USA Basketball: Three New Dream Teams to Impact 2008 Summer Olympics

We all know how the USA basketball teams have underachieved lately. Now, I don't really care because I am Canadian, but seriously, they should be able to make three teams that place 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I know there are some players that don't want to play, or can't because of injuries or whatever, but here are three teams of 10, that WOULD finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

P.S. I'm not sure how many players are on each Olympic team, so I am just making 2 teams of ten, with the final team a 12 man team.

1st Place Team:

Coach: Phil Jackson

Starters:

Guard, Dwayne Wade: 24.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 7 APG. 1.7 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Guard, Kobe Bryant: 28.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 6.3 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG *NBA MVP*

Center, Dwight Howard: 20.7 PPG, 14.2 RPG, 2.2 BPG, 1 SPG, 60% FG

Forward, Lebron James: 30 PPG, 8 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.1 BPG

Forward, Kevin Garnett: 18.8 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.2 SPG, 54% FG *NBA Defensive Player of the Year*

Justifications: People don't remember how good Dwayne Wade is because he missed so many games this season, but he IS one of the most versatile and best players in the world. He would look even better if he was on a better team. Picking him over Chris Paul should be the only arguments here.

Bench:

Guard, Chris Paul: 21 PPG, 11.6 APG, 4 RPG, 2.7 SPG, 2.5 TPG (turnovers)

Forward/Center, Tim Duncan: 19.3 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 2 BPG, 2.8 APG, 0.7 SPG

Forward/Center, Amare Stoudemire: 25.2 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 1.5 APG, 2.1 BPG, 0.8 SPG

Forward, Carmelo Anthony: 25.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Forward, Chris Bosh: 22.3 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1 BPG, 1 SPG

Justifications: This wouldn't be two set lines, because the bench obviously only has one guard, the reasons are that Lebron James can play forward or guard, and a big team with two good players to handle the ball up top would dominate anyone.

2nd Place Team:

Coach: Greg Popovich

Guard, Deron Williams: 18.8 PPG, 10.5 APG, 3 RPG, 1.1 SPG

Guard, Allen Iverson: 26.4 PPG, 7.1 APG, 3 RPG, 2 SPG

Forward/Center, Carlos Boozer: 21.1 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 3 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Forward/Guard, Tracy McGrady: 21.6 PPG, 5.9 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1 SPG, 0.4 BPG

Forward, Antawn Jamison: 21.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG

Justifications: There are just so many good American players, it's so hard to choose. Seriously, shouldn't they be doing better then they are? Deron Williams definitely should be the point guard for the second team, and having Boozer starting would boost their offence because of his and Williams' chemistry. McGrady, Iverson and Jamison are proven veterans who have to be there.

Bench:

Guard, Baron Davis: 21.8 PPG, 7.6 APG, 4.8 RPG, 2.3 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 2.8 TPG

Guard/Forward. Paul Pierce: 23.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1 SPG

Center/Forward, Lamarcus Aldridge: 17.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 0.7 SPG

Forward, Richard Jefferson: 22.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1 SPG

Forward, David West: 20.6 PPG, 9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 BPG, 0.8 SPG

Justifications: I felt bad for not being able to fit on great players like Brandon Roy, Kevin Martin, Michael Redd and Joe Johnson here, but it is just so difficult. Jefferson is the best player on the Nets now, not Vince Carter. David West had a fantastic season this year and is a perfect inside out player for this team. One position that might cause debate here is Lamarcus Aldridge. I mean, he isn't even the best player on his team, right? But you tell me, what other center deserves to be there more then him?

3rd Place Team:

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski

Starters:

Guard, Brandon Roy: 19.1 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 1.8 TPG

Guard, Michael Redd: 22.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1 SPG

Guard, Joe Johnson: 21.7 PPG, 5.8 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1 SPG

Center, Tyson Chandler: 11.8 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 0.6 SPG

Forward, Al Jefferson: 21 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 1 SPG

Justifications: So with team number three we go with a three-guard offense. Seems fitting doesn't it? Brandon Roy is a ball control guard who can play the 1 or the 2, and we got Redd and Johnson who are both pure scorers and amazing outside shooters. Tyson Chandler is a big defensive center who is one of the scariest people in the league to drive at, and Al Jefferson is a great upcoming player.

Bench:

Guard, Gilbert Arenas: 19.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.9 RPG, 1.8 SPG

Guard, Kevin Martin: 23.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 1 SPG

Center, Shaquille O'Neal: 14.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.8 BPG, 0.6 SPG

Guard/Forward: Jason Richardson: 21.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.7 BPG

Forward, Shawn Marion: 15.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.0 SPG, 1.5 BPG

Guard, Ray Allen: 17.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1 SPG

Forward: Caron Butler: 20.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 5 APG, 2.2 SPG

So there you have it: three teams that could win 1st, 2nd and 3rd from the U.S.A. Yet for some reason they can't seem to make one team to win first, when alone, all of those teams could. Why is that? Maybe during this year's summer Olympics, they can correct it.