Yes, the U.S. won for the first time since 1994, but let me be blunt: This FIBA squad was feeble. Too young, leader-less and lacking centers and shooters; the flaws were obvious. Evaluating the ramshackle roster, expectations and enthusiasm were diminished. However, to most countries, this event is more significant than the Olympics because more teams participate, so the rest of the world would still view the U.S. bowing out as a big deal.
Letting Rajon Rondo, who is the best rebounder at his position in the league and probably would've been the second-best of this bunch, walk away (which he did so he wouldn't have to be officially cut), was a mistake. The argument for his dismissal was that he can be difficult to coach. I guess Coach K wasn't willing to deal with a player who doesn't follow his every order, who he doesn't have complete control over at all times. There's a difference between a player who's undisciplined and one who's stubborn; I believe Rondo is the latter, not the former. Another head-scratching move was relying on Lamar Odom, one of the most frustratingly inconsistent players in the league during his career, to be productive and provide leadership when he's always shied away from it, was a huge gamble. Surprisingly, it worked out, but it wasn't Odom or Chauncey Billips who set the example the rest of the group followed.
If it wasn't for the constant heroics of Kevin Durant, this tournament would've ended quickly and disgracefully for the U.S. Durant had to be historically excellent and nearly perfect in every outing for this team to take the trophy. Thanks to his scorching shooting, especially from long-range, he scored more points in the tournament and in a single game than any American ever has. It was unreasonable to expect that of a 21-year-old, yet Durant delivered. Simply put, he was better than everyone. He was better than we imagined. He was better than we deserved.
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