[TheGrowth]

Kobe and Arenas on the same team...now all they need is AI and the mix would be complete...

[SeaNet]

Originally Posted by TheGrowth

Kobe and Arenas on the same team...now all they need is AI and the mix would be complete...

AI, IMO, has actually proven to be a pretty good International player. Plays a very different type of game in international ball than he does in the NBA. If they add TMac it will be complete. All three perimeter players will be guys who love to just hold the ball, and don't like to involve teammates or play off the ball.

[Spriggan]

Kobe/Arenas is a championship-caliber backcourt, so I don't know what some of you are on.

[Greg Ostertag!]

Originally Posted by Spriggan

Kobe/Arenas is a championship-caliber backcourt, so I don't know what some of you are on.

Yeah, and Odom/Duncan is a pretty damn good front court. But look how well they did at the Olympics. FIBA Basketball and NBA basketball are completely different, it's like night and day. FWIW, I think Kobe will be able to play quite well at that level, but Gilbert is just like Iverson, Marbury and Wade who totally bombed at the Olympics.

[Shanghai Kid]

Originally Posted by Greg Ostertag!

Yeah, and Odom/Duncan is a pretty damn good front court. But look how well they did at the Olympics. FIBA Basketball and NBA basketball are completely different, it's like night and day. FWIW, I think Kobe will be able to play quite well at that level, but Gilbert is just like Iverson, Marbury and Wade who totally bombed at the Olympics.

Disagree, unlike those other guys, Arenas has a very killer jumpshot. His game is olympic style fundamental, he has a money midrange shot and an effortless 3-point shot. He's also coachable, put him in a lineup with other slashers and tell him to just spot up for 3s and he'll make them every time. If you want to send a combination of a young superstar and a good outside shooter, Arenas is the best choice.

[HKF]

Unlike some people here, who just prove their ignorance, a Kobe/Arenas backcourt will be unstoppable, because both guys can make shots from anywhere and there's no way in the world you can leave them open or play them for the drive, because they will drive right by you.

Sorry for people who aren't seeing the vision but guys like Wade, Lebron, RJ, AI proved they couldn't consistently hit outside jumpers. You zone Arenas and dudes automatic. You put Rashard Lewis with Kobe and Arenas and it's a wrap. You will have no choice but to play man to man.

[remy23]

Originally Posted by HKF

Sorry for people who aren't seeing the vision but guys like Wade, Lebron, RJ, AI proved they couldn't consistently hit outside jumpers.

LeBron's jumper has improved a hell of a lot since last year (or be to technical, before last season began in last summer to this current season, a summer and a season later). It's like you're not even watching the same player shoot the rock. The difference is that notable. And as bad as LeBron's jumper looked in the summer, last season, it looked a whole lot better. So now, it's even better than then.

[ChrisWoj]

I agree with the guys that say Arenas and Kobe are good choices. You guys act like Kobe Bryant and Gilbert Arenas are going to be on the court at the same time, dominating the ball and ruining the team... and I agree, together on the court it wouldn't be good. But if you honestly think that these two are going to ever be on the court at the same time you're out of your ****ing minds.

If both of these men are on the team at the same time...Arenas will, quite obviously, be backing up Kobe Bryant. Which makes perfect sense. Two players that are similar, which has thus far been noted and maligned but in reality is perfect and keeps the team consistent when Kobe is off the floor.

It isn't like one of these boys will be starting at the point. In all likelihood that will fall to Allen Iverson this summer at the World Championships. And by the way, Ostertag, look back on the Olympics and actually pay attention to the way Iverson played. Iverson played an amazing game and proved he can distribute like a wizard out there. The Olympic fiasco was not in any way Iverson's fault at the point.

Thus far they've chosen what likely will be the starting SG and the backup swing. The real questions remain in who they will choose to actually run the game at the point, and which big men/forwards will make the team.


-Chris.

[naibsel]

im from oz and can only name about 3ppl from my own national team and am more fit to comment on the US team. if the US team wants to succeed it needs shooters, not chuckers. with the difference in the international 3pt line having ppl like kyle korver doesn't work becoz they have spent their entire lives launching it from the same distance on the court. if rip was better out deep (i know he has improved, but god help u if he was considered the "deep threat"). someone like reggie miller would be good becoz of his 3pt/mid-range abilities indicating he actually aimed at the ring rather than just throwing the ball up from a position he remembers standing at b4.

i cant actually tell whether michael redds lightning quick release is coz he is just that good or becoz he is a chucker. if he is a chucker id suggest someone like mike miller (i recommend he doesn't get much PT if/when the ocho is on court) coz he proved he can shoot from anywhere with his 50/43 effort last season. also at 6'8 he is long for the international off guard so he can take advantage.

iverson played very well in athens so he should probably stay. also someone like brevin knight would be good as he is very efficient and fast (stls and A/TO ratio) and on the olympic team he doesn't need to take 23 shots like he did the other night *shudders* so his god awful fg% wont be to the detriment of the team.

at small forward i would go with the combination of marion and shane battier, both physically imposing while athletic. play good D. marion is the definition of chucker so his outside shooting is not to the benefit of the team. josh howard would also be a good pick

power forward is obviously duncan. tho putting marion and battier on court at the same time could shift him to center. no point explaining what he brings to the team. a player who i thinks game will make an easy transition into repeating nba success at the international level is drew gooden.

im not sure who to put a center as duncan will most likely occupy it for the majority of the time but i will throw camby name in their just becoz of his ability to hoard rebounds and make a difference defensively in the paint.

in summation. i the foreigner am telling you americans ur team should look like

iverson/knight
miller/arenas (i guess)
marion/battier/howard
duncan/gooden
camby/duncan

yes this team would break every single rebounding record known to mankind

[Spriggan]

^ Marion is the definiton of a chucker? The only non-point guard in the entire league with arguably better shot selection than Shawn Marion is Richard Jefferson.