2012 USA Olympic Basketball Team: Playing Fact or Fiction with Final Roster

The finalists for the USA Olympic Basketball team have been paired down to 20 names, and I don't envy head coach Mike Krzyzewski having to cut eight players from that list.

Not only will he have to make eight cuts, but he will have to do so without the benefit of a training camp.

The final rosters for the London Games need to be in by June 20, and the NBA season doesn't come to an end—and the NBA Finals likely won't end—until after that date.

We've made things easy for Coach K, though, as we can play a little fact or fiction with the Olympic hopefuls. For this purpose, we will assume that each player will be healthy and willing to play at the the end of the season.

Let's take a look.

Dwyane Wade

This is under the assumption that Wade is healthy enough at the end of the season, but if he is, then he's a lock for another Olympic trip. Fact

Deron Williams

There are going to be some very difficult cuts along the way, and while Williams is better at running a structured offense than a guy like Derrick Rose, he could likely be one of the final guys squeezed out by the numbers this year. Fiction

Chris Paul

Paul is also a lock to be one of what will likely be five guards on the team. His selection is a no-brainer. Fact

Eric Gordon

There are future Olympics in store for Gordon; just not this season. Knee problems and a crowded backcourt of future Hall of Famers give Gordon very little chance of making the team. Fiction

Russell Westbrook

Westbrook had an impressive 2010 tournament and left a good impression with both Coach K and Jerry Colangelo. One of the last spots on the team will go to him. Fact

Chauncey Billups

It would be nice to see the veteran Billups get a spot, but there are too many more talented guards to make tough decisions on. Mr. Big Shot is getting sent home. Fiction

Kobe Bryant

Bryant is a lock, as the ball will be in his hands during any tight fourth quarters. Fact

Derrick Rose

Rose wasn't overly impressive during the 2010 tournament and was often on the bench during fourth quarters, but it's going to be almost impossible to keep the reigning MVP off this team. Fact

LeBron James

LeBron is in. No real explanation needed here. Fact

Andre Iguodala

Iguodala really embraced his role as a defensive stopper on the 2010 team. That alone gives him a ton of value for this team. He's in. Fact

Rudy Gay

Gay simply has no chance. With James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony also at the small forward position, Gay gets squeezed out. Fiction

Kevin Durant

Durant's silky-smooth jumper is a weapon against the zone defenses that Team USA will see in London. He's clearly on the team. Fact

Carmelo Anthony

Anthony could possibly be the best pure scorer among the 20 possible players. There is definitely a spot for him. Fact

Chris Bosh

We're going to have to make a difficult decision on a couple of forwards, and Bosh is going to be one of those decisions. His ability to also play the five is big, but he's going to be the victim of losing out to a couple of younger guys. Fiction

Blake Griffin

Team USA will face some big teams along the way, and with only two true centers getting an invite, we are going to give a spot to Griffin over Bosh. He's more explosive and a better rebounder. Griffin is in. Fact.

Kevin Love

Love is going to be the guy that we slide down to the center spot. His rebounding alone will be too valuable of a commodity to keep off the roster. Fact

LaMarcus Aldridge

There should be a spot for Aldridge on this team, but we can't keep everyone, and since we elected for the rebounding of Love, Aldridge becomes the toughest cut of all despite having a tremendous season. There will be future Olympics for him. Fiction

Lamar Odom

Odom was a guy that had a real shot at a spot on this team after a strong 2010 run, but his dismal season so far is going to be a big reason he's going to be sent home. Fiction.

Dwight Howard

The best big man in the NBA today definitely has a spot on this team. They need his rebounding and presence on defense. Fact

Tyson Chandler

Chandler's skills at the defensive floor could come in handy, but I'd rather have some of the younger forwards that can produce at both ends of the floor. Fiction