Team USA 2012 Olympic Team: Predicting the 15-Man Roster for the US
With the 2011-12 NBA season likely to be cancelled, the next time we see some of our favorite players might not be until the 2012 Olympic Games.
USA Basketball's task of assembling a roster for that tournament will be a bit different, as they might not have a season to scout from. They may have to rely on what they saw from guys who played for the team in 2008 and 2010.
With that in mind, here's my prediction on the 15 guys who will make the cut.
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Chris Paul
1 of 16Even though his numbers were down a bit last year, Chris Paul may still be the most talented true point guard in the NBA.
Not only is he a master of getting the ball to his teammates in the perfect position to score, he sets the tone for his team's defense as well.
Deron Williams
2 of 16In my mind, the race for best point guard in the league is still between just two horses. Deron Williams and Chris Paul are neck and neck and on any given night, either can look better.
Williams isn't quite the defender that Paul is, but his size gives him a bit of advantage in many situations.
During the 2008 games, Paul and Williams were actually on court together from time to time.
Derrick Rose
3 of 16There's a very impressive wave of young point guard talent making its way through the league. That wave is led by Derrick Rose.
Last season, he became the youngest league MVP in NBA history and he played a critical role for Team USA the previous summer at the world championships.
His humility and competitive edge makes him a perfect fit for this team.
Kobe Bryant
4 of 16His basketball legs have a ton of mileage on them, but Kobe will still be an integral part of the 2012 team that the United States sends to London.
No basketball player in the league (and with the exception of Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, possibly the world) has a stronger individual will to win than Kobe Bryant.
He won't lead the team in scoring, but Kobe's leadership will be paramount.
Dwyane Wade
5 of 16At this point, Dwyane Wade may have overtaken Kobe Bryant as the best shooting guard in the world. He could very well lead this team in scoring during the 2012 Olympics.
Eric Gordon
6 of 16Eric Gordon quietly had an extremely good third season in the NBA (as Blake Griffin stole most of his thunder). The Clippers shooting guard averaged 22.3 points and 4.4 assists a game.
As a career 38 percent three-point shooter, Gordon's role may be that of a floor spacer for all the slashers on the team.
LeBron James
7 of 16Whether the NBA is on display next season or not, the 2012 Olympics could be LeBron's best shot at a little image redemption.
He's made countless awful PR decisions, but people in this country will still root for him as a member of Team USA.
He's the most talented player in the world and will be a complete nightmare for every opposing team.
Carmelo Anthony
8 of 16Carmelo Anthony is one of the best pure scorers in the world and is a much better "closer" than LeBron James (believe me, I hate that cliche even more than you).
Just another in a long line of players opposing countries simply cannot guard one-on-one.
Kevin Durant
9 of 16Kevin Durant was the unquestioned leader and best player on the 2010 team that won the world championships.
He may not be the best overall player in this bunch, but he's the best natural scorer.
Chris Bosh
10 of 16Chris Bosh will be a very good complementary player on this team. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to knock down mid- to long-range jump shots.
As defenders collapse on the host of shooters this team has, Bosh will get plenty of open looks.
Amar'e Stoudemire
11 of 16Amar'e Stoudemire is a very versatile scoring big man.
He can hit mid-range jump shots about as well as any power forward in the league and finishes at the rim with ferocity.
His athleticism allows him to play either front court position as well.
Kevin Love
12 of 16Kevin Love has very rare versatility that I haven't been able to find any kind of precedent for.
Last year, he led the NBA in rebounding at 15.2 a game and was also an elite three-point shooter (42 percent).
His defense isn't up to par with a lot of the other guys on the list, but he'll be a great situational player for Coach K.
Blake Griffin
13 of 16After just one season in the NBA, Blake Griffin is already well on his way to becoming one of the best power forwards in the league.
His tenacity around the rim will cause a lot of havoc for opposing countries.
Dwight Howard
14 of 16Dwight Howard is hands down the best center in the world.
With a steadily improving offensive game, he had the best season of his career in 2010-11. He averaged 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game.
Tyson Chandler
15 of 16The Mavericks have been my favorite sports team for over a decade now. As someone who's watched a ton of their games, I can say I'm pretty sure they would not have won a title without Tyson Chandler.
Tyson Chandler over Erick Dampier was a bigger individual upgrade than LeBron James over Dorrell Wright for Miami.
His leadership, rebounding, defense and ability to finish will make him a serious asset.
