London 2012: Why Chris Bosh's Injury Spells Trouble for Team USA in Olympics

The one-handed dunk took our breaths away. The one-legged landing caused us to hold the oxygen within. The news of Chris Bosh's abdominal strain has the Miami Heat and 2012 United States Olympic basketball team gasping for air.

According to the official FIBA London 2012 website, the United States has just six big men on their roster. With the recent subtraction of Bosh, that only leaves five. More importantly, that leaves one less big body who is capable of playing the 5—a position in which only Tyson Chandler is currently slated to play.

While there is no denying how talented Team USA will be, as everyone from Kobe to LeBron to Kevin Durant is currently poised to play for the national team, the matchup problems have already begun to present themselves. For instance, the United States' potential meeting with Spain.

While the U.S.'s perimeter play is unmatched, their weakness inside could be a serious problem. Spain already possesses two point guards who have thrived at the NBA level, pairing Jose Calderon with Ricky Rubio. Down low, their family pairing may be the best big men combination in the world.

Not only has Marc Gasol reached his brother, Pau Gasol, in terms of talent and production, but he's learned to place defense over scoring. With that being said, both of the Gasol brothers could put up 20 and 10 before you know it.

And that's before we even get to the NBA's best shot-blocker: Serge Ibaka.

Between the superior low-post fundamentals of the Gasol's and the shot-by-shot rejection chart certain to be made of Ibaka's play, depth has to be an issue on the United States' mind. If not, it should be—opponents will show no remorse in sending the Americans home.

Faith should be place into the American big men remaining on the roster—Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and Tyson Chandler are all elite players at the NBA level. Lamar Odom, meanwhile, has a strong history of international success and Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis is as dominant on defense as they come.

But will that be enough?

To play devil's advocate, it's worth noting that the United States team rests heavily on the shoulders of three big men. The other two available players are Odom, who is coming off of a disastrous season in Dallas, and Davis, who has never played in an NBA game. Even Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James' versatility can't ease the concern.

Can they temper the storm and bring home the gold?