EJ Really did make the cut
This has got to be good for his confidence
almost 2 years ago
69knicks
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Green in, Wallace out?
Smells like politics > basketball this year.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
They might be worried about size inside
They cut McGee and supposedly Lopez has been ill. That would force them to play PFs at center, which would then require additional bodies to play PF.
Green can do a credible job of that while Wallace can’t.
So why not just keep McGee?
It is truly a mystery to me how some of these decisions are made.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Maybe b/c McGee sucks?
The guy wasn’t even originally invited until he had a decent summer league.
He doesn’t belong on Team USA anyway.
He sucks?
I would be careful going around defining below average as sucks. =)
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
McGee
Technically he was never on the roster. I thought he was going to make it out of pure need.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Akbkzghy3D69eeRlYRsP48S8vLYF?slug=ap-usroster
EJ is still one of the bubble guys on the actual roster but aside from Durant and Billups I don’t think anyone else should be a lock. This isn’t a super established group overall.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Check that
Chandler and Lopez are locks too but more out of need.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 1:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Plus
Wallace hadn’t been playing that well, and in the scrimmage ended up with 0 rebounds, 0 steals, and 0-for-4 on 3-pointers in 12 min.
Sure
So they took the results of that one game versus years of NBA data. This isn’t better imo.
That should have been just an exhibition.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Who said that?
I didn’t say they took that one game and made the decision based solely on that. In fact, I specifically said that he hadn’t been playing well for them (reportedly) in the camp, and this performance in the exhibition was an example of that.
We have no idea what determined the decision. We ONLY have access to stats. They have access to everything we have access to and much more. So you can’t really just assume you know better than they do.
And beyond that, maybe they just liked the fit better. Maybe Green’s a great team guy and Wallace is a douche. Lots of factors we don’t know about.
NBA data has to be adjusted
Wallace’s game doesn’t look like it will translate as well into international rules. 3 point shooting/free throw shooting has to be weighed more heavily than in the NBA. Aside from Durant and the centers you can make a good argument for every player on whether they should make the team (or conversely whether they should get cut).
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Three more have to be cut before competition starts
Guards (7):
Chauncey Billups
Derrick Rose
Rajon Rondo
Russell Westbrook
Andre Iguodala
Stephen Curry
Eric Gordon
Forwards (6):
Kevin Durant
Kevin Love
Lamar Odom
Danny Granger
Rudy Gay
Jeff Green
Centers (2):
Brook Lopez
Tyson Chandler
I could see Green, Gay and Rondo out
They have 4 point guards + Curry. It seems like Rose/Billups are untouchable and Westbrook had a good showing – his size and defensive abilities may give him the edge over Rondo.
I would have guessed
that Iguodala’s game wouldn’t be too impressive in international ball. But he would be the “stopper” on this squad.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Layups and dunks are high percentage shots in every known form of basketball
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Harder to get to the basket in international basketball
more zone defenses. Have to be better at outside shooting which isn’t Iggy’s strength. His defensive contributions will be needed however.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I know the theory
I am confident if Team USA put its best 5 on the floor they would win even if all 10 players were within 10 feet of the hoop.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Way too many PGs
I feel like EJ should have a real shot on that team. Only 2 real SGs if you consider Iggy a SG…3 if you include Curry who isn’t really an SG.
They don’t need to take 4 PGs along with Curry.
I think Billups, Rose, Iggy, Durant, Love, Odumb and Chandler are locks. Gay, Curry and Lopez would be good bets (unless Lopez is really ill).
That leaves 2 slots left between Rondo, Westbrook, Gordon, Granger and Green. Tough one.
wow its kind of cool to see EJ mixed in with all these big names....
by Newton Pham on Jul 28, 2010 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
+1
"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's going down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.
by Gordon for President on Jul 28, 2010 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, how did a below average player sneak in?
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
well in fairness
they’re not all “big names.”
The true big names didn’t agree to play this summer. So this is like the “not so big names” with a few exceptions.
Known players
but few of these guys are all-stars. Pretty sure Billups is the only multiple time all-star.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 1:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Rose, Rondo, Westbrook are redundant. I'd cut two of them.
Gordon & Curry offer the best zone busting. Iggy plays pretty good D. Billups is a lock.
Forwards: Durant, Love, Odom, Granger. Cut Gay or Green.
Centers: Gotta keep both
Do not worry. (Matthew 6:27)
Gay's a lock
he was their best player last year by most reports and he’s dominated this year as well. Of the forwards Jeff Green is the likely casualty.
Of the guards only one of the EJ, Westbrook or Rondo group should make it. Curry’s a lock as he’s the best shooter on the team period.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
“Certain players were told that they are right on the bubble and New York is important to them in terms of making the final roster,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.
I’d love to know who those players were.
Seems to confirm they are no afraid to go with the small sample size?
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
EJ should make it
They need shooters and they already got rid of Mayo. As SP pointed out early, and it seems fairly obvious, Rose, Rondo, and Westbrook are redundant and international teams will pack in a zone and make them hit shots from outside. They’re such marquee young stars, however, all three of them, that it will be hard for the coaches to cut any of them, let alone two of them like mp says up above.
Don’t know that they’ll make a good decision.
Sheridan's guess
He guesses EJ, Green and Granger get cut.
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/18634/observations-on-team-usa-cuts
His theory is based on the assumption that Rose, Billups, Westbrook and Rondo are locks and Coach K says they’re only taking 5 guards.
It makes absolutely no sense to me why they need 4 PGs, 3 of which can’t shoot. Westbrook and Rondo are completely unnecessary.
Billups is a international 2
I think Rose is a lock. Westbrook or Rondo are only needed as for their defense, they are far superior perimeter defenders than Rose and Billups.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Rose would be my cut
He is the least versatile. Westbrook and Rondo both play good D and can rebound.
Do not worry. (Matthew 6:27)
Nah
Rose is the best shooter of the 3. He’s got a terrific mid range jumper. But most importantly I think the coaches already view him as a lock so the only real battle is between Rondo, Westbrook and Gordon.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed
Rose is the heir apparent on Team USA. Plus, he’s the best actual PG of the 3. He runs teams and makes plays better than Rondo or Westbrook.
Frankly, Westbrook is a terrible playmaker. I can’t count the number of open teammates he misses on a regular basis.
Of the three
Gordon is the most unlike the others. He’s the best shooter and man defender of the bunch, but the worst rebounder.
Also, Rondo is an NBA champ, and Westbrook has the hype, so I’m guess it will be EJ going home.
Do not worry. (Matthew 6:27)
He's definitely the best shooter
but not sure about the defense. Both Rondo and Westbrook have very quick hands. Rondo is particular must be great at D, he’s been part of the best defensive team of the last 3 years and has destroyed Mo Williams and Jameer Nelson in the playoffs.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Did you see Rondo's game of horse against Durant during All-Star?
Most of it was boring until they starting hitting all these threes at the end…it was pretty crazy!
I say cut Westbrook
but I doubt they will. Sorry, EJ.
Do not worry. (Matthew 6:27)
In a 7 game series or one game elimination tournament
I think the Heat win in one game but lose in a playoff series.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 4:55 PM PDT up reply actions
This is a very interesting question!
Rondo/WallaceIguodala/Durant/Love/Chandler
.290/.326.205/.280/.349/.093
Bench: Billups/Odom/Lopez
.198/.279/.090
vs.
Arroyo/Wade/James/Bosh/Magloire
.105/.291/.401/.225/.067
Bench: Chalmers/Haslem/Miller
.046/.196/.219
So Team USA wins on depth, but the coaches could definitely play the wrong players and blow it. Since Team USA will probably play the wrong players the gap is closed considerably. Its even worse if some PF’s have to start playing C. I wouldn’t expect Love to actually start, for example. If they start Odom it eats up most of their advantage. If Chandler plays like the Chandler from a few years ago, then Team USA gets an unexpected boost.
Its probably not nearly the spread you should have if you are picking the best players available. If the Heat can keep their rotation short they aren’t in bad shape at all.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Who would be the best defenders on Miami's big three?
Wade: Iggy, Westbrook or EJ?
Lebron: Odom, Granger, Iggy, Westbrook? (I generally think faster players guys who won’t get beat by his first step is the better guy)
Bosh: Love, Odom, Chandler, Durant?
This is a good point, who will be defending
If Wade and Lebron are able to put people in foul trouble then the Mayos and the Gays come out and the Heat have a huge edge all of a sudden.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
goes both ways of course
If Wade or Lebron or Bosh get into foul trouble its a huge drop off if James Jones comes in.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Sure, but with the Heat Jones doesn't have to come in
Only Arroyo and Magloire are really allowed off the bench. It is a huge drop, but those guys are actually better than some of the guys who will get minutes for Team USA*. And there is no drama that James Jones has to get in or he will pout since the pecking order is defined.
*Don’t make me post the picture of Arroyo poppin his Puerto Rico jersey.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Heat shouldn't be able to double anyone (theoretically)
Whereas Team USA could figure out some junk defense that tries to take out Wade and Lebron.
Do a 40 minutes of hell
Everyone sprints and full court press and traps until they can’t sprint anymore, then the next wave comes in.
Wait, should this be necessary for the national team to beat a club?
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
So what about one game?
I would imagine that Lebron, Bosh and Wade would play 40+ minutes if its a one game eliminator. Miller and Arroyo probably get a lot of playing time. Considering Chandler is a non-threat on offense the Heat can play Bosh at Center while Lebron plays PF. Gets even crazier if they decide to play without a true PG since Wade and Lebron can do that and go with Wade/Miller/James/Bosh/Haslem right? If its for one game these guys play the whole game right?
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions
one game is a toss up...depends on who gets hot or not
if the game is close, I would think the Heat have the advantage going down to the wire…
And where's Big Z
was Magloire actually better than Big Z?
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Last year he was
Z might be fully done.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Alls to the wall
And if its international rules its only 40 minutes right?
So you got Wade/Miller/James/Haslem/Bosh until their legs fall off or they have an insurmountable lead.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
I demand to see this exhibition immediately.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
NBA2K11 - have to wait til October
May not have Team USA per se, but I’m sure you can customize a team roster…set the matchup, make popcorn and enjoy
Too lazy to check the other threads
but I hope you weren’t the one accusing John R of having no life :D
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Jul 28, 2010 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I'd drop rondo
on purely the fact that I don’t want his attitude representing USA, haha. Probably westbrook too. I always said they were redundant w/ westbrook, rose, and rondo.
I think rose and billups are locks. You only really need 2 PG’s and between Curry and EG, they can both play the 1 for stretches too.
the 3rd I’d drop would be one of green, gay, granger, or Iggy. Iggy might have a good shot to make it, cause he can play the 2 or 3. Gay and Granger seem kinda repetitive, but I think both are more talented than Green.
I’m probably a home, and EJ is on the bubble, but I really hope he makes it to play in Turkey.
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