Rondo Belongs With The Best. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images)

Rajon Rondo has earned some congratulations. Rondo was named as one of the fifteen finalists for Team USA at the World Championships that begin August 28^th in Turkey. Besides Rondo the finalists are Chauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets); Tyson Chandler (Dallas Mavericks); Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Jeff Green (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).  The fifteen finalists will assemble Aug. 9 in New York City and train there Aug. 10-16. The team has until the day before competition begins to slim down three players to the roster limit of twelve.

Team USA is loaded right now at guard and Rondo will have to compete with Billups, Westbrook, and Rose for a roster spot. I cannot see the team carrying four point guards. Also with Curry and Gordon on the roster, play at the two guard is not an option. In my mind two will go.  The competition should be fierce with all four of these talented and competitive guys.

In my mind the guards should be Rondo and Rose. My argument is simple. The team wants to play up tempo on both offense and defense. That eliminates Billups. As much as I love Champsy, he is just not that explosive player any more. Billups is a great leader, but defensively, he just does not have that motor any more. Russell Westbrook is nice, but he just is not Rondo on the defensive end or Rose on the offensive end.

 Rondo bring to the table his ability to defensively shut down the other teams’ guards and push the ball up quickly to set up teammates and knife through the lane. Derrick Rose would bring his scoring touch and timely playmaking to the USA squad. The combination would give the opposition fits.

The only deterrents to Rondo being on the team seem to be the fear of his so-so free throw shooting and inconsistency on his jump shot. However, Rondo has shown that his other skills more than make up for it. The evidence is his teams always seem to be playing deep into the post season. I have learned do not bet against Rondo. My money is he makes the team.