The United States Men's Basketball team will descend on Rio, Brazil this August for the Olympics. This year's team is very intriguing, missing many of the NBA's signature star players. This smaller talent disparity means there may be questions as to who should play the most and the least. In games with 10 minute quarters, the team total should be 200 minutes. Think of this under the circumstances of a game where the U.S. gets more than it expected from an opponent and needs to play everyone the right amount to ensure a win.
ROTATION:
Starters:
Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins
Bench:
Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Carmelo Anthony, Kyle Lowry, DeAndre Jordan, DeMar DeRozan, Harrison Barnes.
Kevin Durant: 30 minutes.
Durant is the star of this team. He's the best scorer and the most versatile player in the NBA, which makes him indispensable on a team with such talent because he can fit with any four on the court. If the U.S. faces an unexpected challenge in Rio, Durant needs to be on the court as much as possible.
Paul George: 28 minutes
George is similar to Durant in that his skill set can fit around any line-up, but that versatility is felt more defensively and athletically for George than offensively as it is for Durant. George lets everyone around him do what they do best because he'll contribute in every way from lockdown defense to long-range shooting.
DeMarcus Cousins: 28 minutes
Team USA only has three players who played the majority of their minutes at the two big men spots during the season, so it's that much more important that Cousins play his best. Boogie is possibly the most talented big man in the league, but he needs to keep his head on straight and contribute in any way he can to the team if he wants to keep the starting spot permanently.
Klay Thompson: 23 minutes
Thompson is the X-Factor on this team. When he's shooting his best, he should play more in the 30-minute range, because that's when Team USA will destroy everything in their path. If not, he's still a great defender and his liability to go off keeps the defense honest.
Kyrie Irving: 20 minutes
Team USA is stacked with wings, which leaves the point guards and centers as (relative) weaknesses. Kyrie just had an awesome Finals, so he has to be riding high. Let's hope he doesn't use his recent success as grounds to continue his habit of pounding the ball for 20 seconds and throwing up isolation jumpers. This is a crucial time for Kyrie. If he plays the way we know he can, using his otherworldly playmaking for himself and others, the Cavs may hand him the offense next year as LeBron begins his decline. This tournament may be a sneak-peak of Kyrie's future.
Draymond Green: 20 minutes
Draymond is another guy whose value is shown most in his versatility, as shown by his role with Golden State. But there's a difference between Draymond's versatility and that of Durant and George: he can become the de facto point guard if the Irving/Lowry duo is struggling or in foul trouble, even if he's technically playing center. His ability to create for his teammates is essential to a team with little creating guard depth.
Jimmy Butler: 16 minutes
On a not so wing-centric team, Butler would get more minutes. If Karl-Anthony Towns replaced Klay Thompson, for example, Butler would play around 23 minutes. Because of the roster lay-out, however, Butler will get lost in the shuffle a little bit. That's too bad, because Butler can help the team in multiple ways, especially with his bulldog defense.
Carmelo Anthony: 16 minutes
Melo is one of USA basketball's most decorated players. What he lacks in NBA team success, he makes up for in international play, as he's looking for a third Olympic gold medal. However, he's no longer a signature star, as age and injuries have sapped enough of his ability to justify removing him from the starting lineup. But he's been the old head of this team through exhibition play, a leader, and his example is important for some of the first time guys to follow.
Kyle Lowry: 9 minutes
Lowry may have to play more minutes than this if Coach Krzyzewski wants a point guard on the court at all times, but he isn't a big minutes talent on this team. He'll fit in, but he doesn't really deserve to play a whole lot.
DeAndre Jordan:8 minutes
Jordan is another player who may have to play more than I think he should due to the lack of depth at his position. However, Cousins and Green can always play center, and I think Coach K should even go to Durant at center occasionally, so there isn't a ton of pressure on Jordan to play big minutes. He will have incredible highlights, some bone-headed decisions, and should be a net positive for the team because he sticks to what he's good at: finishing at and defending the rim.
DeMar DeRozan: 2 minutes
DeRozan comes in if the other wings get tired and in foul trouble. He can give an athletic boost of energy and perhaps one of his crazy dunks can create some momentum, but he's inferior to the plethora of wings on this roster.
Harrison Barnes: 0 minutes.
Sorry Harrison, but that Finals performance showed me you're not ready for prime time yet.
ROTATION:
Starters:
Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Paul George, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins
Bench:
Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, Carmelo Anthony, Kyle Lowry, DeAndre Jordan, DeMar DeRozan, Harrison Barnes.
Kevin Durant: 30 minutes.
Durant is the star of this team. He's the best scorer and the most versatile player in the NBA, which makes him indispensable on a team with such talent because he can fit with any four on the court. If the U.S. faces an unexpected challenge in Rio, Durant needs to be on the court as much as possible.
Paul George: 28 minutes
George is similar to Durant in that his skill set can fit around any line-up, but that versatility is felt more defensively and athletically for George than offensively as it is for Durant. George lets everyone around him do what they do best because he'll contribute in every way from lockdown defense to long-range shooting.
DeMarcus Cousins: 28 minutes
Team USA only has three players who played the majority of their minutes at the two big men spots during the season, so it's that much more important that Cousins play his best. Boogie is possibly the most talented big man in the league, but he needs to keep his head on straight and contribute in any way he can to the team if he wants to keep the starting spot permanently.
Klay Thompson: 23 minutes
Thompson is the X-Factor on this team. When he's shooting his best, he should play more in the 30-minute range, because that's when Team USA will destroy everything in their path. If not, he's still a great defender and his liability to go off keeps the defense honest.
Kyrie Irving: 20 minutes
Team USA is stacked with wings, which leaves the point guards and centers as (relative) weaknesses. Kyrie just had an awesome Finals, so he has to be riding high. Let's hope he doesn't use his recent success as grounds to continue his habit of pounding the ball for 20 seconds and throwing up isolation jumpers. This is a crucial time for Kyrie. If he plays the way we know he can, using his otherworldly playmaking for himself and others, the Cavs may hand him the offense next year as LeBron begins his decline. This tournament may be a sneak-peak of Kyrie's future.
Draymond Green: 20 minutes
Draymond is another guy whose value is shown most in his versatility, as shown by his role with Golden State. But there's a difference between Draymond's versatility and that of Durant and George: he can become the de facto point guard if the Irving/Lowry duo is struggling or in foul trouble, even if he's technically playing center. His ability to create for his teammates is essential to a team with little creating guard depth.
Jimmy Butler: 16 minutes
On a not so wing-centric team, Butler would get more minutes. If Karl-Anthony Towns replaced Klay Thompson, for example, Butler would play around 23 minutes. Because of the roster lay-out, however, Butler will get lost in the shuffle a little bit. That's too bad, because Butler can help the team in multiple ways, especially with his bulldog defense.
Carmelo Anthony: 16 minutes
Melo is one of USA basketball's most decorated players. What he lacks in NBA team success, he makes up for in international play, as he's looking for a third Olympic gold medal. However, he's no longer a signature star, as age and injuries have sapped enough of his ability to justify removing him from the starting lineup. But he's been the old head of this team through exhibition play, a leader, and his example is important for some of the first time guys to follow.
Kyle Lowry: 9 minutes
Lowry may have to play more minutes than this if Coach Krzyzewski wants a point guard on the court at all times, but he isn't a big minutes talent on this team. He'll fit in, but he doesn't really deserve to play a whole lot.
DeAndre Jordan:8 minutes
Jordan is another player who may have to play more than I think he should due to the lack of depth at his position. However, Cousins and Green can always play center, and I think Coach K should even go to Durant at center occasionally, so there isn't a ton of pressure on Jordan to play big minutes. He will have incredible highlights, some bone-headed decisions, and should be a net positive for the team because he sticks to what he's good at: finishing at and defending the rim.
DeMar DeRozan: 2 minutes
DeRozan comes in if the other wings get tired and in foul trouble. He can give an athletic boost of energy and perhaps one of his crazy dunks can create some momentum, but he's inferior to the plethora of wings on this roster.
Harrison Barnes: 0 minutes.
Sorry Harrison, but that Finals performance showed me you're not ready for prime time yet.
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