Report: Jerry Colangelo chose size over shooting for Team USA
By Phil Watson
According to a report, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo opted for size over shooting for the team the U.S. will send to the FIBA World Cup in Spain at the end of the month.
Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press reported via Twitter:
Jerry Colangelo says US was just too intrigued by Drummond's potential to cut him. And wanted as many bigs as possible.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) August 23, 2014
Perhaps it's respect for Spain, but US wanted option to play multiple bigs after years of ignoring size concerns. That also helped Drummond.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) August 23, 2014
Team USA kept Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, Brooklyn Nets big man Mason Plumlee and Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond on its final 12-man roster despite none of them impressing in exhibition play.
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Spain has a big front line with Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol and Serge Ibaka and Colangelo was obviously looking to match up with that group. The U.S. battled Spain in the gold-medal game of the last two Olympics—2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. The Spaniards were upset by Serbia in the quarterfinals at the 2010 FIBA World Championships and Team USA went on to beat Turkey in the gold-medal game.
The U.S. under coach Mike Krzyzewski hasn’t been as concerned with size as it has been with shooting and players who can spread the floor. There appears to be a different mindset this time around as perimeter players Chandler Parsons, Kyle Korver, Gordon Hayward and Damian Lillard were among the final cuts.