Raymond Felton recently appeared on the ‘To The Baha’ show, where he discussed his ideal starting five for Team USA in the upcoming Olympics. Felton emphasized his preference for a lineup filled with veteran players to set a dominant tone from the outset.
“So you know, my thing is, I think I’m gonna go with my vets to start it off. You know, no offense to my young boys, you know, guys like Anthony Edwards and those guys, they should start and deserve to start.”
“But if I’m bringing these vets in, I’m starting my vets. Steph at the one. At the two, I’m going big. I don’t care. I’m going size. I’m going KD at the two. I’m going Bron at the three. I’m going Anthony Davis at the four. And I’m going Joel Embiid at the five. Think about that lineup. That size.”
“But, you know, let’s just be real. That’s probably not gonna be the start lineup. But me, if I’m bringing my goons in, if I’m bringing my old heads in, then I’m putting them in the start lineup and they need to see. First game, I’m bringing that lineup out there with them killers and we making a statement.”
“Setting the tone. We’re making a statement. Now, do we keep that lineup? Probably not, you know what I’m saying? Those guys don’t want to play a lot of minutes. Those guys don’t necessarily need to start. You put your young bulls out there and you let them go kill.”
“So, on a brighter note, I would put Anthony Edwards at the two. Got you. You know what I’m saying? But my first game, if I was coaching, if I was the head coach, that’s my five. That’s what I’m putting out there.”
Raymond Felton on his starting 5 for Team USA 👀
🇺🇸 Steph Curry
🇺🇸 Kevin Durant
🇺🇸 LeBron James
🇺🇸 Anthony Davis
🇺🇸 Joel Embiid
Do you agree? 🤔
(via "To The Baha", @TidalLeague)https://t.co/gyWF7VPgNd
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 10, 2024
Felton’s starting five features a blend of size, experience, and skill. He begins with Stephen Curry at point guard, valuing Curry’s leadership and unparalleled shooting ability. At shooting guard, Felton opts for Kevin Durant, who brings both height and scoring prowess, despite typically playing as a forward. LeBron James is his choice for small forward, providing versatility and court vision.
At power forward, Felton selects Anthony Davis for his defensive capabilities and inside presence. Rounding out the lineup at center is Joel Embiid, whose dominance in the paint on both ends of the floor makes him a formidable force.
Felton acknowledges that this lineup might not be sustainable throughout the tournament due to the veterans’ need to manage their minutes and the importance of integrating younger talent.
Ultimately, while Felton would start with his veterans to make a powerful initial impact, he also recognizes the importance of incorporating younger stars like Anthony Edwards into the mix. “On a brighter note, I would put Anthony Edwards at the two,” he concluded, indicating his flexibility and strategic thinking in assembling a balanced and effective Team USA lineup.
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