Hoops

Team USA Training Camp Roster

They got some sick team and there is nobody to stop them.
I think everybody understand that they don't have any chance.

Any combination of those 20 guys will rightfully go in as favourites.

Australia making a semi final would be a huge acheivement since we've never done that at World Cup/Championships level. Some people are underestimating how difficult our group is too. No time for slow starts. Our team will have to perform from day 1. The squad the Boomers have will certainly be capable, but it isn't a foregone conclusion.

Zion hasn't been named in any recently named squads, anyone know whether he has actually been named? All other squads have 20 players, not 21.

Makes it sound as though a -prototypical International guard- is a must to do well.

Anyway, are we targeting gold or just to be better, prototypically? Ben is anything but prototypical. He's too tall to be a guard, can't shoot a jumper. Should we look elsewhere, so that we can be prototypical or use his phenominal antiprototypicallity to get the best result we can?

I say let the world say, "Shit, do they really have Simmonds at the point? Our prototypical guards won't be able to handle him!" Boom Boom(ers).

Glass half full or....!

Just to give myself an out I will be looking at this as a build up to the Olympics. We have never performed well at the World Championships so getting to the final four would be an unbelievable achievement. It is definitely possible with out squad but not guaranteed.

USA players have the advantages of skill and athleticism and experience of playing long seasons under pressure to perform, even if they take a few games to adjust to FIBA rules.

Players from Serbia, France, and the other Euro powers have the advantage of playing tough games often and under FIBA rules. For some of them, basketball is their number 1 sport.

Players from Australia, on the other hand, are limited in their skills, athleticism, experience and the pressure of having to carry their teams. Ben Simmons stands out as the general exception - most of our guys are bench players.

So WHAT do we have that’ s going to take us to the final ahead of the other teams?

Still spoilt for choice
Could start with Lillard, Harden, Tatum, A Davis and Drummond. Or a lineup similar
Imagine a bench with Mitchell, McCollum, Eric Gordon, Aldridge etc ..
Comfortable gold favourites.

It's a better defensive side than the u.s teams previously.

USA and Serbia pretty much a guarantee to be in top 4. Several teams after a semi final spot.

"I can not see that side winning gold."

That squad still looks totally capable of winning gold to me! What team is significantly better than them?

I'm not sure that's the final roster. I heard rumours some time ago of Kuzma and Tatum joining the Select Team (for scrimmages) rather than the training camp roster.

Looking at the 2018-20 possibilities, the lack of Griffin, DeRozan, Westbrook and others is concerning. Considering its an opportunity to market their brands in China, I'm expecting a potent squad. KD's been intentionally placed on the Team USA promo's with some degree of confidence he's playing. I'd be surprised if Anta didn't compel Klay to turn up.

I can not see that side winning gold.

International Basketball has moved on and Team USA will have to play some spectacular basketball to even get to the gold medal game.

I think the Boomers will snag one of the two games in Melbourne.