Team USA Basketball 2012: Why Lack of Size Won't Matter in Quest for Gold
Looking at Team USA's men's basketball roster for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, there is one glaring weakness. The team only has one true and experienced center: 7'1" Tyson Chandler of the New York Knicks.
Seeing as how teams like Spain and China have their fair share of bigger players, it's fair to be worried about how the United States may get tossed around under the basket.
However, fans of Team USA need not be concerned about how the team will do this year in spite of its lack of size. Though the only real dominant defensive forces are Chandler and the untested Anthony Davis, the team is deep enough at all other positions that the lack of height won't even be an issue.
Look at it this way: This is a team of the best American players, so these men can clearly play. Headlined by returning players like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, some of the best all-around players in the NBA are represented.
More importantly, Team USA has two great point guards in Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Both men dish out the assists just as well as they score points, and Paul is one of the best defenders in the game today. Russell Westbrook will also provide some solid minutes in this department.
Team USA also has some talented newcomers this year, such as reigning scoring champion Kevin Durant and double-double machine Kevin Love, who at 6'10" will provide some much-needed size under the basket.
However, all good players aside, we're forgetting the most important fact of all. It's not about how LeBron James is such a great athlete that he plays like someone larger than 6'8", but rather this.
People seem to forget that the 2012 men's team has five players returning from the 2008 squad that won a gold medal in Beijing. The go-to guys on this team have played together before and know how to complement each other well.
On top of that, they clearly respond well to coach Mike Krzyzewski, who works with professional players ridiculously well considering how he's a college coach.
Most important of all, the returning players can serve as mentors to some of the younger players who have come aboard this year. This is a dance they have done before, and it may be time for them to pass the proverbial torch soon.
Seeing as how most of the players on the team this year have a team-first approach, you're about to hear it here first: Team USA will win the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
