The group of basketball players that make up TEAM USA this year is one of the best ever. Finally we are in line for our long awaited gold! This team has been cultivated. With the exception of a few players, these players have played on the USA team for years together. They have experienced what it feels like to play world teams...as a team. When D Wade is healthy (as he is right now) he is a serious threat. He is understated yet solid and focused. Wade has already been the leading scorer and I expect even more out of him as the competition progresses. I see him as one of the main leaders on the team.

Of course Kobe is Kobe. He is in my opinion the best player in the NBA right now to date and he will make clutch plays when USA needs them. LBJ is a monster....huge powerhouse that has the ability to command the ball at key moments, make steals, and is an offensive genius too. Chris Paul is a super smart point guard, one of the best the NBA has ever seen. He can handle the ball with ease...complete second nature to him. Jason Kidd is always solid and he has an intimidation factor that really works to the team’s advantage. 

Team USA has seasoned veterans, experienced olympians, and many of these guys have played together since 2004 so they know what to expect and they know what type of pressure they will be under when the competition starts. They are not just great individual players, but they have become team players. Even Kobe over the past year in LA realized what it meant to play as a team, not as an individual. He matured as a player this year. He was always great, but he was missing the "team" concept in past years. He learned it and it got him to the finals. . . and will now get him to the gold. Although he is a recent addition to the Olympic team, his team spirit will integrate well with the guys who have been there for the past few years.

These guys are not only great offensively, but they are a group of great defensive players. We haven’t seen a center of the caliber of Shaq until the arrival of Dwight Howard. Howard can make huge blocks. His presence alone is threatening. When he gets by the basket, offensively or defensively, the other team is always in trouble. Whether its a block, a rebound, or a dunk, Dwight Howard is truly "superman"!!

Don’t forget about Anthony either...remember his amazing play during the FIBA championship 2 years ago. He is a force to be reckoned with and he will be putting up some big points. Watch out!

I can’t say enough about this team. But I can say that they will win the Gold. It won’t come easy, the fight will be tough and the teams will give it their all. However, Team USA will prevail. They finally put together the right mix of players with the skills, attitude, and experience necessary to make it happen.