Team USA Basketball 2012: How This Year's Team Compares to 2008 Squad

The 2012 version of Team USA has blown through the competition in both the exhibition games and the one actual contest that's taken place thus far at the London Olympics. 

So, how does it stack up against some stiffer competition, namely the one that would be provided in a hypothetical matchup with the 2008 squad? 

The Redeem Team won gold in 2008, but are they better at any positions than the 2012 version of the American basketball team? 

Read on for a position by position breakdown. 

Point Guards

2008 Point Guards: Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Deron Williams

2012 Point Guards: Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams

The current squad has experienced an upgrade at the point guard position, as Team USA is currently utilizing the services of three of the top four point guards in all of basketball. Derrick Rose is the only one missing from that top four. 

Chris Paul and Deron Williams have both improved over the last four years, while Russell Westbrook is a better option than Jason Kidd off the bench. 

Kidd was coming off a season in which he averaged a double-double in points and assists, but he doesn't bring the same level of intensity and explosiveness that his Oklahoma City Thunder counterpart provides the team. 

Shooting Guards

2008 Shooting Guards: Kobe Bryant, Michael Redd, Dwyane Wade

2012 Shooting Guards: Kobe Bryant, James Harden, Andre Iguodala

The edge has to go to the 2008 version of Team USA at the shooting guard position. 

Kobe Bryant is the only remaining member, and the last four years leave him as a 33-year-old with a slightly declining game and diminished athleticism. He's still a top player in the world, but he's not in the conversation for the absolute top, as he was in 2008. 

Plus, Dwyane Wade in 2008 is the second best of these six players, and Michael Redd was coming off a season in which he averaged over 20 points per game. 

James Harden's offense and Andre Iguodala's defense are valuable to the current American squad, but they don't bring as much to the table as either of the 2008 backup shooting guards did. 

Small Forwards

2008 Small Forwards: Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Tayshaun Prince

2012 Small Forwards: Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, LeBron James

This matchup really isn't close. 

LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the two best players in the world right now. Carmelo Anthony is also in the top 10. 

Tayshaun Prince has never been in the top 10 players in the world at any point of his career, while 2008 Melo and 2008 LeBron were not the top two players. 

That is all. 

Power Forwards

2008 Power Forwards: Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh

2012 Power Forwards: Anthony Davis, Kevin Love

As great as Anthony Davis may be, his presence on the 2012 version of Team USA pushes the power forward position behind the 2008 counterparts. 

Kevin Love is the top power forward in the NBA right now, better even than Dirk Nowitzki and LaMarcus Aldridge. 

However, the three-point shooting and rebounding stud by himself isn't enough to beat out both Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer. And he is by himself, as The Unibrow isn't doing anything more than coming off the bench whenever it's true garbage time. 

Love in his current form may be better than either 2008 Boozer or 2008 Bosh, but the duo of the last Olympics is better as a whole. 

Centers

2008 Center: Dwight Howard

2012 Center: Tyson Chandler

Would you rather have the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year and his limitations on offense or the dominant defensive center who was about to win three straight DPOYs and his solid offensive contributions? 

I'll roll with Dwight Howard, also known as the latter of those two options. 

Tyson Chandler is a valuable player for Team USA because of the complete lack of length when he's not playing, but he has not been, is not and will not ever be on Howard's level.