USA Basketball.

[FondestMemory]

i like how it's being done this time around. making the players work for their spot and keeping the team together for a few years.

any guesses on who the final roster will be?

[preppyak]

well, according to Coach K, this isn't a "try-out"...so I'm guessing Coach K already has his mind pretty set

Kobe will be on the team when he's healthy, no doubt about it. I'd also like to see Hinrich on their too...they need players who are good all around..not just the best offensive players

[mikeford]

with hinrich and chris paul, the team is in good hands.

[preppyak]

with hinrich and chris paul, the team is in good hands. yep...defensively they will be very solid, especially with Bowen on there as well.

And think about Hinrich and Paul passing off to Kobe, Lebron, etc...it's a pretty sick idea to think about

Since they are going for a team aspect, anything less than gold should be seen as a disappointment

[FondestMemory]

i expect billups and bowen on the team. i don't know that i agree with them both making it, but i'd be surprised if they don't.

i'd like to see brand make it too.

[mikeford]

anything less than gold should ALWAYS be an EMBARRASSMENT for USA Basketball

we invented the fucking sport.

[Brownpants06]

anything less than gold should ALWAYS be an EMBARRASSMENT for USA Basketball

we invented the fucking sport.

wouldn't that be the same for baseball as well?

[Caleb Cattivera]

anything less than gold should ALWAYS be an EMBARRASSMENT for USA Basketball

we invented the fucking sport.

i was about to say this word for word. we've been an embarassment as of late in basketball, not even the best player from the players respective team was on the last squad.

i agree with paul and hinrich. chris paul is going to be the next great poing guard in the nba, and i have a feeling a gold medal will be just the beginning of the awards for cp.

like everyones said, i think kobe, lebron, etc. but i also think dwight howard deserves a spot.

[Caleb Cattivera]

wouldn't that be the same for baseball as well?

baseball was actually originally played in britain. we just gave it the name baseball.

[FondestMemory]

here's the roster i'd like to see:

dwight howard
amare stoudamire
elton brand
chris bosh
shawn marion
lebron james
lamar odom
paul pierce
kobe bryant
dewayne wade
chris paul
kirk hinrich

[Caleb Cattivera]

here's the roster i'd like to see:

dwight howard
amare stoudamire
elton brand
chris bosh
shawn marion
lebron james
lamar odom
paul pierce
kobe bryant
dewayne wade
chris paul
kirk hinrich

odom doesnt belong, i dont believe. but id agree with everyone else.

[FondestMemory]

odom doesnt belong, i dont believe. but id agree with everyone else.

i was torn on him. it was either him or melo. i really can't support why i went odom over melo.

[preppyak]

here's the roster i'd like to see:

dwight howard
amare stoudamire
elton brand
chris bosh
shawn marion
lebron james
lamar odom
paul pierce
kobe bryant
dewayne wade
chris paul
kirk hinrich You forgot Shawn Bradley coming back for glory...

I like it...kinda agree with Caleb that I'd like to see someone other than Odom, but the rest looks good. We're not going to have a lot of height really...but maybe it's better that way
i was torn on him. it was either him or melo. i really can't support why i went odom over melo. Hmmm...I probably would have gone Melo..but it's close in my mind

The only thing is that Odom is more of a physical presence, rebounding and block wise, so maybe he'd be more useful than Melo as a whole, since their offensive #'s are close

[poserpunker]

Chris Sheridan had an insider report on this today and here is his top 15(1-5 is his projected starters,6-12 his bench, and 13-15 the practice players):
1.Dwayne Wade
2.Melo
3.Elton Brand
4.Bruce Bowen
5.Chris Paul
6.Chris Bosh
7.Kobe Bryant(when he returns from minor surgery)
8.Shawn Marion
9.Gilbert Arenas
10.Antawn Jamison
11.Joe Johnson
12.Dwight Howard
13.Brad Miller
14.Kirk Hinrich
15.Shane Battier

Billups wife is having a baby, Redd is getting married, Stoudemire still recovering, Pierce having surgery, and Odoms infant child passed away.

[Drew Beringer]

I want Michael Redd on the roster.

[FondestMemory]

Chris Sheridan had an insider report on this today and here is his top 15(1-5 is his projected starters,6-12 his bench, and 13-15 the practice players):
1.Dwayne Wade
2.Melo
3.Elton Brand
4.Bruce Bowen
5.Chris Paul
6.Chris Bosh
7.Kobe Bryant(when he returns from minor surgery)
8.Shawn Marion
9.Gilbert Arenas
10.Antawn Jamison
11.Joe Johnson
12.Dwight Howard
13.Brad Miller
14.Kirk Hinrich
15.Shane Battier

Billups wife is having a baby, Redd is getting married, Stoudemire still recovering, Pierce having surgery, and Odoms infant child passed away.

i'm not gonna put any faith behind any list that excludes lebron.

[preppyak]

Chris Sheridan had an insider report on this today and here is his top 15(1-5 is his projected starters,6-12 his bench, and 13-15 the practice players):
1.Dwayne Wade
2.Melo
3.Elton Brand
4.Bruce Bowen
5.Chris Paul
6.Chris Bosh
7.Kobe Bryant(when he returns from minor surgery)
8.Shawn Marion
9.Gilbert Arenas
10.Antawn Jamison
11.Joe Johnson
12.Dwight Howard
13.Brad Miller
14.Kirk Hinrich
15.Shane Battier

Billups wife is having a baby, Redd is getting married, Stoudemire still recovering, Pierce having surgery, and Odoms infant child passed away. Interesting...

I agree Stoudamire probably won't be on the team...

That starting line-up doesn't look right to me though. Bowen doesn't fit in their for me, I see him as a specialty player off the bench, since he is usless offensively

Haha, and now that it is pointed out, yeah, LeBron is on that instead of Bowen starting...that's what it is missing.

And Brad Miller...really, not sure about that either

[FondestMemory]

Interesting...

I agree Stoudamire probably won't be on the team...

That starting line-up doesn't look right to me though. Bowen doesn't fit in their for me, I see him as a specialty player off the bench, since he is usless offensively

Haha, and now that it is pointed out, yeah, LeBron is on that instead of Bowen starting...that's what it is missing.

And Brad Miller...really, not sure about that either

if stoudamire is left off the team, chances are miller makes it.

[poserpunker]

Chris Sheridan had an insider report on this today and here is his top 15(1-5 is his projected starters,6-12 his bench, and 13-15 the practice players):
1.Dwayne Wade
2.Melo
3.Elton Brand
4.Bruce Bowen
5.Chris Paul
6.Lebron James
7.Kobe Bryant(when he returns from minor surgery)
8.Shawn Marion
9.Gilbert Arenas
10.Chris Bosh
11.Joe Johnson
12.Dwight Howard
13.Antawn Jamison
14.Brad Miller
15.Shane Battier/Kirk Hinrich

Billups wife is having a baby, Redd is getting married, Stoudemire still recovering, Pierce having surgery, and Odoms infant child passed away.

Sorry don't know how I missed his name, fixed.

He wasn't sure about the starting lineup, but thought Coach K might go with the D prescence of Bowen and bring bron of the bench. He said Melo has been the most impressive player in camp so far.

[xbrokendownx]

redd and odom are not playing due to injury/personal reasons along with kobe, pierce, jj redick, and billups

[xbrokendownx]

Lebron James
Carmelo Anthony
Dwayne Wade
Shawn Marion
Gilbert Arenas
Elton Brand
Chris Paul
Chris Bosh
Joe Johnson
Dwight Howard
Kirk Hinrich
Bruce Bowen

thats who id like to see

[preppyak]

redd and odom are not playing due to injury/personal reasons along with kobe, pierce, jj redick, and billups
haha...like he even deserved a mention on taht list

[zizou1790]

Redick would dominate

[xbrokendownx]

Redick would dominate





this isnt college...

[zizou1790]

this isnt college...

he wouldnt hurt to have on the team thoguh, someone who can actually shoot

[FondestMemory]

he wouldnt hurt to have on the team thoguh, someone who can actually shoot

there's plenty of other players trying out too though who can shoot and offer a lot more.

[Caleb Cattivera]

wade said in an interview yesterday that carmelo anthony was the most impressive player at the practices.

[Branevember31]

i dont like a starting lineup that doesnt have LeBron in it



I want Michael Redd on the roster.


yeah definitely. hes the shooter the 2004 team was missing

[fcknazisympathy]

arenas should start over paul

pg - arenas
sg - wade
sf - lebron
pf - melo
c - brand

[Broken Parachute]

I like how they're actually making this a "team" and not a group of players who make alot of money. I'd take rising stars like Chris Paul and defensive masterminds like Bruce Bowen over guys just because of their fame.

[preppyak]

arenas should start over paul

pg - arenas
sg - wade
sf - lebron
pf - melo
c - brand Those two are interchangeable in my mind...though Chris Pual seems more of a pass-first PG and plays a little better D. With Wade/Lebron/Melo/Brand...you don't need scoring from your point, especially if you add Kobe into that line-up eventually...you need a lock-down defender and assist man, a quarterback, and Paul, with some experience, will be better than Arenas than that in my mind

The last part is Paul's Asst to TO ratio is 3:1, Arenas' is 2:1, and while Arenas was forced to do more and creat more for his team, thus more TO's, I think Paul is the better handler as well

I think Gilbert Arenas would make a great 2-guard for the team....use Hinrich and Paul at the point, Wade and Arenas at the 2, since we all know Arenas can light it up shooting still

[fcknazisympathy]

Those two are interchangeable in my mind...though Chris Pual seems more of a pass-first PG and plays a little better D. With Wade/Lebron/Melo/Brand...you don't need scoring from your point, especially if you add Kobe into that line-up eventually...you need a lock-down defender and assist man, a quarterback, and Paul, with some experience, will be better than Arenas than that in my mind

Dude, Arenas is the only person on the Wizards who played defense this year.

[bigmike]

Dude, Arenas is the only person on the Wizards who played defense this year.
that's nice. paul, i think, is a better defender than arenas plus he's more of a pass first PG which is something that would benefit the starting lineup more than another scoring pg.

[preppyak]

Dude, Arenas is the only person on the Wizards who played defense this year. I'm aware...doesn't make him better than Paul at it though. I'm thinking more from the college game too, where he led the ACC in steals as a freshmen...

Arenas is a lights out scorer who can take over a game...just like Wade in my mind...so both would be great at the 2. Paul and Hinrich are better defenders and passers than they are scorers really, so why not have them create and run the offense

[bigmike]

I'm aware...doesn't make him better than Paul at it though. I'm thinking more from the college game too, where he led the ACC in steals as a freshmen...

Arenas is a lights out scorer who can take over a game...just like Wade in my mind...so both would be great at the 2. Paul and Hinrich are better defenders and passers than they are scorers really, so why not have them create and run the offense
bingo.

[preppyak]

bingo. I'm really just looking for a way for Hinrich to play...

haha..but that these are the kinds of things we are discussing...who is the better PG and not "where is the PG?" is what makes me think this team will be awesome

[fcknazisympathy]

I'm aware...doesn't make him better than Paul at it though. I'm thinking more from the college game too, where he led the ACC in steals as a freshmen...

Arenas is a lights out scorer who can take over a game...just like Wade in my mind...so both would be great at the 2. Paul and Hinrich are better defenders and passers than they are scorers really, so why not have them create and run the offense

I guess I'm just a huge Arenas fan because I think people tend to underrate him but a true point guard is probably what they do need

[preppyak]

I guess I'm just a huge Arenas fan because I think people tend to underrate him but a true point guard is probably what they do need
yep...he was super under-rated, especially since he basically shouldered the Wizards himself and took them to the playoffs. I figured he had like 20ppg...nope, just shy of 30, which is ridiculous for a PG actually.

Like I said, if he starts at PG...we will just win 110-80 instead of like 100-70...more points, a little less D and assists...works either way

[fcknazisympathy]

yep...he was super under-rated, especially since he basically shouldered the Wizards himself and took them to the playoffs. I figured he had like 20ppg...nope, just shy of 30, which is ridiculous for a PG actually.

Like I said, if he starts at PG...we will just win 110-80 instead of like 100-70...more points, a little less D and assists...works either way
He also averaged almost 35 a game in the playoffs

he averages liked 6 assists and 2 steals a game in the regular season which is pretty damn good, he had noone to pass to except antwan jamison

[FondestMemory]

I'm really just looking for a way for Hinrich to play...

haha..but that these are the kinds of things we are discussing...who is the better PG and not "where is the PG?" is what makes me think this team will be awesome

i honestly don't see him making the 12 man team.

here's what my starting lineup would be:

pg - chris paul
sg - lebron james
sf - carmelo anthony
pf - chris bosh
c - elton brand

i'd rather elton brand at the four and amare starting at the five, but i don't know if he'll be healthy enough.

that leaves wade coming off the bench, which is fine because he could come in at the one or come in at the two and move lebron to three. with players like lebron, wade and arenas, who can run multiple positions, i hope coach k mixes it up lineup wise. that team could be impossible to gameplan for.

[preppyak]

i honestly don't see him making the 12 man team.
nor do I...but, I can dream. If he wasn't hurt during team tryouts, he'd have made his name as a tough nosed defender already within that team...maybe even more so than Bowen.

here's what my starting lineup would be:

pg - chris paul
sg - lebron james
sf - carmelo anthony
pf - chris bosh
c - elton brand

i'd rather elton brand at the four and amare starting at the five, but i don't know if he'll be healthy enough.

that leaves wade coming off the bench, which is fine because he could come in at the one or come in at the two and move lebron to three. with players like lebron, wade and arenas, who can run multiple positions, i hope coach k mixes it up lineup wise. that team could be impossible to gameplan for.
he definitely will... he's a smart coach no doubt. Add Kobe to that mixer and teams will have no idea what to do...they could get the top 3 MVP vote getters at the 1-2-3 spots, or the ROTY at point...it's great

[preppyak]

and because it's not a big topic, and NBA people will notice it here, the playoff format was tweaked by the NBA, so that now the 1-8 seeds for the playoffs are by W-L, not just the division winners getting the top 3 spots..

[fcknazisympathy]

and because it's not a big topic, and NBA people will notice it here, the playoff format was tweaked by the NBA, so that now the 1-8 seeds for the playoffs are by W-L, not just the division winners getting the top 3 spots..

yay we should have had this last year so it woulda been an amazing NBA finals

[FondestMemory]

and because it's not a big topic, and NBA people will notice it here, the playoff format was tweaked by the NBA, so that now the 1-8 seeds for the playoffs are by W-L, not just the division winners getting the top 3 spots..

yeah. i'd heard they were going to do that. would have made the playoffs way different this year. cavs would have been the 3 in the east.

but, if i'm correct, it really only effects the top 4 seeds, right? like, a division winner can't be lower than 4? even if the fifth seed has a better record. i could be wrong, but i thought that's how they were doing it.

now they just need to switch the first round back to best of 5.

[bigmike]

yeah. i'd heard they were going to do that. would have made the playoffs way different this year. cavs would have been the 3 in the east.

but, if i'm correct, it really only effects the top 4 seeds, right? like, a division winner can't be lower than 4? even if the fifth seed has a better record. i could be wrong, but i thought that's how they were doing it.
i don't think a division winner can be lower than a 3. because there's 3 divisions, each division winner get's a top 3 seed and those are organized by their records. but that's been done away with.

[FondestMemory]

i don't think a division winner can be lower than a 3. because there's 3 divisions, each division winner get's a top 3 seed and those are organized by their records. but that's been done away with.

they never used to be lower than a 3. but that's what they changed. like, dallas had the second best record in the west last year, meaning they would have been the 2, and the other two division winners would have been the 3 and 4. and the cavs would have been the 3 in the east, while division winner new jersey would have been the 4.

unless they changed how they were gonna do it, a division winner won't be lower than 4, leaving room for one non-division winner with a better record to be seeded above them.

[bigmike]

they never used to be lower than a 3. but that's what they changed. like, dallas had the second best record in the west last year, meaning they would have been the 2, and the other two division winners would have been the 3 and 4. and the cavs would have been the 3 in the east, while division winner new jersey would have been the 4.

unless they changed how they were gonna do it, a division winner won't be lower than 4, leaving room for one non-division winner with a better record to be seeded above them.
oh i gotcha now.

[Branevember31]

USA- 114
Puerto Rico- 69


i think...

[themelkman]

USA- 114
Puerto Rico- 69


i think...


Way to state what happened a couple days ago.

[Branevember31]

lol i was away so i didnt have a computer


Way to make me feel like a deuche-bag tho

[Yankees' #1 Fan]

you are probably used to it

[preppyak]

haha...gotta love the harshness...

Game on tonight...let's beat China now before they take over the world in 10 years

[xbrokendownx]

i thought we already played them and beat them? arent they just showing the game tonight?

[preppyak]

i thought we already played them and beat them? arent they just showing the game tonight?
probably...I didn't take enough notice to see if that was the case....

But thanks for ruining it for me >:(

Edit: yeah, they played it last night (In China, so, maybe this morning or something) actually, 119-73

[FondestMemory]

probably...I didn't take enough notice to see if that was the case....

But thanks for ruining it for me >:(

Edit: yeah, they played it last night (In China, so, maybe this morning or something) actually, 119-73

nice use of spoiler douche. now i have no reason to watch it.







i just clownin dogg.

[preppyak]

blow me

:dry:

I barely had a reason to watch it anyway...other than to see Hinrich tear it up

[FondestMemory]

blow me

:dry:

I barely had a reason to watch it anyway...other than to see Hinrich tear it up

haha. was it on already?

[preppyak]

haha. was it on already?

apparently it was already played...it starts on TV now ( 9:30) on ESPN2 though

[FondestMemory]

apparently it was already played...it starts on TV now ( 9:30) on ESPN2 though

oh, got ya.

that's crap.

[Branevember31]

you are probably used to it



....

[LeftWideOpen]

...i dont know if this has been mentioned, but we barely beat Brazil and Melo left with a knee injury.

If this were baseball, there would be a huge fuss over a player getting hurt (like there was in the WBC) in a non-league game.

so at least in one way, the nba > mlb

[The Matt Kaufman]

there was a big buzz when Aaron Boone hurt himself playing basketball going against Yankees orders

[xbrokendownx]

there was a big buzz when Aaron Boone hurt himself playing basketball going against Yankees orders





....and then we got ARod

[The Matt Kaufman]

....and then we got ARod

true

[xbrokendownx]

thats why aaron boone will always be loved by yankees fans cuz

1) he hit the walkoff vs boston
2) because of him getting hurt, we got ARod

[thejetstolehome]

thats why aaron boone will always be loved by yankees fans cuz

1) he hit the walkoff vs boston
2) because of him getting hurt, we got ARod

i'm pretty sure aaron boone was put on earth soley to hit that home run.

[xbrokendownx]

i'm pretty sure aaron boone was put on earth soley to hit that home run.






yeah and then josh beckett became roger clemens in the world series, and alex gonzalez hit the shortest walkoff HR in mlb history (now both red sox, ironically)


:explode:

[preppyak]

i'm pretty sure aaron boone was put on earth soley to hit that home run.
hah...doesn't he have a hot wife?

...i dont know if this has been mentioned, but we barely beat Brazil and Melo left with a knee injury.

If this were baseball, there would be a huge fuss over a player getting hurt (like there was in the WBC) in a non-league game.

so at least in one way, the nba > mlb
Melo's fine...they said had it been a game that mattered (ouch to Brazil) he probably would have played the 2nd half.

But, I do want to say, the highlight reel from that game featured the one and only Kirk Hinrich playing well.

[fcknazisympathy]

hah...doesn't he have a hot wife?


Melo's fine...they said had it been a game that mattered (ouch to Brazil) he probably would have played the 2nd half.

But, I do want to say, the highlight reel from that game featured the one and only Kirk Hinrich playing well.

It's not like we werent up by 20 against Brazil anyway. They went on a ridiculous run I think like 15-0 or something like that. The game was on NBA TV.

[preppyak]

...i dont know if this has been mentioned, but we barely beat Brazil and Melo left with a knee injury.

If this were baseball, there would be a huge fuss over a player getting hurt (like there was in the WBC) in a non-league game.

so at least in one way, the nba > mlb
Also, the "Dream Team" has always been one of our prides (Until we lost)...the NBA would shut their season down so we could compete if it were a winter sport. The NHL too does the same thing.

WTF is the MLB's problem with international competition...other sports do it willingly...guys compete to get on the teams, not welch out because "the season starts in a few weeks"

[LeftWideOpen]

Also, the "Dream Team" has always been one of our prides (Until we lost)...the NBA would shut their season down so we could compete if it were a winter sport. The NHL too does the same thing.

WTF is the MLB's problem with international competition...other sports do it willingly...guys compete to get on the teams, not welch out because "the season starts in a few weeks"

baseball has the most powerful union in sports ..thats why. it protects its players unlike any other.

sometimes, like in the instance of the WBC, it does so to such a degree that the game slightly suffers.

[preppyak]

baseball has the most powerful union in sports ..thats why. it protects its players unlike any other.

sometimes, like in the instance of the WBC, it does so to such a degree that the game slightly suffers.

that would do it...

[StandMyBrothers]

Well we lost Gilbert Arenas to a Groin Strain.

[preppyak]

Well we lost Gilbert Arenas to a Groin Strain.

yep..just saw that...which is unfortunate, because he was basically D-Wade's backup at 2 guard in my mind. But, I think LeBron can fill in at the 2 if needed

Let's not forget the real story here...which is that this really just means more spotlight time for Kirk Hinrich...a win for everyone really

[Talib Scottie]

I want Michael Redd on the roster.

Amen.

[FondestMemory]

that lebron dunk of the chris paul dish was sick.

[FondestMemory]

not the best showing, but still an 11 point win.

hinrich went for 15.

[xbrokendownx]

they were HORRIBLE against dribble penetration

[fcknazisympathy]

they were HORRIBLE against dribble penetration

Ugh, how many fucking times did the announcers say that.

[xbrokendownx]

Ugh, how many fucking times did the announcers say that.





well it was fucking true


the first half, we shot like 69% and were only up like 3. thats horrendous

[Chriz2z]

not the best showing, but still an 11 point win.

hinrich went for 15.
Preppy would be proud.

[FondestMemory]

Preppy would be proud.

that's the only reason i mentioned it. thought he'd enjoy that.

[fcknazisympathy]

we raped china today by 29, finally a strong performance.

[FondestMemory]

we raped china today by 29, finally a strong performance.

what do you mean finally? pretty much all their games have been strong performances. minus one or two.

[fcknazisympathy]

what do you mean finally? pretty much all their games have been strong performances. minus one or two.

beating puerto rico wasnt a strong performance. arroyo and the rest of their guards abused us the whole game.

[FondestMemory]

beating puerto rico wasnt a strong performance. arroyo and the rest of their guards abused us the whole game.

but the tuneup games were. and this was only the second game. finally made it sound like they've been sucking it up since getting together.

[fcknazisympathy]

but the tuneup games were. and this was only the second game. finally made it sound like they've been sucking it up since getting together.

yeah, i just realized that. I didnt mean to give it that effect, I was just pissed we let carlos fucking arroyo abuse us like that.

[StandMyBrothers]

Man getting outplayed by Italy early in the game, thats not acceptable.

[fcknazisympathy]

Man getting outplayed by Italy early in the game, thats not acceptable.

now you realize why i said finally... getting outplayed by italy is totally unacceptable.

[StandMyBrothers]

now you realize why i said finally... getting outplayed by italy is totally unacceptable.
yeah and we haven't even played the powerhouses yet. But I still have faith in this team to be dominant for years to come. Brad Miller is going to lose his spot to Oden in a couple years.

[Yankees' #1 Fan]

id like greg oden to play one game in college before we start giving him a spot on our national team roster.

[LeftWideOpen]

id like greg oden to play one game in college before we start giving him a spot on our national team roster.

lol, excellent point.

[StandMyBrothers]

I love how this Australia-USA game is on at 11 pm here and its live!

[xbrokendownx]

I love how this Australia-USA game is on at 11 pm here and its live!




its not live, they won already