USA Basketball Will Have to Stand Tall at Worlds With Small Lineup

LAS VEGAS -- If this were a 6-foot-4 and under league, Team USA would be in great shape.

Take a look at the point guards on America's roster. Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose combine for six NBA All-Star appearances. Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon and Stephen Curry aren't too shabby either. Neither is Tyreke Evans, although he wouldn't be eligible for a 6-4 and under league due to being 6-6.

As for post players, Team USA used to be deep, and that was even after all 12 Olympians from the gold-medal winning 2008 team were ruled out. But in the past week LaMarcus Aldridge, Al Jefferson, Amar'e Stoudemire, Robin Lopez and David Lee have all been eliminated from consideration for the World Championships, Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey.

Golden State's Lee, hurt a tendon in his middle right finger on the first day of training camp here Tuesday. After flying back to California to see a Warriors doctor on Wednesday morning, he was ruled out of Team USA activities for the rest of the summer due to a what is termed a mallet finger.

The big blow for Team USA was Stoudemire, a five-time All-Star who would have been the most decorated player on the team. But Stoudemire was shelved just before the first practice after his New York Knicks couldn't get the proper insurance on him and pulled him out.

Stoudemire did acknowledge to FanHouse that "it's a little tough'' not being able to play. But he said the Knicks have told him not to discuss the situation.

"That's tough,'' Billups said of Stoudemire being out. "But at the same time it opens up some opportunities for other guys that are ready to take advantage.''

"It's about now. It's not about the NBA, college. It's not about the Olympics in '12 or the Olympics in 2008. It's about right now, and how do we become this team and represent our country the right way.''
-- Mike Krzyzewski The only true post players left on the 20-man roster are Lamar Odom, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler and JaVale McGee, who was added to the team at the last instant but, according to USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, will be given full consideration for the final 12-man unit even though he initially wasn't listed as a full roster member. But, hey, the Americans can always play small ball.

Yes, the team still has three other guys who have played in All-Star Games in 6-9 Kevin Durant, 6-8 Danny Granger and 6-7 Gerald Wallace. But there are enough small guys around to scare most of the world.

"I'd rather not say it's a point-guard competition,'' Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said of having so much talent at the position that some of the players can be slid to shooting guard. "Rose and Westbrook have played together ... This isn't a chart where if this one is picked this one is not. I'd rather look at the guards together and whether we take four or five of them (for the final roster) depends on the chemistry and just what we want to do.''

Most observers believe Billups is all but a lock for the final squad. Team USA officials like the veteran presence he provides and it helps his cause by also being able to play shooting guard.

Up front, Durant already has been called a lock by Colangelo. So what if he's not buying it.

"I've still got to come out and have a decent camp,'' said Durant, being looked up by many as the leader of the team. "I still have to come out and play as well as I can and see what happens. Nothing is for sure.''

Well, unless Durant gets hurt, it's for sure. But after Durant and with Billups' chances looking very good, the team is wide open.

"It is more wide open, which is good,'' said Krzyzewski, whose team will practice here through Friday along with 20 players on Team USA's college select team and will play an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center before reconvening for an Aug. 10-16 training camp in New York. "I think that's why I'm even more impressed with the fact that we have this many guys here. No one's coming here with, 'I have the team card already.' It shows they want to be here and be a part of USA Basketball. So these five days (in Las Vegas) are very important to evaluate. ... What we need to do is find a core eight or nine and who complements those eight or nine in style and that.''

Krzyzewski addressed the team at a meeting Monday night and before practice Tuesday. His message was simple.

"It's about now,'' he said he told the team. "It's not about the NBA, college. It's not about the Olympics in '12 or the Olympics in 2008. It's about right now, and how do we become this team and represent our country the right way.''

Krzyzewski did get a bit historical at one point Tuesday. He let it be known there's no player currently in the NBA who was on the 1994 team that is the last American one to win the Worlds.

That's a big gap in gold medals being handed out. But Team USA has a lot of small guys who would like to help change that.

Chris Tomasson can be reached at tomasson@fanhouse.com or on Twitter @christomasson