On Monday, the United States announced a roster of players expected to participate in a training camp in Las Vegas at the end of the month in order to select players for the upcoming tournament:
http://www.usab.com/mens/national/2014_mnt_roster.html
Now that we know which players are included and which players will be absent, we can begin to see how the roster may shape up as we head into tryouts. Here is some information on all of the players selected.
Stephen Curry: The prototypical fifth guard in the international game, Curry looks set to have a far bigger role than that as he is highly likely to be back on the team. His ability to shoot the ball from the point guard position will allow the other star players to handle the ball during a share of the possessions and will also open up the possibility of two point guards sets which are widespread in international play.
Derrick Rose: Rose's latest comeback from a long injury layoff looks set to happen in Las Vegas. Without knowing how rusty he will look and how ready he will be to contribute in key competitive games, it is not clear what his chances are. Rose obviously is a tremendous player when healthy, although he may not have the specific traits that might make him an ideal backup point guard in international play.
Kyrie Irving: The lone Duke player on the list, Irving seems to be set to play some part in this team based on how he has been handled in USA Basketball circles. If he displays an ability to contribute with shooting while not always playing as the primary ball handler, Irving will have more of an opportunity to play alongside some of the stars.
Damian Lillard: One of a number of exciting young point guards to emerge recently, Lillard has risen from relative obscurity to prominence in a short period of time. Depending on how the other point guards are used and the overall balance of the roster, there is a good chance that Lillard will make the final roster, although it will likely come off the bench to lead a second unit offense.
James Harden: Harden is a returnee from the previous Olympic team who will hope that a strong performance this summer will keep him in position to stay with the team during future tournaments. Given a different role in the international game than in the NBA, Harden is a valuable offensive contributor. Whether he fills that position in the starting lineup or as a key bench option will be determined over the course of the summer although the number of other good young guards will challenge him to continue to stick with the team concept.
Klay Thompson: An accurate shooter who has been asked to contribute much more in the NBA, Thompson has had a couple of chances to fight his way into consideration for this tournament. The work he has done to improve on defense in the NBA may give him a helping hand in making this roster as he looks to show that he can add more than shooting to the team.
Bradley Beal: A premier young shooter, Beal looks set to be a key asset to the international game for years to come. Whether he is ready to fill that role this summer is still up for debate with the strength of the competition for his role. His ability to show other aspects of his game besides shooting may be what decides whether he makes this team or not.
DeMar DeRozan: A late addition to the national team pool, DeRozan has impressed in past events. While his NBA career may seem a little less notable than other players on the list, his wing versatility covers some of the team's needs. He may have one of the longest shots to make the final roster, but he was added to this list for a reason and he will have the opportunity to prove himself, especially on the defensive end.
Paul George: An emerging star in the NBA, George is one of the players who can become more famous worldwide with a strong tournament. On this roster, he will be the key defensive player on the perimeter and he will not be forced to carry as much of the offensive load as he does in the NBA. His offensive skillset fits into the general mold of successful wings at the international level and he figures to be a key part of this team.
Gordon Hayward: One of the players most likely to be under the radar of international opponents, Hayward's versatility and skillset would give the team some lineup flexibility in the second unit. This tournament may be a little too soon for him to emerge, but given the increasing role he will be asked to play in the NBA, he may continue to develop into a solid option for the program in the near future.
Kyle Korver: If anything has been learned in recent years of international play for the United States, it is that shooting ability is valuable and it is not possible to have too much of it. Korver certainly has that ability and offers the opportunity to bring instant offense off the bench. He is also the oldest player on this list by nearly seven years, and the American team has always had a veteran presence to help navigate the long tournament process so he may have an increased chance of making the team for that reason. With so many prolific shooters on the list, it may come down to what else Korver can add compared to other shooters that will decide if he makes the team.
Chandler Parsons: The other late addition to the list, Parsons has emerged recently as a solid option. His positional versatility can be valuable to the team as he brings shooting ability that can be used at both forward positions. With two players added late in the process, it will be interesting to see if they have a better than expected chance of making the team.
Kevin Durant: The United States victory in this tournament in 2010 helped propel Kevin Durant to worldwide recognition as he grew into the team's leading star over the course of that summer. With Durant being one of the first stars to announce his attention to compete in this tournament, is is likely that he will be called upon to lead the team again as his scoring ability and his ability to be a mismatch against pretty much any team.
Blake Griffin: A player slated to play for the last Olympic team before an injury, Griffin gets his chance to fight for a spot on the team again. While Griffin does not offer the same degree of shooting range displayed by many international power forwards, he does have enough size to spend time in the center position, where he will have the opportunity to crash the boards at both ends and to pick up easy baskets. Griffin will have a good chance of making the team as his athleticism is likely to cause trouble for opponents even though his skill set is not quite prototypical for the international game.
Kenneth Faried: Every team needs a player who will practice and play with energy at all times and Faried is definitely a player who can fill that role. As a rebounding wizard and dynamic defensive player, Faried can contribute to the team without needing touches on the offensive end. Faried's main obstacle will be the fact that he is pretty much exclusively a power forward at this level, not helping the team from a versatility perspective while also not possessing the range of the typical international power forward.
Kevin Love: Another established player in the program who committed to this team early, Love is valuable because of his range. Given the size comparison with other teams, Love is often able to slide over to the center position, creating more versatility on the court.
Anthony Davis: The last player to make the Olympic squad before even playing in the NBA, Davis has continued to show the intriguing set of skills that were first on display two years ago. Davis figures to be a part of the final roster due to his defensive prowess in the post. His offensive skillset complements the other stars on the roster and he seems likely to be a key contributor to the team and in a position to increase awareness of his ability around the world.
DeMarcus Cousins: Cousins nearly wrecked his chances of every being a part of the USA Basketball setup after his unprofessional behavior when he was called in to practice. He has been given another chance and looks to make the most of it. The main obstacle to Cousins making the team may be whether he offers enough to the team besides offensive ability given that he is not likely to be considered one of the top offensive options for the team. His ability to consistently play defense, grab rebounds, and fit within the context of the offense will be what determine whether he makes the team.
Andre Drummond: Drummond has emerged as a rebounding machine as he has developed in the NBA. His size and defensive contributions will give him a chance to grab one of the last spots on the roster. While he may still be developing all facets of his game, he is certainly in position to contribute now in a manner that will help the other players on the team display their best.
http://www.usab.com/mens/national/2014_mnt_roster.html
Now that we know which players are included and which players will be absent, we can begin to see how the roster may shape up as we head into tryouts. Here is some information on all of the players selected.
Stephen Curry: The prototypical fifth guard in the international game, Curry looks set to have a far bigger role than that as he is highly likely to be back on the team. His ability to shoot the ball from the point guard position will allow the other star players to handle the ball during a share of the possessions and will also open up the possibility of two point guards sets which are widespread in international play.
Derrick Rose: Rose's latest comeback from a long injury layoff looks set to happen in Las Vegas. Without knowing how rusty he will look and how ready he will be to contribute in key competitive games, it is not clear what his chances are. Rose obviously is a tremendous player when healthy, although he may not have the specific traits that might make him an ideal backup point guard in international play.
Kyrie Irving: The lone Duke player on the list, Irving seems to be set to play some part in this team based on how he has been handled in USA Basketball circles. If he displays an ability to contribute with shooting while not always playing as the primary ball handler, Irving will have more of an opportunity to play alongside some of the stars.
Damian Lillard: One of a number of exciting young point guards to emerge recently, Lillard has risen from relative obscurity to prominence in a short period of time. Depending on how the other point guards are used and the overall balance of the roster, there is a good chance that Lillard will make the final roster, although it will likely come off the bench to lead a second unit offense.
James Harden: Harden is a returnee from the previous Olympic team who will hope that a strong performance this summer will keep him in position to stay with the team during future tournaments. Given a different role in the international game than in the NBA, Harden is a valuable offensive contributor. Whether he fills that position in the starting lineup or as a key bench option will be determined over the course of the summer although the number of other good young guards will challenge him to continue to stick with the team concept.
Klay Thompson: An accurate shooter who has been asked to contribute much more in the NBA, Thompson has had a couple of chances to fight his way into consideration for this tournament. The work he has done to improve on defense in the NBA may give him a helping hand in making this roster as he looks to show that he can add more than shooting to the team.
Bradley Beal: A premier young shooter, Beal looks set to be a key asset to the international game for years to come. Whether he is ready to fill that role this summer is still up for debate with the strength of the competition for his role. His ability to show other aspects of his game besides shooting may be what decides whether he makes this team or not.
DeMar DeRozan: A late addition to the national team pool, DeRozan has impressed in past events. While his NBA career may seem a little less notable than other players on the list, his wing versatility covers some of the team's needs. He may have one of the longest shots to make the final roster, but he was added to this list for a reason and he will have the opportunity to prove himself, especially on the defensive end.
Paul George: An emerging star in the NBA, George is one of the players who can become more famous worldwide with a strong tournament. On this roster, he will be the key defensive player on the perimeter and he will not be forced to carry as much of the offensive load as he does in the NBA. His offensive skillset fits into the general mold of successful wings at the international level and he figures to be a key part of this team.
Gordon Hayward: One of the players most likely to be under the radar of international opponents, Hayward's versatility and skillset would give the team some lineup flexibility in the second unit. This tournament may be a little too soon for him to emerge, but given the increasing role he will be asked to play in the NBA, he may continue to develop into a solid option for the program in the near future.
Kyle Korver: If anything has been learned in recent years of international play for the United States, it is that shooting ability is valuable and it is not possible to have too much of it. Korver certainly has that ability and offers the opportunity to bring instant offense off the bench. He is also the oldest player on this list by nearly seven years, and the American team has always had a veteran presence to help navigate the long tournament process so he may have an increased chance of making the team for that reason. With so many prolific shooters on the list, it may come down to what else Korver can add compared to other shooters that will decide if he makes the team.
Chandler Parsons: The other late addition to the list, Parsons has emerged recently as a solid option. His positional versatility can be valuable to the team as he brings shooting ability that can be used at both forward positions. With two players added late in the process, it will be interesting to see if they have a better than expected chance of making the team.
Kevin Durant: The United States victory in this tournament in 2010 helped propel Kevin Durant to worldwide recognition as he grew into the team's leading star over the course of that summer. With Durant being one of the first stars to announce his attention to compete in this tournament, is is likely that he will be called upon to lead the team again as his scoring ability and his ability to be a mismatch against pretty much any team.
Blake Griffin: A player slated to play for the last Olympic team before an injury, Griffin gets his chance to fight for a spot on the team again. While Griffin does not offer the same degree of shooting range displayed by many international power forwards, he does have enough size to spend time in the center position, where he will have the opportunity to crash the boards at both ends and to pick up easy baskets. Griffin will have a good chance of making the team as his athleticism is likely to cause trouble for opponents even though his skill set is not quite prototypical for the international game.
Kenneth Faried: Every team needs a player who will practice and play with energy at all times and Faried is definitely a player who can fill that role. As a rebounding wizard and dynamic defensive player, Faried can contribute to the team without needing touches on the offensive end. Faried's main obstacle will be the fact that he is pretty much exclusively a power forward at this level, not helping the team from a versatility perspective while also not possessing the range of the typical international power forward.
Kevin Love: Another established player in the program who committed to this team early, Love is valuable because of his range. Given the size comparison with other teams, Love is often able to slide over to the center position, creating more versatility on the court.
Anthony Davis: The last player to make the Olympic squad before even playing in the NBA, Davis has continued to show the intriguing set of skills that were first on display two years ago. Davis figures to be a part of the final roster due to his defensive prowess in the post. His offensive skillset complements the other stars on the roster and he seems likely to be a key contributor to the team and in a position to increase awareness of his ability around the world.
DeMarcus Cousins: Cousins nearly wrecked his chances of every being a part of the USA Basketball setup after his unprofessional behavior when he was called in to practice. He has been given another chance and looks to make the most of it. The main obstacle to Cousins making the team may be whether he offers enough to the team besides offensive ability given that he is not likely to be considered one of the top offensive options for the team. His ability to consistently play defense, grab rebounds, and fit within the context of the offense will be what determine whether he makes the team.
Andre Drummond: Drummond has emerged as a rebounding machine as he has developed in the NBA. His size and defensive contributions will give him a chance to grab one of the last spots on the roster. While he may still be developing all facets of his game, he is certainly in position to contribute now in a manner that will help the other players on the team display their best.
RSS Feed