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Post by crowntownmike on Jul 5, 2012 9:43:50 GMT -6
Today is the day that the men's team starts narrowing down who will be on the team. Lamar Odom has decided not to play from the news I saw today.
That leaves 14 players: Melo, Gordan, Kobe, Chandler, Durant, Gay, Gordan, Griffin, Harden, Iguodala, LeBron, Love, Paul and Westbrook to fight it out to rep for Dream Team USA in London. 2 will be cut or drop out.
I think it will be Iguodala and Gay that will be left at home.
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Post by apollo on Jul 5, 2012 15:49:58 GMT -6
Gordon's health could be an issue along the way
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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 5, 2012 15:52:15 GMT -6
Plenty of guards, not much size inside..would be nice if Dwight Howard played but it probably won't even matter..this team should beat every single country by double digits..most by 20 or more
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Post by richsapper on Jul 5, 2012 23:01:15 GMT -6
A guard heavy lineup may be the way to go though. International basketball is more methodical, speed can kill these teams, I would expect to see more of that. Heck, don't be surprised if James or Durant doesn't play center at some point.
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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 6, 2012 11:14:17 GMT -6
Either way, I'll definitely be watching some of this..there really isn't another event where all of the great NBA players are on one team and actually play hard..the NBA all star game is a joke but these guys will be playing for something, so it should be exciting
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Post by richsapper on Jul 6, 2012 18:35:37 GMT -6
I think the biggest difference is that in the Olympics the US team does not want to be embarrassed because they are supposed to be the best. The rest of the world is catching up though and wants a chance to beat the US team. They take it very seriously, so even in a 120-62 blowout the other nations play tough. It forces them to.
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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 6, 2012 20:42:14 GMT -6
I think the only things that could get in the way are egos and the selfish play of many of the NBA's superstars..probably the best compliment that I can give LeBron James is that he is the most unselfish superstar in the league..and that will be huge for this team..Kobe needs the ball..Durant needs the ball..Westbrook needs the ball..so many scorers and not many distributors..if this team plays together and unselfish than they shouldn't have much trouble
But you are right about other countries catching up..thanks to the original Dream Team, the game has improved drastically in many overseas nations
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Post by indianbacker on Jul 6, 2012 22:53:56 GMT -6
I wish they would go to the old days and use college players instead of NBA players. It was exciting like the Miracle on Ice. Those were college players and it was exciting, not a whole lot of blow outs.
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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 7, 2012 0:38:48 GMT -6
Yeah, but when those college players LOSE, it will be a major embarrassment to the US..basketball is OUR sport..we can't let Spain or some other country beat us at our own game..it would be like if we beat Germany or England in soccer..those countries would be shunned for it
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Post by crowntownmike on Jul 8, 2012 16:16:15 GMT -6
I am surprised to be saying this, but I agree with indianbacker. It read more fun with college players. I recall that we beat everyone then too. I think that before NBA players were used the US won most of those championships. Don't forget not the last Olympics, but the one before, Argentina won, even with the NBA stars playing.
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Post by apollo on Jul 8, 2012 16:54:17 GMT -6
The USA should win this one, most of the European and South American teams are aging. How long can Argentina throw Ginobili and Nocioni out there and the Gasol's are very familiar to NBA Stars now from Spain.
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