Hoops

Tall Blacks trial squad

lol that's what I was thinking Macdub

Are you sure your not getting confused with Dean Vickerman?

NZ have had first dibs since the first time he played for them as he is a born and bred New Zealander who now holds American Citizenship as he has been in the NBA for the last 10years.
Kyrie Irving was born in Australia but spent his life growing up in Portland and represented the USA at the Under18 WC's, as he has Australian Citizenship from being born there, he can only play for Australia with Team USA's blessing as he represented them first.

he has played many times for NZ so under FIBA rules, he is a New Zealander. Marks would be a great addition to that team but prob not going to happen.

agree Macdub on the Tait/Dickel rivalry for starting PG. Dickel also gets the start for me based on his international experience and hustle.
Webster is needed for his scoring ability off the bench (he is a capable scorer when confident) and I would take Anthony for size over Trueman even tho Trueman is prob a more complete player at the moment by a fraction but with Pledger the only true Centre we need someone to bang bodies and BJ can certainly do that.
No argument on the Centre spot (heck we only have one big man lol).
Vukona/Abercrombie/Penney are no brainers and would have been handed their uniforms at the front door lol.
Will miss Phil Jones experience and scoring.

Mystro, spot on with that team.
Dickel v Tait matchup for a starting spot would be interesting.
Tait is really good in the NZNBL, but looks way out of depth in the ANBL and in International Basketball-He is really conservative and passive in the international game in comparison to how he plays with the Saints.
Dickel will be more active/flamboyant methinks..Get assists even if that means a few turnovers.. Shoot some 3s (even if he isn't a lights out shooter)

I like Dickel as the starter though because of his experience, and the fact that his activeness is going to make things happen. Tait won't rack up assists or get buckets at international level, but Dickel can find people in the right areas (Saw that a bit in last years ANBL--Had 8 assists against Tigers, 7 against Blaze--avg 5 per game)

Surprised not to see Hayden Allen in the squad..He is better than Webster methinks just because of his experience and he brings an unrivaled defensive intensity (Plays like the Energizer Bunny)

Can't work out why they took Jeremy Kench to the Worlds last year and not Hayden Allen --Perhaps he made himself unavailable

Bradshaw is unavailable. Bartlett could build the Great Wall in 1 quarter of Basketball. Marks will be looking for a job while the NBA lockout is happening.

My picks are

Dickel/Tait
Penney/Webster
Abercrombie/Henry
Vukona/Anthony and or Trueman
Pledger/

wildcard could be the inclusion of Steven Adams for experience (NZNBL Rookie of the season and has signed a letter of intent to play for Pittsburgh in NCAA).