Suppose the NBA arranges a charity match, USA vs The World. Most such games don't have the full NBA player pool available, but imagine we do. Pick your lineups, and who do you think wins? What might seem like a ludicrous question a decade ago has become a real debate, as arguably 3 of the best 4 players in the league are international now.
For me (and including current DARKO DPM numbers):
USA starters:
- Curry (4.9)
- Mitchell (4.2)
- Lebron (4.6)
- Tatum (5.2)
- Davis (2.7)
USA bench:
- Morant (2.4)
- Irving (3.9)
- Durant (4.6)
- George (4.7)
- Williamson (2.1)
Apologies: Leonard, Booker, Lillard, Bridges, Adebayo, Harden, Holiday, Jaylen...
World starters:
- Doncic (3.9)
- Simmons (0.4)
- Giannis (5.8)
- Siakam (2.7)
- Jokic (6.2)
World bench:
- SGA (2.4)
- Murray (2.5)
- Sabonis (1.6)
- Towns (3.1)
- Embiid (5.8)
Apologies: Gobert, Batum, Porzingis, Okogie
On the one hand: What the hell kind of team brings Kevin Durant off the bench? That's depth. On the other, the World Starters are insane, and if you can figure out how to play Giannis, Embiid and Jokic on the court together, the USA might never score in the paint.
The first thing I think about are weaknesses. For USA: Curry's defense (and Irving's, when he's in), Zion's fit with a modern center scheme that requires mobility and passing vision. USA is also small; they don't really have anyone except Zion who can bang with the likes of Embiid and Jokic in the post (I threw in Davis over Leonard mostly for this). For World, they need some mobility on defense, given Doncic but also Embiid, and they have some players you don't have to respect the 3 on. And, uh, Ben Simmons' shooting. I didn't think Doncic and SGA would play that well together (being as they are #2 and #9 in usage rate), so despite throwing up in my mouth a little bit, I started Ben Simmons. Come at me. You at least know he can guard 1-5 and will bring the intensity on D, and won't use a lot of possessions on a very ball-dominant lineup, they don't need him to score. World's passing skills 1-5 are insane.
I think USA barely edges World on the strength of outside shooting, but if there's an off day on the 3 ball, World can absolutely take it. And the already-narrow edge decreases the more time that World gets to practice and learn to play as a team.
For me (and including current DARKO DPM numbers):
USA starters:
- Curry (4.9)
- Mitchell (4.2)
- Lebron (4.6)
- Tatum (5.2)
- Davis (2.7)
USA bench:
- Morant (2.4)
- Irving (3.9)
- Durant (4.6)
- George (4.7)
- Williamson (2.1)
Apologies: Leonard, Booker, Lillard, Bridges, Adebayo, Harden, Holiday, Jaylen...
World starters:
- Doncic (3.9)
- Simmons (0.4)
- Giannis (5.8)
- Siakam (2.7)
- Jokic (6.2)
World bench:
- SGA (2.4)
- Murray (2.5)
- Sabonis (1.6)
- Towns (3.1)
- Embiid (5.8)
Apologies: Gobert, Batum, Porzingis, Okogie
On the one hand: What the hell kind of team brings Kevin Durant off the bench? That's depth. On the other, the World Starters are insane, and if you can figure out how to play Giannis, Embiid and Jokic on the court together, the USA might never score in the paint.
The first thing I think about are weaknesses. For USA: Curry's defense (and Irving's, when he's in), Zion's fit with a modern center scheme that requires mobility and passing vision. USA is also small; they don't really have anyone except Zion who can bang with the likes of Embiid and Jokic in the post (I threw in Davis over Leonard mostly for this). For World, they need some mobility on defense, given Doncic but also Embiid, and they have some players you don't have to respect the 3 on. And, uh, Ben Simmons' shooting. I didn't think Doncic and SGA would play that well together (being as they are #2 and #9 in usage rate), so despite throwing up in my mouth a little bit, I started Ben Simmons. Come at me. You at least know he can guard 1-5 and will bring the intensity on D, and won't use a lot of possessions on a very ball-dominant lineup, they don't need him to score. World's passing skills 1-5 are insane.
I think USA barely edges World on the strength of outside shooting, but if there's an off day on the 3 ball, World can absolutely take it. And the already-narrow edge decreases the more time that World gets to practice and learn to play as a team.
