I Wrote Most of This During My Torts Class.

This is months behind in relevancy, but I'm going to explain (or try to) why USA basketball has been struggling in international games. This is completely devoid of humor or anything interesting if you don't like the NBA. Oops.

We heard after the disappointing bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics that USA basketball was going to "get serious" about winning and stop just throwing together a team of random All-Stars. We heard guys like Bruce Bowen would be the focus. So what'd we do different for this summer's world championships? Bowen, the supposed signature player of our new attitude, was cut from the team and we just threw together a bunch of random All-Stars like always.

With that in mind I'm going to put together a roster that truly is designed for the international game. But first, here's a few points about the international game and why its so difficult for Americans to thrive in.

Why Our Wing Players Struggle. The prevailing international style of defense is to play a zone. This means that the slashing and cutting toward the basket that the American game thrives on - think Dwayne Wade and LeBron James - is much less effective. You simply can't consistently beat your man off the dribble and drive to the basket uncontested. Not against the typical Euro Zone.

Instead, you have to be able to shoot over the zone. This does NOT mean only lobbying up 3's; it means taking high-percentage, mid-range jump shots. That's why Americans - despite having the most talent - have fallen short in international tournaments. American ball no longer revolves around the mid-range jumper - everything is either a 3-pointer or a lay-up. Remember Michael Jordan? He made his career on the mid-range pull-up jump shot. Look at all his game-winners - what Jordan went to went he really needed it. Mid-range jumper after mid-range jumper. Same thing with Bird.

But, ironically, that's not what made Jordan popular. His unprecedented popularity ultimately came from his flash: the dunking, the fancy lay-ups, the crossovers. After all, this isn't a silhouette of a jump shot. So the kids watching Jordan - who are now this generation of NBA players - built their games toward being looking like Mike, or at least the flashy side of him. Therefore, the American game now revolves around either cutting to the basket or shooting from behind the 3-point line. The mid-range jump shot - the one thing that can tear any zone defense apart - is now a rare talent for American players.

Why Our Big Men Struggle. This is much simpler and to the point. The wider paint of international rules doesn't allow guys like Shaq or Amare Stoudemire to post up close to the basket. For these guys - and most American centers and power forwards - the farther you're away from the basket, the less effective you become. Duncan is actually extremely effective outside the paint, but he struggles internationally because the team basically ignores him (they're too busy failing to get a lay-up).

So how do we overcome this? Obviously, we need wing players who can break down a zone and big men who are effective away from the paint.

PG - Chris Paul. Point guards are essential to breaking down a zone because they have to set up the mid-range jumper. Steve Nash is actually the ideal international guard - an incredible passer who happens to also be the best mid-range shooter in the league. But he's Canadian. So instead we'll go with Paul, who's going to soon pass Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups as the best American point guard, if he hasn't already. Also, Paul's already proven he can play internationally - in the 2006 world championships he averaged (in limited minutes) 5 assists, 2 steals and just 1 turnover.

SG - Richard Hamilton. The best (American) mid-range shooter in the game. Also the best (among anyone) at moving without the ball, rolling off screens and the quick catch-and-shoot. He is perfect to break a zone. So, naturally, he wasn't even invited to the USA training camp.

SF - Bruce Bowen. The best perimeter defender in the league, ideal for shutting down the other team's hot shooter. Just ask Kobe. Of course, as I mentioned before, he didn't make the final roster for the championships. Unreal.

PF - Lamar Odom and C - Brad Miller. Probably the two best passers in the NBA who are at least 6'10. Both of them averaged around 5 assists per game last season. They can also step back and drain 3's, so the wider paint won't affect them. Great passing + good shooting range = the perfect international front court.

Bench players - Shane Battier, Kirk Heinrich, Antwan Jamison, Michael Redd, Luke Ridnour and any two centers that don't completely suck.

Well, there you have it. Thanks for sticking with me. Hopefully I'll have something more interesting next time.