Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. (GETTY IMAGES)

USA Basketball recently announced the 20 finalists who will compete for the 12 spots on the senior men’s national team that will represent the U.S. in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Among the finalists are holdovers from the 2008 gold-medal winning team in Beijing: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Carmelo Anthony. Assuming all eight accept invitations to London, there are 12 players fighting for four spots which leaves USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski the dirty task of having to cut star players without embarrassing them in public.

RELATED: USA Basketball selects the 20 finalists for the 2012 London Olympics (July-August)

Injuries will certainly play a big part of the selection process, especially with Bryant (wrist) and Wade (foot). Both have hinted they would love to play in London, but it’ll depend on how their teams finish and if their injuries will get worse should they play through the summer. Not having Kobe or Wade in the Olympics will be a huge blow to Coach K but those two were the go-to guys in Beijing. When Team USA needed a basket in the fourth quarter, Coach K called on Kobe’s number first and then Wade was a very close second. That was evident in the gold-medal game against Spain when Wade was the catalyst in the first half and Kobe closed the deal.

With or without Bryant and Wade Team USA should field a dynamite team in London and be heavy favorites to win gold again. But just like the 2008 team Colangelo and Krzyzewski can’t pick a team based on star power or All-Star game appearances. Talent alone won’t get it done in London, just ask the 2006 U.S. squad that lost to Greece in the FIBA World Championships. The 2012 Olympic squad needs to be balanced and flexible enough to adapt to any situation. The guards must be physical enough to play through a lot of contact because the international referees oftentimes will allow physical play, the forwards have to knock down 3-pointers, and the big men must be quick enough to defend the perimeter.

Here are the 12 players who should make the 2012 U.S. Olympic team:

CENTER: Dwight Howard

Comment: Because the majority of the big men in the Olympics are perimeter oriented, you really don’t need more than one true center. Dwight Howard wasn’t a huge factor four years ago in Beijing and, at times, struggled to guard the 3-point shooters. Hopefully four years of experience will help Dwight adapt to the international game.

FORWARDS: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Iguodala

Comment: Two years ago in Turkey, Kevin Durant showed the world what he can do in the FIBA World Championships. Now, it’s time for USA Basketball to recognize Durant as the centerpiece of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. Durant has the perfect game to play against international competition. We know about his consistent outside shot (something LeBron and ‘Melo struggle with at times), but what the 6-foot-10 Durant presents is a mismatch at the forward position. He’s too big for small forwards and too quick for power forwards. Iguodala played well in the 2010 world championships, especially on defense. Iguodala can match up against guards or forwards, and his length and athleticism really bothered the great scorers from Europe. Love and Aldridge are better fits because they can knock down shots, which is extremely important in opening up the court for dribble penetration. Love and Aldridge can also play some center if needed, and in some instances Love or Aldridge are probably better options at center than Howard. This means the committee will have the tough choice to exclude Chris Bosh and Blake Griffin from the team. There will be a ton of pressure to add Griffin on the squad because of the excitement and hype he’ll bring to London, but it’ll depend on how many guards Coach K will carry on the roster.

GUARDS: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Deron Williams

Comment: It will be hard to knock off any of these guards off the team, but if Kobe or Wade decide to pass on the Olympics, then Eric Gordon should be the next man up. Gordon played well in Turkey in 2010 and he has the game and built to play against the rugged competition. One key factor to watch is how Paul and Rose will keep defenses from zoning on them. Teams will gladly give up 3-point shots to CP3 and D-Rose to take away their dribble penetration. Rose was up-and-down at the 2010 worlds because he wasn’t too confident with his jump shot, something he has aggressively worked on the past four years. Coack K also has the option of playing Williams at shooting guard with Paul or Rose at the point, and won’t rule out moving Iguodala at guard to make room for another forward if Bryant and Wade are not available.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Each year, OneManFastBreak.net ranks the five best players in the NBA. The ranking system is based on ONE MAN’S opinion and doesn’t conform to the All-NBA format where you have to pick one center, two forwards and two guards. It is strictly based on last season’s performance, regardless of position, with more weight placed in how each player did in the playoffs. Last season’s top five: Kobe Bryant (1), LeBron James (2), Dwyane Wade (3), Chris Paul (4) and Dwight Howard (5).

Before people jump all over this list and start screaming for LeBron James, the biggest reason why LeBron is no longer in the top five after being rated No. 2 last year is simply because he gave up his top-five ranking when he signed with the Miami Heat and become Dwyane Wade’s sidekick. LeBron’s decision to leave his Batman status in Cleveland and settle for the Robin of South Beach was a stunning admission by the self-proclaimed king of basketball that he doesn’t want to be the leading man and is perfectly content playing a supporting role. If LeBron leads the Heat to a championship and wins Finals MVP then he regains his status as a top-five player. But for the time being, he’s at No. 6.

OneManFastBreak.net rates the five best players in the NBA in 2011.

5. DWIGHT HOWARD
Orlando Magic, Center

Superman II remains the most dominant big man in the game today. Though his statistics were not-so-super in 2010, he redeemed himself by increasing his scoring (22.9) and rebounding (14.1) in 2011. His shot-blocking remains superb (2.4 per game) and he has added a few post moves to his offensive repertoire. The extra moves boosted his scoring average from 18.3 in 2010 to 22.9 in 2011. He also averaged more field goal attempts (13.4) while maintaining his high-percentage shooting (59%). Even though the Magic had a disappointing run in the postseason, losing to the Hawks in the first round, Howard did everything but sell popcorn in the series, averaging 27 points and 15 rebounds. Howard has very little competition at the center position so he should be able to lock up first-team status for the next five to 10 years.

4. DERRICK ROSE
Chicago Bulls, Point Guard

Since becoming the face of the Chicago Bulls in 2008, Derrick Rose has been nothing short of sensational. He has managed to carve his own stature for a franchise that housed the great Michael Jordan and the incomparable Scottie Pippen. Rose is different from other superstars. He is quiet and humble, and always quick to point to himself whenever he makes a mistake. That is quite refreshing when you think about it, especially since the majority of stars in the NBA rarely blame themselves for anything. Rose’s game has evolved so much that he went from not being ranked last year on OMFB to No. 4, jumping over Dwight Howard. In just three seasons, Rose has become the league MVP and unquestioned leader of a team that reached the 2011 Eastern Conference finals. He jumped his scoring average from 20.8 in 2010 to 25.0 in 2011, and his improved his shooting from the 3-point line (from 26% to 33%) and free throw line (76% to 85%).

3. DWYANE WADE
Miami Heat, Shooting Guard

Some thought D-Wade’s status as one of the five best players in the game would come down a peg with the arrival of LeBron James and Chris Bosh in Miami. Well, not only did Wade find a way to coexist with two other superstars with a spectacular regular season but he enhanced his reputation as a big-time performer with a very good series against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals. Without a doubt, Wade was Miami’s best player in The Finals. Through the first five games of the series, you could argue that Wade was the best player in the series and was on his way to a second NBA Finals MVP until his buddy LeBron failed to support him in the last five games. Wade scored 22, 36, 29, 32 and 23 points for the Heat, but somehow disappeared in Game 6 as the Mavericks clinched the championship on the Heat’s home floor. Nonetheless, Wade reaffirmed his place in the game with another outstanding postseason.

And now, for the top two. Drum roll please ….

2. KOBE BRYANT
Los Angeles Lakers, Shooting Guard

The Black Mamba has been the best player on the planet (according to OMFB) the last four years, but age and tons of mileage on his body finally caught up with No. 24. The two-time NBA Finals MVP and five-time world champion still had a decent season, but “decent” is not a word normally associated with the always driven Bryant. He suffered through a very average series against Dallas in the 2011 Western Conference semifinals, and without his usual explosiveness Bryant was pinned to the floor and barely had any lift on his legs. The most telling statistic in the L.A.-Dallas series was Bryant’s inability to get easy buckets. He went to the line just 15 times in the four-game sweep, and didn’t have any dunks. At this stage of Kobe’s career, he’s not into statistics or individual awards. It’s all about The Ring. He knows his Lakers are built for the long haul and he doesn’t have to carry the load night after night. Besides, the soon-to-be 32-year-old star understands that he needs to start preserving his body. Although when challenged, he can always put on his Black Mamba game face and devour anyone who tries to get in his path. He knows his legacy is secured and his Hall-of-Fame pass is waiting for him at the doors of Springfield, Mass. About the only thing missing on his checklist is the No. 7. That’s the number championship rings he needs to win to surpass Jordan.

1. DIRK NOWITZKI
Dallas Mavericks, Forward

First, I’d like to apologize to Dirk for not including him on the list last season. But even after his stupendous performance in the 2011 NBA playoffs, leading the Mavericks to their first NBA title and winning the Finals MVP, I still have a hard time figuring out how in the world did Dirk did it. I mean, this was a guy who, in the previous 12 years of his career, has been labeled “soft” or “can’t win the big one.” All of that changed once the playoffs began as Nowitzki went on an incredible run that saw him destroy Kobe, Kevin Durant, LeBron and D-Wade. Winning a championship certainly solidified Dirk’s place in history, and removed all doubt about his ability to rise to the occasion. It began in the Portland series in which the Mavericks used a devastating playoff loss to fuel a turnaround that is not usually associated with a Dallas team. Then, in the Lakers series, Dirk and the Mavs seemingly had answer for anything Phil Jackson threw at them. In the West finals against Oklahoma City, Nowitzki outgunned Durant, including two 40-point games. Against the star-studded Heat in The Finals, Nowitzki exorcised his demons with two game-winning baskets – one against Bosh and the other against Udonis Haslem, his old nemesis from 2006. Dirk also showed tremendous grit by playing almost the entire series with a torn tendon in his left finger. Not many picked the Mavericks to win the championship, but it’s a testament to Dirk and the resilient Mavs for proving to all those so-called basketball experts out there (including the editor of OMFB) that perception and history are overrated. Dirk Nowitzki finally shed the poor perception about him and rewrote history. With exception of a few occasions, the MVP of the NBA Finals should be considered the No. 1 player in the game. And, without a doubt, Dirk Nowitzki has earned the right to be called THE BEST PLAYER IN THE GAME.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter: twitter.com/onemanfastbreak. (Photos courtesy of Getty Images and US Presswire)

Popularity: 3% [?]

Derrick Rose and John Wall are products of the one-and-done system that is currently in place in the NBA. (Getty Images photos)

Once the old collective bargaining agreement expires at midnight EST on June 30, NBA owners and players need to take a hard look at the current state of the early entry draft.

The way things are currently constructed, any American player who is 19 years of age and at least one year removed from high school can apply for the draft. With this option, the majority of high school standouts play one year in college and bolt for the NBA.

In the last five drafts, four one-and-done college players were the No. 1 overall selections: Greg Oden (2007), Derrick Rose (2008), John Wall (2010) and Kyrie Irving (2011).

Yahoo! Sports NBA writer Marc Spears wrote earlier this year that several high-ranking NBA team executives say they wouldn’t be surprised if the age limit in the new CBA is pushed to two years in college and 20 years old by the end of that calendar year. Spears said that one NBA general manager says about two-thirds of teams are in favor of that change.

That makes total sense because now the NBA and its owners have a vested interest in the college game thanks to the new14-year, $10.8 billion TV deal the NCAA inked with CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV to broadcast the men’s tournament.

Before the billion-dollar deal, the NBA could care less about players jumping to the league. With TNT now in the mix covering March Madness, it now becomes a major player in college hoops and would love to feature its college stars. Even though the NBA and TNT are two separate entities (wink, wink), they are in business together and what’s good for business is having more college All-Americans stay in school for at least two years to help to boost the ratings. At the same time, it keeps the teenagers out of the Association for a little longer, which means more jobs for the below-average NBA veterans.

As much as basketball analysts say college basketball is all about the names on the front of the jerseys instead of back of the jerseys, what attracts the non-hardcore basketball fans are the big-time athletes on the big-time teams.

High schoolers Martell Webster, Gerald Green, Eddy Curry, Sebastian Telfair, Dorell Wright and J.R. Smith would have benefited greatly from a year or two in college, but then again that argument gets swept away when you mention Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett and Amar’e Stoudemire. All of these phenoms were able to make the jump from high school to the pros with ease, and absolutely destroys the argument that you need to play college ball to be successful in the NBA.

So, what should Commissioner David Stern and the owners do about this one-and-done dilemma? Keep it or lose it? The answer lies in the dollar, and the new NCAA tournament TV deal makes the current early entry rule a chip the players could lose on the bargaining table.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter at: twitter.com/onemanfastbreak.

Popularity: 3% [?]

LeBron James' defense was a big reason why the Miami Heat eliminated Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls. (GETTY IMAGES)

Watching Derrick Rose go right at LeBron James in the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the 2011 Eastern Conference was pure basketball magic. It’s not often when you see the reigning league MVP and the two-time league MVP going head-to-head for much of the fourth quarters in the Heat-Bulls series.

Rose unleashed his best moves and best shots. If Rose literally had a bag of tricks, he probably emptied it out in this series. However, each time Rose tried to catch fire, James was there to snuff it out. In the end, it was LeBron’s size, power and quickness that uncovered the secret to stopping the mercurial Rose.

As good as James was on offense in Game 5 – and he was pretty darn good with a game-high 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two huge 3-pointers in the fourth quarter – he was even better on the defensive end, locking up Rose with a smothering man-to-man defense that would have made NFL shutdown corner Darrelle Revis proud.

“You kill the head of the snake,” Heat guard Dwyane Wade said of the key to stopping the Chicago Bulls, obviously referring to Rose.

Easy for Wade to say because he was mostly a spectator when it came time to defending Rose, but his good friend and first-team All-NBA defender LeBron James took on the challenge of shutting down the 22-year-old Bulls star.

Even though Rose scored 117 points (25-point average) in the series, which the Heat ended in five grueling games, it took him 120 field goal attempts to reach that mark. It meant that nothing came easy for Rose, especially the last two games in which he was a combined 17-for-56 from the field and 3-for-17 from 3-point range.

In Game 5 Rose was 9-for-29 from the field, and James was a big reason why. James kept Rose out of the paint, forced him to shoot over his 6-foot-8, 265-pound frame, and smothered his passes. Every time Rose tried to create offense either for himself or for his teammates, James was there to take away all his options.

After the Bulls took a 77-65 lead with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, James tightened his hold on Rose and allowed the Heat to mount a comeback. Wade and James took turns in dropping baskets on the Bulls, and at the one-minute mark the game was tied at 79. Wade and James combined for 24 points in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls still had an opportunity to pull out the win, but Rose made a critical turnover thanks to great defense, again, by James as he tipped Rose’s pass when the Bulls guard tried to swing the ball to the right. James came up with the loose ball and seconds later he dropped a cold-blooded jumper over Ronnie Brewer near the top of the arc for an 81-79 Heat lead.

On the Bulls’ final possession, down by three and 16 seconds left, Rose tried to create space on the left side of the court to set up a possible game-tying 3-pointer, but he ran into Udonis Haslem and then James finished off his defensive gem with a clean block as time expired on the Bulls’ season. Game. Set. Match. Checkmate.

Derrick Rose may be the most valuable player in the NBA, but LeBron James clearly remains the best athlete in the NBA and it’s not even close.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Bulls guard Derrick Rose drives through Pacers Danny Granger (back) and Paul George (right) during Game 5 of the 2011 Eastern Conference first-round series in Chicago. (GETTY IMAGES)

Injuries are always going to play a major role in sports, but they get magnified in the playoffs, and especially when it’s a star player. Derrick Rose of Chicago and Kobe Bryant of Los Angeles were both questionable with sprained ankles as they headed into Tuesday’s games, but like the warriors they are, their ankles weren’t a problem.

The Bulls went into their Game 5 matchup with Indiana looking to send the pesky Pacers home, and the focus for those betting on the NBA spread was on Rose’s ankle as he was seen in a walking boot prior to tip-off. But during the game, the only worry for Rose was foul trouble, and he even shook that off to drop 25 points in a 116-89 thrashing of the Pacers at home. Rose fueled a third-quarter run that put the game out of reach for the Bulls, and now he has a couple of days to rest his ankle before the next round.

The Lakers were a bit more worried about Bryant heading into their Game 5 clash with New Orleans, but all questions were answered in the second quarter when Bryant drove the lane and dunked on Emeka Okafor, which really gave the Lakers a spark en route to a 106-90 romp.

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant throws down a spectacular slam dunk over Hornets center Emeka Okafor. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Bryant was one of six Lakers in a balanced performance, but clearly he was the star of the show and it brought us back to young Kobe, the one who wore No.8 and had a small afro back in the day when he was taking Brandy to his prom. Young Kobe did that seemingly once a game and if you were in his way, you were in trouble. It was also encouraging to see that Bryant didn’t have to jack up 30 shots for the Lakers to be effective; they feed off his energy regardless.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Derrick Rose is averaging a career-best 25 points per game this season. (GETTY IMAGES)

After his 30-point performance against the Boston Celtics on national TV on Thursday night, Chicago Bulls All-Star guard Derrick Rose may have just clinched the NBA most valuable player award.

Rose put on a spectacular show against one of the best defensive teams in the league, getting to the rim at will and destroying his old nemesis Rajon Rondo in the process. In a week when the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant struggled against non-playoff teams Utah and Golden State, the Heat’s LeBron James suffered an embarrassing loss to Milwaukee at home, and the Magic’s Dwight Howard was assessed his 18th technical foul that could result in a one-game suspension, Derrick Rose rose above his peers and turned a close MVP race into a runaway. Might as well carve his name on the Maurice Podoloff trophy now because no one is going to catch him.

Rose cemented his MVP claim with a spectacular but efficient game against the Celtics, making nine of 16 shots from the field and draining two of his five 3-pointers – a shot he severely lacked when he came into the NBA. He added eight assists, five rebounds and two steals for good measure.

When Rose is making outside jumpers beyond 15 feet, you might as well call it a night because no one in the league can stay in front of him when he decides to attack. Basically, two things will happen: 1) he’ll embarrass you at the rim with some ridiculous circus shot, or 2) he’ll draw a foul. He rarely misses when he’s that close to the basket. Rose went to the free throw line 10 times vs. the Celtics and converted all 10 foul shots.

With Rose leading the charge, the Bulls – who have won 17 of their last 19 games – have secured the No. 1 seeding (barring a complete collapse) in the Eastern Conference, meaning the Celtics, Heat and Magic will have to win a game at the United Center in order to win a series against the Bulls.

“Like it or not these are probably the guys who we’ll meet in the conference finals or wherever,” said Rondo, who was thoroughly outplayed by Rose in the Bulls’ 97-81 win Thursday, a night when Scottie Pippen was honored with a bronze statue at halftime.

First-year head coach Tom Thibodeau, a former Celtics assistant, has the Bulls playing at an optimum level and the whole team has bought into his defensive concept. But when it comes to offense, Thibodeau has put the ball in the hands of his third-year guard and the former Memphis Tiger has responded with the best season of his young NBA career.

He’s averaging 25 points per game, almost eight assists and 1.1 steals. He’s also shooting the 3-ball at 33%, which is almost seven points higher than his percentage a year ago. He’s also making 85% of his free throws, which is nine points better than last year. But above all the stats is the way Rose has kept his team near the top of the conference for most of the season despite injuries to starters Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, and the Bulls are headed to their best regular-season record since No. 23 and No. 33 were together in Chicago.

Popularity: 5% [?]

As soon as LeBron James made his infamous “I’m taking my talents to South Beach” statement back in the summer, expectations were so high in Miami that anything less than spectacular is considered a failure.

By his standards, LeBron is not enjoying a most valuable season. But pitted against the rest of the league LeBron’s numbers for the first 40 or so games as a member of the Miami Heat have been rock solid. However, is it good enough to be considered the MVP of the first half of the season?

OneManFastBreak.net Editor and Publisher Joel Huerto picks the MVP, rookie of the year, sixth man, and coach of the year at the halfway point (sort of, more like the All-Star break point) of the 2010-11 NBA season.

Most Valuable Player
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
The MVP award should come down to LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard. James and Wade cancel each other out, Bryant has slowed up a tad, Howard has turned into Rasheed Wallace with his temper tantrums and Amare Stoudemire’s Knicks have fallen on hard times after a quick start. So, that leaves us with Rose and Durant, and in my book, Durant gets the slight nod because he has met or even exceeded expectations while Rose was a late addition to the MVP debate. Durant, the league’s leading scorer at 29 points per game (three points better than LeBron and Amare) is a lock to make the All-NBA first team while Rose may get bumped by Wade and Kobe. And if the Thunder had a better record, Durant would be a cinch to win MVP and we wouldn’t be having this debate.

Rookie of the Year
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers young gun has turned into the 2.0 version of The Human Highlight Film and his spectacular slams have become a regular on SportsCenter. At the start of the season, John Wall and Griffin were neck-and-neck in terms of rookie hype. Since Wall has been hampered by all sorts of nagging injuries, Griffin has soared over the Wizards star and has turned the ROY race into a one-horse competition. If would be a monumental upset if Griffin, who recently was named to the Western Conference All-Star team, didn’t win the NBA Slam Dunk contest during All-Star Weekend, and he should win ROY hands down.

Sixth Man of the Year
Glen “Big Baby” Davis, Boston Celtics
When Davis was drafted out of LSU, his game was very limited. He relied on his girth and power and couldn’t his a 15-footer even if a box of Snickers were tied to the end of the basket. Now, Davis has shed the baby fat (or at least some of it) and has developed a reliable mid-range jump shot to go with his bully move to the basket. His numbers won’t WOW you (11 points and 5 rebounds), but his value sometimes doesn’t show up on the box score. Without Davis’ contributions, the Celtics wouldn’t have the best record in the East. That’s how much Big Baby has grown up.

Coach of the Year
Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Altering a team’s image in one season is nearly impossible, but Coach Pop was able to pull off this minor miracle. After his Spurs were knocked out in the conference semifinals, Popovich knew the Spurs needed more scoring so he revamped the team’s philosophy on offense. The methodical, walk-it-up approach has been replaced by a more free-wheeling offense to highlight the great one-on-one abilities of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Pop also managed to convince Richard Jefferson that he can make 3-points, especially from the corner, which has given San Antonio another outside shooter and unclog the lane for Parker, Ginobili and Tim Duncan. The major makeover is a key reason why the Spurs own the league’s best record.

Popularity: 7% [?]

When I think of signature basketball moves, the first one that comes to mind is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s sky hook. Kareem’s sky hook may be the most unstoppable shot in the history of the sport. It’s beautiful to watch, extremely deadly and that unique shot – many times replicated but never successfully duplicated – is the biggest reason why The Big Fella is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Other signature moves that give defenders nightmares are Michael Jordan’s fadeaway jumper, George Gervin’s finger roll, Isiah Thomas’ crossover dribble (or Tim Hardaway’s crossover depending on which era you grew up in), Earl Monroe’s spin move and Hakeem Olajuwon’s “Dream Shake.” All those moves mentioned are go-to moves that are nearly impossible to stop.

When it comes to today’s game, there are quite a few signature moves that are nearly impossible to stop. Former SportsCenter anchor Dan Patrick used to say: “You can’t stop it, you can only hope to contain it.” That line applies to these seven incredible basketball moves from seven amazing individuals:

KOBE BRYANT’S PUMP FAKE AND PIVOT
Opposing players know its coming, but they still bite on Kobe’s head, shoulder and ball fakes. Kobe has amazing footwork, and he uses it to his advantage. When he unleashes his pump fakes, he gets on his tip-toes which throws the defender off balance when Kobe is about to go up for a shot. And then he reverse pivots to get separation and a clear shot at the basket. It’s a move that requires tremendous patience, practice, smarts and amazing balance.

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CARMELO ANTHONY’S JAB STEP
If you’re putting together a video tape on how to execute the jab step from the triple-threat position, pop in one of Carmelo’s highlight highlight tapes. Melo is the master of the jab step. When Melo squares his shoulders to the basket, a defender has to respect two things: the jump shot and the dribble drive. Both are made possible because Melo can create space with his jab step.

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PAUL PIERCE’S STEP-BACK JUMPER
The name known as The Truth loves to set up his defender by bringing him to the foul line and then stepping back to gain separation on his shot. Pierce is adept at executing the step-back jump shot whether he’s driving left or right. A lot of players have the step-back jump shot in their arsenal, but Pierce has won multiple games for the Celtics with his signature shot. Once he gets his defender near the top of the key, all he needs is a slight breathing room and it is game over.

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DERRICK ROSE’S CROSSOVER DRIBBLE AND ONE-HAND FLOATER
Spurs guard Tony Parker was one of the first to use the “tear drop” in the NBA as a main weapon against bigger defenders patrolling the paint. Parker remains one of the best at throwing floaters or one-hand runners in the paint, but Bulls guard Derrick Rose has taken it to a whole new level and does it better than anyone in the Association. He uses his great quickness to set up his defender. Once Rose has his opponent on his heels, he utilizes his lightning-quick crossover dribble, stops on a dime, springs up and then floats a shot with his strong hand. Bucket! What makes Rose’s floater so tough to defend is the way he can contort his body when he attacks the rim. Because of that threat, his floater is extra tough to anticipate.

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MANU GINOBILI’S EURO STEP
Manu Ginobili introduced the Euro Step to the NBA in 2003. It has been imitated but never duplicated. Even though Ginobili is from Argentina, he made his mark in Europe and the Euro Step was a big part of his repertoire. The Euro Step is an effective way of keeping a defender guessing. Manu uses his long strides to avoid the charge, steps across from left to right (usually) and finishes with his left hand. Current European stars Juan Carlos Navarro and Ricky Rubio utilize this move, as well as NBA stud Dwyane Wade, but nobody does it better than Ginobili. Pay attention to the instructional video below on how he executes the move off of a pick-and-roll.

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JAMAL CRAWFORD’S CROSSOVER DRIBBLE
Jamal Crawford has the best crossover dribble since Isiah Thomas and Tim Hardaway. The man known as The True Essence at Rucker Park, Crawford has amazing handles and plays the ball like he has strings on them. If you don’t believe me, check out this jaw-dropping move against the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan.

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DIRK NOWITZKI’S FADEAWAY JUMPER
The Dallas Mavericks superstar has amassed more than 22,000 points during his soon-to-be Hall-of-Fame career and 15,000 of those points most likely were produced off of those fadeaway jumpers. Dirk starts his move at the free throw line, or at the “elbows,” and then he sets up his defender by backing him down and once he feels enough separation he fades back, jumping off his left foot, and shoots his favorite shot. The move looks a little awkward during the process because the 7-foot Nowitzki is tall and lanky so there’s a lot of herky-jerky movements. And, let’s face it, Dirk is not the most graceful athlete on the court. But, the end result is absolutely gorgeous.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastBreak.net. To read his previous posts, visit www.onemanfastbreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Rajon Rondo won't play for Team USA at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey. (GETTY IMAGES)

In somewhat of a surprising move, Rajon Rondo has decided to withdraw from the United States basketball team. Rondo told USA Basketball President Jerry Colangelo that he had some personal matters.

Translation: Rondo saved himself the embarrassment of being cut from the squad.

The Boston Celtics All-Star point guard saw the writing on the wall and knew he was one of the players on the chopping block before the Team USA announced its final 12-man roster prior to the start of the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey on Aug. 28. Rondo struggled in a win against Lithuania over the weekend and didn’t play against Spain on Sunday.

He pulled out of the squad following the Americans’ arrival in Athens, where the U.S. took on Greece in an exhibition game on Wednesday. Team USA rolled to an 87-59 victory over Greece, a team the Americans could potentially meet in the knockout round.

“Rajon came to us and said he was going to withdraw from the team, that he had some family matters to attend to and some things to take care of before the NBA season,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo told the Associated Press. “He did an outstanding job during our training, we appreciate the effort and commitment he made to our program and he completely has our support.”

Before making his decision, Rondo admitted he may not make the squad. He told ESPN.com “I think I’m on the bubble. Just looking at the obvious — I got a DNP (did not play) last game. That pretty much speaks for itself.”

Rondo’s exit means Team USA has its final 12-man squad, with Derrick Rose and Chauncey Billups now expected to get the majority of minutes in the backcourt with Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon coming off the bench. The rest of the team includes Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Lamar Odom, Danny Granger, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler and Andre Iguodala.

With Rondo out of the picture, the door opens for Westbrook and Gordon to have bigger roles for the U.S. Both men have played their way onto the team and their hard work is now being rewarded. Westbrook, Durant’s teammate with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is a great on-ball stopper, and his defense will be needed against Europe’s best guards. Gordon has been a pleasant surprise throughout training camp and the exhibition tour, showing the coaching staff that he can knock down open shots and able to play through contact off dribble penetration.

Curry is the hybrid guard on the team, able to play point or shooting guard. His outside shooting will come in handy against zone defenses.

Billups has started every game for the U.S., and seems to mesh well with Derrick Rose. Billups can slide over to the shooting guard spot when Rose has the point, giving Team USA two PGs in the starting backcourt. Rose played extremely well in the win over Greece, scoring 13 points and making six of seven shots. He was named the player of the game.

Though having Rondo’s championship experience would have been a luxury for Coach Mike Krzyzewski and Co., his departure shouldn’t affect the squad too much. It’s addition by subtraction.

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Kevin Durant will be the leader of USA Basketball at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, beginning Aug. 28. (GETTY IMAGES)

Not a single player from the 2008 U.S. national team will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, so Team USA will have a brand new look.

If the 2008 U.S. squad – a group that included Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade – was nicknamed the Redeem Team, then the 2010 U.S. team should be branded the Rebuild Team.

USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski will have their work cut out for them as they reconstruct the U.S. men’s national team that will not only represent the country in the World Championship starting on Aug. 28 in Turkey, but be the core of the squad that will participate in the 2012 Olympics in London.

To win the World Championship, USA Basketball must have the following:

1) Big, strong point guards. Because FIBA allows hand-checking in international competition, it is important to have ball-handlers who can handle heavy pressure and physical play.

2) Shooters. You can’t have enough of them on your roster. The international 3-point line is three feet shorter than the NBA line so NBA snipers should be able to feast on this advantage.

3) Versatile big men. European big men possess guard skills so you want your power forwards and centers to be able to guard out in the perimeter.

4) Physical and mental toughness. In a single elimination tournament, players who can rise above pressure are essential. Having Kobe Bryant on the 2008 Olympic team was key to winning gold in Beijing. You need rugged and tough-minded players to beat battle-tested teams such as Spain, Greece, Argentina, Russia and Croatia.

5) Zone busters. At the international level, zone defenses are not just a gimmick. It’s important to have players who can defeat a zone on offense and play a little zone on defense.

Center JaVale McGee and forward Jeff Green were cut last week and Rajon Rondo decided to withdraw from the team this week. Here’s the scouting report on Team USA:

GUARDS

Chauncey Billups, PG-SG: At 33, the Denver Nuggets point guard is the elder statesman of this group and his value will come off the floor, acting as an extra coach on the roster. Billups is also a clutch outside shooter, which always comes in handy during international competition. His championship pedigree is a luxury Coach K and the rest of the coaching staff should utilize, especially on a team loaded with 21-year-olds.

Derrick Rose, PG: To be an effective point guard at the international level, you must be able to be physical enough to handle hand checking on the perimeter and quick enough to dart through the zone defenses. Rose fits the mold. It would be interesting to see who Coach K will start, Rose or Billups, because during the scrimmage in Las Vegas Rose blended well with Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry, while Billups meshed well with Rajon Rondo.

Stephen Curry, PG-SG: Versatility will be a theme on this year’s U.S. team, and Curry is one of those guys who can play more than one position. The son of Dell Curry is a shooting guard in a point guard’s body. He can play both positions very well, but his forte is shooting the basketball. Curry is an absolute sniper; one of the best in the league. During his rookie season with the Golden State Warriors, he averaged 17.5 points per game and made 43% of his 3-point shots. Steph Curry is a pure shooter, make no mistake about it. He hould get plenty of open looks if he’s paired with Rose, who excels in the drive-and-kick game.

Stephen Curry made 43% of his 3-point shots as a rookie with the Golden State Warriors. Barring an injury, Curry should make the 12-man roster for Team USA. (GETTY IMAGES)

Russell Westbrook, PG: Though Westbrook doesn’t possess the long-range shooting of Billups or Curry, he makes up for it with his defense and incredible ability to get to the basket. During the scrimmages and the exhibition circuit, Westbrook hounded the other team’s point guards and forced a lot of turnovers and poor decisions. The OKC PG is one of the quickest players on the squad and he’ll be used as a situational player by Coach K.

Danny Granger, SG-SF: You can’t have enough shooters on the team, and Granger is one of the best in the NBA. The 6-foot-7 Indiana Pacers All-Star forward can also play some shooting guard, which affords Coach K more options. Granger didn’t have a particularly good camp in Las Vegas, but the coaching staff will give him every opportunity to make the roster. He redeemed himself with a better effort at the Nike World Basketball Festival.

Kevin Durant, SG-SF: Durant is the only sure thing to make the team. In fact, he might be named one of the team captains. With Kobe Bryant resting his knees and LeBron James and Dwyane Wade hosting parties in South Beach to celebrate their union, Durant is now the face of USA Basketball. The Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star and reigning NBA scoring champion has the game and the right mind-set to lead Team USA. During the week-long training camp in Las Vegas, Durant was easily the best player on the court.

Rudy Gay, SG-SF: Fresh off an offseason that proved to be very lucrative for the Memphis Grizzlies forward, Gay adds scoring, defense and versatility to the squad. Gay played well during the scrimmage in Las Vegas and at the World Basketball Festival in New York. His length (he’s got freakishly long arms) will come in handy on defense. Coach K has mentioned that he might use Durant and Gay at the 4 position to create some mismatches on offense.

Lamar Odom, PF: Odom not only brings NBA championship pedigree but he also brings plenty of international experience with his stint with Larry Brown’s Olympic team in 2004. Odom is one of only four players 6-10 and taller on the 15-man roster, and one of them is Durant, which tells you everything about the 2010 U.S. squad. So, because of the team’s lack of size, Odom should be a cinch to make the squad. And depending on certain matchups, Odom will be asked to play center.

Lamar Odom was part of the 2004 U.S. Olympic team that finished a disappointing third in Greece. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Kevin Love, PF: Because of the dearth of big men in the U.S. camp, Love has a very chance to make the roster. Love is not very big (he’s listed at 6-10, but probably closer to 6-8) but he’s a wide body (250 pounds) who carves out a lot of space in the paint. Love’s game may not be as fluid or as versatile as Odom’s, but he’s the type of player who can thrive at the international level. He’s tough, he’s gritty, he’s physical and has a nose for rebounds.

Tyson Chandler, C: The U.S. currently has just two 7-footers on the roster and Chandler is one of them. So, there is no way Coach K will cut Chandler because that leaves the U.S. extremely vulnerable inside. Chandler may not possess great offensive skills, but he makes his money on the defensive end. He’s a very good shot-blocker and rebounder, and is battle tested. He participated in the Tournament of the Americas in 2007 and actually played well. Chandler also adds a veteran presence in the locker room. Expect TC to be Team USA’s starting center at the World Championship.

Andre Iguodala, SG-SF: Iguodala could be used as one of the defensive stoppers for Coach K. The Sixers’ leading scorer can be a very good perimeter defender, and brings more versatility to the squad. If anything, Iguodala could be used as insurance policy in case Granger doesn’t pan out. Iguodala is not a pure shooter, but he can occasionally make a 3-point shot. But his ability to crowd people with his speed, length and athleticism will be his role for Team USA.

Eric Gordon, SG: Gordon has made it extremely tough to cut him because he has been so effective during practices, scrimmages and exhibitions. Gordon is a natural shooting guard and has shown that he can make wide-open threes as well as take the pounding inside on off dribble penetration.

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