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.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Rajon Rondo beats Jason Williams to a loose ball in the second quarter that set the tone for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals. (NBAE/GETTY IMAGES)

Kevin Garnett called it “the play” of the 2010 playoffs. Doc Rivers described it as an “unbelievable play.”

It occurred with under nine minutes left in the second quarter and the Boston Celtics leading the Orlando Magic 34-17. After a ball was deflected into the Orlando backcourt, Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo tracked it down by outrunning Magic point guard Jason Williams. But it wasn’t your average run-down. Rondo dove head first, reached between Williams’ legs to gain possession of the ball, got up and dribbled past Williams for a layup. It was one of those signature moments in the playoffs, and it pretty much summarized how the series is going.

“If that didn’t give your whole team energy nothing will,” Rivers said of Rondo’s amazing play that brought the crowd to a frenzy at TD Banknorth Garden and may have killed the Magic’s spirit. Boston went on to win Game 3, 94-71, to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

“I just wanted it. I just wanted to make a play on the ball,” said Rondo, who has been locked in throughout these playoffs and pieced together another solid outing, scoring 11 points and delivering 12 assists. He was also responsible for Boston’s 12 steals.

Garnett called it pure grit, pure hustle that has defined Rondo’s young NBA career.

“I told him after the game, when we were in the back, that it was probably the play of the playoffs for me,” Garnett said. “Pure basketball, pure hustle, pure I-want-it-more-than-you type of play. And I thought it was a foul too, but that’s just me. I’ve said this about Shorty, man, he’s in a zone. He’s just showing the world what he’s made of. The future is scary for youngin.”

Video courtesy of NBA.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

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

Howard made NBA history 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 110 of a possible 120 first-place votes.

The best way to measure a player’s worth on defense is how his team ranks defensively. Howard’s presence allows the Magic to be one of the top defensive teams in the league as Orlando yields just 95 points per game (4th) and opponents shoot just 43.8% from the field (1st). Howard joins Ben Wallace, Hakeem Olajuwon, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, Dennis Rodman and Sidney Moncrief as back-to-back winners of the defensive player of the year award.

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) GERALD WALLACE, Charlotte Bobcats, forward
Wallace finished 13th in the rebounds (10.0), which is very impressive for a small forward. He also ranked 17th in steals (1.5) and 42nd in blocks (1.09). 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.

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) LeBRON JAMES, Cleveland Cavaliers, forward
James learned to play one-on-one defense from Kobe Bryant when the two were teammates on the U.S. Olympic Team. His signature blocks from behind have become regular highlights on SportsCenter and NBATV, and his intensity has picked up on the defensive end, LeBron is the only guy on this list who can defend all five positions.

5) RAJON RONDO, Boston Celtics, guard
Rondo is the leader in the NBA in steals (2.33) and has one of the quickest hands in the game. Boston’s defensive scheme doesn’t highlight Rondo’s one-on-one defense because they prefer to use him as a free safety. He tends to gamble a little too much, but Doc Rivers will live with that as long as he gets two or three steals a game.

6) KIRK HINRICK, Chicago Bulls, guard
Suns coach Alvin Gentry said 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. Just ask Dwyane Wade, who always struggles against the Bulls mainly because of Hinrich’s defense.

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) KENDRICK PERKINS, Boston Celtics, center
Perkins is big and strong (6-10, 285) and is tough to root out of the post. Then, you combine his size with effort and you have a unbelievable post defender who plays his role to perfection. He rebounds, he blocks shots, he steps out on pick-and-rolls, and he also plays with a huge chip on his shoulder.

9) JOSH SMITH, Atlanta Hawks, forward
Smith has grown into a borderline All-Star player and his defense sets the tone for the Hawks. 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 the only forward in the NBA ranked in the top 20 in blocks (2.06).

10) JOAKIM NOAH, Chicago Bulls,
When Noah was sidelined with an injury, the Bulls struggled. When he returned, the Bulls made a playoff push. Noah plays with great energy and a vocal leader. He not only defends his position, but he also helps his teammates. He is among the league leaders in rebounds (11.0) and blocks (1.6) and loves to compete.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Boston's Rajon Rondo is averaging close to a triple-double in three games against Chicago. (GETTY IMAGES)

Here are some observations and analysis from the first week of the NBA playoffs.

Boston’s Rajon Rondo is enjoying a big time coming out party. The Celtics’ point guard has been an absolute superstar in the first round. Chicago Bulls rookie Derrick Rose got all the ink after a tremendous Game 1 at Boston’s TD Banknorth Arena but, if you take a closer look at the head-to-head matchup, Rondo has thoroughly outplayed his counterpart. The Celtics’ point guard is averaging close to a triple-double in the series and his Game 2 performance was sick – 19 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists and five steals. Then, in Game 3 at the United Center on Derrick Rose Night, Rondo posted 20-11-6-5. He has been so hot in these playoffs that his feet started burning and had to be carried off the court by his teammates. It has often been said that reputations are made in the playoffs, and so far Rondo is earning the respect of the entire basketball community. With all due respect to LeBron James, Rondo has been the most valuable player in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

If Rondo is the MVP of the East, then so far Denver point guard Chauncey Billups has been the most impressive player in the West. Mr. Big Shot is completely undressing Chris Paul in their first-round matchup. In two games against the New Orleans Hornets, Billups has 67 points and has swished 12 of 15 shots from behind the 3-point line. More importantly, Billups has 0 turnovers. Let me say that again … Billups has 0 turnovers. For a point guard to not turn the ball over in two games is a mind-blowing stat. Especially in the playoffs. Billups is like a veteran NFL quarterback who has stabilized the offense, infused some much-needed leadership on and off the court, and managed to keep everyone happy – including Carmelo Anthony. He has turned the Nuggets from a borderline playoff team to a legit conference title contender. If Billups keeps this up, he could challenge John Elway as the mayor of Denver.

The San Antonio Spurs are looking really, really old. It’s no secret that the Spurs have logged a ton of playoff mileage during the Tim Duncan Era but – with the exception of Tony Parker – the Spurs are looking like they are carrying bricks on their shoes and their once-dominant defense now has some serious issues. They have turned J.J. Barea into an all-star. Who? J.J. Barea! This is the same guy Jason Terry once mistakenly called J.J. Barrera. On offense, the Spurs really miss Manu Ginobili. Ginobili always excelled in the postseason, and his absence may be too much to overcome. Dallas has a 2-1 series edge on San Antonio, and if the Spurs are not careful they could be watching the rest of the playoffs from home.

Popularity: 8% [?]

New Orleans' Chris Paul (left) has overtaken Phoenix's Steve Nash as the top playmaker in the NBA. (NBA Entertainment/Getty Images)

For someone who plays very little defense and makes crucial mistakes in late-game situations, Steve Nash is still rated very high among his peers. He was twice voted league MVP despite not making it to the NBA Finals. He’s the only two-time MVP without a Finals appearance. Even softy Dirk Nowitzki made it to the Finals. For some reason, the Nash Hype machine spread like wildfire during his first three seasons in Phoenix. Now, Nash is being exposed for what he truly is. A very good point guard, but not a top-five point guard.

OneManFastbreak.net rates the top 10 points guards in the NBA:

1) CHRIS PAUL, New Orleans Hornets: His 21-4-11-2 line was scary good. Now, he has James Posey to lean on for some playoff wisdom. CP3 is the modern-day Isiah Thomas. He can change the game by himself. The only thing that is keeping Paul from being a complete player is outside shooting. He’s gotten better but you can still sag off him.

2) DERON WILLIAMS, Utah Jazz: He’s Jason Kidd with range. Williams can play fast or slow and Coach Jerry Sloan loves the way he runs his offense. D-Will has the entire package. He can drive, he can hit the 3 and get his teammates easy shots. He’s one of the few PGs who can score 20 points and get 10 assists.

3) DERRICK ROSE, Chicago Bulls: D-Rose became a star during the first round of the 2009 NBA playoffs in an epic series against the Boston Celtics. In his first NBA postseason game, Rose scored 36 points in Boston. Rose combines great handles with a fearless attitude. If he improves his mid-range game, he should move up on this list. Rose and Westbrook are the best end-to-end PGs in the Association.

4) RAJON RONDO, Boston Celtics: The 6-1 guard from Kentucky was arguably the Celtics’ best player during the 2010 NBA playoffs. Rondo is a unique point guard because he rebounds extremely well and has an array of shots when he gets close to the basket. He’s also one of the best off-the-ball defenders in the league.

5) TONY PARKER, San Antonio Spurs: Frenchy is the only member of the San Antonio Spurs who doesn’t need to invest in retirement funds. The MVP of the 2007 NBA Finals is still one of the quickest players in the league and his marriage to Eva Longoria automatically puts him on this list.

6) CHAUNCEY BILLUPS, Denver Nuggets: One of just two guys on this list that has a championship ring. Mr. Big Shot may have slowed down with age but he’s still a top-10 guy in my book. Carmelo Anthony will greatly benefit from the trade now that Billups is running the show in Denver.

7) STEVE NASH, Phoenix Suns: Some would say this list is “whack” for having the great Steve Nash No. 6. Well, the Great Nash is very good but not great. He’s a bit overrated. He’s a liability on defense and, for someone who is considered by many as the smartest point guard in the league, he makes a lot of mistakes in crucial situations.

8) RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Oklahoma City Thunder: Westbrook’s coming out party occurred in the 2010 NBA playoffs when he lit up the L.A. Lakers in the first round. Westbrook is one of the best finishers in the league and attacks the rim like a wing player. The scary part about Westbrook is that he’s still learning his position.

9) BARON DAVIS, Los Angeles Clippers: When healthy, no point guard in the league has the skill set B-Diddy has. At 6-3, 200 pounds, he is a matchup problem for little guards and big guards. He can single-handedly win a playoff game by himself. CP3 may be a better playmaker but Boom Dizzle has a better outside shot.

10) ANDRE MILLER, Philadelphia 76ers: One of the more underrated point guards in the league. Has not gotten the recognition he deserves because he has played on some bad teams.

Popularity: 42% [?]

Second-year guard Rodney Stuckey is ready for a breakout season with the Detroit Pistons.

The Detroit Pistons traded away Chauncey Billups because GM Joe Dumars wants to clear cap space and thinks very highly of second-year guard Rodney Stuckey. The 6-foot-5 guard from Eastern Washington showed flashes of stardom in last year’s playoffs, averaging 9 points and 3 assists, and parlayed that into a successful stint with the U.S. select team that drilled The Redeem Team while preparing for the Beijing Olympics. Several players and coaches associated with USA Basketball raved about Stuckey. With Billups gone and Allen Iverson headed for free agency at the end of the season, Stuckey should be an even bigger presence in Detroit’s plans and his meteoric rise gives the Pistons a bright future.

Stuckey is just one of several rising studs, who are either in their second or third season in the NBA, ready for a breakout season. A look at the others:

KEVIN MARTIN, guard, Sacramento Kings: With Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac and Ron Artest all gone, the 25-year-old Martin is now the face of the Kings. Last year, he averaged 23 points a game. This year, he should flirt with 24 or 25 points per game considering the Kings don’t have much of a team, nor a coach, running with him.

DAVID LEE, forward-center, New York Knicks: His name always came up whenever teams inquired about trading with the Knicks. But the Knicks held their ground and kept Lee on the roster. The 6-10 third-year man, who was a walking double-double in limited action last year, has been named starter and should thrive in Mike D’Antoni’s free-wheeling system.

RUDY GAY, guard-forward, Memphis Grizzlies: With Pau Gasol gone, Gay becomes the focal point of the Grizzlies offense. He should surpass last season’s 20.1 average and will get serious all-star recognition. If general managers had to do it all over again, Gay probably would have been the first or second player chosen in the 2006 NBA draft. Seven players were taken before Gay: Andrea Bargnani, LaMarcus Aldridge, Adam Morrison, Tyrus Thomas, Shelden Williams, Brandon Roy and Randy Foye.

LaMARCUS ALDRIDGE, forward, Portland Trail Blazers: How can the Chicago Bulls get this wrong, again. The Bulls had Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler in their fold and dealt both away for, basically, a round-trip fare to the Bahamas. In 2006, the Bulls had the No. 2 pick in the draft and smartly selected Aldridge and then (head-scratcher) moved him to Portland. Hmmm. With the return of Greg Oden, Aldridge will face less double teams and can slide back to his more natural position, power forward.

DEVIN HARRIS, guard, New Jersey Nets: When Harris was traded from Dallas to New Jersey last season for Jason Kidd, the happiest man in the Western Conference was San Antonio’s Tony Parker. The Spurs point guard admitted that he hated playing against Harris, who defused Parker’s quickness during the 2006 playoffs. In 25 games with the Nets last season, Harris averaged 15.4 points and 6.5 assists. With a full training camp and a big endorsement from Coach Lawrence Frank and star guard Vince Carter, Harris is ready for a breakout season as full-time starter.

RAJON RONDO, point guard, Boston Celtics: We all saw him grow up during the playoffs. He just got better and better as the Celtics kept advancing. His performance in Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Lakers was legendary. Another member of the draft class of 2006, Rondo has been given the keys to the Celtics’ sports utility vehicle and GM Danny Ainge is hoping he can drive them back to the NBA Finals.

AL HORFORD, forward-center, Atlanta Hawks: He’s a bit undersized as a center but plays a lot bigger than his listed height and weight (6-9, 245). You can argue that Horford had a much bigger impact last season than Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant because Horford led his team to the playoffs. The Hawks love Horford’s intensity and he brings toughness to a team ready to become a perennial playoff contender.

AL THORNTON, forward, L.A. Clippers: Thornton, an all-rookie honoree last season, is an exceptional athlete who never stops working. He should benefit from the extra playing time now that Elton Brand is in Philadelphia and Corey Maggette is in Golden State.

JORDAN FARMAR, guard, Los Angeles Lakers: Last season, Farmar showed flashes of what he can do. This season, Farmar will severely push incumbent Derek Fisher as the Lakers’ starting guard opposite Kobe Bryant. It’s similar to what Coach Phil Jackson had to deal with in Chicago with B.J. Armstrong and John Paxson. The younger Armstrong eventually won the job over the veteran Paxson.

JULIAN WRIGHT, forward, New Orleans Hornets: This 6-8, 225-pound former Kansas Jayhawk won’t make a dent on the stat sheet but his contribution will be on defense. His length and quickness is ideal for what Coach Byron Scott wants in the Hornets’ pressure defense.

NICK YOUNG, guard, Washington Wizards: While Gilbert Arenas heals from his knee surgery, the Wizards will be asking this former USC Trojan to fill in. Young is a capable scorer and his size (6-6) allows Coach Eddie Jordan to play him at guard or small forward.

Popularity: 17% [?]