USA Mens Basketball (2008 Olympics)
The inability of this collection of NBA stars to achieve a gold medal in Beijing will consummate the fact that the rest of the world has finally reached the USA’s level in the sport of basketball. Although they won all their exhibition games this past week and a half; I am not yet as comfortable as Dwayne Wade in prematurely proclaiming this team to unquestionably win it all. If Wade’s confidence is actuated by the undeniable potential that this team portrays on paper, then I would have to agree, but if we’ve learned nothing from 2004 and 2006 we at least have to now realize that the games are played on the court; not on paper.
Yeah, they may have won all the exhibition games fairly easily, but none of those teams are of the caliber of say Spain, Argentina, or Greece. Not to mention that Germany and Croatia in my opinion could be the two most underrated teams participating this year. Some of the best “team basketball” I have ever seen played in my life has come compliments of that Greek team. You may or may not remember them putting that fundamentally sound style of play to embarrassing the US in the 2006 world championships. Although Argentina has lost a couple key figures to retirement; they still have the likes of Ginobili, Nocioni, Oberto, and Scola, and I predict their front line will give Dwight, Bosh, and Boozer the most physically competitive challenge of any other team. The Spanish team are just an explosively offensive team that uses all five players on the court at all times. Spain and Greece are the two teams that I feel if they are allowed to get a momentum built up; the US are going to have a hard time containing them. 
Otherwise, I love what Colangelo has done in forming this team. I don’t think there could have been a better roster of 12 player assembled. My only issue with this team is the fact that these guys are so caught up in the drama of being “selfless heroes;” that sometimes guys like Lebron and Kobe aren’t aggressive enough on the offensive end. In my opinion; they need to establish one or two go-to-guys; preferably Lebron and Kobe. I know Wade and Carmello are very good, but Lebron and Kobe are the two best offensive players on that team. When those two are on the floor they should be looking for their shot, and when the defense collapses on them; they can set up one of the other four superstars on the court. That I think would be more effective than constantly looking for a spectacular assist. After all, the two best young point guards in the league and Jason Kidd are on this team to make those assists. I love this team, but I can’t be as confident as some until I see what they do against the elite European squads.
