Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo was among four players cut from Team USA. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

USA Basketball President Jerry Colangelo and head coach Mike Krzyzewski have trimmed the U.S. roster to 15 players, which meant four players were cut.

Those who were left off the 15-man roster were guards Tyreke Evans and O.J. Mayo, forward Gerald Wallace and center JaVale McGee were cut. Evans could have made it the final 12-man roster that will represent Team USA at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey, but he missed most of training camp with a sprained ankle. The 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year will get another chance in two years for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Because Team USA was already loaded with guards, there was simply no room for a guy like Mayo. The Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard doesn’t really have a specialty and is more of a volume shooter. Coach K and his staff chose to keep shooting guards Eric Gordon, Danny Granger and Andre Iguodala instead.

Wallace could have filled the role of defensive stopper, but his limited offensive skills probably kept him from wearing the USA colors. Coach K and Co. didn’t want to sacrifice a top-notch guard for a small forward with limited range, and Wallace would have been overmatched at power forward.

McGee was a late invite to training camp in Las Vegas after Amare Stoudemire didn’t bother to show up and Robin Lopez has not completely healed from his back injury. Then, two days into camp, forward David Lee dislocated his finger and had to drop out, which gave McGee a glimmer of hope to make the roster.

Despite playing well in the scrimmage showcase at Thomas & Mack Center, McGee was let go as Coach K chose to keep Tyson Chandler and Brook Lopez, two players with a little more playing experience than the 22-year-0ld Wizards center. But the future is very bright for McGee, who dominated the Las Vegas Summer League and should be the Wizards starting center heading into this season. Lopez didn’t particularly play well in the scrimmage, but the 7-foot center is one of the few legit post-up players in camp and the team desperately needs big bodies.

“We do want to see how Brook Lopez looks after two weeks of getting himself in shape,” Colangelo told reporters. “He knows he struggled, he’s disappointed in his performance, but he wants this opportunity and when somebody has that kind of an attitude you’re going to give him a little bit of rope.”

Named as finalists for the USA World Championship Team include: Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Granger (Indiana Pacers); Jeff Green (Oklahoma City Thunder); Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Lopez (New Jersey Nets); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

Team USA will take a short break before reopening camp on Aug. 9. The team plays an exhibition game on Aug. 15 against France at Madison Square Garden in New York. It’s the first of four exhibition games for Team USA before it leaves for Turkey. USA Basketball doesn’t need to announce its 12-man roster until a day before the World Championship, which begins Aug. 28.

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After winning his third consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has clearly established himself as the best stopper in basketball.

Howard was second in the league rebounds (14.1) and fourth in blocked shots (2.3), and his presence in the middle allowed the Magic to be the fourth-best defensive team in the league in points allowed (93.7 points). He made NBA history last season when he led the league in rebounding (13.2) and blocked shots (2.8) in consecutive seasons (2009 and 2010). The 6-foot-11, 275-pound All-Star center was a near unanimous choice as the league’s top defender, garnering 114 of a possible 120 first-place votes.

Howard becomes the first player in NBA history to win the award three straight years. Other multiple winners of the award are Ben Wallace, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Dennis Rodman and Sidney Moncrief.

OneManFastBreak.net ranks the five best defenders in the NBA (regardless of position):

1) DWIGHT HOWARD, Orlando Magic, center
Howard stops and alters shots like a great goalie in hockey. Orlando’s entire philosophy on defense is to funnel all the scorers to Howard, and more often than not Howard ends up protecting the basket with his incredible jumping ability and intimidating raw power. No big man in the league defends the paint better than Superman II.

2) KEVIN GARNETT, Boston Celtics, forward
When KG joined the Boston Celtics in 2007, the Celtics instantly became the best defensive team in the league. Garnett is a unique talent who covers a lot of ground with his length, but he plays with tremendous passion and intensity that filters down to his teammates. Garnett plays the pick-and-roll better than anyone in the Association, and is also an incredible weakside or help defender. He rarely plays out of position on defense, and he never backs down from a challenge. When given the opportunity, he certainly can defend all five positions.

3) RON ARTEST, L.A. Lakers, forward
Age may have robbed Artest of his quickness but definitely not his power. Ron-Ron uses his hands very well, and he has extremely strong hands. At 250 pounds, he likes to put his body on opposing scorers to take away their air space and thrives on physical contact. But his biggest strength is probably his reputation, as most players are afraid to go at him.

4) TABO SEFOLOSHA, Oklahoma City Thunder, guard
If basketball fans can flashback to the 2006 NBA playoffs, that was the year we were introduced to Thabo and his defensive prowess. As a rookie with the Chicago Bulls, Sefolosha gave Dwyane Wade fits with his quickness and length. One team who was paying attention to Sefolosha’s defense was the Thunder, who picked him up in the 2008-09 season and he has become a regular starter with OKC. Because Sefolosha doesn’t “wow!” anyone with his stats, he tends to get overlook by the media. But you ask all the great scorers in the league, from Kobe Bryant to D-Wade, they’ll agree that Thabo is a first-team all-defender.

5) KIRK HINRICK, Chicago Bulls, guard
Suns coach Alvin Gentry says that Kirk Hinrich is the best on-ball defender in the league. That’s high praise for a guy who doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to make it extremely tough on perimeter players to score. Call it The Hinrich Maneuver. Just ask Wade, who always struggles against the former Bull and current Hawk. Atlanta became a much better defensive team when they acquired Hinrich.

6) GERALD WALLACE, Portland Trail Blazers, forward
Wallace finished 13th in the rebounds (10.0) in 2009-10, which is very impressive for a small forward. He also ranked 17th in steals (1.5) and 42nd in blocks (1.09) that season. He earned the nickname “Crash” for his penchant for crashing to the floor, the stands and the basket padding. Wallace is a solid one-on-one defender, but he is even better as a weak-side defender. His stats were down in 2010-11, but that was mainly because he moved to a new team and he is barely getting used to Nate McMillan’s system. Give him a full year and he should fill up the stat sheet.

7) KOBE BRYANT, L.A. Lakers, guard
Because of injuries and wear-and-tear on the body, Kobe has lost some of his aggressiveness on defense. But when Phil Jackson needs to apply the glove on an opposing team’s scorer, he often calls on No. 24. Bryant’s best attribute is his preparation and intelligence. He does his homework off the court and scouts his competition.

8) RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Oklahoma City Thunder, guard
During Team USA’s scrimmages in Las Vegas while they prepare for the FIBA World Championship, head coach Mike Krzyzewski teamed Westbrook and Rajon Rondo in the backcourt against a team comprised of college standouts. Westbrook and Rondo were so good defensively the collegians could barely get the ball past halfcourt. Westbrook is the point man of OKC’s defense. He sets the tone because of great ability to redirect an offensive player and his incredible skill to jump the passing lanes.

9) JOSH SMITH, Atlanta Hawks, forward
Smith has grown into a borderline All-Star player and his defense sets the tone for the Hawks. His former coach, Mike Woodson said, “You think back six years ago, Josh Smith has come a long way. I tip my hat to him because he’s worked over the years and has developed into a player.” Smith averages eight rebounds, nearly two steals a game and is one of the best shot-blockers in the NBA from the forward position.

10) JOAKIM NOAH, Chicago Bulls,
When Noah was sidelined with an injury, the Bulls struggled. When he returned, the Bulls became one of the beasts in the East. Noah plays with great energy and anchors the Bulls’ defense. He not only defends his position, but he also helps his teammates. He is among the league leaders in rebounds (10.4) and blocks (1.5) and loves to compete.

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It’s the unofficial halfway point of the 2009-10 NBA season and here are the individuals who helped shape the first half of the regular season.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Nate McMillan, Portland Trail Blazers

McMillan and Mike Woodson were in a dead heat for this award, but I have to give it to the coach who has watched his roster get decimated by injuries and then, to add insult to injury (no pun intended), McMillan ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during practice because the Blazers didn’t have enough bodies to scrimmage. McMillan still wears a walking boot when he’s coaching on the sidelines. Now that’s dedication!

SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR
Lamar Odom (F), L.A. Lakers

The popular choice here is Jamal Crawford of the Hawks, but if you look Lamar Odom’s overall production in the amount of minutes he plays, he is more of an impact player than Crawford, San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili or Dallas’ Jason Terry. If Odom played more minutes, he would be in the top three in rebounds. He initiates the Lakers’ triangle offense and is a very underrated defender. At 6-10 with guard-like handles, Odom is a nightmare matchup for a lot of teams and he is a vital cog in L.A.’s championship aspirations.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Aaron Brooks (G), Houston Rockets

When the Rockets let go of Rafer Alston, it signaled that the coaching staff and GM Daryl Morey was convinced that Aaron Brooks can, and will be, the point guard of the present and future of the franchise. Brooks has not only lived up to their expectations, he has surpassed them. The ultra-quick point guard has improved his scoring from 11 to 19 and despite the increase in field goal attempts, he is shooting better this season (42%) than last season (40%).

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zach Randolph (F), Memphis Grizzlies

The comeback player of the year doesn’t have to be awarded to a player returning from an injury. It could be someone who was sent to basketball Siberia (see L.A. Clippers) and left to rot there. But Randolph has revived his career in Memphis and was a first-time All-Star this year. Randolph is a 20-10 player and has given the Grizzlies a legitimate inside threat who can command a double team.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Tyreke Evans (G), Sacramento Kings

Take away Brandon Jennings’ 55-point game against the Warriors and Evans has the more impressive rookie season. The former Memphis stud is averaging 20.3 points, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals compared to Jennings, who is averaging 16.9 points, 6.2 assists and 1.3 steals. Trade rumors regarding Kevin Martin has solidified Evans’ standing as the foundation of the rebuilding Kings. The rest of the first-team All-Rookie squad should include Stephen Curry (Golden State), DeJuan Blair (San Antonio) and Darren Collison (New Orleans).

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Gerald Wallace (F), Charlotte Bobcats

The easy pick here would be Dwight Howard, last year’s winner. But I can’t ignore Wallace’s impact this season. He is currently seventh in rebounds (10.9), 14th in steals (1.59) and 27th in blocks (1.1.) Those may not be gaudy when paired next to Howard’s stats, but Wallace does more than just rebound and defend. He is the heart and soul of the Bobcats’ second-ranked defense and his all-out hustle doesn’t usually show up on the stat sheet.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
LeBron James (F), Cleveland Cavaliers

Last season, I chose Kobe Bryant over LeBron James and Dwyane Wade because the Lakers had the best record. This season, despite major injuries to Mo Williams and Delonte West, the Cavaliers have the best mark at the All-Star break because James has been out of this world and is playing like a demigod. During the Cavs’ 13-game winning streak, LeBron is averaging nearly 30 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists. In his last four games before the break, he posted scoring totals of 36, 47, 32 and 32. His Cavs also knocked off Kobe’s Lakers (twice), Howard’s Magic (twice), Wade’s Heat (twice) and Joe Johnson’s Hawks (twice). It would take a monumental upset for LeBron James not win back-to-back MVP awards.

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The 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest in Dallas didn’t quite live up to the hype, but there was history made Saturday night as Nate Robinson became the first three-time dunk champion.

Robinson, the defending champion, didn’t have to bring his “A” game because the competition failed miserably. Shakira and Alicia Keys had better performances than the slam dunk competitors. Nate “The Great” outlasted rookie DeMar DeRozan in the finals to claim his third dunk trophy. DeRozan had one real good dunk, but seem to run out of ideas once he got to the finals.

Shannon Brown and Gerald Wallace, two guys who were thought to be contenders, both fizzled in the first round and their vanilla dunks didn’t impress the judges. I think Brown and Wallace were saving their best dunks in the finals. The problem was, they didn’t make it past the first round.

For highlights of the 2010 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest, click on the video link courtesy of NBA.com:

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