TEAM USA NAMES FINAL ROSTER...Kevin Durant cut.

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Final two cuts are made from Team USA
Durant and Collison are the last players to go as Team USA gets its roster down to 12 for the Olympic qualifying tournament.

By Lonnie White, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 21, 2007

LAS VEGAS -- NBA rookie Kevin Durant and hard-working forward Nick Collison were cut Monday night to get Team USA's roster to 12 players for the start of the FIBA Americas Championship.

For Team USA, which will begin round-robin play Wednesday night against Venezuela at the Thomas & Mack Center, the moves were not much of a surprise when considering Coach Mike Krzyzewski's perimeter dominated lineup.

With Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony stepping up as the main three players for Team USA, skillful outside shooters such as Michael Redd and Mike Miller will have premium roles in the Olympic qualifying tournament.

Durant, selected No. 2 overall by Seattle in this year's draft, had a solid camp but his perimeter-based game was offset by the play of Bryant, James and Anthony.

Collison, who has played on eight USA basketball teams, also was impressive but with Team USA keeping a limited number of big men (Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler) he was the odd man out.

"It sounds trite to say that it was a tough decision but in reality it was that and more because all 14 were deserving of being on the roster. . . . " Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo said in a prepared statement.

Added Krzyzewski: "With Kevin [Durant], one year in college and 18 years old, he's made giant progress and he's going to be one of the faces of the NBA and USA Basketball who will be considered next year because 10 months from now he's only going to get better," Krzyzewski said.

"Nick [Collison] wasn't involved from the very beginning so to be this close to making it after being here for about a week shows what a tremendous job he did."

Forward Tayshaun Prince, said being released from Team USA is much different than trying out for a high school team.

"Most of the people on this team have not been in that position before," Prince said. "This is probably the first time that they've really been in this position. But when you look at this situation, you really can't be disappointed because you know the guy next to you is just as good. So you know what you are dealing with as opposed to high school, where a move may be made and you question the decision."

Stoudemire, who has been involved with Team USA since 2004, said each year it is going to get harder to make the roster.

"Every year there's going to be guys who play as hard as they can but don't make it even though they were good enough to make it," Stoudemire said.

"I know with the young guys like myself, Carmelo and LeBron, we love to play the game of basketball. We've been playing together since high school and we're excited about representing the U.S."


C Dwight Howard...Tyson Chandler
PF LeBron James...Amare Stoudemire
SF Carmelo Anthony...Mike Miller/Tayshaun Prince
SG Kobe Bryant...Michael Redd
PG Jason Kidd...Chauncey Billups/Deron Williams


Dunno 'bout K starting Kobe, Melo, and James together, but it looks like this team will destroy competition. Going to the game on Saturday.

[thisoneguy360]

Damn that's too bad I was looking forward to watching Durant play with those guys. Should still be dope though, have fun at the game 

[Don Jacob]

i don't think it'll be a problem starting all three . you'll just have a smaller front court, which doesn't really matter as much in international competition because of the bigger paint. you have to have players who can shoot a mid range /drive hard. which james/melo/and kobe can do with ease. also it createst matchup problems for the other countries, all three athletes are 3 of the most athletic players in the world what  forward is athletic enough to switch up d on kobe/melo/and james? Gasol maybe , but i don't see it happening.

this is a good team. not Steller, but we're stacked at key positions. gold medal here we come.

[GangstaBoogy]

Put Melo at PF. He did great there last summer.

[Hatesrats™]

Kidd's gonna have his hand's full with dudes...
team look's good on paper, let's see what they can do tho.

J Kidd is defo the key.

[jeromechickenbone]

Durant shits all over Tyson Chandler.  If they need rebounding and a 3 point shot, it's Durant.  I'm not trippin, Durant is better than some cats on that squad.  And I guarantee he's using that shit as motivation.  Dude is fucking ill and he's gonna be a superstar.  Write it down, take a picture.

[Lunatic]

although we'll probably get killed, im excited to see my boys go up agianst brazil tomorrow

watch out for denham brown, juan mendes, carl english, and jesse young as well...ofcourse my boy dalembert is a given

[Eddie G.]

Why put Gayshaun Prince on the team?

[Lunatic]

Why put Gayshaun Prince on the team?

LMFAO!!

outta my group of homies, 1 of them is a HUGE tayshuan fan, that's his fav fuckin player!!...me and my boys always trying 2 find ways 2 make fun of him just 2 piss this dude off lol...u've provided us with another one

[wcsoldier]

Playing James PF this summer won't be a problem coz there aren't strong opponents .. but in JO 2008 against great teams , that would be a huge dismatch against great teams which can control the tempo, slow it down and pound it inside ... though Bosh probably will be the starter at 4 at this time ... I still think the US team is focusing and talkin too much about shooting ... they lost against Greece coz of a very poor D on the perimeter ... when a defensive oriented team (even if their team offensive execution is a model) like Greece scored 101 in 40 minutes , your defense is a pb..

[wcsoldier]

Why put Gayshaun Prince on the team?

Coz Lebrick James  can't D for shit ...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

what  forward is athletic enough to switch up d on kobe/melo/and james? Gasol maybe

WTF? Seriously now, do you watch basketball?

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Durant shits all over Tyson Chandler.  If they need rebounding and a 3 point shot, it's Durant.  I'm not trippin, Durant is better than some cats on that squad.  And I guarantee he's using that shit as motivation.  Dude is fucking ill and he's gonna be a superstar.  Write it down, take a picture.

Durant's defense and rebounding abilities don't compare to Chandler's...

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Why put Gayshaun Prince on the team?

Perimeter D

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Playing James PF this summer won't be a problem coz there aren't strong opponents .. but in JO 2008 against great teams , that would be a huge dismatch against great teams which can control the tempo, slow it down and pound it inside ... though Bosh probably will be the starter at 4 at this time ... I still think the US team is focusing and talkin too much about shooting ... they lost against Greece coz of a very poor D on the perimeter ... when a defensive oriented team (even if their team offensive execution is a model) like Greece scored 101 in 40 minutes , your defense is a pb..

Bosh withdrew... plus, we added players like Kobe and Prince for perimeter D.