Love pulls out of Team USA

[Dr.J4ever]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kevin-love-won-t-play-for-u-s--in-world-cup-154237504.html

No "stretch 4" for the US? Unless KD plays the PF position. We know KDs physical limitations. Is this enough to win the Gold?

USA Basketball begins its training camp for the World Cup in Spain on Monday in Las Vegas. Love joins Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge as key big men who have withdrawn from the team. DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried and Chandler Parsons are the remaining big men in the pool of players.

[JohnFreeman]

Boogie got dis

[no pun intended]

Great, who will be the poster child of white America now?

[bdreason]

Seems like the National Pride for Basketball is fading again in the U.S. because of our recent dominance. Let's hope our C-Team can get it done.

[SupermanOnSteroids]

Team USA should learn its lesson and go on birth control then.

[Dr.J4ever]

Seems like the National Pride for Basketball is fading again in the U.S. because of our recent dominance. Let's hope our C-Team can get it done.

This is a good point. Complacency is setting in again for US players. When we start to think we can win these games without sending our best, that is the start of another decline for TEAM USA.:(

[fos]

Good. The last thing Team USA needs is another mouth to feed.

[steve]

Yes, let's ignore that the 2010 World Championship team had exactly one All-NBA player from 2010 on it, while this team will potentially have five.

[VIntageNOvel]

usa can send all players from the last 5 draft year only and still taking the gold

[Dr.J4ever]

Yes, let's ignore that the 2010 World Championship team had exactly one All-NBA player from 2010 on it, while this team will potentially have five.

If you watch international ball, you will know it's not a foregone conclusion anymore. In crucial situations, I would imagine Davis plays center, Durant may have to play the "stretch 4", maybe Paul George at the 3, Harden and Curry in the back court.

Still pretty strong, but not capable of being thoroughly dominant like 2012. That 2012 team be off defensively, and still win. This team, I don't know.

[fpliii]

I hope Rose makes the team. Really looking forward to watching him play.

[steve]

If you watch international ball, you will know it's not a foregone conclusion anymore. In crucial situations, I would imagine Davis plays center, Durant may have to play the "stretch 4", maybe Paul George at the 3, Harden and Curry in the back court.

Still pretty strong, but not capable of being thoroughly dominant like 2012. That 2012 team be off defensively, and still win. This team, I don't know.

It's a stronger team than the one the US fielded in the last World Championships in 2010.

[dunksby]

KD will win it for team USA.

[Dr.J4ever]

It's a stronger team than the one the US fielded in the last World Championships in 2010.

Stronger offensively.

Don't you think our interior is not bulky enough with Davis and Durant? Durant at PF? Imagine going up vs. Ibaka, Marc, and Pau.

And the back court, that defense.

[KG215]

Stronger offensively.

Don't you think our interior is not bulky enough with Davis and Durant? Durant at PF? Imagine going up vs. Ibaka, Marc, and Pau.

And the back court, that defense.
While I don't think it's a guarantee we win gold this year, in 2010 we played a lot of minutes with Lamar Odom at C and Durant at PF and still won gold.

[GimmeThat]

I doubt Kevin Durant comes out of this experience feeling like he should team up with other star players in order to compete

similar to the Tim Duncan experience

[hawksdogsbraves]

Stronger offensively.

Don't you think our interior is not bulky enough with Davis and Durant? Durant at PF? Imagine going up vs. Ibaka, Marc, and Pau.

And the back court, that defense.

Please, we started Lamar Odom at C in the last World Cup and won easily.

Spain could pose a tough test, but their backcourt is absolute shit.

And backcourt defense? Paul George will start at SG and shut down any guard that an international team can throw at us.

The U.S. is miles ahead of any other international squad atm, it will be another walkover.

Put Boogie and Davis in the frontcourt, they can handle the Gasols and Ibaka. Durant will play a lot of minutes at the 4 anyway and be fine. Nobody can guard him.

[Dr.J4ever]

While I don't think it's a guarantee we win gold this year, in 2010 we played a lot of minutes with Lamar Odom at C and Durant at PF and still won gold.

Yep, I just wonder though. We haven't been defeated since 2006(by ISH legend Vspan and Greece), but we still played a couple of close ones in 2012 vs Lithuania and then Spain in the Gold medal game. That team though had Lebron to go to in the clutch to score or create. Remember that Lebron 3 pointer over Marc which sealed the Gold?

This 2014 team, I believe, will have to be more creative and play more as a team to win this time. The competition out there is bound to get us at some point, so it's up to Coach K to delay the inevitable by making it less likely for the US to play a "bad game", or if we do play that "bad game", it's not in an elimination game.

Just from an odds point of view, the US will eventually lose, and sending less proven players is more likely to lead to that loss.

[hawksdogsbraves]

The thing is, this team will have so many shooters, and if we're making our 3's, no team in the world can beat us.

Between Curry, Harden, George, Durant, Lillard, and Thompson, somebody is going to get hot and sink some shots. One little 12-0 run and you're not coming back against this squad.

[LoneyROY7]

Coach K should just run AD at the 5 and Durant at the 4...sh*t will be too easy.

[GimmeThat]

Coach K should just run AD at the 5 and Durant at the 4...sh*t will be too easy.

againt unfamiliar faces, I may just agree.

[GimmeThat]

The thing is, this team will have so many shooters, and if we're making our 3's, no team in the world can beat us.

Between Curry, Harden, George, Durant, Lillard, and Thompson, somebody is going to get hot and sink some shots. One little 12-0 run and you're not coming back against this squad.

12-0 run while taking time off the clock or without taking time of the clock?

[GimmeThat]

so it's up to Coach K to delay the inevitable by making it less likely for the US to play a "bad game", or if we do play that "bad game", it's not in an elimination game.

Just from an odds point of view, the US will eventually lose, and sending less proven players is more likely to lead to that loss.

I agree, we're talking about a group of player who haven't figured out how to play with one another yet. while the pieces that are being added are playing major roles.

it's make up like these heading into an international tournament leaves a great amount of unknown when it comes to a close game in the 4th quarter. And even just a few games that are won indecisively due to few bail out shots won't matter much.

they just don't play enough games in the international tournament. and even if U.S. may have the best talent, they need to have that break out game after those nerve wracking games.


If you don't ever peak, having the best talent won't mean much.

[duskovujosevic]

this team is strong enough for the finals against spain.

[StephHamann]

Great, who will be the poster child of white America now?

http://www.filmroomtv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Chandler_Parsons.jpg

[Oly BC]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kevin-love-won-t-play-for-u-s--in-world-cup-154237504.html

No "stretch 4" for the US? Unless KD plays the PF position. We know KDs physical limitations. Is this enough to win the Gold?

USA Basketball begins its training camp for the World Cup in Spain on Monday in Las Vegas. Love joins Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge as key big men who have withdrawn from the team. DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried and Chandler Parsons are the remaining big men in the pool of players.
They are trying to avoid the embarassment.

[Oly BC]

Yep, I just wonder though. We haven't been defeated since 2006(by ISH legend Vspan and Greece), but we still played a couple of close ones in 2012 vs Lithuania and then Spain in the Gold medal game. That team though had Lebron to go to in the clutch to score or create. Remember that Lebron 3 pointer over Marc which sealed the Gold?

LIES!
TEAM USA IS ABSOLUTELY DOMINANT! NO ONE CAN STOP US!

[Yankstar]

LIES!
TEAM USA IS ABSOLUTELY DOMINANT! NO ONE CAN STOP US!

:applause:

Washed up Pau ain't no threat :no:

USA! USA! USA!

[FireMcFailPlease]

you guys do realize its the FIBA games?

USA could toss out 12 college bench guys and still have a good shot at winning. This tournament was over before it began

[Dr.J4ever]

you guys do realize its the FIBA games?

USA could toss out 12 college bench guys and still have a good shot at winning. This tournament was over before it began

See, this is not even close to being true. If team USA officials had this type of attitude, then we are surely headed to the disasters of the early 2000s when we just sent regular all star teams expecting them to dominate. Don't forget Puerto Rico, led by Carlos Arroyo, demolished an Iverson and Duncan led US team in the 2004 Olympics.

Please watch international ball. It can be a unique basketball experience, and has a distinct style that is different from the NBA.

[FireMcFailPlease]

See, this is not even close to being true. If team USA officials had this type of attitude, then we are surely headed to the disasters of the early 2000s when we just sent regular all star teams expecting them to dominate. Don't forget Puerto Rico, led by Carlos Arroyo, demolished an Iverson and Duncan led US team in the 2004 Olympics.

Please watch international ball. It can be a unique basketball experience, and has a distinct style that is different from the NBA.
NVM its the world games so i was way off. :oldlol: I was thinking of next years Pan Am tournament where its US/Mexico/Central american/canada etc. Forget that post, USA studs are needed.

BTW i dont forget the 2006-2008 debacle. We had no shooters and couldnt break a zone for the life of us.

[tragicbronson]

usa can send all players from the last 5 draft year only and still taking the gold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diGqcGINyVU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjICeI2VjYg