Team USA Has Right Mix To Win Gold in 2008

            Team USA is primed and ready to start playing games as they look to begin the journey to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. All the keys to total domination are there, Kobe is in one corner surrounded by reporters hurling questions about his trade demand hiatus while the other scorers, Carmelo Anthony eats a candy bar and Lebron James listens to a “Learn Chinese” program on his I Pod. In another corner sits three great and true point guards in Jason Kidd, Deron Willaims, and Chauncey Billups, all jogging their minds with plays and teammates tendencies. In the third corner are the shooters, on being Michael Redd with his trainer putting in work on injuries; the other is Mike Miller, sprawled out on a chair doing an interview with a teen magazine on what products teenage age girls should use on their hair since he has used many of them. In the last corner of the room, the `Weight Room” area features a battle of the bigs as Amare Stoudamire and Dwight Howard go head to head to see who can push more weight off their chest, Howard is currently ahead by 15 pounds  but Amare is loading up the bar for another go.  In the middle of the room stand the defenders, Tashaun Prince and Tyson Chandler, keeping a close eye on the rest of the team as they go about their business. This is the perfect mix of players that team USA needs to win gold, each player just needs to perform their role.  

            For the first time since Kidd last took part in international play team USA has true, pass first point guards that excel in making plays and getting open shots to their teammates. Kidd and the kid (not Kidd) Williams were two of the top three players in assists per game in the 06-07 NBA campaign with over nine a night for both of them. They understand how to create scoring opportunities for other players. Billups can also distribute the ball well, averaging almost seven dimes per game. Each point guard on this roster can hit the outside shot if they’re open and can also get their own shot off at the end of a possession if needed. Defense is another area that each of these three guards excels in, as each of them is above par as far as defense is concerned. In recent years of international play USA has been led by the likes of Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, who are great players but are not true point guards. Both of those players were shoot first guys that couldn’t execute a proper chest pass to an open teammate streaking to the hoop; they were both poor outside shooters as well compared to the trio on the roster today. Perhaps the biggest improvement with the current crop of floor generals is leadership. Billups has a championship, Williams is young but has played in the Western Conference Finals, and Kidd has made multiple NBA Finals trips, and, most importantly, is undefeated in international play. These attributes from guard play has been absent among recent Team USA squads.  

            Team USA has always had guys who can score, but it has been a long time since have had shooters. Redd and Miller are arguably two of the top shooters in the league. They have a skill that most other teams in the Olympics possess, pure shooting. In recent years teams have shot well against the US and killed them while utilizing a zone defense. This time around USA has great shooters to put on the floor that can stretch the defense and make it tough to play a zone, which will also open things up on the block for Stoudamire as well as create lanes for the scorers to get to the basket. The shooting weapons reach beyond Redd and Miller too, because Billups, Williams, Bryant, Anthony, and Prince are all above average shooters on the perimeter. With so many shooters Bryant, James, and Anthony will have the opportunity to attack the basket and play aggressive offense, which could also allow them to live at the free throw line.  

            Now it’s time to talk about the big boys down low. Stoudamire and Howard should be able dominate any team they face. Those two can physically overpower any other players that will participate in the qualifying tournament and the Olympics. They should be so dominant that teams will likely play a lot of zone and clog up the paint, which is just fine this time around since USA has the shooters to handle these situations. If USA snipers from three shoot like they are capable of, other teams will not be able to play zone or they be get torched. This team is perfect for the post players, including Kobe, Anthony, and Lebron, because they will probably receive much one-on-one coverage on the block as the games progress and the shooters are on.

            Maybe the biggest improvement on this year’s version of USA basketball is the team defense. With the exception of Redd, Miller, and at times James and Anthony, everyone on the roster can hike up the shorts a few inches and play some D. The team features great perimeter defense provided by Prince, who is capable of shutting down the best scorers in the NBA. Bryant is an ALL NBA caliber defender, and so is Billups. Down low Stoudamire, Howard, and Chandler all play very physical defense and each of them are very good shot blockers.  This team is built to play excellent team defense and shut down teams from scoring a load of points.

            The only real problem could stem from the coaching department. It is still unknown if Coach K can correctly prepare his team and out coach the rest of the coaches in the Olympics.  He had minor success in last summer’s tournament, but he has a much better at his fingertips this year and should have the best possible team he can have for the Olympics next summer. He also has experienced NBA coaches in Nate McMillian and Mike D’antoni. D’antoni is a perfect assistant coach from this team because his NBA Phoenix suns play an international style of run and gun from long range; he also played professionally for many years in Europe, so has a tremendous amount of first hand experience when it comes to international basketball.

            The 2007 version of team USA has the right mix of players that is needed to dominate the qualifying tournament this summer. There will be no excuse if they don’t easily win the tournament and even go undefeated. By the Olympics next summer Team USA should be back on top where they belong and reel in the gold medal with ease. If Team USA loses a single game from now to the podium next summer it will be an utter disappointment.