See this post in Stunning HD!

Introduction

After reading about how Team USA has been preforming I’ve begun to wonder if maybe I can put together a better team (out of NBA players) than Jerry Colangelo. He has plenty of experience as the former owner of the Suns  and his son is one of the best GM's in the league.

However, this “Dream Team” seems a bit too unorthodox to actually win the Gold. Don’t get me wrong, America produces the best individual players in the world, but our team’s lack cohesion. They all know they’re stars and are looking to do the best wow moves and most over the top dunks they can muster. Rather than simply looking to score every time down the floor, they are focusing on doing something spectacular. That causes turnovers and costs games.

They also have basically steam-rolled most of their opponents and that’s doing nothing but reinforcing the idea that the more flashy they are the better they’ll do. That’s why I think the best Team USA is not the one with the best individual players on the roster but the best team players.

So, as best I can, I’ll put together a roster that I think could win the Olympic gold in Beijing next year (note this assumes all the players I list agree to play).

First Team

Point Guard: Jason Kidd

Obviously, the best American point guard in the NBA today. He is the engine of the current Team USA and would be the engine of mine. He is by far the most pure of point guards in the league today. His court vision is on par with Steve Nash and only his injuries and Nash’s emergence have caused people to forget him. Kidd would be my starting point guard without question, USA Basketball was absolutely right with this one.

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant

Another great choice. Say what you will about Kobe (and I certainly have) he may be the best all-around player in the league. Besides his obvious offensive abilities he plays good defense too. That’s a tool most offensive phenoms in the NBA today lack and something that is critical to winning in the international game.

Kobe Bryant is also willing to trade his offensive stats to play hard nosed defense. That is critical if you are to win the Gold Medal. Kobe’s understanding and acceptance of this sets him apart from many other NBA players. While he’s terribly selfish in the league, he has demonstrated that if he has faith in the players around him he’s willing to give up his shots.

Small Forward: Gerald Wallace

No, your eyes don’t deceive you. The above name is neither LeBron James nor Carmelo Anthony. King James and ‘Melo have shown they have tremendous offensive talent. James has improved his shooting ability and expanded his offensive tool chest but his defense is ever suspect. ‘Melo is tremendously overrated and thinks he’s much better than he actually is. Quite frankly, I would love to have Artest on the team but he’s been arrested yet again and just has far too many issues.

Wallace is a tenacious defender. He’ll get blocks and steals and command the boards. He can run the floor as good as anybody in the league and if left open can hit from just about anywhere. The best part would be watching him run the break with Jason Kidd, but his defensive presence near the basket would be his biggest addition to the team.

Gerald Wallace had a breakout season last year and is one of the best athletes in the league. He would do great things in international competition. He would add some toughness to a team of soft players and is more than willing to play bruising basketball. He could provide the highlight dunk we so crave while also giving us more substance (on both sides of the court) than either the King or Anthony.

Power Forward: Carlos Boozer

He would’ve been on the roster for the FIBA tournament if not for his wife’s pregnancy. He has proven in the past if he’s focused he can be a solid defender. He’s tough and effective around the rim. He can also hit a nice mid-range shot from time to time.

It was Boozer’s ability to command the paint that helped Utah defeat Golden State. They simply had no answer for his ability to score close to the bucket. That would be very effective against international squads because most of them carry big men who aren’t nearly as quick or athletic.

Boozer’s toughness would do well in the international game and I think he could be a stout defender with scorers around him. He’s also got very soft hands and could be very effective at the rim. His athleticism would help him beat the bigs most other countries would through at him and his hook-shot would also let him score against them. Boozer will help the real Team USA next year and I think he’s a big part of their potential success.

Center: Shaquille O’Neal

If I could have him I’ll take O’Neal over any other Center in the league. Could he hold up through the whole Olympic run? I think so. Shaq’s shown that when it counts he’s still extremely durable. Plus, he simply dominates most opponents in the NBA and would do that even more so in international play.

He would add so much to Team USA. He would simply intimidate the other centers and his size would bully them out of the way. If he wasn’t getting the rock and throwing it down he would be creating space for the slasher on the team. Maybe he’s old, but he’s still a force of nature and I would pit him against anybody.

Second Team

Point Guard: Chris Paul

Paul broke into the league and showed NBA veterans how the point position is supposed to be played. While he can create for himself he would rather create for others and that mentality is key to a good point guard. He has improved in his two seasons and has experience in the international game.

Chris Paul has been a gem for the Hornets and a pleasure to watch. He has great knowledge of the game and could command Team USA against the best of the world. With Kidd in front of him he would be awesome off the bench and would keep the offense running smoothly. Besides that, his willingness to defend other point guards would be a huge asset.

Shooting Guard: Dwayne Wade

This one, I think, is a no brainer. Wade has proven he can lead, he can score, he can pass, and he can defend. In a pinch, or as a different look, he could also man the point. D-Wade has proven he’s one of the best players in the league and maybe the best of his draft class.

Wade will be on the eventual Team USA as he should be. His talents are extremely useful to USA Basketball and he has proven he can play good team basketball. Wade’s talents will be critical to team USA’s success and his unselfishness will help them keep the ball moving.

Small Forward: Paul Pierce

Pierce is a solid player. He can create for himself and plays tough defense. He can run with the ball, play in the half court set, or create for himself. He’ll also attack the boards and look for a put back.

Pierce could go on the first team but I prefer Wallace’s athleticism. Pierce would add some good veteran leadership and be a great spark off the bench. With his offensive abilities and clutch ability he would be a great player to have on the floor in crunch time.

Power Forward: Rasheed Wallace

That’s right, I did it. ‘Sheed sometimes has an attitude problem but he’s still a top Power Forward. And he’s a true Power Forward. He ####s around down low and defends as well as the best of them. He can also score from anywhere on the floor.

Wallace gets a lot of technicals but that’s really why I like him. He’s aggressive and assertive. His toughness is rare in today’s kinder, gentler NBA and something necessary in real basketball. He’s another player that can run the floor or operate in the half court set. There are plenty of young guys coming up who will be superstars but Wallace is a proven talent and will add some attitude to Team USA.

Center: Marcus Camby

2006 Defensive Player of the Year and a true center. He’s a solid center and would be a great defensive asset. His offensive skills are a bit suspect but I think there’s enough scoring around him to make it a non-factor.

Camby is older but is still a formidable presence. Personally, for a Center, I will always take the powerhouse over the athlete. Camby is a stud and would intimidate his opponents in the paint. That’s what I want from my Center. He can also score when given the opportunity and can also run the floor with the team.

Two Additional Players

Michael Redd (Shooting Guard)

The team absolutely needs a lights-out shooter. The choice is really between Michael Redd and Mike Miller. While I love Miller’s offensive ability and the mismatches he creates, Redd’s a better all around player. He’s got the speed and a beautiful touch. He could be inserted at any point in the game and keep the other teams from clogging the lane.

Amare Stoudemire (Center/Forward)

Stoudemire makes this team for his athletic ability and defensive prowess. He can block shots like nobody’s business and has vastly improved his shooting touch. He can rebound and be tough on the block. No one in the international game (or maybe period) has the sheer ability than he does.

He’s mostly on here for his defense but his offense is useful too. His talent will have the opponents reeling and he’s another spark off the bench.

Conclusion

This roster isn’t superstar rich. No LeBron, no Carmelo. This team is older and tougher. This team is more team oriented and plays better defense. I think this is more what we need to compete on the international level. I think this roster is capable of playing team offense and team defense in ways the current makeup is not.

Whatever roster Team USA ends up with they should have a good shot at the Gold. We do have the best players and Coach K may be able to convince them to play team ball, but I think the above is a solid roster. There are some surprising names but I feel their contributions to the team would be invaluable. With this team I think we could finally reclaim what is rightfully ours: the Gold Medal in Men’s Basketball.

See this post in Stunning HD!

See this post in HD! 

The Good: Team USA

Well, well, well. Turns out American players may actually grasp the game of basketball. After watching the NBA I seriously doubted it as the best team is also one of the most international.

However, it seems that Team USA has been dominating competition in the FIBA Tournament of the Americas. The United States is forced to qualify for the Olympics in Beijing next near (something that should embarrass ever sports loving American) and appear to be well on their way to doing so. The only legitimate competition appears to be coming from Argentina who is currently also undefeated.

The Argentine squad is not all it could be. When looking over their roster, only two names pop out (because only two of them play in the NBA): Carlos Delfino and Luis Scola. And to say that Luis Scola has “played” in the NBA is a misnomer. He was drafted but spent time in Spain because of his commitments there, he’ll be playing this season for Houston but, to the best of my knowledge, that will be his NBA debut.

The US should still roll this team. While they’ll be tougher than the likes of Puerto Rico and even Brazil (not exactly pushovers) they will be nothing like their final makeup. Manu Ginobili and Adres Nocioni highlight those missing from this Argentine roster but there’s also someone like Fabricio Oberto to consider. In probably the greatest sign of how far we have fallen, Argentina has no need to include their top talent because they’ve already qualified for the Olympics and we have not.

While some people look at the additions that will come in the Olympics and laugh but that’s the exact attitude that has landed us in this situation. Role players like Oberto are terribly underrated in the NBA and American basketball. David Stern’s offense happy policy is a big reason for it and yet ever year the team with the best role players wins the big one. That’s a lesson we’ve got to learn if we’re going to win in the real dance.

We have the talent, obviously. There aren’t players any where in the world as good as ours. That’s why I’m glad our All-Stars are playing this tournament. To compete in the real tournament they need to learn to play like a team and learn to be role players. They seem to be learning that lesson and our chances of reclaiming our honor are very good.

The Bad: Patriot Way

For a long time we’ve been talking about the so-called “Patriot Way.” From sportscasters to fans everyone’s been talking about how the Pat’s do thing the “right way” and how “different” they are from all the other teams in the league. Of course, it was garbage then and is garbage now.

Asante Samuel has ended his holdout and will return to the Patriots. Samuel has skipped both the offseason workouts and training camp but will no doubt be placed in the starting lineup for this week’s preseason finale.

But the Patriots don’t operate like that right? I mean, they traded Terry Glenn because of his off-the-field issues. Then they cut Lawyer Milloy after he demanded more money and did the same with Ty Law. Finally, when Deion Branch demanded a new, more lucrative contract the Patriots refused to talk to him. Then they dared him to negotiate terms with other teams and grudgingly traded him to the Seattle Seahawks for a first-round pick (after demanding two first-rounders).

The Patriots demanded loyalty to the point of sacrifice. Personal finances were a small matter when considering what they owed the team. Only classy, selfless players were welcomed onto the roster and the genius Bill Belichick could turn any player into a great one. With Tom Brady on the offense and a mix of talented players on the D the Patriots didn’t need any big-headed “superstars.”

All that has been proven wrong recently. The Patriots did well without any big name receivers but even Tom Brady voiced his displeasure with the situation. The Patriots tried to correct that by signing Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth, and trading for Randy Moss. They also sought to beef up their defense by signing the biggest name on the market in linebacker Adalius Thomas.

This represents a huge departure from the “Patriot Way.” While Wes Welker’s quiet but effective style fits in perfectly with the way the Patriots supposedly do things, Donte Stallworth and Randy Moss certainly do not. Both have had their share of issues off-the-field and both have cried boo on their team more than once. Randy Moss, especially, is an interesting case.

Moss is notorious for being all about Randy Moss and quiting on his team when it suited him. He has stated that he only plays when he wants to and that doesn’t seem like an attitude that fits on the business-like Patriots. Finally, he’s skipped most of training camp and the preseason but no doubt will start the first game of the season, throwing out that whole “if you don’t practice you don’t play” none sense I’ve been hearing from the New England talk shows.

While these same sportscasters and fans will try to rewrite history and say the Patriots have to get talent I have listened to them for years talking about how different the Patriots are. Now, all that’s been thrown out the window as the Patriots are showing they are just like every other team in the NFL. They do business but when the chips are down, they’ll cave to players they need.

The Patriot Way is a myth that should be buried once and for all. The Pats are like any other team, if not more selfish. Use a player until they’re no longer useful then cut them loose. There’s an uproar when a player demands more money as he nears or hit his peak and reports of him being “selfish” and “un-Patriotic” for demanding more money. However, once a player has played for the Pats for 7 or more years and starts slumping there is no anger when the Belichick bunch shove him out the door.

The Patriots are just another NFL team. They are good, no doubt, but this illusion that they do things so differently for everyone else needs to be forgotten. They do business just like everyone else, signing players they think will help them and cutting players they think won’t. They want to win a Super Bowl and they’ll put up with the likes of Moss to do so…just like everybody else.

The Ugly: Lance Briggs

Unlike virtually everybody else, I supported Lance Briggs‘ attempts to fight the Franchise Tag. Lance Briggs was viewed as arguably the top linebacker available. He was slapped with the Franchise Tag, which would give him about $7 million for one year. Meanwhile, Adalius Thomas signed a deal with the Pats for about $70 million for several years. Briggs wanted job security and more money and felt he was robbed of that by the Tag.

He felt he wasn’t being allowed to capitalize on a great season and that if he slumped this season (or even worse suffered a career ending injury) he would be left out in the cold. So, he held out, threatening to do so until the tenth game of the season, and the war with the Bears began.

Ultimately, he signed that one-year deal after he realized he couldn’t beat the man and will be on the field for the Bears this year (assuming that career ending injury doesn’t happen). Then the other night he wreaked his car, which could have resulted in that career ending injury (if not life ending).

It didn’t and Lance Briggs walked away ok. While I think this is a good demonstration of why he was so mad about getting the tag most would see this as making him more appreciative. Had Briggs been seriously hurt he would’ve received all $7 million of his deal. That’s nothing to the roughly $20 million he could’ve gotten on the market but I digress.

The real issue is why did he lie about it? After wreaking the car Briggs says he called a tow truck then called the cops. What he told the cops is what’s confusing, he reported his car stolen. While he quickly rescinded that claim it still begs the question of why? He had committed no crime by simply wreaking his car. Maybe he was driving too fast but the cops couldn’t prove it and give him a ticket. His insurance premiums would go up and there would be some questions but most people were just happy he was ok.

So why tell they cops your car was stolen? Nerves? If I got into a wreak I would probably call my family first, then a tow truck, and maybe an ambulance depending on how bad the wreak was. I would probably be shaken up but that wouldn’t cause me to lie to the 911 operator, I would just admit to the wreak.

Briggs didn’t hit anyone and was luck to get away unharmed so why lie? That’s where this gets interesting. Now he has committed a crime and raised some eyebrows. In the wake of the Vick and Pacman Jones’ cases Briggs will be scrutinized. One can only assume Goodell has launched his sent his crack team of investigators to the scene and the cops are probably taking a closer look at things.

If it turns out Briggs was drunk or had drugs in the car or something else this situation could blow up fast. Briggs explanation was very confusing and it seemed like he was simply rambling his way through it and simply raises more questions.

Had this happened any other year it wouldn’t be as big a story. This year, however, with every NFL player being under the microscope things could go south fast. The NFL is, no doubt, already looking at this closely and I assume the cops are too. For Briggs’ and the Bears and, quite frankly, us I hope nothing sinister is going on. Briggs’ actions, however, make me su####ious and have me preparing for yet another scandal.

See this post in HD!