Monday, January 16, 2012

Rudy Gets a Shot, Curry Snubbed by Coach K

The 19-man preliminary roster for the 2012 Olympics has expanded to 20, featuring the addition of Rudy Gay of the Memphis Grizzlies and member of the 2010 FIBA World Championship team. Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors was snubbed in favor of Gay, having the exact same credentials.


Curry has expressed surprise of Gay being picked over him and I'm on his side. The 19-man roster that was previously released featured 8 guards, 9 forwards, and 2 centers. Curry would have been the 9th guard, but instead Gay becomes the 10th forward. 


The full 20-man roster after the break and my predictions for who Coach K will pick on the final 12-man roster based on who he's considering.

Last time, I only listed players as indicated by guard, forward, or center. This time, I'm listing them based on how they are played on their respective teams.

  • PG Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
  • PG Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
  • PG Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • PG Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets)
  • CG Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers)
  • SG Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)
  • SG Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets)
  • SG Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)
  • SM Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers)
  • SM LeBron James (Miami Heat)
  • SF Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
  • SF Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • SF Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies)
  • PF Chris Bosh (Miami Heat)
  • PF Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers)
  • PF Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves)
  • FC LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trailblazers)
  • FC Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks)
  • C Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks)
  • C Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic)
4 Point Guards, 3 Shooting Guards, 3 Small Forwards, 3 Power Forwards, 2 Centers, alongside 1 Combo Guard (PG/SG), 2 Swingmen (SG/SF), and 2 Forward-Centers (PF/C). Those 20 players will be cut down to only 12 come July, meaning a roster consisting of a starting 5, 5 backups, and 2 alternates, more than likely to be 2 people who can fill multiple roles. This is what I think will be the final 12-man roster, ordered by starters, backups, and then alternates:
  • PG Chris Paul
  • SG Kobe Bryant
  • SM LeBron James
  • PF Blake Griffin
  • C Dwight Howard
  • PG Russell Westbrook
  • SG Dwyane Wade
  • SF Kevin Durant
  • PF Kevin Love
  • FC LaMarcus Aldridge
  • CG Chauncey Billups
  • FC Lamar Odom
I have Odom listed as an FC, but in reality he's one of the few people in NBA history to play all 5 positions equally well. This makes him a true wild card and probably the reason he will get the 12th spot rather than someone like Iguodala. This is all just my opinion as a fan, anyway. Anyone on the 20-man roster can make it to the final roster, but everyone knows that it will be a team made up of both All-Stars and people from the 2010 FIBA World Championship team. Really, the big question is whether or not Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge will make the 12-man roster despite having no international experience.

Either way, Spain is fucked.

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