead, they're going to Beijing with, in my opinion, one and a half big men.
 
Maybe I'm totally forgetting Kidd's performance last time around... but I do remember in the America's championship he struggled mightily and Bibby excelled due to his ability to actual make jumpshots consistently.

I suppose there are enough scorers however and Kidd can certainly dish the ball.
 
Well its not like he hit the floor last time he was on the squad. Maybe he can come into next season in shape again.
 
Amare pulling out was a huge blow to the olympic team. He is like a superpowered Brad Miller now that he can hit that jumper. Jason Kidd is an awful choice btw. He has lost his ability to defend, and his jumpshot is flat out awful. Although, I'm guessing Williams and Paul are going to take a lot his time.
 
Variant said:
Maybe I'm totally forgetting Kidd's performance last time around... but I do remember in the America's championship he struggled mightily and Bibby excelled due to his ability to actual make jumpshots consistently.

I suppose there are enough scorers however and Kidd can certainly dish the ball.
Click to expand...


No, Kidd was outstanding last summer as I recall. As was Melo. Which is why those two are there I would imagine. Thing is, you get done adding those two, and then you go ahead and add your two other star PGs, and then LeBron and the token roelplayer/defender (Prince), and then the two star SGs with the token shooter (Redd)...well that's how you end up with no bigs. Melo and Prince may be logging some minutes up front. Bad part isn;t the three bigs. Its that only two of them are any taller than 6'8". Dwight, and then Bosh as the backup center, and then its all smallness. Because of the power of guys like LeBron, Melo, Boozer etc. we'll be fine on the glass, but interior defense?

And of course, as usual, its way way too many stars and not enough role players. These guys are at least committed to the international team, but that's no way to buid a team. Need to be some serious sacrifices made, and guys playing roles they are not used to playing to make it work. The unselfish PGs and LeBron of course help, but you've stil got basically another all star team going over, with one token shooter (Redd) and one token defender (Prince) to show how much we've learned our lessons. And how are those guys going to get minutes behind Kobe/Wade/LeBron/Melo?
 
Mr. S£im Citrus said:
For all that, Anthony can do everything that Bosh can do; they might as well play him at PF. I'd have felt much more comfortable had they selected Chandler, and at least one more F/C. Instead, they're going to Beijing with, in my opinion, one and a half big men.
Click to expand...
Anthony did play at PF during the Fiba Americas tournament last year. The starting lineup was:

PG: Kidd
SG: Bryant
SF: James
PF: Anthony
C: Howard

Prince, Billups, and Stoudemire logged the most minutes off the bench. In a 40-minute game, only LeBron averaged more than 20 minutes per game.

Fiba Americas 2007 statistics
 
instead of bosh and boozer, wouldn't we have been better off if we sent rasheed wallace and tyson chandler? and another role player instead of kidd/paul/williams (2 out of those 3 should be fine)?
 
Everyone seems to think this Team USA can just lace 'em up and roll over top world competition at the Beijing Olympics. Four years ago Argentina took the Gold Metal and we ended up with Bronze. What I didn't like was all the USA players saying how they were embarrassed, didn't even want to look at their Bronze Metal, instead of crediting an amazing, well-oiled, international competition tested Argentinian national team led by Manu Ginobili. Now Coach Pop is lobbying heavily for Ginobili not to play this summer in order to give his gimpy foot more time to heal. Who wins basketball Gold, Silver, Bronze starting 08-08-08?
 
The coaches show year after year that they've got no clue how to construct a team for these world championship events. I remember people gushing last summer about how well team USA was playing, but every time I watched one of the games they looked sloppy and disorganized and borderline lazy out there. They won games through sheer athletic dominance, not by actually outplaying anybody. Really the biggest difference on that team from the year before was that Lebron was making his jumpshots.

I like the Prince selection. He's underrated as an offensive player and one of the best perimeter defenders anywhere. Kidd played terrible this season and Chris Paul played brilliantly, so that looks like a seniority pick more than anything. The lack of big men is really ridiculous though especially when you consider that basically every other team is going to be throwing giants out there.

Boozer is a good choice because his power game will probably play well in international rules. But basically Howard has to play flawlessly or that front-line looks even weaker and I don't think you can count on him to stay out of foul trouble or score consistently. But then how many Olympic calibre big men are there who might potentially play for team USA anyway? Garnett? Okafor? Camby? Oden? Sheed? Kaman? Bynum? Chandler? Al Jefferson? Jermaine O'Neal? Only a couple of those guys actually play center anyway, but any one of them would have brought more of a post presence. As is we're going to be relying on perimeter scoring a lot. I guess you could maybe count Lebron as a big man now.
 
Jerryaki said:
instead of bosh and boozer, wouldn't we have been better off if we sent rasheed wallace and tyson chandler? and another role player instead of kidd/paul/williams (2 out of those 3 should be fine)?
Click to expand...


Bosh's mobility and inside/out game is actually well designed for the junked up lane under the FIBA rules. Its precisely the true post players who are hindered because there is an artificial device thrown in there to discourage them.

Is Sheed were trustworthy, he's one of those guys who could be very useful in that rulset as well. But heck, he can hardly be bothered to play hard in the NBA playoffs, let alone during his summer vacation.
 
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SacKings384 said:
Amare pulling out was a huge blow to the olympic team. He is like a superpowered Brad Miller now that he can hit that jumper. Jason Kidd is an awful choice btw. He has lost his ability to defend, and his jumpshot is flat out awful. Although, I'm guessing Williams and Paul are going to take a lot his time.
Click to expand...

There's no comparison whatsoever between Amare and Miller.

But yeah I agree that Tyson Chandler should have been picked. Or Chris Kaman
 
All the talk yesterday and today on ESPN radio kept coming back to the fact the team has only one legit Center, Dwight Howard with Chris Bosh as backkup. One injury for one game to Howard and the USA is down the tubes. Most int'l teams have a legit 7-footer more in line with our Brad. A big body in the middle since most Int'l teams play a majority Zone Defense anyway. Plus his mid-range jumper and passing will be missed if all the USA sees is Zones. That means jump shooters prevail. Other than Kobe and Redd what real jump shooters does the USA have, especially the mid-range prevelant vs. zone defenses. Current team is not a shoe in to win every game.
 
Here's my prediction: the USA team is going to lose at least one big game because Melo and Wade keep clanging jumpers (and/or carrying the ball) but Coach K is afraid to bench his superstars.
 
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