Real Deal

He did it against Slovenia. I want to see him do it against Russell Westbrook, after having to defend him and Rose all game long. Different scenario. Rakocevic was supposed to do big things for Serbia in the last FIBA tourney, too, but they were dominated. Serbia didn't even qualify for the Olympics in 2008. I just don't see a reason to believe they can beat the USA team, that's all. Eurobasket isn't USA basketball.

Yeah, I gave it to Oden because he can move away from the rim and still play defense. You drag Perkins away from the rim, and suddenly, he's a fish out of the sea.

1) Dwight Howard Just seeing how much of an impact he has with the Magic's defensive scheme (look at some of the players they have who can't play defense), you have to stick him at #1. 2) Ron Artest Should've been on the All-Defensive 1st Team. Very smart defender, excellent hands, very physical. 3) Kobe Bryant If one person has to defend LeBron, I'm taking Bryant, especially if it's the last 24 seconds of a game. When he's not having to eye a second offensive threat (for Fisher), he's top three on-ball defense in the league. Not very many players can successfully defend three positions on the court, either, if those players are elite (Rondo, Wade, James). 4) Greg Oden If he played a full season, he'd be nearly on the same level as Howard. Excellent help defender (not as good as Dwight), but a better on-ball defender than DH12. 5) Kirk Hinrich Ask Wade. The only guard (point or two-guard) I've seen light Hinrich up when he's defending them for most of the game is Kobe Bryant. I believe Wade has dumped a lot of points on him once or twice, but he's also had a lot of trouble against him. Rajon Rondo, Gerald Wallace, Thabo Sefolosha, Arron Afflalo, Anderson Varejao, Josh Smith, Tony Allen...all honorable mentions. I just can't say any of them are better defenders than Hinrich and Oden. If Oden doesn't qualify because of his injuries, I'll move Kirk up one and give the fifth spot to Rajon Rondo, but Gerald Wallace is REALLY close.

All of that height means nothing if you aren't playing like true big men. A small team would wreck a team full of Channing Frye's. Not a single player on Serbia can stop at LEAST two of our point guards in the open court (Rose and Westbrook), and that's obvious. Because Team USA is by far the best defensive team in the passing lanes, by far the best help defense, it kills teams that have no real go-to guy that can drop 30. Teodosic can score, and he's underrated, but he's not going to take over a game like Bryant did against Spain in 2008, or Wade was doing against teams during that run. Serbia would need a traditional back-to-the-basket player that can do that. Velickovic (hope I'm spelling his name right) plays that way, but there's no chance he's going to provide Serbia with that much scoring, that much dominance, against Team USA. I would go as far as betting money on a USA win, something I wouldn't do against Spain, maybe even Greece (but they did get crushed in the fourth today).

Teodosic would be the only problem for us, just because he knows how to run a team. Rose would absolutely kill him off the dribble, though. If we "disabled" Rubio to beat Spain, Teodosic won't be that big of an issue. I don't even know the status of Krstic (can he still play after the brawl?), but he's not going to be difficult to defend because he spends too much time shooting jumpers, and he's nowhere near the defender to be able to contain Odom on the mismatch we would present. Velickovic would probably defend our post players well, but Team USA would ruin that for Serbia by playing Durant at the four. Dunkfest. Velickovic doesn't have the lateral quickness to contain any power forward that plays quick perimeter basketball, so that presents another mismatch (hell, even Odom is a perimeter power forward). Serbia would lose by double digits based solely on mismatches, and that's not considering any one of the USA superstars catching fire and driving in scoring runs.

EDIT: Nevermind what I said...he deserves it, since Stockton has one with Malone.

*there I usually don't correct typos, but you're an aspiring writer, so it's my job. Yeah, neither will get much playing time now that Barnes and Ratliff are around, BUT there's a chance of it happening for Caracter if Drew gets hurt again. Gasol slides up to the five, Ratliff backs him up, Caracter backs Odom (because we have no other PF). Ebanks will need to play better than Vujacic and Brown. Jackson would try him at the two behind Bryant, or move Barnes to the two and see if Ebanks can defend threes. Unlikely, of course, but I can't say it's impossible.

Caracter should have been on the list replacing Ebanks. He was a top three player in the SL, and that's including guys like Wall and Turner. And of course, it's the SL...but just watching him, he has a nasty offensive game, crashes the boards very well, and many forget that he was THE best player in the nation around his first couple of years in high school. The attitude ruined it, not his game.

It's fine in OT. It's basketball AND other sports discussion, so it really doesn't fit a specific forum.

In basketball, it depends on the level of play. Not everyone on the 2008 Olympic squad was a superstar, you know. Ask me if I'd rather be Tim Duncan (four-time champ, led the Spurs, wasn't on that Olympic team) or Mchael Redd (no rings, not a superstar, won a gold medal doing nothing in 2008). I'll take Duncan and his championships. --------------------------------- In the same light, would I rather be LeBron James (2008 gold medal winner, no rings) or Adam Morrison (didn't contribute anything for the two rings he has)? I'll take LeBron and the gold medal. So...how much did I contribute to one or the other? That's the key. To elaborate... If I was the main contributor, I would take the NBA championship. If I was a role player, I would take the gold medal.

Had to pin this topic so it wouldn't fall to the last page of the forum. Sorry for not having it available. I should've known when I said there were 255 topics posted...with 256 games in the season.

TIME: 1:00 PM ET TV: FOX

Welcome back to the site, dude.

Jesus Christ. It's like we're playing against this team every game: C - Vlade Divac PF - Anderson Varejao SF - Raja Bell SG - Manu Ginobili PG - Derek Fisher

I'm not sure what you guys are getting at. It's a simple question. Do you think the Bulls would've won 78 games if Rodman and Longley were available to them? Any more than 72? I'm not sitting here talking about injury-free teams through every season, every team. It's stellar that they won 72 with Rodman and Longley missing all the games that they did. That's the point. Yeah, teams have injuries every year. Only one team has won over 70 games, and they ALSO did it with injuries.

I don't think they'd hit 70, if Kobe and Shaq couldn't do it. Kobe missed games, but they were 12-4 without him (didn't have that bad of a schedule to begin with). No team has ever won 70 other than the Bulls, and the difference in two wins becomes greater the closer you get to perfection. Scary part is, those Lakers were ranked 1st defensively, 5th offensively. The 1996 Chicago Bulls were ranked 1st in both. Jordan (greatest player ever), Pippen (one of the greatest perimeter defenders ever) and Rodman (greatest defender ever, greatest rebounder since the days of Kareem and Wilt)...they were all on the same team, and had Rodman played those four games he missed, I really do believe we'd be talking about Chicago's 76-win season today.

The 2004 Lakers were lucky that Kobe and Shaq were not injured for the Finals, you know.

11/14/95: CHI @ ORL (LOSS) 94-88 11/26/95: CHI @ SEA (LOSS) 97-92 12/26/95: CHI @ IND (LOSS) 103-97 02/04/96: CHI @ DEN (LOSS) 105-99 02/06/96: CHI @ PHX (LOSS) 106-96 02/23/96: CHI @ MIA (LOSS) 113-104 03/10/96: CHI @ NYK (LOSS) 104-72 03/24/96: CHI @ TOR (LOSS) 109-108 04/08/96: CHA @ CHI (LOSS) 98-97 04/20/96: IND @ CHI (LOSS) 100-99 Eight road losses, two home. Rodman (starting power forward) missed four of those games (ORL, SEA, TOR, CHA). Longley (starting center) missed four (PHX, TOR, CHA, DEN). Harper (starting point) missed one (second IND game). Longley missed 20 total games that season, and Rodman missed 18. Chances that the Bulls could've won 78 or 79? Or, at least four extra, with Rodman missing?

Oh man, another Suns fan. Welcome back, bro.

Yep, for personal reasons...he actually withdrew from the competition, or at least that's how they are putting it. Says he knew he was on the block anyway.

I think the dream dissolves if Yao Ming doesn't return to full health. If he doesn't, and Melo still decides to go to Houston (and assuming the Nuggets actually trade him out West, which is dumb on their part), he would be teaming up with...Aaron Brooks? A scoring point who is reluctant to pass. Kevin Martin? He'll probably be included in the trade, as Denver is looking for a two-guard to replace Smith. Luis Scola and Chase Budinger? I don't see it happening, really.

I wouldn't say Turner and Iggy are that similar. Iggy can adjust and play above the rim. Turner is grounded a bit more, looks like a young Brandon Roy more than he does Iguodala. Iguodala should become a primary slasher, while Turner can handle the ball more than Andre, shoot more jumpers (mid-range) and look to lock up talented two-guards, if his defensive talents translate to the pros. An Iguodala-Turner combo would be tough to play against. Both are smart and exceptional defensive players (again, if Turner's defense looks as good as a pro), and both may be able to drop 20-25 points on any given night. Not a contender, of course, but that Sixers team can make the playoffs in the East, if Turner shows he can play ball and possibly win, or touch, the ROY award.

Vujacic was actually contributing during his contract season: 9 PPG on 45% FG, 44% 3PT, 18 MPG. Contract season is up again, and supposedly, he's healthy now. I expect a better percentage from the floor this time, compared to last season's 40%. Plus, he's an expiring $5 million. If he doesn't play good basketball, we regain a total of $10 million (salary plus luxury tax fees). Perfect for us.

Few were bothered.

Other than DeRozan or Weems, what about Darren Collison? He averaged 12/6, which is actually good for a backup that came in to start 37 games...but his FG% was nearly 48%, and it looks like he can only get better. Can he put up 20/10 or better on a Pacers team with Danny Granger?