2002 Worlds...roster:
PG: Andre Miller, Baron Davis, Jay Williams.
SG: Reggie Miller, Michael Finley.
SF: Paul Pierce, Shawn Marion.
PF: Elton Brand, Antonio Davis.
C: Ben Wallace, Jermaine O’Neal, Raef LaFrentz.
So Reggie went down before the tournament, Baron, and Elton Brand went down a few games in. So of their best starting lineup 1-4, Pierce was the only one left.
Paul was pretty close to unstoppable back then. He got you something whenever he touched the ball. When they started going away from him, he started yelling for the ball when he was open, and that led to a full mutiny rumored to be lead by Andre Miller and Shawn Marion. 'We'll show you who the superstars are here Paul, no passes for you!'
And of course, led by those geniuses, the team came in 6th. I somehow doubt that ever got smoothed over.