Team USA Basketball 2012: Vital Keys for America to Bring Home the Gold

The 2012 Summer Olympics aren't going to be a cakewalk for Team USA.

More than a few other countries also present impressive NBA talent, and the ability to score and play defense won't be enough. If only it were that simple.

On the bright side, America has the best athletes in guys like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony. Include the remaining members, and the U.S. is stacked across the board.

In order for Team USA to repeat Olympic gold, here are some vital keys that will ensure a first-place performance.

Off the Ball Movement

In the exhibition game versus Brazil, Team USA only managed 11 assists, so it was no surprise they struggled to score early on.

Backtrack to the game against the Dominican Republic and the U.S. put up 113 points and had 27 assists. With point guards like Chris Paul and Deron Williams, America should never have trouble executing offensively.

Additionally, the U.S. is also the most athletic team and needs to utilize that advantage.

Moving constantly off the ball will create open shots and passing lanes for scoring opportunities. Sure, it's a simple concept, but actually using speed, agility and quickness to their advantage is America's best attribute.

No opponent will keep up with Team USA if they consistently move off the ball to expose a defense's weakness.

Man-to-Man Defense

Just like moving off the ball offensively, sticking to man defense is the flip side of that coin.

Yes, a zone defense is a solid alternative since it saves energy for offense. However, this is another aspect of each game where the U.S. must use their athleticism to gain an edge.

A zone would limit their movement and restrict turnover opportunities on the perimeter. Team USA needs to keep the pressure on with man defense, because they are bigger, faster, stronger and more explosive than anyone else.

Considering the depth of the U.S. as well, the personnel, for the most part, won't matter. Locking down in man will also wear an opponent down quickly. That then opens the opportunity window to put games away early.

Beginning Explosion

Constantly moving and shutting down opponents by way of elite athleticism provides Team USA with a great opportunity shortly after tip-off.

Exploding early in games will put the competition away before the first half concludes. Moving well off the ball forces defenses to be continuously adjusting. Well, with true scorers like LeBron, Kobe, Durant and Carmelo, there's no reason the U.S. should score less than 30 in the first quarter.

Defensively, it's just about preventing opportunities and moving well in transition. Turnovers will be forced and rebounding will occur; from there, the U.S. has to quickly capitalize and knock the wind out right away.

We know Team USA has the ability to burn the scoreboard against any opponent, so why not use their athletes to always be moving and forcing opponents to match pace? If there's one distinct advantage to being flat-out better across the board, it's the potential to win games before halftime.

And this holds especially true if/when they face other solid teams like Spain and Argentina. The U.S. must put games away early to negate any second half runs, because a sluggish start will increase vulnerability.

Physical Presence

Along with being more athletic, the U.S. have the advantage of reliable depth in the Olympics.

So, the next area where Team USA can really force any opponent back is by being aggressive. Always attacking the bucket on offense, scrambling after every loose ball and playing intimidating defense will make or break challengers from the opening tip.

Contesting every shot needs to happen defensively, and the constant moving off the ball will draw more fouls. Even if the Americans get called for a few more personal fouls than expected, that's where the depth comes in.

The rotation allows the starters to play much more physically and keep strong pressure on throughout the first half. In short, putting on a relentless display of suffocating defense and explosive offense leads to physically wearing opponents down.

Once again athleticism is at the core of it all, because aggressive play can't occur without being quicker, stronger and faster.

Second Half Momentum

Even after a strong first half and having solidified a demanding physical game, Team USA cannot coast in the second half.

Regardless of whether an opponent is put away in the first half or not, coming out of the locker room with a mindset to dominate the third quarter is arguably the most vital key. Basketball is a game of runs, and it can be expected to happen on such an elite stage.

Well, the U.S. can fend off any kind of comeback or nail-biting finish by taking over in the second half. There's no question that from the opening tip to halftime that Team USA must explode offensively and remain dominant throughout.

Halftime, however, can and will lower the intensity to provide any opponent with a glimmer of hope. The start of the second half is one of the most telling factors, because whoever maintains or steals the momentum will likely control the third and fourth quarters.

Everything previously mentioned is needed for the Americans to start strong and win games early. It's holding that consistency through the second half to actually get the win and, ultimately, the gold medal.

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