My U.S. Olympic Team

The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team will be announced on Monday...Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski will be the Olympic coach....if I had to assemble the U.S. team, I would not load it with NBA All-Stars and egos...the international game is quite different than the NBA because it relies on outside shooting....here is who I would want....

Starting Five
Forward - LeBron James - James (photo) is the best player in the game...he is a must...he has an open invitation for the Olympic team for the rest of his career...
Forward - Carmelo Anthony - Anthony has played exceptionally well in international competition...he may be the best player on the team....
Center - Dwight Howard - big men do not have a major impact in the international game but every team needs at least one stud in the middle....Howard is the best young big man in the game....
Point guard - Jason Kidd - Kidd has never lost a game in international play....he is a bigger point guard who can rebound too....Kidd does not have to score....he understands his role....
Shooting guard - Kobe Bryant - Kobe (photo) is the second best player in the game....

Bench
Forward - Shane Battier - Battier is a defensive stopper who has the ability to hit the 3 ball...plus he played for Coach K at Duke and undestands his system....
Forward - Richard Hamilton - Rip is one of the NBA's better 3-point shooters....he is another outside threat....give me shooters!!!!....
Point guard - Deron Williams - Williams is a true point guard who is big enough not to get muscled....
Shooting guard - Dwayne Wade - he is the 6th man on this team...his role is to be like Vinnie Johnson was with the Pistons - the Microwave....he needs to heat it up when he comes in....
Shooting guard - Michael Redd - the U.S. can always use another outside shooter and Redd fits that bill....

Final Two
These final two spots are my luxury spots....
Point guard - Chris Paul - I would feel better with 3 quality true point guards on this team....with Kidd in his mid-30s, he is prone to injury....point guard play is important in the Olympics....
Center/forward - Kevin Garnett - Garnett can play either the 3, 4, or 5 spot....he is the NBA Defensive Player of the Year who can also score if needed....his versatility makes him a must...

BRING IT ON WORLD!!!!