Jun 27 2008
US Basketball Team Breakdown
Now that the 2008 NBA Draft has concluded we now look forward to the Olympics in Beijing. Just recently the men’s team was announced and here is what I think about the US chances.
Obviously the world has caught up to the United States as far as basketball. The NBA is now stocked with international talent including Dirk Nowitzki, Gino Ginolbi, and perhaps the biggest Yao Ming who will be playing for his host country China. Plus others will be showcased as many were taken in this year’s NBA Draft as well. What I see for the United States is perhaps their best chance to win the gold.
The US mens team is stacked with many prolific scorers including 2008 MVP Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Carmello Anthony to name a few. They will have more styles to run with all of the different point guards available with this team. Chris Paul will help lead a more open attack while Jason Kidd will slow it down and break you down in the half court sets. Derron Williams and Carlos Boozer can pick and role just like how Stockton and Malone used to do for the original Dream Team. Coach K has got to pleased that he has so many options offensively to attack the opposition. However even with all of the offensive possibilities this team has got to play defense if they want that gold medal.
They will appear to be light inside compared to what is actually available out in the NBA but we can not complain now. Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh will have to fill the center and try to slow down big men like Yao Ming. On the wings the team will have first time contributer Teyshaun Prince, adding his overall balanced attack to this already complete team. If the US team has any shot they have to get a team effort. It will be interesting to see if the US struggles at first because of all of their weapons and only having one ball to shoot. However in qualifying for the Olympics in which many from this group played including James, Anthony, and Dwayne Wade they won every game they played which should be a positive going into the Olympics.
Coach Kysevzski may have the best job in all of basketball right now as he will try to lead this men’s team for there first gold since 1996. This will be his second opportunity since the FIBA championships leading the Americans into the Olympics and he is the perfect man for the job. All the players will respect Coach K and his gameplan because he is a proven winner and is not afraid to get into someone’s face if they are not giving a 110% or at least a effort that he knows is inside all of these teammates.
