Team USA problems

[DannyZ]

1) Not enough shooters, too many slashers.

Slashers: Kobe, LeBron, Wade, and Carmello all have very similar games and none are outstanding 3-point shooters.

Shooters: Michael Redd..... Why didn't Mike Miller make the team over Prince?  Kobe and LeBron can play defense as well as Prince so you don't really need a defensive specialist.

2) Bizarre starting line-up.

1) Kidd
2) Kobe
3) LeBron
4) Anthony
5) Howard

Anthony at power forward?  He doesn't make his teammates better and doesn't rebound or play defense like a true 4.  His slashing style is redundant with Kobe and LeBron.  Why not start Boozer or Bosh?  Or if you are going to go small, start LeBron and power forward, Kobe at small forward, and Redd at shooting guard.  Thats a much more balanced line-up.

And why is Kidd starting over Paul and Williams?  Both would be a better fit because they can actually make a jump shot.  Paul is arguably the 3rd best player in the world.  Kidd is around the 50th best player.  Consider me confused.

I would also start Bosh over Howard.  His style is much better for the international game.

3) Coach K?  Wouldn't you want an NBA coach to coach a team of NBA players?  How did they come up with Coach K?

[Who]

Post play - I don't know why they're ignoring post play. It's one of the US' biggest strengths and has been for a very long time. Why throw it away so needlessly? It was so much fun watching Chris Kaman go to work the other day.

Coaching - Coach K is woeful. Didn't like what he did in Japan. Still no offense in place. Likely a few more perplexing lineups on the way.

Half-court Offense - Still look a little too dodgy for comfort when they're forced into a slow tempo game. Too often they have possessions completely lacking direction or cohesiveness. Many players are passing the ball with no purpose in mind, false teamwork. Too much isolation and one-on-one play. Too much perimeter action.

Lack of Bigs - There should be another big allowing Booz and Bosh to play their natural positions. This makes the US overly vulnerable to foul trouble against any team with legit bigs. The drop off on interior D from Dwight to Bosh is very large.

________________________

I'm okay with Jason Kidd starting. I think he'll be far more effective alongside scorers like Bron, Kobe, Melo and Dwight. Best for him to start off in that unit. If he were not to start I wouldn't want Paul starting, Paul is best when he's allowed the most possible time on the ball which doesn't suit that unit. Deron Williams would do the best job there. Still this is the best unit for Kidd to be a part of so he should remain there to increase his effectiveness, his overall minutes could be limited though.

Tayshaun Prince has no business on that squad.

The US have enough shooting but it does seem like they've limited themselves a bit. The addition of Wade has taken a shooter off the floor. They should be fine here though.

Carmelo Anthony has started slowly and played mediocre ball the last few games. That's something to watch out for, hopefully he gets back on track or changes might be necessary.

[jdub1660]

Prince is there for defense and the ability to play as a smaller PF. Shooters isn't whats missing, b/c it's 2 point range. The offensive flow is missing, but expected as they don't have months of games to mesh together. I know Pierce wouldn't have the offer, but I wish he would have been the Prince replacement. Miller can't defend and he didn't hit as many shots as you would expect last year in FIBA games. When the games start getting closer, thank god for LeBron James b/c the world of outside USA basketball has no answer for that guy. Let him slash all day long b/c he'll end up getting a few...hundred monster dunks in this years Olympics.

[Robb]

Carmelo is there because he was the teams only bright spot last time around.  Also, it's not like he's strictly a slasher, he's got a well developed post game, too.

[TheReaLPuba]

US players can't shoot anymore that's the bottomline.

Back in '92 you had everyone who could make a jumpshot even Magic...hell if they missed a jumper you would be shocked.

With the current players you're shocked when they make 2 jumpers in a row!

If it wasn't for the US teams superior defense these games will be a lot closer!

[Robb]

US players can't shoot anymore that's the bottomline.

Back in '92 you had everyone who could make a jumpshot even Magic...hell if they missed a jumper you would be shocked.

With the current players you're shocked when they make 2 jumpers in a row!

If it wasn't for the US teams superior defense these games will be a lot closer!

I thought I read somewhere that today's American players being unable to shoot was a myth.  It made sense to me.  There are just a lot less shots taken in a basketball game these days due to the defensive rules and the grind it out style that a lot of teams play.  Shooting percentages, I don't think, have changed very much, but I don't have any statistics to back it up.  Just something I thought I read.

[wdleehi]

US players can't shoot anymore that's the bottomline.

Back in '92 you had everyone who could make a jumpshot even Magic...hell if they missed a jumper you would be shocked.

With the current players you're shocked when they make 2 jumpers in a row!

If it wasn't for the US teams superior defense these games will be a lot closer!

I thought I read somewhere that today's American players being unable to shoot was a myth.  It made sense to me.  There are just a lot less shots taken in a basketball game these days due to the defensive rules and the grind it out style that a lot of teams play.  Shooting percentages, I don't think, have changed very much, but I don't have any statistics to back it up.  Just something I thought I read.

I think the bigger problem is the lack of half court offensive sets means there are less wide open shots created for the shooters in their spots. 

[pbon]

 I think Ray Allen would have been great for this team with the 3 point line being shorter than the NBA line as for big men this team has the best big man in the game in Howard -I wish the 1992 team comparisons would stop. That was 16 years ago the rest of the world has improved since get behind this team they are representing the USA 

[Celtic]

This team is a wrecking crew, the world has no answer, give em the gold, silver and bronze cause it's a wrap for the world.

There may be a shortage of traditional spot up shooters on the team, but if they play physically, and are allowed to by the international refs (who somehow manage to make nba refs look competent), the other teams simply can't compete.

[crownsy]

US players can't shoot anymore that's the bottomline.

Back in '92 you had everyone who could make a jumpshot even Magic...hell if they missed a jumper you would be shocked.

With the current players you're shocked when they make 2 jumpers in a row!

If it wasn't for the US teams superior defense these games will be a lot closer!

as WDL said, that team ran alot more half court sets to get open looks.

This USA team is so much more talanted physically than there opponets, they just crash the rim for easy 2's. lebron was muscling his way inside like he was playing high school ball against the chinese. no need to shoot jumpers when you can get to the rim at will like they can.

they did this all game against china, and all day today.

[acieEarl]

They don't seem to move that ball well on offense. Too much one on one. A good team like Spain will put a 2-3 zone on them which will clog the paint forcing US to beat them from outside.

If US can keep up their pressure defense they should be able to get a bunch of fast break points. If they get stuck if a half court game they can be beat.

[crownsy]

They don't seem to move that ball well on offense. Too much one on one. A good team like Spain will put a 2-3 zone on them which will clog the paint forcing US to beat them from outside.

If US can keep up their pressure defense they should be able to get a bunch of fast break points. If they get stuck if a half court game they can be beat.

see i dont think spain has the defenders, even in a zone, to keep the USA players out of the paint and away from the rim.

i dont really see anyone stopping them on fast breaks.

[wdleehi]

Post play - I don't know why they're ignoring post play. It's one of the US' biggest strengths and has been for a very long time. Why throw it away so needlessly? It was so much fun watching Chris Kaman go to work the other day.

Coaching - Coach K is woeful. Didn't like what he did in Japan. Still no offense in place. Likely a few more perplexing lineups on the way.

Half-court Offense - Still look a little too dodgy for comfort when they're forced into a slow tempo game. Too often they have possessions completely lacking direction or cohesiveness. Many players are passing the ball with no purpose in mind, false teamwork. Too much isolation and one-on-one play. Too much perimeter action.

Lack of Bigs - There should be another big allowing Booz and Bosh to play their natural positions. This makes the US overly vulnerable to foul trouble against any team with legit bigs. The drop off on interior D from Dwight to Bosh is very large.

________________________

I'm okay with Jason Kidd starting. I think he'll be far more effective alongside scorers like Bron, Kobe, Melo and Dwight. Best for him to start off in that unit. If he were not to start I wouldn't want Paul starting, Paul is best when he's allowed the most possible time on the ball which doesn't suit that unit. Deron Williams would do the best job there. Still this is the best unit for Kidd to be a part of so he should remain there to increase his effectiveness, his overall minutes could be limited though.

Tayshaun Prince has no business on that squad.

The US have enough shooting but it does seem like they've limited themselves a bit. The addition of Wade has taken a shooter off the floor. They should be fine here though.

Carmelo Anthony has started slowly and played mediocre ball the last few games. That's something to watch out for, hopefully he gets back on track or changes might be necessary.

About the post play, those other teams have shooters that pulls the defense out.  Against the USA, teams are packed in low.