International teams have had their share of success against USA Basketball over the past decade and beyond. As an addendum to the TrueHoop Network's non-All-Star team to match up with this year's squads, Jay Aych of The Painted Area offers up this roster of international players to mount a challenge to the 2010 All-Stars:
Ricky Rubio (Barcelona): This pick is pretty obvious. Playmaker deluxe, put him in the pick/roll and let him go. Good defender who's length and solid lateral quickness should hold up well vs. NBAers.
Vasilis Spanoulis (Panathinaikos): One of the best guards in Europe who would be a main scoring option on this team. Has the speed and strength to hang with NBA athletes. Aggressive player who loves to barrel into the lane off high ball-screens where he can finish going both left or right. Draws tons of fouls. Underrated defender who moves his feet well.
Dimis Diamantidis (Panathinaikos): Has been dinged up this year but still having a solid season. Versatile player who can play three positions and can handle the ball. Still a defensive menace.. Has the athleticism, length and smarts to hang with NBA players.
Juan Navarro (Barcelona): One of the best pure scorers in Europe who has proven he can be solid rotation guy in the NBA. La Bomba is dangerous running off-ball screens or pulling up off ball-screens. Renown for his floater in the lane. Can run the point in a pinch as well.
Alan Anderson (Maccabi): The well-built 6-foot-6 former Charlotte Bobcat gives this team nice size at the 2 guard. Adept at getting to the rim and drawing contact. Shooting the ball better this year, but in general a shaky shooter. Could easily give this slot to Trajan Langdon instead.
Pete Mickeal (Barcelona): Would fit the bill as a nice role-playing wing off the bench.
Linas Kleiza (Olympiacos): Tearing up the Euroleague right now and a serious MVP candidate. Already shown he can be a good NBA player. Powerful athlete who plays both forward slots and provides quality scoring and rebounding.
Josh Childress (Olympiacos): Another player we know can hang with NBA players. Teaming with Kleiza right now to form the best forward combo in Europe. Provides quality defense and rebounding at the small forward position.
Tiago Splitter (Caja Laboral): Terrific defender who can easily hang with NBA athletes. Great in pick/roll and adept at guarding on the perimeter thanks to nice lateral quickness. Offensive game still rounding into form -- good footwork, but needs to refine his touch. Underrated passer and has the ability to drive the ball. Runs the floor hard and can play both the 4 and 5.
Nikola Pekovic (Panathinaikos): He would provide the primary scoring option inside for the Europeans. The T-Wolves draftee manhandles most competition in Europe and constantly gets the opposition in foul trouble. The 6-foot-11 265 pound beast could be a handful for everyone not named Dwight Howard.
Ksystof Lavrinovic (Montepaschi): Nice to have a 7-footer that can float to the 3-point. line and play both frontcourt positions.
Giannis Bourousis (Olympiacos): One of the best bigs in Europe and a top oversees free agent target for NBA teams. The weakest athlete on this team but tough to leave off because of skill set. Great rebounder and crafty offensive player with the ability to float to 18-20 feet.
The two toughest omissions have to be CSKA teammates Viktor Khryapa and Trajan Langdon. Wanted a little bit more size at 2-guard and thought Navarro can cover for most of what Langdon brings to the table. Really a toss-up between Anderson and Langdon, could go either way. Love Khryapa's versatility and poor man's Kirilenko game. Having a great year filing out the box score. This team might need Khryapa's defense since after Splitter, the frontcourt defense might be questionable.
Others under consideration: Darjus Lavrinovic (Real Madrid); Ramunas Siskauskas (CSKA); Terrel McIntyre & Romain Sato (Montepaschi Siena); Fran Vazquez (Barcelona); Jan Vesely (Partizan); Theo Papaloukas & Milos Teodosic (Olympiacos); Qyntel Woods (Asseco Prokom); Marko Tomas (Cibona), Bostjan Nachbar & Charles Smith (Pilsen); Giorgos Printezis and Joel Freeland (Unicaja)