Team USA

[djrossie16]

We're all witness to the wide expanse of talent available to team USA in basketball but what would be the best starting 5 and bench to gel as a team and get the best results?

 

[tigs2010]

I'd go:

C: Howard/Hibbert to anchor the defence. Not sure who deserves the start though.
PF: Love/Aldridge to stretch the floor next to the other 2. Probably Love paired with Howard.
SF: LeBron/Durant. Didn't really have to think about that one. Lawl
SG: George/Harden. Both can shoot and handle the ball. George's length and 2-way game get him the start.
PG: Curry/Paul. Curry can play off-ball which will suit playing with LeBron. Paul to facilitate with Durant on the court.

 

[Footypie32]

I'd go:

C: Howard/Hibbert to anchor the defence. Not sure who deserves the start though.
PF: Love/Aldridge to stretch the floor next to the other 2. Probably Love paired with Howard.
SF: LeBron/Durant. Didn't really have to think about that one. Lawl
SG: George/Harden. Both can shoot and handle the ball. George's length and 2-way game get him the start.
PG: Curry/Paul. Curry can play off-ball which will suit playing with LeBron. Paul to facilitate with Durant on the court.

I'd take Howard out as you've got more than enough size there. Then I'd probably add another PG like Lillard because he has a great all-round game and they usually like to put a young and up coming star in as well.

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

I'd go:

C: Howard/Hibbert to anchor the defence. Not sure who deserves the start though.
PF: Love/Aldridge to stretch the floor next to the other 2. Probably Love paired with Howard.
SF: LeBron/Durant. Didn't really have to think about that one. Lawl
SG: George/Harden. Both can shoot and handle the ball. George's length and 2-way game get him the start.
PG: Curry/Paul. Curry can play off-ball which will suit playing with LeBron. Paul to facilitate with Durant on the court.

C: Howard, with Unibrow as his backup. Versatility is valuable for FIBA play I think. Love could chime in as well at this position.
PF: Agree with your Love/Aldridge combo. LBJ could play here if they went small ball also.
SF: Agree with your LeBron/Durant combo. Harden could play here if small ball was used.
SG: Agree with George/Harden.
PG: Agree with Curry/Paul.

 

[Footypie32]

C: Howard, with Unibrow as his backup. Versatility is valuable for FIBA play I think. Love could chime in as well at this position.
PF: Agree with your Love/Aldridge combo. LBJ could play here if they went small ball also.
SF: Agree with your LeBron/Durant combo. Harden could play here if small ball was used.
SG: Agree with George/Harden.
PG: Agree with Curry/Paul.

Why Howard over Hibbert though? Howard has been to the Olympics, it's time to give someone else a shot. I have no problem with Davis, but I think Hibbert gives you a massive size advantage (not that they really another) over just about everyone else. Also, remember they only went with one true Centre at the last Olympics. Not sure if Coach Kryzhiabfejbx is still in charge, but I imagine he'll take the same approach again.

 

[OrdinaryJoel]

Why Howard over Hibbert though? Howard has been to the Olympics, it's time to give someone else a shot. I have no problem with Davis, but I think Hibbert gives you a massive size advantage (not that they really another) over just about everyone else. Also, remember they only went with one true Centre at the last Olympics. Not sure if Coach Kryzhiabfejbx is still in charge, but I imagine he'll take the same approach again.

Common sense says Hibbert > Howard for the 2016 'Lympics, but they'll go with Howard.

 

[PykeDream]

C Roy Hibbert
F Kevin Durant
F LeBron James
G Paul George
G Chris Paul

Russell Westbrook
Steph Curry
Carmelo Anthony
Anthony Davis
Dwight Howard

And the two wild cards as I believe they're known?
Rudy Gay
James Harden

 

[God Save Max King]

C Dwight Howard/Kevin Love
PF Anthony Davis/LaMarcus Aldridge
SF Kevin Durant/LeBron James
SG Paul George/James Harden
PG Chris Paul/Steph Curry

Others: Russell Westbrook/Derrick Rose (health), Jabari Parker

If they have a college player, Jabari Parker would be the guy I would have thought. If LeBron elects to not play, bring in Melo. If CP3 doesn't play, Deron Williams does and I would strongly consider Andre Drummond. If they opt for a real team instead of a collection of stars, Klay Thompson could be in at the expense of James Harden. Klay is a better defender and shooter and doesn't need the ball to go to effect the game.

 

[tigs2010]

I'd take Howard out as you've got more than enough size there. Then I'd probably add another PG like Lillard because he has a great all-round game and they usually like to put a young and up coming star in as well.

That's probably what they go with but if I was picking I'd take the 2 bigs. No one is scoring on the inside with Howard/Hibbert taking up the minutes at C.

I'm also presuming every single American player is available, which won't happen. They'll just take the best players as they can play positionless and slaughter everyone anyway.

 

[djrossie16]

Hibbert Davis
Lebron LMA
Durant George
Curry Harden
CP3 Westbrook

Others role players to consider Klay for threes and Iggy for defense Lillard for excellence. There's probably a few i'm forgetting about.

 

[mitchzz]

I would go

C: Howard ... Davis
PF: LeBron ... Love/LMA
SF: Durant ... Melo
SG: George ... Harden
PG: Paul ... Curry/Goatbrook

 

[smashh]

For the 2014 World Cup, I'd go with something like this (I think LeBron, CP3 and Melo have already ruled themselves out)

Westbrook - Curry
Harden - Hayward
George - Leonard
Durant - Aldridge
Howard - Love

And Lillard and Davis to round out a 12 man roster.

Boogie and Iggy a bit unlucky, but would rather give young guys like Hayward, Leonard a run after Iggy has already won gold, and think we may be seeing Boogie in Brazil regardless.

Also on Hibbert, he has already represented Jamaica in international comp. and had some rings to jump through in order to play for the US. Not sure on the latest on that though.

 

[philthy05]

hibbert
aldridge
lebron
curry
lilliard

howard
love
durant
george
harden

i like that team but many many combos would look very nice

 

[djrossie16]

I would go

C: Howard ... Davis
PF: LeBron ... Love/LMA
SF: Durant ... Melo
SG: George ... Harden
PG: Paul ... Curry/Goatbrook

Even though i have different players i like that approach of having 1 big four guard forward sort of lineup with lebron at the 4. With this lineup there's a better emphasis on defending the three ball which is what will most likely be the only thing that will beat them.

 

[mitchzz]

Even though i have different players i like that approach of having 1 big four guard forward sort of lineup with lebron at the 4. With this lineup there's a better emphasis on defending the three ball which is what will most likely be the only thing that will beat them.

Yep! But more than anything I just thought George/KD and LeBron all had to be in the starting 5 haha

 

[fidstar]

I think as long as they have Chris Paul, Durant and LeBron they are fine. The rest need to be solid defensive players and guys that can hit shots from outside. Probably worth taking Curry (even with his defensive liability) just for his shooting (play him as the Shooting Guard), particularly with the shorter 3 point line.

 

[Damon_3388]

For the 2014 FIBA World Championships, IMO:

C - Anthony Davis
PF - LeBron James
SF - Kevin Durant
SG - Paul George
PG - Chris Paul
-----
C - DeMarcus Cousins
PF - Kevin Love
SF - Carmelo Anthony
SG - James Harden
PG - Stephen Curry
C - Andre Drummond
PF - LaMarcus Aldridge

Reserves - Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, Gordon Hayward, Ryan Anderson, Al Jefferson