This will be the least talented team Coach K has taken into the Olympics. Really would be great to get LeBron to commit; I think they could be upset otherwise (and still could be given the loss of shooters in Curry and Leonard, esp. and not having some top defenders).
I'm bummed that Carmelo is on the team - he's so far down among quality NBA players.
Also bummed that so many great players will not be there: no Curry, Westbrook, Kahwi Leonard, Damien Lillard or Anthony Davis (Davis and Curry would have been certain starters; possibly Westbrook as well).
Really would love to have seen those guys play for Coach K. Have to suspect that the Vika Virus and other issues are really scaring these guys away. The IOC is so corrupt (much like FIFA). Given the water and other issues in Brazil, the Olympics never should have been awarded there. What a disaster that place is at the moment.
Great to see Green and Thompson on the team though - defense and shooting. Both will be top players for us. And of course, Durant is a big get. Also, glad to see Paul George make a great comeback after his terrible injury playing on the national team in the past. This team had the potential to be really one of the best Olympic teams of all time if the top 12 players were there.
As of today, 10 players committed:
DeRozan
Lowry
Anthony
Durant
George
Green
Thompson
Cousins
Butler
Jordan
LeBron is a lean against. Kyrie has a spot as well but no decision yet.
If everyone were healthy and willing to play my 12 from this year would have been:
Curry; Thompson; Green; Westbrook; Durant; LeBron; Kyrie; Davis; Leonard; George; Lillard; and probably Cousins or Jordan (Cousins is a wild-card b/c of his issues with coaches; but with other leaders he should be okay) just to fill in at the center spot.
I would not have put Kyrie on there before the playoffs - in fact, not even before the Finals. His play in the NBA Finals was without doubt his best play in his career. He stepped up his game as he never has before - even in prior playoff series' where he struggled on D.
You have at least 5 sure fire members who have dropped out (Curry; Westbrook; Davis; Leonard; Lillard) and potentially LeBron and Kyrie. Hope they say no. Thin pickings after that, imo. Especially in terms of team leadership. Having LeBron on the team really adds to the leadership. And, he wouldn't even have to log a lot of minutes.
I'm bummed that Carmelo is on the team - he's so far down among quality NBA players.
Also bummed that so many great players will not be there: no Curry, Westbrook, Kahwi Leonard, Damien Lillard or Anthony Davis (Davis and Curry would have been certain starters; possibly Westbrook as well).
Really would love to have seen those guys play for Coach K. Have to suspect that the Vika Virus and other issues are really scaring these guys away. The IOC is so corrupt (much like FIFA). Given the water and other issues in Brazil, the Olympics never should have been awarded there. What a disaster that place is at the moment.
Great to see Green and Thompson on the team though - defense and shooting. Both will be top players for us. And of course, Durant is a big get. Also, glad to see Paul George make a great comeback after his terrible injury playing on the national team in the past. This team had the potential to be really one of the best Olympic teams of all time if the top 12 players were there.
As of today, 10 players committed:
DeRozan
Lowry
Anthony
Durant
George
Green
Thompson
Cousins
Butler
Jordan
LeBron is a lean against. Kyrie has a spot as well but no decision yet.
If everyone were healthy and willing to play my 12 from this year would have been:
Curry; Thompson; Green; Westbrook; Durant; LeBron; Kyrie; Davis; Leonard; George; Lillard; and probably Cousins or Jordan (Cousins is a wild-card b/c of his issues with coaches; but with other leaders he should be okay) just to fill in at the center spot.
I would not have put Kyrie on there before the playoffs - in fact, not even before the Finals. His play in the NBA Finals was without doubt his best play in his career. He stepped up his game as he never has before - even in prior playoff series' where he struggled on D.
You have at least 5 sure fire members who have dropped out (Curry; Westbrook; Davis; Leonard; Lillard) and potentially LeBron and Kyrie. Hope they say no. Thin pickings after that, imo. Especially in terms of team leadership. Having LeBron on the team really adds to the leadership. And, he wouldn't even have to log a lot of minutes.