Important players on the bubble include Eric Gordon, OJ Mayo, Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala, and Brook Lopez.
Derrick Rose has been playing heavy minutes for the White team, where he is joined by Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Tyson Chandler, and others.It's definitely a youth movement on the new Team USA - this is not exactly a "Dream Team" - but Chauncey Billups and Lamar Odom are notable veterans.
Updates and conclusions at the half.
POSTGAME REACTIONS:
Well, our guy from the Chi played some very impressive basketball, as his White team won 114 - 96 behind 28 points from Durant, the undisputed star of Team USA.
Rose played over 30 minutes, the most of anybody on his team, and scored 15 points on an array of highlight-reel layups, fastbreaks, and even a pretty three point bucket. But that's not all he did. He also looked ready and willing to play the point and embrace his role.
His eight assists were tops in the game (Rajon Rondo had six for Blue), while his five steals also led all players. Oh, and he didn't turn the ball over once. For comparison's sake, Durant and Rudy Gay had seven TOs each.
Rose made a strong case to be the starter for the US at point guard going forward, a position previously assumed to belong to Chauncey Billups. The Nuggets' floor general was just 2-for-10 tonight in 21 minutes and looked more comfortable shouting instructions from the bench than actually playing.
In a loaded backcourt which also includes budding stars Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, and Rondo, D-Rose looked like the class of the organization tonight.
Others who played impressively included Durant, Tyson Chandler, and Andre Iguodala for the White team, and Kevin Love and JaVale McGee for the Blue side. I know. JaVale McGee? Well, he looked ready to hustle and has some great low post moves.
Can't wait to watch the WBCs in Turkey this year.
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