Is it 2004? Is my time machine finally working? No? I mean, American basketball players are dropping like flies from the national team, so, you know, just thought I’d ask.
In case you missed it, Kevin Love has officially ruined summer. The Minnesota Timberwolves big man, who is the focus of constant trade rumors these days, has officially withdrawn from Team USA commitments for the upcoming FIBA World Cup for unknown reasons. Just kidding, we know exactly what those reasons are. Love doesn’t want to risk injury or hurt his stock (translation: get abused by a Gasol brother) on the trade market, so he’s doing what’s right (in his mind) to preserve every ounce of leverage he has. Okay, fine.
Actually, it’s not fine. Totally, 100%, NOT. FINE. Why? Because — holy shit — is Team USA screwed. We (yes, I’m using “we”) were already down LaMarcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin and, now, Kevin Love. I was fine with Griffin withdrawing because I’m one of the three people alive who thinks he’s a bad fit for international play (his bully ball post game doesn’t translate to the soft interior play and five personal foul limit of FIBA). Aldridge was a big loss. Love is a huge, Siberian crater-sized loss. Team USA has literally one big man with international experience: Anthony Davis. And, his experience consists of being a cheerleader on the 2012 Olympic team.
You know what’s gonna be awesome? Watching the Gasol brothers, or some seven foot Schmo from Lithuania, go to town on our weak, practically non-existent front line. For those of you who’ve watched the last two Olympic gold medal games, picture that scenario (where Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Tyson Chandler, etc. got embarrassed by the Gasols) but worse. Far worse.
In addition, while we were already probably at a defensive disadvantage, the greatest offensive weapon you can have in FIBA (outside of a dead-eye three-point shooter) is the stretch 4, and the two best American stretch 4s in the NBA ain’t playing (Love, Aldridge). Griffin, whose mid-range has improved quite a bit, still doesn’t quite fit that mold of “okay, we definitely have to guard him 18 feet from the basket”. But, he’s at least a big body down low. They don’t even have that anymore. Making matters worse (yep, it just got worse), Team USA can only pull from the pool of players participating in training camp in Las Vegas. Say hello to the Andre Drummond and Boogie Cousins era of USA Basketball!
By now, you’re probably wonder where the good news is. Well, Kevin Durant is still playing, and no team can counter whatever guards Team USA throws at the world. But if this thing comes down USA vs. Spain in the final in Madrid (oh, did I forget to mention that this thing is being played IN SPAIN?), you may want to avert your eyes.
[ESPN]
