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Exclusive: Team USA’s preliminary roster

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We told you earlier today that LaMarcus Aldridge is on the verge of being added to the preliminary Team USA roster for the 2012 Olympics.

Now we’re reporting something even better: The entire 19-man roster.

Here it is, alphabetically, from my impeccable international basketball sources:

LaMarcus Aldridge

Carmelo Anthony

Chauncey Billups

Chris Bosh

Kobe Bryant

Tyson Chandler

Kevin Durant

Eric Gordon

Blake Griffin

Dwight Howard

Andre Iguodala

LeBron James

Kevin Love

Lamar Odom

Chris Paul

Derrick Rose

Dwyane Wade

Russell Westbrook

Deron Williams

 

 

Comments

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  5. Guards – Kobe, Rose, Wade, CP3, D-Will
    Forwards – KD, Lebron, Melo
    Centres – Howard, Blake

    Alts – Bosh, Love

  6. PG: Chris Paul, Derrick Rose
    SG: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade
    SF: LeBron James, Kevin Durant
    PF: Kevin Love, Chris Bosh
    C: Dwight Howard, Tyson Chandler

    Those are the 10 guys I think should make it. The last 2 spots I think will depend on who is healthy and in form. I would like sharpshooters in that group (Eric Gordon, Stephen Curry and I know he’s not on the prelim roster but why not James Harden?)

    Reasons for omissions:
    Carmelo Anthony is a fine player, but I don’t think he brings anything needed to the team with LeBron and Durant already on the roster. (I’m sure he’ll make the actual roster though).
    Aldridge is ok, but not a good enough rebounder.
    Billups perhaps could be the 3rd point guard, but he’s old.
    Griffin is explosive, but I don’t know how his game will translate internationally.
    Iguodala isn’t a good enough shooter.
    Odom has looked awful so far this year and frankly just isn’t one of USA’s best 12 guys even when playing well.
    Westbrook plays too wildly and isn’t a good enough shooter.

  7. Spain has its dream team too .
    centers : pau , marc , fran vazquez
    forwards : claver , serg ibaka , suarez , felipe reyes
    shooting guards : navarro, rudy fernandez
    point : calderon , riky rubio, sergio rodriguez
    Spain will win gold

      • Ibaka played for Spain (and won) the last European Championship. Swrgio Scariolo, Spanish national coach, will choose Ibaka or Mirotic.

      • Beating the US team will be a difficult task, especially if referees, as usual, doesn’t apply the FIBA rules.

  8. Is everyone forgetting who just won sixth man of the year? Lamar odom did. Coach k has also said he likes leadership and passion. He’ll make the team over piggy and billups

  10. My line up:
    Starting five:
    Derrick Rose: PG
    I like CP3 i have nothing against him but Derrick Rose is the shaq of point gaurds . He will create alot of match up problems for the defense
    Kobe Bryant: SG
    enough said
    Kevin Durant: SF
    6’10 and long can shoot the long ball and handles the ball well enough to create his own shot and drive to the rim
    Lebron James: PF
    You seen it during the 08 Olympics and it worked. Hes big and quick enough to guard anyone on the court.
    Dwight Howard: C
    enough said

    Bench
    CP3: PG
    obviously
    Wade: SG
    perfect sixth man saw it during the 08 Olympics
    Carmelo: SF
    obviously
    Lamarcus/Bosh: PF
    dont see anyone else
    Tyson: C

  12. This could really be the best USA team since 1992..probably only the 1992 dream team is better, but I’d still pay good money to see a game between those two teams with the respective players in their prime. Also, you can clearly see there’s so much talent out there.

  13. This is Starting Lineup –
    PG – Williams
    SG – Wade
    SF – Anthony
    PF – Howard
    C – Chandler
    This is my remaining roster –
    G – Billups
    F-C – Bosh
    G – Bryant
    G-F – Durant
    F-C – Griffin
    G-F – James
    G – Westbrook

    • PS Corrections.
      Starting Lineup –
      PG – Paul
      SG – Wade
      SF – Anthony
      PF – Howard
      C – Chandler
      Remaining Roster –
      G – Billups
      F-C – Bosh
      G – Bryant
      G-F – Durant
      F-C – Griffin
      G-F – James
      G – Westbrook
      Reasoning –
      Chandler is NOT the best C, but the only true pro C on the roster. Aldridge and Iguodala are nice, and Gordon, Love, Odom, Rose, and Williams are great, but not as good as the others.

      • I am a Nets and Pacers fan. So, of course, it kills me to say that Williams and Gordon (who might go to the Pacers), are not as good as the others.

        • PS Corrections
          Starting Lineup –
          PG – Paul
          SG – Wade
          SF – Durant
          PF – Howard
          C – Chandler
          Remaining Roster –
          G-F – Anthony
          F-C – Bosh
          G – Bryant
          F-C – Griffin
          G-F – James
          G – Westbrook
          G – Williams
          Reasoning –
          Chandler is not the best C, but he is the only true pro C on the roster. Billups was first on the remaining roster instead of Williams, but was injured since. Aldridge and Iguodala are nice, and Gordon, Love, Odom, and Rose are great, but not as much as the others.

          • As a Nets and Pacers fan, it kills to say Gordon, who might go to the Pacers, is not as good as the others.

  14. I wish that John Wall or Stephen Curry could be added to replace C.Billups. In all honesty tho Curry would be a better fit than Wall because of his shooting

  15. You are all crazy if you don’t think Durant and James are both in the starting lineup. K likes speed and versatility. Assuming injuries don’t cull the field – and they will – that would mean a starting lineup of, with back-ups in parens:

    PG – Paul (Rose)
    SG – Wade (Kobe)
    SF – Lebron (Melo)
    PF – Durant (Griffin)
    C- Howard (Love)

    11th and 12th men are Aldridge and Gordon. That means the following will be cut: Billups (Team has enough shooters and Chauncey can’t defend anymore); Bosh (good enough but odd man out); Chandler (can’t shoot and Aldridge provides enough length); Iggy (can’t shoot; Wade and Lebron can smother opposing wings); Odom (not good enough anymore); Westbrook (can’t shoot; too wild with the ball; low b-ball IQ); and Williams (good enough but odd man out).

  16. Ah man, so many of you don’t know enough to have an opinion..

    Durant is a good distance shooter and will do fine, many of you are bashing on Chandler when in fact he’s the kind of player you need in FIBA basketball as you can touch the ball when it’s still in/on the rim, he was very effective in WC doing that.

    And i understand why they have Iggy there, he’s probably one of the better defender in that roster and has him Gordon is picked for his defense, so i chandler and billups and Odom for their experience.

    Now i would pick:

    at least 3 pgs: Paul, Williams and Rose (can play the 2 spot aswell)
    at the 2/3/4: Kobe, Lebron, Durant, Wade, Love, Anthony, Aldridge
    5 Dwight and Chandler/Bynum.

    Here we have a team that can stretch the floor, play post (Lebron, Durant and Anthony can all play at the 4 spot)and with Kobe, Wade, Rose, D-Will, CP3 all but cp3 being able to be both PGs and SGs, it’s a pretty good team with inside presence with Either Chandler or Dwight protecting the paint.

  19. CHRIS SHERIDAN: Greetings, We Know Carmelo Anthony will be included in the Final 12 cut, because USA Coaches know (if clear by FIBA and US/PR) that Carmelo could play for Team Puerto Rico due to his Bio-Father (RiP) Puerto Rican nationality, and selfishly or strategically the Coaches won’t let this happen. NY Knick’s Renaldo Balkman had and is already competing withTeam Puerto Rico at FIBA Levels and I am sure they have talk about this issue.

  20. Rose – Westbrook – Paul
    Kobe – Wade
    James – Durant – Iguodala
    Love – Griffin
    Howard – Aldrigde

    • 4 point guards won´t be efficient in international games.
      swap billups with lamarcus aldridge and deron williams with kevin love. those 2 guys can play 4 and 5.
      need kevin love for interior presence and rebound mainly because we also have ballhogs like derrick rose and kobe who miss a lot.

  23. Why did Joe Johnson fall out of favor with the team USA folks? I thought he played well on the WC squad a few years back. He seems like a more natural fit at the two backing up Kobe and D-Wade than both Gordon and Billups…

    • And while we’re mentioning Hawks players, wouldn’t you rather have Josh Smith over Lamar Odom?

      • josh smith´s shooting pct is not that good. they both can play defense. so, LO is in this situation better. but i like the leadership of smoove (whenever joe johnson´s off the court)

    • JJ did play well and J smooth would be a nice addition but LO is a great player to have. Eric gordon is a great shooter too, maybe not neccesarily as good as JJ but EG plays D well too and is younger. LO is a great rebounder and team player a complimentary player.

  24. PG – CP3, Deron, Rose
    SG – Kobe, Wade
    SF – Melo, Durant, Lebron
    PF – Aldridge, Bosh
    C – Dwight, Tyson

    Blake and Love are exciting to watch but they’re not as skilled as Lamarcus and Bosh.

  25. I think you take Paul, Rose and Williams. Williams has proven he can play SG as he played off the ball in Turkey over the lockout. Please drop Billups. He is no Jason Kidd so I wouldn’t even compare them. If you’re looking for an older vet, you have Kobe, and if you are looking for international experience, Bron and Melo have been in the program for years.

  26. The key for USA to beat the international game zone defense and win the Gold is to have a team who can shoot the lights out and defend as a team because getting to the hole or finishing in the paint is a given considering the evolution of the NBA game today.

    When a team can field mismatches in 3 or more positions and defend in unison, they stand a great chance to win. The 3 definitive mismatches every night will be Durant, LeBron and Dwight.

    Size isnt that big an issue in the international game outside of playing Spain. But when the US can field a superior offensive team, their bigs will be taken out of the game due to foul trouble trying to defend faster, stronger and sharper players.

    PG: Chris Paul (can run any offense, extremely crafty defender and has excellent range)
    SG: Ray Allen (perfect spot up shooter and excellent team defender)
    SF/PF: Durant (insane range, can create own shot and enough length to block off an entire wing)
    SF/PF: LeBron (enough size and strength to be superior at the FIBA 4 position – passing, defending and finishing at the rim)
    C : Dwight (insane defender, superior rebounder, need only to score if opponents are playing man to man D or a high zone)
    *Switch Dwight for K Love (rebounding machine, excellent range) if defenders are staying home on half court sets.

    The rest is history.

    • LeBron is a terrible post defender. Dwight is an offensive machine down low but I think you meant to have K Love and Dwight on the same team and not switch them on the roster. I think those two would play well together in the half court as would dwight and any true four such as Lamar. Ray is old dawg

      • Dwight isnt yet an offensive machine down low. But a hell of a defender especially in a half court set – man to man or even zone. He’ll be tasked with drawing the opponents to go zone or demand a double team thus releasing all the US shooters.

        LBJ may be a terrible post defender in the NBA. But will be more than adequate in the international game. KLove isn’t a great defender either. But both will be adequate in half court sets. If the US meets Spain in during the tourney, I’d love to see LBJ defend Pau in the post and beat him down the court every single position. I’d wager that LBJ outscores, out rebounds and out passes Pau 2-1. Remember, the US can go zone and force everyone to shoot from the outside. When that happens, Durant and LBJ can more than cover the wings and beat defenders down the court on offense.

  27. Here’s my ideal USA roster tailor made for high level FIBA competition, not shoe company sales-

    Chris Paul, Deron Williams
    Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Eric Gordon
    Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony
    Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin
    Dwight Howard, Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge

  28. My only qualm is with the center spot and Andrew Bynum being left off the preliminary roster.Bynum and Dwight Howard would give us two gigantic, space eating big men capable of scoring around the hoop and grabbing rebounds. It wouldn’t be too big a worry when one of them gets into foul trouble (as is bound to happen) with the other on the roster.

    I realize neither guy is a traditional FIBA center capable of stretching the floor, but the rest of the roster would be so flexible we really wouldn’t have to worry about all that. We’ll most likely be facing a a huge Spanish frontline made up of Serge Ibaka and the Gasol bros and the always physical Felipe Reyes. Bynum and Dwight would have been too much for anyone to handle.

  29. Bosh is just a simple trash.

    I don’t see any sharp shooter over there.. what team US will over against European zone defense?

  30. With their bodies already banged up and NBA going right up to Team USA training camp, I don’t see Wade or Kobe being on the team. I think they will have to take this summer off, especially if Wade foot keeps acting up. This makes some of the cuts easier as you are down to 17.
    My Starting Lineup with the caveat above.
    PG: Derrick Rose or CP3
    SG: LeBron James – With Kobe and Wade out, why the hell not. He can play the position.
    SF: Kevin Durant
    PF: Chris Bosh
    C: Dwight Howard

    Backup
    LaMarcus Aldridge –
    Chris Paul
    Russell Westbrook – Could play the 2 or 1.
    Eric Gordon – Team could use a great shooter off the bench.
    Blake Griffin – I would keep him and CP3 together
    Andre Iguodala – Good perimeter defender off the bench.
    Kevin Love

    Cuts:
    Tyson Chandler: Good size but doesn’t offer as much as Bosh, Aldridge
    Deron Williams: Lesser of the five PGs
    Chauncey Billups: Lesser of the five PGs
    Carmelo Anthony: I think he plays himself off the team. Knicks aren’t looking good and some of it is Melo’s lack of D and stagnant offence. This combination keeps off the team at this talent level.
    Lamar Odom : Good player but just can’t find him a spot as I think there are better options at both froward spots.

    • Iggy’s out – just no need for a guy who can’t shoot. Bosh is more likely to share time with Dwight at the 5 while Melo/Bron/Durant fill a lot of 3/4 time. In 2008, Melo played the FIBA 4 spot, so there’s no reason to think Coach K won’t do it again.

      In 2008 CP3 and Williams spent time filling the two guard spots and in 2010 they put two PGs out there as well. So if we’re hypothetically taking Kobe and Wade off the squad, you can expect a guard like Rose or Williams (or Gordon) to line up for the 2-spot. I just don’t see Lebron taking that spot, though, when he’s better used blowing by 3s and 4s. But he *could* do it, certainly.

      Ideally, with no Wade/Kobe, I’d have 2 elite Guards who can shoot, Durant, Lebron, and Howard out there with Melo backing up Bron and Bosh backing up Howard and Bron backing up KD.

      Just keep in mind that Lebron’s 45ish% deep 2s become 3s in FIBA play. As do Bosh’s deep shots.

      • I’ve got to say I’m surprised by all the “Iggy can’t shoot” comments. He’s a 47.5% FG shooter and the team already has 11 guys that can shoot, so why on earth would you need another “shooter”? He’s a lockdown defender which is why coach k is going to bring him if he can.

  31. I think you have to take Kyle Lowry over Westbrook, far superior defense, chemistry and team management.

  32. My ideal would be:
    PG = Paul, Rose, Williams — It seems International style requires more ball-movers and playmakers than iso scorers, so 3 PG’s is appropriate
    SG = Bryant, Westbrook — weakest spot. Kobe shouldn’t be going but likely will anyway, and Westbrook will beat out Gordon for quasi-2 spot that might be shared with Rose anyway
    SF = James, Durant, Anthony — Loaded spot
    PF = Love, Griffin, Aldridge — good mixup of guys who can do different things
    C = Howard –speed play means Howard is only center needed.

    Anyone’s thoughts?

  33. C- Howard / Chandler
    Pf- Griffin / Love
    Sf- Durant / James / Anthony
    Sg- Bryant /Wade
    Pg- Paul / Williams / Rose

    • I’d think Bosh goes over Chandler. Guys with limited offense don’t play well in FIBA matches. You’d also see some Melo/James at the 4, which is good because it frees up some 3 time for Durant.

  34. C- Howard Chandler
    Pf- Griffin Love
    Sf- Durant James Anthony
    Sg- Bryant Wade
    Pg- Paul Williams Rose

    • Heh, Rondo can’t shoot. He’s out for the same reason it’ll be hard to take Chandler, except he’s got more competition at his spot.

      Rondo didn’t even make the 2010 WC roster, and they didn’t have CP3 or Williams.

  36. Tough decisions at every position except center. I’d slide James to the 4 in order to start Durant.

    Paul/Billups
    Bryant/Wade
    Durant/Iguodala
    James/Aldridge
    Howard/Chandler

    • Again, I’d go with Bosh over Chandler. Chandler’s lack of any offense that isn’t lobs doesn’t work in FIBA play. You want a big who can shoot and do lots of other stuff.

      Love would be a solid backup 5, but I don’t think Coach K likes his slow help D, regardless of how many boards he gets (or threes he can shoot).

      Coach K loves playing Melo at the 4, though. So that probably puts Bron at the 3 and Durant coming off the bench. I think Durant/Bron is better than Bron/Melo, but I guess we’ll have to see what happens.

      I’ll be pissed of Kobe shoots too much. He’s too old to run an ego trip on a team that good. It’s questionable on his pro team, but on Team USA he should be letting better guys take over.

      • you didn’t watch 2008 did you? Kobe didn’t shoot much, and without Kobe in the 4th, Spain won gold.

    • Amare has been staying away from Int’l competitions by his own choice (prolly needs the time to recover from injuries). He’s not going to take somebody’s spot who’s been part of the program for years now. Still, they wanted him in 2010 and he didn’t want to go.

  40. Billups will likely start most games. I dont have a problem with that. As great as CP3 is, im not so sure his play translates well to EURO style. Aggressive PGs are the best to put out there, Westbrook, Rose, Deron

    • Did you watch the 2008 Olympics? CP3’s style translates VERY well. Billups shouldn’t start. Heck, I can’t even justify him making the roster.

      Billups shot too much as a 2 in 2010, when his defense was suspect and he was jackin shots that other guys should have been taking. It got really irritating.

      Westbrook/Williams/Rose have an advantage because they can play as combo guards in FIBA because the competition just isn’t as athletic. Still, with Kobe and Wade at the 2-spot, they probably won’t get as much PT.

  41. Lots of talent there for sure. Team USA will be fine as long as they take the Wade-Lebron-Kobe-Anthony-Durant core. Which Im sure they will

  42. No Amare? He’s performing above what es speculated for him this season. He would be powerful bench weapon with any of those point guards.

    • Good question, but they are going to have to cut this 19 down to 12, and Blake is the only Team USA rook, IMHO, with a chance to make the final 12. USAB places a lot of importance of having guys on the team who have out in their time. Melo, Wade, LeBron have been with program since ’04. That’s 12 years. Also, the guys who won the gold in ’10 in Turkey earned their invites by going with the program when the big names all pulled out.

  45. Rondo was horrible in international play, whereas westbrook played quite well. His aggressive nature was too much for their guards..

    • Coach K had much more faith in Westbrook by the end of the WC than he did in Rose, who actually had a pretty poor tournament until the fourth quarter of the gold medal game against Turkey.

      • Okay, I guess I’m trolling your comments now. Sorry!

        I watched all of the 2010 games and understand what you’re saying but I think you have to be more careful in saying that Coach K had more faith in Westbrook over Rose. Westbrook was exactly what that team needed, an irrational confidence guy who’s not afraid to jack it regardless of who he’s playing with. (He’s not an irrational confidence guy in the NBA, obviously, just playing on the national team.)

        I don’t think Westbrook has any chance of starting, that’s going to be Rose or CP3, but Westbrook will definitely be in the rotation should the team need someone to pull the trigger.

        • Don’t forget Westbrook can be slid in a pinch to the 2, his natural position, if they want to go small and play Kobe at the 3.

          • I think you can say the same for Deron Williams and Derrick Rose. In international ball you’re not running into the Joe Johnson/Rip Hamilton/Kobe Bryant type two guards who would take smaller points into the paint, if there is indeed a hight differential. You’re dealing with the Rudy Fernandez and Alexey Shved types.

            Barring injuries, etc., who are the seven cuts? This is really hard.

            Probably , , ,
            Odom, Gordon, Billups, Iguodala, Griffin

            Maybe . . .
            Chris Bosh

            Who knows . . .
            Deron Williams or Tyson Chandler or Aldridge???

            This is tough.

          • One of Chris Paul, Derrick Rose and Deron Williams has to be cut, right?

            D Will is coming off that great international experience with Besiktas so it might not be him. I wonder how people are going to react to the possibility that CP3 or Rose don’t make the team.

  46. Does D-Rose’s MVP earn him a starting spot? Even if no, he’s starting to see every type of defense thrown at him, so i still think hes the best option, even though CP3 and D-Will are better “pure” points

  47. Its odd to see Lamar Odom and Chauncey Billups on this team instead of Rajon Rondo and Rudy Gay.

  49. Andrew Bynum seems to be an easy choice over Tyson Chandler. Was there any concern over his health or how he’s fit in with international ball?

    • Tyson Chandler is much better defensively and 1000x more agile. Chandler is the perfect 5 defender for the international game as he is agile enough to play d on face up big man when they roam out to the three point line.

    • As a knick fan I want STAT in Houston this Summer working with Hakeem or in Orlando working with Ewing, STAT needs to add a post up game to his arsenal over the summer.

      STAT with a post game would be unstoppable

    • Pyromancer, I was with Team USA in Athens two years ago when the roster was at 13 and they needed to cut it to 12. Rondo was very unhappy about getting cut (he had lost his starting job to Derrick Rose after the first exhibition game, in Madrid against Lithuania), and I would say his days of wearing a Team USA jersey have likely ended for good.

  55. Starting line up:
    1. Chris Paul or the MVP
    2. Monta ellis (essential)
    3. Kevin Durant
    4. Blake Griffin
    5. Dwight Howard
    Back up Line up:
    1. Derrick Rose or CP3
    2. Dwyane Wade
    3 .Lebron james
    4. Kevin love
    5. Lamarcus Aldridge

  56. Kobe, Odom and Billups don’t have business on this team. Kobe maybe, but I think he would be better suited for rest.

    Instead take:
    Monta Ellis/Stephen Curry
    Greg Monroe
    Tyler Hansbrough

    • are you kidding me? Tyler hansborough is simply just not good enough, kobe is a team leader and the NBA’s best scorer, he dropped 48 last night.. i agree about odom and billups though

  57. Starting line up
    1. Derrick Rose
    2. Kobe Bryant
    3. Lebron James
    4. Blake Griffin
    5. Dwight Howard

    Back Up.

    1. Chauncey Billups
    2. Dwayne Wade
    3. Kevin Durant
    4. Carmelo Anthony
    5. Tyson Chandler.

    • This is themost reasonable starting line up its not a regular basket ball game kobe is a better shooter than d wade and lbjames has seniority over kd
      And drose is more of an aggresive player than cp3

  58. No rondo? He cant shoot but he will play some good defense. Drop westbrook give me rondo anyday!

  60. Starting Line up
    1. Derick Rose
    2. Kobe Bryant
    3. Kevin Durant
    4. Lamarcus Aldridge
    5. Dwight Howard

    Back up Line up
    1.Deron Williams
    2.Dwayne Wade
    3. Carmelo Anthony
    4.Kevin Love.
    5. Tyson Chandler

  61. bu kadroya karşı kim durabilir ki daha ne olabilirdi bu kadroda muhteşem bir olimpiyat abd şovu olacağı kesin

  63. While he’ll be 36 and probably uninterested in playing, Ray Allen would fit perfectly playing around D12, Lebron, Durant and CP3.

    • Chauncey may be 36, but the USA Basketball folks like having a wise older player on the team, which is why they brought Jason Kidd to Beijing and made him the captain. He started every game over Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

      • Still, I don’t see Chauncey making the 12-man roster unless there are strange set of injuries or players who change their minds. The NBA really does have a ton of talent at point guard, and two shooting guards from the prior gen who are pretty damn productive.

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