Rondo Should Make Team USA's 12-Man Roster

Lots of good praise has been handed to Rondo by the powers that be at Team USA, praise I’m sure isn’t given out easily. : )

And hopefully everyone else stops worrying about Rondo’s minutes, since even he’s ok with not playing that many. He didn’t even play 20 against France (granted, it was a scrim)!

Assuming one of the guards are cut (Between Rondo, Rose, Gordon, Curry, Billups, and Westbrook), we’ll have five going into Turkey. Consider that with the fact FIBA games are 40 minutes and not 48 like the NBA, that’s a lot of guys to spread 80 minutes at the guard positions to.

Rather than use the summer to overcome his glaring deficiencies as a jump shooter and free throw shooter, which would actually benefit the team that pays his salary….Rondo chooses instead to wear himself out, and risk injury, this way!

He is the anti-Larry Bird.

passed on bein part of the dream team so he could PT and get his body in shape for another 4 years of NBA ball.

too many pg’s, he looks like the odd man out

Gordon has that outside shot compared to him and they should keep Curry for that shooter role and regarding rondo and rose handling the point you can clearly see two different styles. Rondo is more of a suave smooth point guard looking for that perfect pass in a half court play while Rose is more of a controlled runaway rocket in open court play.

Gordon has that outside shot compared to him and they should keep Curry for that shooter role and regarding rondo and rose handling the point you can clearly see two different styles. Rondo is more of a suave smooth point guard looking for that perfect pass in a half court play while Rose is more of a controlled runaway rocket in open court play.

Jay-Z likes him more than Rondo. And that’s gotta play a part in the final roster. Someone put this video up of Westbrook getting center stage tickets at the Radio City Jay-Z show after the WBF game, and Rondo getting totally shafted. The footage of Westbrook eating Cheetos is hilarious though. (http://www.noregard.net/2010/08/russell-westbrook-gets-gold-treatment.html)

He’s really good, but he’s basically an inferior version of both Rondo and Rose in all aspects of his game. Rondo’s the better defender, passer, court leader, Rose is a better scorer, finisher and passer as well. I say just take both Curry and Gordon for shooting help.

for his development and his confidence. Doc will probably watch his minutes more this year in the regulard season which will give nate and avery a chance to play. Who knows maybe he keep Oliver Lafayette as well. Frankly I’m a litte surprised at the make up of the team; to me westbrook , Gordon and CUrry can all score whereas rondo can’t shoot. the international game features lots of shooters. we tried to win this thing before with speed and defense and it didn’t work

Westbrook was not even allowed to play till very late in the game. The 2nd rotation featured Gordon & Curry. Curry is much better defensively than what I thought with quick hands & good anticipation. He is also a much better ball handler in traffic than what I thought. He was stealing the ball & driving the ball hard in the open court with some nice results. Gordon is stocky. He can put a body on people (international play is supposed to be more physical), & he can take a hit & finish. He has a nice outside shot. Westbrook is fast & plays pretty good D, but he throws up a lot of unnecessary jumpers which don’t look very good at all. I was thinking cut Gordon, but lately he has been playing better than Westbrook. It is a tough choice. They should wait till the last possible moment to decide.

Rajon looked good out there. He is their best guard at drawing the D & making the correct pass. He also got lay ups off the pick & roll. He just has to realize that some tricky passes are not worth it based on who he is passing to. It’s like Rajon throwing a low pass to Perk. Not a good idea. Also, I think Rajon could dominate the game more by taking swipes at the ball when they bring the big up to the top of the key or when a big is near him with the ball. Many bigs don’t hold the ball high, & they are too focused on looking down into the paint to pay attention to their surroundings (it’s like they have a one track mind). Their peripheral vision is not their strength. Sometimes, the opposing guards even make it easy by not spacing the floor well giving Rajon a great chance, with his speed, to swoop in & knock the ball away from a big who is too focused on the player in front of him. Rajon’s defensive instincts are great, although there was one play where he played behind a cutting open Diaw in the lane instead of playing in front of him & denying the easy pass allowing Diaw the easy catch & lay up. I’ve seen quite a few times when Rajon gets stuck with a big or has to pick up a cutting big that he plays behind the big instead of using his quickness to get in front of them & take away the bounce/easy pass.

The biggest response from the crowd came from break away dunks, & Rajon’s trickerations. Rajon’s second lay up is funny. He is looking straight at Odom & sorta fakes a would be pass. The defense shifts, just enough, & Rajon easily waltzes in for the lay up. It is so much fun to watch the bewilderment & confusion that Rajon leaves in his wake as he moves to the rim. Don’t forget Doc said he wanted Rajon to play & get the experience. I just hope some frustrated wannabe doesn’t hit him or try to take him out after being thoroughly embarrassed.

LeBron, Wade, and Carmelo all became better players after playing with other great players at the Olympics. I love this move for Rondo.

Rondo is not there to play basketball. His real and secret mission for staying with Team USA is to recruit Kevin Durant, convincing him to play for the Celtics in 2012. Wade did similar things in 2008 when he was in the Olympics team with LBJ and Bosh.