Team USA has been busy in Vegas by David Murphy, Sunday, July 25, 2010
Less than a week after lottery picks and undrafted free agents got a taste of their first NBA action, it was time to make room for the big boys.
The USA Men's National Team descended on Las Vegas, concluding their annual 5-day training camp at the UNLV Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday with the usual White vs. Blue scrimmage.
Neither squad featured a player from the 2008 National team that took home gold in the Beijing Games, yet the showcase wasn't short on standout performances.
Without LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony or Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant has emerged as the team's star and leader. Saturday's performance was indicative of that new role, as Durant tallied a game-high 28 points for the Whites in a 114-96 victory.
The scrimmage, while meant to gain some publicity for the team, was the final chance for participants to secure a roster spot before Monday, when as many as four players will be cut.
17 players ended the camp, and 16 saw time in the showcase - Tyreke Evans sat out with an ankle sprain.
The decisions for USA managing director Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski's coaching staff will not be easy. As the roster stands, there is a plethora of talented guards and deficit of capable big men; Amar'e Stoudemire did not play due to contract issues and both Robin Lopez and David Lee are out with injuries.
Unfortunately, few active bigs showed their worth. Lamar Odom and Brook Lopez combined for just four points while JaVale McGee was good for only seven. However, Tyson Chandler finished with 13 points and nine rebound and Kevin Love contributed eight points and seven rebounds of his own.
The coaching staff must also focus on trimming down the team's perimeter rotation. Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala made their cases, combining for 31 points for the White team; in a loss for the Blue squad, Rudy Gay netted 23 points, connecting on on 3 of his 4 attempts from 3-point range.
While the soon-to-be-made cuts linger, Team USA leaves the camp with a sense of identity.
"We're getting to have a personality," Krzyzewski said. "They've been tested this week. They've done it enthusiastically. It was a really good week for us."
For those still on the roster after Monday, the next step is again cutting the group down to 12 by August 26 - after returning from a 3-game exhibition schedule in Madrid and Athens.
World Championships begin August 28. The US squad is in Group B with Croatia, Slovenia, Brazil, Iran and Tunisia.
