Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pm  |  70 responses

2009 USA Basketball Showcase Results

by Ryne Nelson

So you’re probably wondering… What was this USA Basketball Showcase? Well, it was a scrimmage featuring most of the America’s future stars. But there’s a bit more to it than that, actually.

Nineteen players (see the game’s box score below) played in front of the public at Valley HS in Las Vegas, NV. The game capped off a three-day minicamp… or try-outs, per se, for the 2010 USA Team.

The majority of the 2008 Olympic gold medal team is already committed to return for the 2010 World Championships, leaving only two or three spots to fill. Kevin Durant has all but made the team, so the competition, as you could imagine, was much stiffer than a regular pick-up game. A few cuts will be made before the season tips in November, and roughly 15 more players will be removed when next spring rolls around.

Onto the scrimmage — USA Blue won due to strong second- and third-quarter efforts and balanced scoring. USA White couldn’t come close in the end, despite a game-high 27-point performance from Rudy Gay. Speaking of game highs, Greg Oden impressed with 10 boards in 24 minutes (every second of which is apparently captured on streaming video here). Ronnie Brewer displayed his defensive acumen, amassing six steals off the bench, but showing (once again) little propensity to do much else.

Anthony Randolph was not to be denied his shine, despite playing a team-low in minutes (sound familiar?). He managed 8 jacks, 4 free-bes and 4 boards. He’s a player, and we’re hoping his inexperience is the only reason for his lack of burn. Lastly, for a poorly organized, but solid photo gallery, check this out.

Notable absentees: Blake Griffin (shoulder injury), Brandon Roy (contract), Rajon Rondo (attending a wedding).

USA Blue vs. USA White Box Score
USA Blue
Player Min FG 3pt FT Off Reb Ast Stl Blk Pts
Andre Iguodala* 19 3-6 1-2 0-0 0 1 3 0 2 7
Brook Lopez* 22 7-8 1-1 3-4 2 4 0 1 1 18
Kevin Durant* 23 5-12 1-4 9-9 1 8 4 0 0 20
Russell Westbrook* 20 3-5 1-2 0-0 1 3 4 3 0 7
Josh Smith* 21 1-4 0-1 2-3 1 6 2 1 1 4
D.J. Augustin 21 1-4 0-1 2-2 0 1 1 4 0 4
Kyle Korver 22 5-11 2-5 0-0 1 4 0 0 3 12
Kevin Love 17 2-5 0-1 0-0 2 3 1 2 0 4
Thaddeus Young 19 6-9 0-1 0-0 1 1 2 3 0 12
Anthony Randolph 16 4-8 1-1 3-4 1 4 0 1 0 12
Totals 200 37-72 7-19 19-22 10 36 17 15 7 100
USA White
Player Min FG 3pt FT Off Reb Ast Stl Blk Pts
Rudy Gay* 27 11-12 3-4 2-2 1 4 2 3 0 27
Jeff Green* 25 2-8 1-4 3-4 0 2 1 1 0 8
O.J. Mayo* 23 5-16 3-10 0-0 0 2 4 0 0 13
Greg Oden* 24 3-6 0-0 1-2 3 10 1 1 1 7
Derrick Rose* 28 3-7 0-1 0-0 2 3 2 0 0 6
JaVale McGee 15 2-6 0-0 0-0 0 3 0 0 1 4
Ronnie Brewer 25 4-7 1-2 2-4 1 2 3 6 0 11
Paul Millsap 18 1-6 0-1 1-2 1 4 1 0 0 3
Eric Gordon 15 0-4 0-2 2-2 0 2 2 0 1 2
Totals 200 31-72 8-24 11-16 8 32 16 11 3 81
Starters marked by asterisks (*).
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  • http://slamonline.com/ Ryne Nelson

    … and I was wrong about Brewer. Dude had an excellent all-around game.

  • AlbertBarr

    Carmelo is pretty freakin good though.

  • http://www.boogiewilliams.com Boing Dynasty aka Free Lester Hudson

    I would add Granger for skill, and JR Smith for entertainment.

  • DollaChoppa

    Damn. Brook Lopez is a good player. Better than oden for sure.

  • http://sjsu.edu davidR

    you guys just aren’t exposed to morrow. i know he’s only a rookie, but leading the league in 3pt% shows he’s pretty consistent with his shot. also, despite being on the warriors and their run and gun offense, he’s not a jacker. he plays very efficient, taking mostly high% shots. i’d take him over korver anyday

  • Kadavour

    Kevin Durant is legit, but to say he’s better or more valuable than Brandon Roy is asinine. BRoy does everything well. Did you see what he did to Artest AND Battier?

  • matt

    brewer, korver, millsap–JAZZ REPRESENT!

  • Tong Po

    Durant had a good game 20 & 8 is good balanced stats, not to mention his team won. The rest of the stats are mad wack.

  • http://IJustWantMyNameToLookBig.com Chukaz

    Yo, ma boy KD can ball. That dude got mad skills. He will be the best player in the game as soon as he bulks up (n kobe retires haha). Yeah, I went there. He’ll be better than Bron. Bron ain’t even that good. I don’t mean to sound like a hater but the dude don’t know what to do if the rock ain’t on his hands. LeBron should drop the point forward bull sh*t and learn how to play his possition.

  • http://IJustWantMyNameToLookBig.com Chukaz

    position, my bad haha

  • D12FSU

    cant we just take the 9 guys who actually matter and will play…then have a contest where 3 winners get to travel with the team and suite up…… half joking

  • D12FSU

    oh, and Anton is just bitter cause we beat the raps in 5 two seasons ago

  • D12FSU

    ….oh and i think zach randolph should get a spot……only so he can be traded to another country..(maybe throw in Q)

  • http://adfji.com Jukai

    Kadavour: You’re insane. Yes, he had Ron Artest’s number, that’s great, he also plays on a team where it’s impossible to double team him because of the talent that’s around him. Talent that’s thirty times that of OKC (Green and Westbrook are great players, but more defensively valuable).
    Durant deals with double and triple teams daily. Roy simply doesn’t. They’re both great, great players, every year all-stars, but Durant is just superior. I’m not going to give Roy the nod because he outplayed one player in the L.
    Also, did Chukaz really say “I don’t mean to sound like a hater?”

  • riggs
  • riggs

    They need brook down low, a good low post big man who knows his fundamentals.

  • Lz – Cphfinest3

    My opinion is that they should just go with two guards,leaving Rose at home and put Durant and Roy on the team. For the third spot I would probably go with a big, maybe Lopez (haven’t really seen him play enough to have a qualified opinion) or Green who I think fits the international game and Team US’ needs well, with his range, length and defensive toughness. For all you guys hating on Korver’s game, no doubt there is a a lot of better players in the NBA, but still; there is a reason that every single International team has at least one sharpshooter on their roster. And ‘No’ neither Kobe, LeBron, Wade, Paul or Melo qualifies as a sharpshooter. They are better creating than spotting up, and their shots are not nearly as automatic as the real shooters. Durant and Williams comes close to fitting the bill, Kobe and Melo on their good shooting days too. But neither of the four are automatic from the international 3. Imo it wouldn’t be a mistake bringing a shooter, not saying it should be Korver, but at least he has some additional length to use on D. Whereas a guy like Morrow would have to take Wade and Kobe’s minutes to get on the floor without being a mismatch.

  • Teddy-the-Bear

    @ Jukai: Battier + Artest + Yao down low > Cr@ppy regular season defenses on Kevin Durant and the OKC, one of the worst teams in the league.
    Playoff defenses are ALWAYS more intense. Not to mention Artest and Battier are the two best non-center defenders in the league.

  • jeremy

    randolph would be a good fit because of his size and atheism and versatility bigs in international ball generally can hit a perimeter shot and move fairly well
    but whats his mid range shot like and lopez he would be a nice fit. i wouldnt be surprised if the other countrys come up with a way to slow the usa down they just out gunned every one in the olympics there some pretty savy coaches, coaching some of the countries

  • Zach

    Rose needs to step up and play some ball. show them the D Rose that came out against Boston in the playoffs. Rose needs to pick his game up

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