Final Roster set and the team is heading to Spain
Representing..........
In a bit of a surprise, two players – DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond – who didn’t play on Friday made the final roster. Drummond is the fourth center on the team, while DeRozan made the cut over Chandler Parsons and Kyle Korver. He offers more playmaking and explosive scoring ability than the other two.
In addition to Korver and Parsons, Damian Lillard and Gordon Hayward did not make the 12-man roster.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski and USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo had previously indicated that they might take more than 12 when the team flew to the Canary Islands on Saturday afternoon, because some of the final decisions were proving to be difficult. But Krzyzewski made it clear after Friday’s game that they decided not to take any extras, for two reasons.
First, because it’s “really difficult,” according to Krzyzewski, for a player to travel abroad and eventually get sent home early. Secondly, with just one exhibition game remaining (Tuesday against Slovenia), it’s time for this team to finalize its rotation and everybody’s roles.
“Now that we’re down to 12,” Krzyzewski said, “we can get a little bit more precise with things.”
DeRozan and Drummond join guards Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, and Derrick Rose; wings James Harden and Klay Thompson; forwards Kenneth Faried and Rudy Gay; and bigs DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis and Mason Plumlee.
Its an odd list but makes for interesting viewing. With so many big names not involved it provides opportunities for others.
Mason Freaking Plumlee!!!!
ANyone plan on watching these games???
I can't believe that they kept M.Plumlee & D.Derozen over D.Lillard and C.Parson...smh
If you put the Net hate aside, look at the roster and they wanted to go with 4 bigs. Plumlee can play PF and C, runs and plays defense. He might not get off the bench but insurance to keep size. Derozen is in league longer and being a big PG presents a bigger matchup problem for teams vs. the smaller Lilliard.
