SportsNation Blog Archives
Jeff Green
- Vote: Which players should make the final cut for Team USA?
- Vote: How would the Lakers fare against Europe's best team?
It seems unlikely the newest incarnation of Team USA will produce any NBA free-agent madness on par with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh hatching plans for a takeover. That is, unless you get worked up about the idea of Tyson Chandler and Eric Gordon joining forces with Danny Granger.
It's not quite the 1998 team of CBA rejects and European-based nobodies that somehow won bronze in place of NBA players otherwise occupied with a labor dispute, but the American side Mike Krzyzewski will lead in the FIBA World Championship doesn't look like dream material. We've got Kevin Durant, which might be enough all on its own, but Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade are among the high-profile players sitting out this round of international play.
With O.J. Mayo, Tyreke Evans, Gerald Wallace and JaVale McGee out of the picture, what would your final 12 look like out of the 15 remaining candidates?
- Guards: Chauncey Billups, Stephen Curry, Eric Gordon, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook
- Wingmen: Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala
- Big men: Tyson Chandler, Jeff Green, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom
“Wow, this is the first time I have seen the full roster and I have to say it is very lackluster. Who came up with this list of players? I wont be surprised if this team fails to capture anything.
” -- atlbravefalconsince1986
“Everybody please relax. Coach K knows what he is doing. It is unfortunate that we do not have anyone better at Center than Brook Lopez and Tyson Chandler. Why isn't D. Howard playing? If I were Coach K I would cut Granger, Westbrook, and Green. I would cut Chandler too if I had my druthers, but we can't enter play with only one center.
” -- KinKeezie
NO. 1: LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Bill Simmons thinks Blake Griffin should run away as fast as he can. Even after watching his favorite coach head to New York and Shaquille O'Neal come and go, Steve Nash still has it easier than Griffin, according to SportsNation. And did we mention the traffic? Welcome to the NBA, kid.
- More than half of voters think Griffin would have gone third or lower last year.
- Clippers jokes aside, 43 percent expect them in the playoffs within two seasons.
- Oklahoma one of only states that expects Griffin to be an NBA star.
“I feel bad for Clipper fans. The organization sucks, not the team. They manage to MISmanage every star player they have had. I used to think it was all Elgin Baylor but he his gone and they still suck. Oh well Griffin will get paid and do his time. When his rookie contract is up he will jet.
” -- BigVilFromWestPhil
NO. 2: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Good barbeque and bad basketball. Since Robert Traylor's no longer in the mix, the former isn't enough of a selling point to convince current prospects to fix the latter. Ricky Rubio supposedly won't go there. Hasheem Thabeet canceled a workout. How are they supposed to draft someone they can later give away in a trade?
“Memphis is tailor made for Rubio, you need 2 solid PGs to succeed in this league, sometimes 3.
” -- walnutkid07
NO. 3: OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
It appears a Red River tandem of Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin isn't in the works, but Taylor Griffin is still available. Hey, it worked for Harvey Grant.
“Blake Griffin is obviously the best talent, but I believe a defensive minded, rebounding center like Hasheem Thabeet would be a great fit for the talent currently on the roster. He would essentially knock Krstic down to the four, Green to the 3, and Durant to the 2 guard slot while his body fills out. Only if Griffin isn't available, though.
” -- dustemoff151
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