Marion puts up really good fantasy numbers, but he just doesn't seem like the player to win a championship IMO.

Here's who I would put out there:

Centers
Shaq
Ben Wallace
Brad Miller

Power Forwards
Duncan
KG
Jermaine O'Neal

Small Forwards
Artest
Kobe

Shooting Guards
Mcgrady
Ray Allen or Michael Redd

Point Guards
Kidd
Bibby

Kobe couldn't play the 3, trot out the Matrix, and start KG at the 3.

Also, since I figger this is the Olympic Basketball thread, that the USA women would stomp the USA men easily.

I really like the make up of the women's team. Staley and Leslie have been playiong together on USA teams since 1989, with Swoopes on teams since 96. Plus, Tina Thompson who plays with Swoopes during the WNBA season...not to mention Yolanda Griffiths and the younger supporting cast (Swin Cash, DT, and Sueeeeeeeee BIRD CALL! [aka my girls :love:])

I think Kobe could definitely play 3 in International Play. Maybe not NBA. I just hate Marion. The way he shoots the ball is so damn ugly. Did you see him airball against Puerto Rico. ughhhhhh. :nono:

Its not his fault everybody else can't hit open jumpers :wtf:

Hes passing the ball fine but then you got guys like Richard Jefferson hitting the side of the backboard :|

Agreed, most of team USA hasn't hit their open looks, that's not Steph's fault. He cuts, making the D drop in on him, and he kicks it out to the open guy, he does his job.

I still can't believe how bad USA got beat by porta rico.

U.S. up by Four against Greece. FK'N Shit.

U.S.A. is killing Greece on the Full Court Game. They have to play a fast paced game against these teams and not let them set up for plays. That's there whole game; set up plays.

Lebron had a great game and I felt he kept USA in it when Greece made those runs at the end of the 2nd and 3rd. Jefferson really sucks and Brown needs to replace him in the starting lineup. Carmelo sucked too. But at least the game was fun to watch. Much better than blowouts every game.

Olympic Basketball: Lithuania Guard Shoots Down U.S.




ATHENS (Reuters) - The United States crashed to its second defeat in the Olympic men's basketball tournament Saturday when a late shooting spree by Sarunas Jasikevicius propelled Lithuania to a 94-90 victory.

The Americans, winners of the last three Olympic tournaments, must beat Angola Monday to ensure they reach the quarterfinals this time. The Angolans have so far failed to win a game at the Athens Olympics.

The United States suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Puerto Rico in their opening game in Athens.

"I'm disappointed to say the least. But I think we're getting better except for a bit of a meltdown in the fourth quarter," said U.S. coach Larry Brown.

Once held in awe by the rest of the basketball world, the once invincible Americans -- with a match record of 109-2 heading into the Games -- seem ripe for the taking.

"There was an awe when playing the Americans maybe 17 or 18 years ago, but a lot of countries have caught up," Jasikevicius said after his shooting spree in the last three minutes set his team up to win Group B at the tournament.

UNBEATEN LITHUANIA

Overlooked by the NBA after graduating from the University of Maryland, Jasikevicius scored 11 of his team's last 12 points to bring it from a point down to three up before unbeaten Lithuania closed the game with another free throw.

"We beat a great basketball team. Emotionally, it's great, but in theory it doesn't help much. We have to win in the quarterfinals. But (the victory) is nice, I won't lie to you about that," said the Lithuanian point guard.

The Americans were up by three with two minutes and 47 seconds left when Jasikevicius hit a three-pointer while being fouled by Lamar Odom to put his team on track for victory at 85-84. He then hit another to extend the lead to four before Richard Jefferson, battling a horrendous shooting slump, hit his second three of the game. Continued ... <!-- article text ends -->


http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml...toryID=6036046

ahahahaha :rofl:

:lol:

They aren't running the right offense for the team they have, they should be running the Princeton Offense or something that takes advantage of USA's ability to fast break, jam, and go to the hole.

However you put it, they lost... again.

I hate to say it, but Larry Brown's coaching has been horrible. What the hell is Marbury doing playing so many minutes when he can't hit a shot and gets burned on D? What a joke.

Bad team chemistry?

The main thing is they can't hit an outside shot to save their lives. They needed to stock up on good 3-point shooters and free throw shooters and they didn't do that.

Thanks for putting up the whole article Your Hero :mad: Couldn't have just said they lost, could ya. Yeah, they lost, but hey, they played a great game today and this is a good sign for the Quater Finals on Monday. Not sure who they play yet though.

If they play this way every game, they'll medal for sure.

They'll most likely win the gold anyway. It's just fun to poke at you guys. Kinda like people poke at us when it's about hockey.

I wouldn't worry not many countries outside the US care about Basketball anyway. :D

The last time I watched Olympic Basketball was Barcelona, man America were good that year.

Actually basketball is pretty big in Eastern Europe

*countries that matter

;)

So if you guys had to pick a starting lineup out of these group of guys, who would you put out there?

Current Starting Lineup/Who I would replace them with

C- Duncan
F- Odom
F- Jefferson
G- Marbury (replace with Lebron)
G- Iverson

C Okafor
F Duncan
F Odom
G James
G Wade

Ok I've only seen the second halves of 3 U.S games but have they hit a 3 point shot the entire time?

Yeah that team was something special, i doubt team USA will esemble one quite as good again

They shot 3-21 one game I think, so that's three tres.

Finally USA beat the shit out of a team today. I think Angola. Didn't see the game because it was 1st day of classes and I had to attend.

Congrats to USA for an easy victory finally. And also congrats to China for making the quarterfinals finally. Maybe hiring Del Harris was smart. :p

Angola is supposed to be the worst team in the tournament though, isn't it? I read that they are supposed to be good in 10 years or so, that could be crazy, but they don't have a player over 6'10 this year.

Angola went 0-5, getting outscored by 100 points in the process. Easily the worst team of the bunch.

The U.S. has to play undefeated Spain in the quarters on Thursday.

Angola is playing Serbia tomorrow for last place.

Lol, wasn't Serbia and Montenegro supposed to be the #2 team going into this?

#1*

Australia is going to win the basketball gold medal....

Women's basketball that is.

Nah, our Women's team is actually done right...you're in trouble :p

Katie Smith comin' atcha!

Look what I found today

The United States have dominated Olympic basketball since the first tournament in 1936, winning 109 matches and losing only two.

That was written before these Olympics BTW. Some record.

Well, they did it. Shoddy officiating on both sides of the ball. Marbury drops a new Men's point record for the US team with 31..he just took over..6 3pters made (also a USA men's record) Here we come Semifinals.