Beijing Olympics: Team USA Can Win Despite Lack of Frontcourt Depth

It may not be the Dream Team, but it has the potential to be something close to it. It is a team full of high scorers, playmakers, veterans, and maturing youngsters.

Out of the 12 players who were selected to this year's Olympic team, six of them were part of the 2006 USA Men's World Championship team, and eight of them participated on the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship team that qualified for these Olympics.

With most of them already having to work together on previous teams, this will give them an advantage in team chemistry and team cooperation. The most intriguing aspect of this year's Olympic team is the three point guards that were selected to the team.

Of the three, Jason Kidd will bring the veteran presence to the team; especially to the other two point guards who were selected: Deron Williams and Chris Paul. The 35-year-old Kidd was part of the 2000 USA Olympic team that went 8-0 and won the gold medal in Sydney.

Also, he has played on eight USA Men's basketball teams with a record of 44-0. That brings a lot to the team, and even though he may not have the speed or outside shot that a typical point guard should have, Kidd is completely unselfish and that may be a reason why he could be the starting PG for a team full of superstars.

With players like Chris Paul and Deron Williams sitting under him, the offense from the starting PG position won't be a concern for Krzyzewski, because he has already made the decision to have scorers like Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James in the starting lineup.

Coach K will be looking for more breaking down of the defense and passing from the starting point guard, and that is something that Kidd is capable of doing.

Williams and Paul are both similar to each other in their style of play because they both know how to break down the defense like Kidd, but they are quicker and they can score easier. But when they are needed for scoring out of that PG position, then that's when they'll be used.

The addition of Michael Redd is key for this team, because the past U.S. teams have lacked the outside game and a reliable scorer off of the bench.

Redd is capable of doing both of those things. He was a member of last summer's FIBA Americas Championship team and he put up 14.4 points a game off the bench, shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc.

Redd's long range jumper will be a key component for this year's Olympic team, and and his bench scoring will definitely be needed. Redd isn't a superstar, but he is close to one.

With him sitting behind Kobe and company, I'm pretty sure he'll be the next 2-guard for Coach K to go to. This decent speed matches the speed of the second team.

Whether it is Williams or CP3 being the first resort coming off of the bench, they both can run up and down the floor along with Redd.

That's not to say the starters aren't as quick as the bench (because that's not even close to the case), but it is always good to have speed on the bench. That way, they don't come in and slow things down.

The speed on this team will give them success, because they must run in order to wear down the opposition.

Even though the team looks good in almost all aspects on the floor, there are a few flaws that could lead to trouble for this team. I feel that with them taking three point guards, they lack depth in the frontcourt.

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