Predicting Team USA's 2010 12-Man Roster: The Guards

Author’s Note: This is the first part of a three part series about my predictions for team USA’s final 12 man roster for the 2010 Fiba World Championships. This piece will feature my predictions for the guards of the team.

This summer’s free agent class not only turned the NBA world upside down, but it also affected the state of team USA basketball. Guards such as Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade will not be participating in USA basketball this year, in fact none of the starting guards from the 2008 redeem team is returning to the 2010 squad. That opens the door for a new wave of talent, as many guards will get the chance to represent USA basketball for the first time ever.

The new guards include names such as Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry, and Tyreke Evans. Head coach Mike Kryzewski and Jerry Colangelo will have a tough task finding the best squad as all 22 players have a legitimate chance at making the final cut.

Another thing to note is while there are no 2008 redeem teamers on the roster, Jason Kidd a 2008 redeem teamer, won’t play but serve as a special adviser to the coaching staff. Kidd was an instrumental leader to the 2008 team and was indispensible despite his limited role on the court

It will be interesting to see the selections Mike Kryzewski and Jerry Colangelo make in order to get to the final 12 man roster, but for now, here’s my attempt at finding the guard portion of the final 12 man roster.

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose may be a bit young, but he can certainly run a team. He has playoff experience, and I think he’s ready to break out this year. Rose has been working on a three point jump shot that could really put him over the top.

In the international game, much more contact is allowed which makes a guy like Rose essential, because he doesn’t shy away from contact, and is one of the best at getting to the free throw line. Overall I think Rose is the best guard of the bunch and should be the starting point guard.

Rose showed that he’s a big game player as he averaged 27 points, and 7 assists in the playoffs. He’s going to have to be less of a scorer and more of a distributor because of the talent around him, but Rose is ready for this role and he’s ready to represent his country.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant primarily plays the small forward position, but team USA is planning to use Kevin Durant at shooting guard.

Durant is the best player on the roster flat out. He can do it all. Durant will certainly carry a heavy leadership role for this team just as he did this postseason for his Oklahoma City Thunder team.

Durant has been in the USA basketball program for five straight years now, and he is the now the top player in the program. Durant has stated he’s also going to bring more of a defensive effort than an offensive effort to the team, and he’s going to look to be a lock down defender.

Despite being only 21, Durant is going to be the guy for this team, and as long as he stays healthy, he’s likely going to be the new face of USA basketball for years to come.

Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups is the type of player this team needs. He’s a big game player who isn’t afraid to take big shots, and most importantly he’s a winner and a leader.

Billups was a champion with the 2004 Detroit Pistons and was the leader of the Pistons teams that made it to 6 straight conference finals.

Billups could serve a similar role to this team as Jason Kidd served to the 2008 team. Billups has the most playoff experience of any guard playing a 139 playoff games for his career. Billups is also one of two shooters in this year’s guard crop, Stephen Curry being the other shooter.

There’s a chance Billups could be the starting point guard and Rose would come off the bench, because of his experience, but I see Billups doing better coming off the bench as he can provide instant offense, and some three point shooting. Coach Mike Kryzewski also mentioned that Billups could also play some shooting guard.

Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry in my opinion should’ve won Rookie of the Year as he had a terrific rookie season for the Golden State Warriors, averaging 17 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.
Curry is the one of few pure shooters on the 22 man roster, and he can certainly shoot the ball as he shot 43 percent from behind the arc last season.

Curry would come off the bench for the team and provide the ability to run a team as a distributor and take over the game as a scorer.

Curry is as good of a shooter as any player on this roster, he should be a near lock to crack the final roster.

Rajon Rondo

This is the last guard spot and it came down to Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook. Rajon Rondo won’t have a huge role on this team as he did for the Boston Celtics, but he will be used as a defensive stopper on small quick guards.

The reason I gave the spot to Rondo is that Rondo can run a team better than Westbrook, he’s quicker, he’s a better finisher, and he’s a big game player.

Rondo averaged 16 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds during the playoffs. He was the best player on a Celtics team that featured several seasoned veterans, but Rondo was the Celtics go to guy in crunch time.

His free throw issues may hold him back, but I can see Rondo willing to take a bench role on this team, and provide instant scoring and solid defense off the bench.

The Cuts

Tyreke Evans

Evans is a terrific player, he can get to the line, and he can score. Evans even averaged 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists as a rookie, a feat only accomplished by Michael Jordan, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James.

But the reason I can’t put Evans on the team is that I don’t see Evans being successful without the ball in his hands. Evans isn’t a true point guard; neither can he play off the ball. This team already has it’s penetrators in Rose, and Rondo, and both Rose and Rondo can play off the ball better than Tyreke Evans.

Russel Westbrook

Westbrook, like Evans, is a penetrator and not a shooter. It came down to Westbrook and Rondo and I chose Rondo. Westbrook would fit well next to Kevin Durant, but Westbrook and Rondo are both very similar and I would want to have a balance of penetrators and shooters on the team, I have two shooters in Billups and Curry, the penetrators in Rose and Rondo, and a do it all player in Durant.

Eric Gordon

Gordon is a rising young talent but he’s a lesser version of Stephen Curry. Curry is a better shooter, and can put the ball on the floor better than Gordon.

OJ Mayo

Mayo could make the team as a backup two guard. Mayo was working in summer league on improving his point guard skills, but he’s not a true point guard, and not enough of a distributor to make the team.