Report: Team USA Preliminary Roster Unveiled

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• Mitchell Posted: Jan.10 at 4:43 pm
  Why Monta Ellis not on the list.

• nbk Posted: Jan.10 at 4:43 pm
  So everyone except Joe Johnson. lol

• rand33p Posted: Jan.10 at 4:44 pm
  bynum?

• Hart Posted: Jan.10 at 4:44 pm
  Um….why is Odom there?

• Ward6 Posted: Jan.10 at 4:44 pm
  Anthony, Bosh, Bryant, Durant, Howard, Iguadala, James, Love, Paul, Rose, Wade, Williams

• BlackStar Posted: Jan.10 at 4:46 pm
  Imagine a starting 5 of Rose, Bron, Howard, Wade and Griffin. That would be Lob Country for real! 3 point shooting would suffer, but if I were the competition, I wouldn’t even stand near the rim …

• Andrew Posted: Jan.10 at 4:53 pm
  @Hart Odom is there because hes versatile enough to guard more mobile euro style Centers

• Heals Posted: Jan.10 at 4:54 pm
  I hear where you’re coming from Black cause that group would win games simply on athleticism and talent alone, but none of those cats are a “pure” shooter or has a legit post-game. Highlights are ill, but don’t forget about the other stuff that makes the game equally as great…

• Mike Mihalow Posted: Jan.10 at 5:03 pm
  I see a lot of zone defenses coming up

• Drunyce Posted: Jan.10 at 5:05 pm
  Odom is a versatile big who’s game fits the Euro style ball. Also, he was a part of the 2010 FIBA Gold Medal team…

• Tony Posted: Jan.10 at 5:07 pm
  Is Eric Gordon really that great?

• LA Huey Posted: Jan.10 at 5:09 pm
  Dwight, LA, LBJ, Kobe, CP3, Bosh, Love, Durant, Wade, Rose, Deron, Blake.

• nbk Posted: Jan.10 at 5:09 pm
  Starting lineup will be, Paul/Rose, Bryant, James, Melo, Chandler/Alrdidge. Probably Rose and Chandler if I were too bet. But who knows for sure.

• ksupreme Posted: Jan.10 at 5:11 pm
  wheres amare

• Thor Posted: Jan.10 at 5:11 pm
  @Tony, pretty good yes, great is a strong word for most.

• Jono Posted: Jan.10 at 5:12 pm
  Olympic basketball is pretty simple, if the USA don’t win it’s because they messed up and not because the other team won. There is no team even remotely close to winning the thing realistically because that team listed above, even the worst 12 of the 19 has size, strength, athleticism, skill, experience and by summer 2012, will be sufficiently prepared.

• LA Huey Posted: Jan.10 at 5:13 pm
  Odom, Tyson, and Chauncey get a chance to make the team because they were intergral parts to the 2010 team.

• Gametimeweezy Posted: Jan.10 at 5:15 pm
  I love that Odom and Billups are on this team. Wade and Durant potentially coming off the bench? This is the greatest team ever assembled besides the Dream Team.

• kobe4ever8 Posted: Jan.10 at 5:18 pm
  That’s a very fun line up to watch, but I feel like outside of Durant, our 3 point shooting will suffer

• Bravo Posted: Jan.10 at 5:21 pm
  Damn team USA is super stacked! Kobe , LBJ, Wade, Durante and Eric Gordon are gonna kill it. I expect blake griffin to have most of the highlights.

• datkid Posted: Jan.10 at 5:21 pm
  Hopefully they can get a frontline out of that group… spain has both gasol brothers and serge ibaka now. and tony eric gordon is pretty dope.

• nbk Posted: Jan.10 at 5:24 pm
  What’s Spain going to do when Team USA throws out Rose, Bryant, Durant, James, Love. How in the world would they deal with that? Pau gonna guard LeBron? Or Durant? Is a zone really going to work against a team with all that spacing and rebounding?

• L44 Posted: Jan.10 at 5:25 pm
  I wish Rudy Gay was included…his skills and size fit the international game very well.

• gravy Posted: Jan.10 at 5:28 pm
  Thats such a tough list to deduct 7 players from!! all i know is that when the final list comes out, some players and fans r gonna be pissed(regardless of the outcome)

• niQ Posted: Jan.10 at 5:30 pm
  Hmm… It’s tough to guess even the starting up… I’m going with… Chris Paul, Kobe, Lebron, Melo, Dwight. I REALLY want to put Durant somewhere in the starting line up. But I think the only way that would happen would be if Durant starts at SF and Lebron slides over to PF, pushing Melo out of the starting 5.

• Gametimeweezy Posted: Jan.10 at 5:34 pm
  ^I love that starting lineup.. Wade, Durant, and Rose off the bench is just merciless…

• Zeb Posted: Jan.10 at 5:43 pm
  What no Celtics? You’ve Got to be kidding! Rondo should be the second PG picked!

• Ldub Posted: Jan.10 at 5:44 pm
  these guys dont care who starts or comes in off the bench. the W is all the matters in the olympics. it doesnt matter who you start…it will probably change over the course of the tourny anyways.

• niQ Posted: Jan.10 at 5:51 pm
  OR. What if Kobe is injured and they put Durant as starting SG? Correct me if I’m wrong but, didn’t Durant start of his NBA career at shooting guard?

• Maniac Posted: Jan.10 at 5:54 pm
  I think the final roster will be: Kobe, LeBron, Dwight, Durant, Rose, Wade, CP3, Dwill, Melo, Blake, Bosh, & Love. CP3 will most certainly start at pg (there is no reason to give it to Rose seeing that they are favoring the players from the 2008 Redeem Team). Kobe & LeBron aren’t backing up anyone. Dwight is the best center on earth, why would he not start? The PF position is unpredictable and could go many different ways.

• Joe Posted: Jan.10 at 6:04 pm
  Here’s my squad: Melo, Bosh, Kobe, Durant, Dwight, LBJ, CP3, Rose, Dwill, Flash, Love, and LaMarcus…….Blake will use the summer, to polish his game, work on that jumper, and refine some of those post-moves, that way the 2012-2013 season is an MVP season for him. He’s got plenty of yrs ahead of him to get a gold medal.

• nbk Posted: Jan.10 at 6:06 pm
  Haha because I was not paying close enough Attention to what I was doing. My bad your right, Deight will start, no doubt

• LakeShow Posted: Jan.10 at 6:16 pm
  Phewwwww… That’s a good team. This team would challenge any team ever assembled.

• Oscar Posted: Jan.10 at 6:23 pm
  No Rajon Rondo?? cmon Rondo is way better than westbrook and williams

• JTaylor21 Posted: Jan.10 at 6:24 pm
  Billups, LO and Iggy will be the odd men out.

• yada Posted: Jan.10 at 6:27 pm
  what are the tryouts and practices gonna be like? wheew

• drew Posted: Jan.10 at 6:29 pm
  cp3, deron, rose, kobe, wade, lebron, melo, durant, bosh, griffin, love, howard.

• Dyce Posted: Jan.10 at 6:33 pm
  I agree Rondo deserves at least a shot to make the team. Unless he wants to quit like he did the last time. Even Chris Bosh deserves a shot.

• Dyce Posted: Jan.10 at 6:40 pm
  Ray Allen should be given a try-out over billups at this point.

• aman from arkansas Posted: Jan.10 at 6:40 pm
  Why is bosh on there he is garbage.

• Gametimeweezy Posted: Jan.10 at 6:47 pm
  The 3 point line would be layups for Ray Allen too.

• jufu Posted: Jan.10 at 6:48 pm
  bosh is on there because he’s been insane against international competition, moreso than dwight and melo. and i honestly think that billups, eric gordon, and odom can make it based on the fact that the provide shooting. oh, and klove can shoot too, he’ll be a good one-two with howard. this upcoming team will have very few, if any, weaknesses.

• T-Money Posted: Jan.10 at 6:50 pm
  OUT: aldridge, billups, chandler, gordon, iggy, odom, westbrook.

• jbone23 Posted: Jan.10 at 6:51 pm
  Don’t forget, this has to get cut to 12! Means -7 from this list…tough.

• china Posted: Jan.10 at 6:55 pm
  starting 5: PG – CP3
  SG – Kobe Bryant
  SF – LeBron James
  PF – Chris Bosh
  C – Dwight Howard a lot of people could argue rose over cp3, wade over kobe etc. but i think when it comes down to it, it’ll all be based on seniority and who was there first. I mean, I don’t think Chris Bosh should be starting, but he is a more proven PF over Aldridge and Love despite all the hate he gets. I think I speak for everyone when I say it’ll be tough for me to see Rose and Durant who are playing in the shadows on LeBron and Kobe because they are soon to be the face of the NBA. My 2nd unit comprises of Williams, Wade, Melo, Love/Aldridge and Chandler. But if coach K makes his decision based on seasonal play, Deron Williams could find that he will be the 3rd guard coming off the bench after Rose. In the end, I think the 12 man roster would be CP3, Deron, Rose, Kobe, Wade, LeBron, Carmelo, KD, D12, Bosh, Love/aldridge and Chandler. This is my opinion, dont get too pissed off if you disagree.

• jsmoke212 Posted: Jan.10 at 7:07 pm
  *applauding Colangelo* Well done, sir!
  Iggy is there to waste energy on D, and at the international stage, I’d take Aldridge and Love, rather than ZBo (love his game). The only headscratcher is Billups. Westbrook and Chandler should be shown the door sometime soon too.

• Mariano Posted: Jan.10 at 7:10 pm
  I’d rather have LA than Chris Bosh

• Pais Posted: Jan.10 at 7:11 pm
  The 2nd string, whoever it consists of will be end up being far, like really far superior to any possible contender. And I can’t believe there are still people out there who think Bosh is garbage, I got no love for the guy personaly but c’mon. I can’t cut 7 guys from that list, not possible although it’s real PG heavy.

• Mariano Posted: Jan.10 at 7:13 pm
  I don’t think Chris Bosh is garbage… I just think LA is a better player

• Pais Posted: Jan.10 at 7:14 pm
  Totally agree with the seniority thing. They’ve stated that they want Team USA to be a proper team rather than simply a compilation of the biggest marquee players. If that’s true, seniority must be respected.

• Pais Posted: Jan.10 at 7:17 pm
  Sorry Mariano, that was in response to an earlier comment. You’re probably even right, but for the sake of consistency and cohesion I say go with Bosh.

• Dyce Posted: Jan.10 at 7:25 pm
  I was actually taking Bosh over Blake not LA. Blake isn’t there yet and other than a few alleys I dont think his game is gonna go well out there.

• datkid Posted: Jan.10 at 7:34 pm
  but nbk.. could the lineup you mention effectively guard the gasol brothers? I mean lebron MIGHT be able to hold his own, bc he’s so strong but could love? he has well documented defensive issues. What if spain pounds the ball inside?

• Dyce Posted: Jan.10 at 7:35 pm
  The fact that things like we have to worry about outside shooting should show how good that original Dream Team was. Mostly every player on the original team was a complete player and could do it all.

• Pais Posted: Jan.10 at 7:37 pm
  @Dyce – I’m inclined to agree. But it’s a real tough decision to leave out a talent like Blake. Fact is Blake is exactly why casual fans like even like basketball. No matter what happens, it’s certain that a crap load of deserving players are gonna get bumped.

• Pais Posted: Jan.10 at 7:41 pm
  @datkid – I’d argue that you don’t need to guard the Gasol brothers. Containing Navarro will be enough to ensure annihilation.

• B.C. Posted: Jan.10 at 7:56 pm
  Final 12 man roster will be.
  Starting 5
  PG Chris Paul
  SG Kobe Bryant
  SF LeBron James
  PF Kevin Durant
  C Dwight Howard
  Bench
  PG Derrick Rose, Deron Williams
  SG Dwyane Wade
  SF Carmelo Anthony
  PF Blake Griffin, Kevin Love
  C Chris Bosh

• robb Posted: Jan.10 at 8:10 pm
  @B.C. lol KD at PF and Chris Bosh at C??? you gotta be kidding.

• Caboose Posted: Jan.10 at 8:23 pm
  If the team wants a ridiculous starting lineup, go:
  PG: LeBron
  SG: Durant
  SF: Melo
  PF: Love
  C: Dwight

• golakeshow Posted: Jan.10 at 8:28 pm
  lamar odom and eric gordon do not belong there.

• nbk Posted: Jan.10 at 8:32 pm
  Datkid, In theory no that USA team can’t guard Spain in the half court. But with the pressure they could apply with double teaming and trapping. I would think they would have enough success on offense and force enough turnovers consistently best Spain. With that lineup, and just about any other for that matter lol

• yada Posted: Jan.10 at 8:35 pm
  d.rose will be the starting pg on that team

• tomtom Posted: Jan.10 at 8:41 pm
  And that’s why i have never taken anything caboose said seriously…

• Dagger Posted: Jan.10 at 8:43 pm
  What the starting lineup should look like: PG: Paul, SG: Wade, SF: Durant, PF: Lebron, C: Howard. What it will look like: PG: Rose, SG: Kobe, SF: Lebron/Melo, PF: Lebron/Melo, C: Howard. I think Kobe is too keen to shoot no matter his teammates, and while I’m one of those people who thinks Rose is better than Paul I also think Paul is still more of a pass-first guy, and that’s invaluable in a team of scorers. Either way the team will probably be: Bron, Wade, Bosh, Paul, Rose, Kobe, Howard, Durant, Melo, Chandler, Blake, Gordon. Gordon VS AI is a close call, but I think they need shooting more than wing defence given the defensive growth of Lebron, Wade and Durant. I don’t think they’ll take Love over Griffin but they probably should, given how much they’ll need 3 point shooting. Finally, I think Bosh is a sound choice over those other quality bigs, because he knows how to play with star players and he’s proven he can perform at a very high level in the international game. Could this team beat the original dream team? The teams are quite evenly matched from the 1 to the 3, but the 1992 team’s quality at the 4 and the 5 gives it the edge.

• Red Posted: Jan.10 at 8:44 pm
  Yeah D. Rose better be starting pg he’s better than CP3

• Gametimeweezy Posted: Jan.10 at 9:01 pm
  ^ CP3 is the better facilitator though…

• MikeC. Posted: Jan.10 at 9:16 pm
  The FIBA rules make some of the traditional NBA positions more fluid. Melo is an absolute beast at the 4 in the international games because very few 3s can handle him in the post and when they switch a 4 to him, it’s dribble drive time. Same with Lebron, but with more passing and more 3rd-person references. Odom’s versatility makes him an excellent option off the bench. As much as I’d like to smack Chris Bosh with a crowbar, his agility, quickness and mid-range game make him a much better fit than Blake. Love’s offensive repertoire make him a perfect fit, but can he guard opposing 4s and 5s? Durant is a great fit because he can play the 4 in a smallball lineup, he’s excellent at the 3 and can play the 2 if Team USA decides to supersize the lineup. Rondo would be a bad fit because he can’t shoot. Gotta have zone-busters. D Williams is a great fit. 2005 Chauncey Billups would have been perfect. Too bad it’s 2011.

• MikeC. Posted: Jan.10 at 9:18 pm
  ^not that Blake lacks agility and quickness. His offense isn’t much of a weapon against a zone, so he’s just not a good fit unless he locks down that bank shot he’s been working on.

• Jukai Posted: Jan.10 at 9:18 pm
  Damn, I still say CP3, Rose, Kobe, Wade, Durant, Lebron, Melo, Love, Bosh, and Howard… But I’m unsure if Tyson, williams, LA, or Griffin will make it. Probably the latter two.

• Jukai Posted: Jan.10 at 9:20 pm
  Eric is great but I think love/durant are good enough three point shooters to take care of it

• Tempest Posted: Jan.10 at 9:23 pm
  this team will be bonkers Starters
  PG – Rose
  SG – Kobe
  SF – Lebron
  PF – Durant
  C – Howard Bench
  CP3, Westbrook(DWill always gets jipped), Wade, Melo, Bosh, Griffin, Love

• riggs Posted: Jan.10 at 9:28 pm
  no rondo? mehhhhhhhhhhh @ this team.

• shutup Posted: Jan.10 at 11:24 pm
  When they play Spain whos gonna guard rubio? there gonna have to create a player that can stop his unbelievable quickness and hall of fame court vision, USA might as well pull out now, Rubio can beat any team 1 on 5. lmao. I bet Love doesnt make the team, Odom will make it because of his speed at his size and his ability to bring the ball up, also there gonna need some glue players that team is chock full of scorers, but besides Paul and Lebron I dont see many passers on the team.

• VanCityBBall Posted: Jan.10 at 11:28 pm
  id take ABynum over Odom any day

• Dyce Posted: Jan.10 at 11:45 pm
  Its also who’s going to be able to play after this condensed season, then injuries its gonna be interesting.

• Gametimeweezy Posted: Jan.11 at 12:26 am
  shutup – don’t worry, we have Chris Bosh… Remember that season in Toronto when he was the best PF in the league? He’s soooo much better than Amare Studamire and can probably beast both Gasol brothers at the same time! lol

• china Posted: Jan.11 at 12:32 am
  First string: CP3, Kobe, Lebron, Bosh, Howard.
  Second String: Williams/Rose, Wade, Melo, Love, Chandler and Durant and whomever does not start between Williams/Rose. Im very surprised to see Stoudamire not on this list. Lob city doesnt mean jack when it comes to Team USA, so expect Blake to get cut. He is a stat stuffer, but I dont think his game can transfer against the internationals… just yet! Therefore, I see Kevin Love making it over Aldridge for the final PF spot because coach K already has a face up PF in Bosh, and we need rebounds!

• china Posted: Jan.11 at 12:33 am
  what do u guys think?

• Red Posted: Jan.11 at 1:02 am
  I hate the Celtics seriously but wtf Williams over Rondo? I have a feeling Rondo declined to join the team cause I remember he said he barely wanted to do FIBA

• shutup Posted: Jan.11 at 1:42 am
  @weezy lmao all you need to do is get Bosh a tail and he’ll look like a raptor, maybe we should put JJ Reddick on the team hes better than anyone else on Orlando and he should be able to prove his world dominance

• Jukai Posted: Jan.11 at 2:12 am
  I cannot see Westbrook over Williams. I’d be shocked if Westbrook makes the team at all. What does Westbrook bring which Rose, CP3 and Deron wont? I guess defense but… not enough to justify his placement.
  I’d also be shocked if Iggy makes it. They have Lebron, Durant, and Melo to play three. Why add another one?
  The only five I see making it over the obvious ten (CP3, Rose, Kobe, Wade, Durant, Lebron, Melo, Bosh, Love, Dwight) are Williams, Chandler, Griffin, LA and Gordon. I don’t think Chandler and Gordon make it, I don’t think Chandler brings anything Howard doesn’t, he’s kind of redundant, and if they take LA they can DEFINITELY get by without Chandler. I’d prefer Williams and LA but… I think one of them is gonna sit for Griffin.
  I find this s**t way too interesting.

• Big D Posted: Jan.11 at 2:44 am
  I’m surprised to see Eric Gordan on this list. Bynum could not keep up with this super athletic Euro centers. Perfect team to bring home gold.

• Dx Posted: Jan.11 at 4:26 am
  Potential problem:- not a whole lot of pure shooters out there… Maybe durant and love?

• BossTerry Posted: Jan.11 at 4:52 am
  D.Howard-K.Garnett.James.Kobe.Paul
  Lopez.Duncan.Durant.Wade.D.Rose
  Anthony.J.Johnson.

• Justin G. Posted: Jan.11 at 7:08 am
  I don’t know that this club needs that many pure shooters. With their transition offense and a defense that’s going to be stifling, guys like Lebron and Paul that can get the ball around the perimiter for the much closer 3 pointers…? I think they’ll be OK

• Max Posted: Jan.11 at 7:12 am
  Starters:
  CP3
  Kobe
  Bron
  Melo
  Dwight
  Bench:
  DRose
  EG
  DWade
  KD
  LA
  KLove
  Bosh

• Moose Posted: Jan.11 at 7:21 am
  Where’s Rondooooo???

• ptrain Posted: Jan.11 at 8:02 am
  suprised most people take Love over LA, i know who i would rather have on my team…

• JAMES Posted: Jan.11 at 10:35 am
  where is rudy gay. he was a key part of the 2010 world team. he shoudl get a chance to tryout for the olympics

• UltimaCarta Posted: Jan.11 at 1:56 pm
  Starters: Paul
  Bryant
  James
  Anthony
  Howard Bench:
  Rose
  Wade
  Durant
  Love
  Aldridge
  Williams
  Bosh CUT THE REST.

• Mooney10 Posted: Jan.11 at 2:28 pm
  Why not: Amare? Rondo? Ray Allen even? Bynum? KG? Al Jefferson?
  Why?:Billups
  Gordon
  Odom Rest of the guys are fine, but these 3 do not belong, I’d take Rondo over Billups, Gordon doesn’t belong and Chandler is not on that level at all. If you’e not an all-star caliber player why are you on this roster?

• Gametimeweezy Posted: Jan.12 at 1:57 am
  Watching Billups how he’s playing for the Clippers , especially his defense against shooting guards, would be a excellent Third PG for this team though cuz he can body with shooting guards

• Justin G. Posted: Jan.12 at 5:58 am
  OK, to answer Mooney. Why not…Amare? Because he’s not as good as Bosh, Aldredge, or Love. Rondo? Because he can’t shoot and he’s not as good as CP3 or Rose. Ray Allen? Sorry but Kobe and Wade have all those minutes. Bynum I may agree with for at least getting a chance to make it but he’d probably get cut anyway. KG? See Amare. Al Jefferson? See KG.
  As for Billups I don’t understand that one except maybe for a shooter? But I don’t think he makes the roster anyway

• B.C. Posted: Jan.12 at 2:14 pm
  @ robb you’re an idiot, if durant’s not gonna play PF who is? He’s definitly gonna be starting and so is LeBron. Everyone else is gonna be coming off the bench, and Bosh is gonna be playing Center when he comes off the bench because he’s clearly not gonna be playing with Howard.

• Tony Posted: Jan.13 at 6:24 am
  No oldheads in the squad please! They do not deserve to be in. USA has enough talent to send a young team to put on a show in London. Guys like Chauncey Billups, Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom should be cut.

• Scott Posted: Jan.13 at 3:28 pm
  Just answer why certain players are or are not on the team that have nothing to do with talent:
  Amare: Not an option because he can’t be insure. Knicks won’t allow it.
  Rondo: beside the total lack of a jumpshot, he quit during the last try outs. He can forget ever being invited again.
  Guys like LO and Chauncey are there for leadership and their games fit well in international play. Chauncey may not be close to Rondo in talent these days but he is a great shooter which is more highly valued in the Olympics. I can still see these guys being cut though.
  If you think Bosh shouldn’t be on the team, you didn’t watch the last Olympics. He was a huge part of that team because of his mobility, pick and role D and outside shooting. He is an ideal big for international play. i guarantee he makes the team.