US players asked to fill multiple roles
July 22, 2010
LAS VEGAS (AP)—Andre Iguodala(notes) is the only player listed at two positions onthe USA Basketball men’s national team roster, though not the only one who willhave to fill multiple roles.
The team has lost big men Amare Stoudemire, David Lee(notes) and Robin Lopez(notes), andnow the 19 players being looked at during the first week of training camp haveto be able to fill in at those spots as well as their own.
“I played 1 through 4 this whole week,” Iguodala said Thursday. “I playedthe majority of time at the 3. I played the point a little bit, too. I just wantto be out there and contribute to the success of this team.
“I think I’m a (player) who can diversify and play anywhere. It reallyshows that you don’t have a big weakness. Coaches can move you anywhere and plugyou right in. They will always include you in (the roster) because you can playanywhere.
The Americans were already short-handed heading into the summer after themembers of the 2008 Olympic team declined to play—though Dwyane Wade(notes) and ChrisPaul(notes) attended the first half of practice Thursday and are expected to visitagain.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski believes the guys who are playing will have the U.S.team ready when the world championships start Aug. 28 in Turkey.
“Versatility is a good thing for us, and the defensive pressure,”Krzyzewski said. “We have to not just play hard, we have to play so we don’twaste that effort by fouling or gambling. The guys got to know what we want themto do and how it fits their skills. And I thought we had a great effort today.”
Iguodala, a guard/forward from the Philadelphia 76ers, is one of severalplayers who feels he can fit in at several positions.
“Rudy (Gay) can play 2, 3 or 4, (Kevin Durant(notes)) can play anywhere on thefloor, (Lamar Odom(notes)) is an older guy who can continue that trend like ScottiePippen,” Iguodala said. “I think he can play the 1, 3, 4 and 5. We have thatkind of versatility across the board.”
Krzyzewski said no lineups are set and all players have to be ready to mixinto any situation.
“It’s not so much lineups,” Krzyzewski said. “Our team, just like the(2008) Olympic team, even though it’s not the same personnel, has to be the sameas far as knowing how to play three or four minutes and somebody else is goingto come in. How do you adjust to that? And how do you adjust to only playing twominutes in a half?”
Odom is one player who is certain he can make any adjustment the coaches askof him. He frequently mentioned that he wants to “do as many things aspossible” and contribute “any way I can help the team.”
“(I can play) every position,” Odom said. “When it comes to basketball,I’m a basketball player. I don’t have a true position. Whatever you need me todo you need me to fill in?
“In baseball, they’d call me a utility guy. If you need me to pitch, I’llpitch or if you need me to pinch hit, I’ll pinch hit or play third base, secondbase, first base or center field. (With 10 guards on the team) you’ve got to letthem do their thing. I’m basically at the 4 or 5, but just kind of roaming; (Ican) get the ball off the glass and I can push it.”
Odom is listed as a forward, as is Iguodala, Gay, Danny Granger(notes), Jeff Green(notes),Kevin Love(notes) and Gerald Wallace(notes), while the centers at training camp are BrookLopez(notes) and Tyson Chandler(notes). But positions aren’t important in international play,where big men often play on the perimeter.
“So both (Green) and Kevin Love have to play both,” Krzyzewski said. “Youhave got to figure out how to have the best players with the best talent on yourteam and devise a system. Guard is a very talented position on this team.”
Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans(notes), last season’s Rookie of the Year, sat out as aprecaution because of a sore ankle. But the Americans are well stocked in thebackcourt.
“We’re guard oriented,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said.“We’re athletic, very much so. And we don’t have a lot of bigs.”
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