Pure gold as FIBA Americas kings bring it on home at last

The US already have a good roster and will probably win the gold if they keep this roster and their attitude alive. Unless there is injury, I think they shouldn't change the personnel. Sure Wade is a great player, but who would he step in for? The US should stick with pure shooters like Redd and Miller and pure guards like Kidd and Billups. However, I would consider Garnett instead of Chandler. But only if Garnett is willing to play center.

they should keep the same team, get rid of tayshaun for wade, and trade chandler for bosh, supposing that they are all healthy, there is not way that this team is at its full potential right now

though this USA bball team prove it is really a Dream Team, it hasnt been proven against trully hard rivals. in the olympics, it will be faceing solid and larger benchs teams, such as a full teamed argentina with ginobili, nocioni, oberto, hermann, wolkowiski and sanchez, all of whom played or still plaiyng in the nba, serbia, lithuian, spain, germany, france, italy, may be a full throtlle brazil, if varejao and araujo decide to join barbosa and nene, and may be another good team, such as china, with yao, or some east europe contry. even greece. we'll see

This team is overestimated. They are good, but they didnt really faced an excellent opponent. Puerto Rico is not at full power and is renewing its team. Argentina was with its B team. Brasil doesnt have a good colective. By winning of only 20 points against Argentina in the second round, I dont think its a no-brainer, they are candidates.

I'm from argentina and the our team wasn't even close of what it really is...don't forget manu,fabri who are starters iin san antonio and nba champions...plus hermann who is an unbelieve foward...and of course nocioni who is the player with more heart in the nba... yo can't be preoud of that!!

I´m from argentina, and I agree with some things that the other guy´s sed. It´s true, Argentina didn´t have Ginobili, Oberto or Sanchez, and they will make argentina a much better team. But please, let´s face the truth, if Manu whas on the team, would he have a chance to stop kobe??? The answer is clear, but for those who don´t know, the word is NO. And how can nocioni ever compete with lebron?? He can´t. Oberto, vs Melo or Amare or Bosh, in case of healthy? I don´t think he can stop those guys. Sanchez vs Billups: That may be the point where argentina can have a little chance. I´m not saying that argentina is a bad team, they are great, it´s just that USA is not great, they are perfect. The only weak point in the USA vs Argentina would be, of course, Luis Scola. So I think the US is right now an unstopable team, and I don´t even want to imagine how it will looc with bosh and wade, who should step in for Red and Miller. By the way, even if I´m from Argentina, I think the best player to ever the game is of

MAMBA (Kobe Bryant)

US will always be a favorite to win the gold in any basketball tournament. ANy less is disappointment. That's the fact. If you're saying Argentina don't have their main guys, shut up! They had them last year in Japan. They had the same team for so many years, US always have different players. They're that good. Rest of d world, guarantee won't beat US with this complete lineup and maybe with Wade & Garnett if he wants to. Scary thing, they're still getting better. Big difference..KOBE!!!

It's a different ball game at the Olympics.I dumped the NBA for Euroleague. The highest for the US team would be bronze.

I say keep this team mostly intact. Def Bosh/KG instead of Chandler. I would keep Prince, Miller, and Redd. Miller and Redd are great shooters, a must in international ball, and Prince is a do-it-all forward with length and touch – and he's a total team player, a "glue player", with lots of grit and basketball I.Q. but no ego – exactly what team USA needs to complement their stars. Maybe drop Deron in favor of Wade, as Wade can play some backup point, but honestly the team has enough playmakers, and long range shooting is not really Wade's game. And as we know, having as many long-range shooters on the floor as possible is a major key to success in the international game, as teams will zone and pack it in against us. I would rather give minutes to Redd, Prince, Miller, and Billups. In the end, if they can keep this team together, and they continue shooting the way they did, keep their chemistry and stifling defense alive, they should take gold in Beijing. This team is far superior to recent incarnations.

Everyone has declared the US team is weak when it comes to pick-n-roll defense. Did anyone notice Argentina didn't use it much? Why bother giving the US team an opportunity to practice against that defense during a qualifying game that means nothing? Mexico used it a bit and it was very effective. Also, the US hasn't played any challenging teams yet, so I'm going to refrain from claiming them the favorites. Many have said the same regarding playing better teams in this thread and I agree with them. Let's not forget this is a team game. The US team has lost against other teams in the Olympics and 2 world championship games that did not have more individually talented players. A one for one comparison always shifted the favor to the US team. But it's the team that wins games, not individual talent.

This is great Team, how could other match this skills and talent of this guy. Take note.. KG,Wade,Bosh is not in the Line up.. Who can guard Kobe,Lebron,Melo plus Wade,KG,BOSH in the line up...plus a great leadership from KIDD and Billups.. The 3 pts from Redd and Mike Miller and inside presence of AMARE and HOWARD... OF COURSE the Prince the defense minister.

Argentina vs Spain = Gold USA vs Serbia vs Lithuania = Bronze

The US team has been fun to watch. Major improvement in shooting and defense. Especially now that they understand how FIBA referees call the game and how they are taking advantage of it, the US team is indeed a dangerous team. Just like how US team has been watching tapes and making improvement, the other teams will be doing the same after this. It'll be interesting when Olympic comes.

the US team now plays with more ball movement.theyre not relying anymore on their talent and athletic ability.they have pure good shooters and versatile big man.i know they can compete with the great teams like spain and argentina even if theres the likes of GASUL, GINOBILI, NOCIONI on their lineup

Hello, I'm from the Philippines and I think US is not a great team, they didnt face a strong opponents like Greece, Lithuania, Italy and of course my fav'rite Argentina. If Argentina will have it's great playes such as Manu, Nacioni and Oberto and they will play the way they play in the last olympics, huh!they will be unstoppable!

First of all, those who say that team USA is not a good team just because they didn't face strong opposition are using flawed logic. Remember that the Dream Team of '92 didn't face strong opposition; if anything, the opposition in '92 was even weaker than what Team USA saw at this FIBA Americas Tournament. Yet the '92 team was still a great team. Note that I'm not saying that this US team is as good as the Dream Team. I'm just saying get your logic straight. It's true that this US team won't really be tested until the Olypmics. But they played very well at this tournament, and they showed many signs of improvement over recent US teams: outside shooting, physical defense, dealing with physical defense, ball movement, chemistry, and decision making. The greatest improvement of this team is the shooting -- mainly that the playmakers can now shoot too. Namely Lebron, Melo, Kobe. Then you have pure shooters who can also create, like Redd and Miller, and point guards who can shoot, Billups and Deron, then you