Having spent a few days at the camp, I found the most impressive aspect to be Kevin Durant. Coming off his first scoring title, the focus and intensity of Durant was obvious from start to finish. Weather he was running weaves, scrimmaging with college players or working on his outside shot with Rudy Gay, he was sharp throughout the week and looks keen to dominate in Turkey.Without Stoudamire, the squads lack of size was also noticeable with JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler the only centers on the floor to start the camp. McGee did not make the final cut however. The squad still has some length with the likes of Chandler, Durant & Lamar Odom however beyond Kevin Love they could prove to be light on muscle and physicality. Love had a nasty fall on the first day which fortunately looked and sounded worse than it was.
Although Team USA might be thinner than in past years, they certainly have the squad to still win this tournament. I would expect their overall speed & athleticism to overwhelm opponents & with the likes of Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook on the squad, the USA’s three-quarter court pressure will likely be a feature. They will have a superior running game and between Steph Curry and Eric Gordon, will also have some lethal threats from outside. The youthful roster is balanced with Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom providing some big game experience as well as a great coaching staff.
While its not Kobe or LeBron, the team also has its superstar. Durant will not only need to be a leader offensively, but will also need to help on the boards. Judging by what he displayed before Vegas and since, he is ready to claim both the Gold medal and the tournament MVP in the coming weeks.
2010 FIBA World Championships Group Play Previews