why the eff is kevin love and unibrow on the team????

[BankShot]

Are we serious with the Josh Smith consideration over Kevin Love?

Love rebounds like crazy, spreads the floor with his outside shooting, and is a good passer.

Smith has a broken outside jumper that he takes too often, is a questionable decision maker, and while his athleticism is elite it is redundant on a team with Lebron, Westbrook, Iggy, etc...

[alenleomessi]

nerlens noel

[FreezingTsmoove]

Are we serious with the Josh Smith consideration over Kevin Love?

Love rebounds like crazy, spreads the floor with his outside shooting, and is a good passer.

Smith has a broken outside jumper that he takes too often, is a questionable decision maker, and while his athleticism is elite it is redundant on a team with Lebron, Westbrook, Iggy, etc...

His defense is outstanding though

[BankShot]

His defense is outstanding though

Is it really though?? I know he's a great shot blocker, but I'd be interested to see the numbers on his individual defense.

Again, I think Smith would be redundant on Team USA because what he brings on offense is already there in a greater fashion with Bron and Melo, and and what he could bring on defense is already being done with Iggy and Lebron.

[2LeTTeRS]

Is it really though?? I know he's a great shot blocker, but I'd be interested to see the numbers on his individual defense.

Again, I think Smith would be redundant on Team USA because what he brings on offense is already there in a greater fashion with Bron and Melo, and and what he could bring on defense is already being done with Iggy and Lebron.

I disagree. Love is definitely better offensively, but that doesn't really matter in this setting since the role both would play (as the 9th or 10th best offensive player on the team) does not require the player to have the ball in their hands much.

The question comes down to whats more valuable: Love's elite rebounding and outside shooting combined with questionable defense or Smith's shot blocking and athleticism while sacrificing a little range on the jumper? I say Smith's talents help more.

[MiseryCityTexas]

Kevin Love already paid his dues are far as stats are concerned.

[ZenMaster]

Has Smith even been part of the US program as a select team player in the last few years?

[swi7ch]

Love rebounds like crazy, spreads the floor with his outside shooting, and is a good passer.

With the TWolves, yes. Last time I check, Team USA isn't the TWolves. He can't "rebound like crazy" because he can't stat pad on offensive putbacks, he doesn't spread the floor with his outside shooting because he only plays 30 seconds per game and they run ZERO plays for him because this is not the TWolves and LBJ, Durant, etc, are better options.

On paper he seems like a good fit but in reality he isn't.

[ZenMaster]

With the TWolves, yes. Last time I check, Team USA isn't the TWolves. He can't "rebound like crazy" because he can't stat pad on offensive putbacks, he doesn't spread the floor with his outside shooting because he only plays 30 seconds per game and they run ZERO plays for him because this is not the TWolves and LBJ, Durant, etc, are better options.

On paper he seems like a good fit but in reality he isn't.

So basically what you're saying is he's a bad fit because he doesn't get minutes?

[DaHeezy]

I think Melo has earned it considering his past performance on team USA as well as the relationship with teammates.

[caliman]

Still can't figure out why Carmelo Anthony is on it either.

Carmelo kills in international play.

[BankShot]

So basically what you're saying is he's a bad fit because he doesn't get minutes?

Apparently Kevin Love wouldn't get rebounds on a better team, because he couldn't "stat pad" off misses.

Also, his outside shots won't go in because they weren't called for him.

[LJJ]

Apparently Kevin Love wouldn't get rebounds on a better team, because he couldn't "stat pad" off misses.

Also, his outside shots won't go in because they weren't called for him.

Let's put it differently then.

Team USA needs a player who:
1. Plays a very passive, supportive role on offense
2. Ie, does all the "chores"
3. Barely attempts FGs, doesn't really look for shots
4. Good at defense, esp team defense
5. High energy level on defense and during transition
6. Knows when to crash the boards hard, and when not to. Based on where his teammates are

Does that description scream "KEVIN LOVE" to you? No. He is used to being a first option and have all the other players on his team play in his service basically. Which is something that is utterly unnecessary from Kevin Love on this team. His core abilities have no use.

[eeeeeebro]

I think you mean conducive.

I think you need to watch the 2012 all star game!

[swi7ch]

So basically what you're saying is he's a bad fit because he doesn't get minutes?

he doesn't get minutes because he's not a good fit for team usa. for the twolves, he's perfect. but not with other superstars.