The FIBA Basketball World Championship is quickly approaching in Turkey and there is still some confusion at point guard for Team USA. Lucky for the Americans, the teams isn’t short on talent or options. Team USA has until Thursday to trim the roster to its final 12 players. Those players will represent the U.S. in the country’s first major international basketball tournament since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when they rolled to a gold medal.
Team USA hasn’t been particularly impressive in the FIBA Basketball World Championship. Since 1994, they have finished third in 1998 and 2006, and didn’t place in 2002 when they hosted. Maybe it’s because the best NBA talent refuses to play internationally, but those were extremely disappointing performances for such a basketball powerhouse. Winning the gold this time around would do wonders for their psyche leading up to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
They have the right coach in Mike Krzyzewski, one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history who has led Duke to countless championships, including this past season. It will still be a tough job for the first-time international coach. International play generally relies on guard play and outside shooting instead of the half-court offense associated with the NBA and NCAA (to a certain degree). The point guard is a key position for the FIBA Basketball World Championship.
Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo started in Team USA’s 85-66 win over France and put up six points and six assists in 19 minutes. Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets played shooting guard. Other candidates for starting point guard for Team USA include Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder). Rondo and Billups are the leading men for the job.
Rondo is the main reason Boston made it to the NBA Finals last season. After breaking out on the scene in 2008 when the Celtics won the title, he filled up the stat sheet and became a leader for Boston the next year. None of the others have his vision and assists play a major role. Billups is a natural leader with championship experience. He is getting on in age, but scored 17 points against France and would inarguably be important in helping lead a young Team USA.
Rose has plenty of talent, but his youth and inexperience may not fit the role. He gets around the court with speed and finesse. Curry is the best shooter on the team and is extremely valuable at the international level, even for being so young. He isn’t necessarily a better point guard though and lacks in experience, so he will probably be limited to minutes off the bench for some needed jump shots. Westbrook may not be the greatest shooter but he is skilled all around for a point guard. At age 21 though, he isn’t ready to lead Team USA to a gold medal.
2010 FIBA World Championship Winner (provided by Titan Bet)
USA: 1.83
Spain: 3.50
Greece: 8.00
Serbia: 21.00
Brazil: 26.00
Turkey: 26.00
Argentina: 26.00
Lithuania: 41.00
France: 41.00
Slovenia: 51.00
Russia: 67.00
Croatia: 101.00