5 Ways Team USA Basketball Team Could Be a Disappointment at 2012 Olympics

With the opening tip of Team USA's Olympic run set for July 29, most people expect the United States to walk away with basketball glory again in London.

The team returns most of its stars from the 2008 gold medal run in Beijing and brings notable new stars into the fold as well.

But with Team USA's "gold or bust" label comes a ton of room for American disappointment. What are some of the ways the team could disappoint? Follow along and take a look

Not Take Advantage of Their Celebrity Status

Since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Team USA has invested fewer minutes to basking in their celebrity glow in each Olympiad.

That could be because Team USA members are already sick of the white hot NBA spotlight and simply want to win for their country. Or because it's a team game and the U.S. Olympic heads prefer marketing individual talents. Or simply because they view the Olympics as a vacation with some basketball and want to be left alone.

Either way, with the 2012 Summer Games being held in London, Team USA should allow the Olympic rockstars to shine.

There won't be a language barrier with the local press, so have fun with it. Be the subject of some goofy time-filler story. Openly flirt with new NBC correspondent Michelle Beadle. Anything to let the world know the team is actually having fun in London.

Not Dominate Against France, Tunisia and Nigeria

While Team USA will be the overwhelming favorite against every team in Group A, it should be garbage time against France, Tunisia and Nigeria by midway through the third quarter.

The U.S. squad has too much individual talent and team defensive prowess for it to be anything less than a disappointment otherwise. Minus a few exceptions (mostly on the French team), all three teams are filled with players who couldn't make an NBA roster—let alone compete on the national level.

Anything less than 20+ waltzes and late-game smiles and Team USA could be in trouble against true competition. 

Lose a Game in Group Play

Since the U.S. began opening its Olympic doors up to professionals with 1992's Dream Team, only one Team USA squad has ever lost in Group play—2004's deplorable collection of questionable talent.

With most of the Redeem Team coming to London after 2008's undefeated run, a loss in group play would be a massive let down for Team USA. 

It would also mean that the Americans would likely face up with world No. 2 Spain before the gold medal game, something that could even jeopardize the squad's medal chances. 

Have an Alpha Dog Problem

The accompanying picture says it all.

By almost any objective measure, we know that Kobe Bryant shouldn't be Team USA's alpha dog in London. 

That distinction should go to LeBron James or Kevin Durant, the world's two best players and best suited guys for international play.

But after being the team's unquestioned alpha dog in 2008, will Kobe cede his throne in favor of a secondary role? That's one of the few questions left unanswered for Team USA as they head into the games that actually count.

The problem with the United States being overwhelming favorites is that we may not find out if a pecking order has been established until the medal rounds.

Not Win the Gold Medal

Let's be honest, anything less than winning their fifth gold medal in the past six Summer Games is an abject failure for this bunch.

Team USA has the most talent, will have enough experience playing together by the medal round and is coached by one of the greatest of all-time, regardless of sport.

In basketball, talent almost always wins out. No team can match the United States' talent level and array of lineups they can put on the floor. The rest of the world may be slowly catching up to the country that invented the peach basket, but they're not there yet.

Anything less than gold is the ultimate disappointment.