Missing Ingredient for Team USA Basketball

[SamuraiSWISH]

The most redeeming asset for Team USA Basketball through out history that we are now missing, that unfortunately makes us very beatable ...

The lack of our seemingly lab created, superhero athletic wing players that are the size of forwards, but long, lighting quick as guards who can pressure inferior International wing players.

The:

LeBron James
Kevin Durtants
Paul Georges
Andre Iguodalas
Kobe Bryants
Dwyane Wades
Kwahi Leonards

of America

Or in the past:

MJ
Pippen
Drexler
Magic
Hill
Penny
VC
McGrady
Odom

Without their lengthy, fast, athletic pressure defense hounding foreign guards, and wings as they cross half court ... we are visibly very beatable. And even with a good young core down low, we still lack the size, bangers, and experience of many other European teams.

Spain is looking good so far with a very much rejuvinated Pau Gasol. Things could get ugly. We were in a damn battle with Turkey for 3 quarters.

[JohnFreeman]

I still don't understand Durant bailing

[dubeta]

So basically small forwards or big SG's?

[andremiller07]

Start Klay Thompson and Rudy Gay and stop running the worst defensive trio in the history of FIBA basketball of Curry, Irving and Harden

[SamuraiSWISH]

So basically small forwards or big SG's?

Yea, basically to put it bluntly. But America's big SGs, and SFs has always given us SUCH an advantage over the rest of the world given their size, skill level, length, and athleticism. Particularly defensively.

[inclinerator]

rudy gay is

[dubeta]

Imagine if the 1-3 of team USA was Bran, MJ, and Pippen

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Theyre not gonna beat Spain

[SamuraiSWISH]

I still don't understand Durant bailing

Me neither. So selfish, so cowardly. Apparently it was influenced by Jay Z.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Imagine if the 1-3 of team USA was Bran, MJ, and Pippen

I mean it was bad enough w/ MJ and Scottie. Ask Kukoc, and Petrovic.

Then throw in another Pippen type defender, with even more size? As a PG myself I shutter to think how I would react having to deal with 2x 6'8 super freak athletes, most versatile wing defenders ever pressuring me from either side. Long arms in the passing lanes.

All while the most tenacious on ball defender is right in front of me, also with ample size, strength, length, and absurd laterial quickness / anticipating skills / quick hands.

Goodnight Irene.

[nathanjizzle]

we are still winning though. will bring our A game come spain.

[kurple]

I still don't understand Durant bailing

what about lebron, cp3, blake, melo etc?

[nathanjizzle]

what about lebron, cp3, blake, melo etc?

they are tenured superstars that only play in the real olympics

[Oly BC]

The missing ingredients for team USA are
1) being able to reliably execute a set play (or have any set plays for that matter)
2) defend anything involving screens and ball/player movement

The US have lost with the players you say they are now missing direly.

[JohnFreeman]

they are tenured superstars that only play in the real olympics

This.