Name your 2012 Dream Team

ok, so it's 6 months or so, but discussions have already been made about who will represent the US at the Olympics. Taking into account who is returning from 2008, I will say:

C- Dwight
F- Melo
F- Lebron
G- Kobe
G- CP3
6. Amare
7. Love
8. Durant
9. Wade
10. D Will
11. Rose
12. Bosh

left out: Boozer- how did he make the team in 08? Redd- injuries have been a problem. Prince- He would be outclassed in talent in 2012. Kidd- after this season, a summer gig might be too much for his body to handle.

guys who will make it one day- Blake, Curry, Gordon, Aldridge

Your list is great, no changes needed.

2012 won't be a Dream Team. There'll never be another Dream Team.

STARTERS
C- T.Chandler
F- L.James
F- K.Durant
G/F- K.Bryant
G- C.Paul

BENCH
C- C.Bosh
C- K.Love
F- L.Odom
G/F- D.Wade
G- D.Williams
G- E.Gordon
G- C.Billups

I've more or less just combined best of 2008 & 2012 and added Love & EG. Melo isn't needed anymore since Durant is such a beast.

I'd actually go with a couple of the young guys.

C: Dwight Howard
F: Carmelo Anthony
F: LeBron James
G: Kobe Bryant
G: Chris Paul

6: Dwyane Wade
7: Kevin Durant
8: Derrick Rose
9: Kevin Love
10: Chris Bosh
11: Blake Griffin
12: Stephen Curry

This is a very good topic.
But just on top of my head:

C-Dwight Howard or Tyson Chandler (I can't really decide on who yet.)
PF-Dwight Howard or Tyson Chandler
SF-Kevin Durant
SG-Kobe Bryant
PG-Chris Paul

6-Dwayne Wade
7-Derrick Rose
8-Amare Stoudemire
9-Carmelo Anthony
10-Lamar Odom
11-Rudy Gay
12-Chauncey Billups

Actual Team for me:

C: Howard
F: Amare
F: LeBron
G: Kobe
G: Rose

Bench:
G: Paul
G: Wade
F: Griffin
F: Melo
C: Love
F: Bosh
G: Gordon

C - Dwight Howard
PF - Carmelo Anthony
SF - LeBron James
SG - Kobe Bryant
PG - Chris Paul
6 - Dwyane Wade
7 - Derrick Rose
8 - Kevin Durant
9 - Blake Griffin
10 - Kevin Love
11 - Deron Williams
12 - Chris Bosh

X, no love for Dwight?

X, no love for Dwight?

more importantly....Rose.....?

anyhow, here's my list

C. Dwight Howard
F. LeBron James
F. Carmelo Anthony
G. Kobe Bryant
G. Derrick Rose

6. Dwyane Wade
7. Lamar Odom
8. Tyson Chandler
9. Chris Paul
10. Deron Williams
11. Kevin Love
12. Amare Stoudemire

Yep, no Kevin Durant...Melo does everything that Durant brings to the table, and does it better. I'd rather have more mobile bigs like Amare, Tyson, Lamar over a shot-jacker in Durant. Already got one in Melo, don't need two.

Durant's a much better zone buster than Carmelo. Melo's value is in his post-up scoring and ability to play power forward in the international game. I'd rather have both than three point guards, especially with LeBron, Odom and Wade who can all handle the ball.

I'd leave out Rose and Kobe before Durant.

Dwight
Stoudemire
James
Wade
Paul
-
Griffin
Aldridge
Rose
Durant
Bryant
Anthony
Westbrook

Starters:
C- Dwight Howard
PF- Kevin Durant
SF- LeBron James
SG- Dwyane Wade
PG- Chris Paul

Bench:
Kobe Bryant
Tyson Chandler
Amar'e Stoudemire
Derrick Rose
Carmelo Anthony
Lamar Odom
Kevin Love

X, no love for Dwight?

more importantly....Rose.....?

No love for Dwight. In international play, I want my bigs to be able to step out and shoot. Versatility is the key. Obviously Tyson can't shoot but I've taken him over Dwight since I think he adds more to the team than him as far as glue guy & making role player plays that you need to win games.

I've already got two great point guards in Paul & Deron ahead of Rose so why would I need him? I think both are more mature, better shot selection & more used to international game. Billups is a better choice for third point guard as he's a good outside shooter.

Of my team, the first player I'd consider dropping is Kobe.

As for Durant, he's my team's best player and go-to-guy. Guys like Wade & Lebron are in there for defence & fast breaks. Bosh & Love would have a big role on my team too.

As for who I actually think will be on the 2012 Olympic team, take my team, swap Dwight for Chandler, sub out Billups for Rose, swap Gordon for Melo & Odom for Griffin.

19 PLAYERS PRELIMINARY TEAM SET:

LaMarcus Aldridge
Carmelo Anthony
Chauncey Billups
Chris Bosh
Kobe Bryant
Tyson Chandler
Kevin Durant
Eric Gordon
Blake Griffin
Dwight Howard
Andre Iguodala
LeBron James
Kevin Love
Lamar Odom
Chris Paul
Derrick Rose
Dwyane Wade
Russell Westbrook
Deron Williams

C Dwight Howard
PF Carmelo Anthony
SF LeBron James
SG Kobe Bryant
PG Chris Paul
------------------------
6 Kevin Durant
7 Derrick Rose
8 Amare Stoudemire
9 Tyson Chandler
10 Chris Bosh
11 Deron Williams
12 Chauncey Billups *

* If healthy I think Chauncey will get the nod, he'll immediately be the team's veteran leader which was J-Kidd's role on the Redeem Team.

i forgot qabout iguodala until the list came out. i thought he did really well 2 years ago and he's playing very well for philly right now. there's a huge logjam at the swingman spot and he has the talent to make it, but i think there's just too many guys ahead of him. i don't see westbrook making it either with CP3 and Dwill and DRose ahead of him

My predictions based on that list of 19:

C: Dwight Howard
F: Kevin Love
F: LeBron James
G: Kobe Bryant
G: Chris Paul

6: Dwyane Wade
7: Kevin Durant
8: Carmelo Anthony
9: Derrick Rose
10: Tyson Chandler
11: Chris Bosh
12: Deron Williams

Assuming of course, no one has to pull out due to injury. With that list though, they'll be able to put together a very strong team no matter what.

My guess on who will be cut:

Deron Williams
Russell Westbrook
Eric Gordon
LaMarcus Aldridge
Lamar Odom
Andre Iguodala
Blake Griffin

Dwight Howard | Tyson Chandler
Carmelo Anthony | LaMarcus Aldridge | Kevin Love
LeBron James | Kevin Durant
Kobe Bryant | Dwyane Wade | Andre Iguodala
Chris Paul | Derrick Rose

Makes the most sense to me, although I'm sure Blake and Deron will make it over LA and Iguodala.