USA Basketball: 'B Team' Roster Set, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose To Lead

And then there were 12.

With Rajon Rondo withdrawing because of “family matters”, or better known as pulling a Richard Nixon and preempting a dismissal with a withdrawal, USA’s Men’s Basketball Team is set.  

While this version of Team America doesn’t have an appealing name such as the “Dream Team” or 2008’s “Redeem Team”, this is a team with all the talent to bring USA basketball its first world championship gold since 1994.

Led by back-to-back rookies of the year, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose, this team has two of the brightest young stars in basketball. But even with Durant and Rose, it is clear this team is lacking the biggest of names in the NBA.

Obviously, having a star studded team is the quickest and most assured way of winning a gold medal. A team with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade, is surely a better team than one without them. But the fact remains, that even with all the strides made in making Team USA a sense of national pride, the world championship does not carry the same weight for Dwight Howard, as it does for Marc Gasol. For the rest of the world, the world championships are on par with the Olympics. For America, it is still just another basketball tournament.

An encore performance for the “Redeem Team” was out of the question. Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski were faced with building a team that could compete at the world’s highest stage in a matter of months. So far, they have succeeded.

The strengths of this team revolve around its athleticism, speed, and defense. They will not win any three point shooting contest, although they have capable shooters in Chauncey Billups, Danny Granger, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Eric Gordon. What they will do is pressure the ball full court, force turnovers, and convert at the rim better than any team in the world.

Problems do arise with the size of this team. Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer, and Amar’e Stoudemire will not be walking through those doors. Tyson Chandler and Kevin Love aren’t Marrisa Miller sexy, but they are solid rebounders and shot blockers. And in an interesting development, Lamar Odom has been seeing the bulk of the time at center. Odom’s game fits the up-tempo style this team will need to play in order to beat the likes of Spain, Greece, and Argentina.

Ultimately the fate of America’s collective summer basketball hopes, rest on the shoulders of Durant and Rose. While there are several nice complementary pieces, this team is void of go-to players. When time is winding down and nerves are tight, there is no question who this team will turn to.

Durant and Rose both showed the ability to close out a game, as they took turns making clutch play after play in Sunday’s 86-85 victory over Spain.

Yes, this is not the best team that could have been assembled. They are lacking in three point shooting, playmaking, go-to scoring, and size. But what the “B-Team” does have is a hungry, young team, looking to put its stamp on the basketball world. Time will tell if that’s enough.