Possible 2012 Olympic Squad for the USA

This is a blog post dedicated to the United States Basketball Select 20 for the 2012 Olympic which will be held at London in the summer.

Let's take a look at the select 20 before I comment any further:

Name	Pos.	Hgt.	Wgt	Current Team
Tyson Chandler	C	7-1	235	New York Knicks
Dwight Howard	C/F	6-11	265	Orlando Magic
LaMarcus Aldridge	F/C	6-11	240	Portland Trailblazer
Chris Bosh	F/C	6-10	230	Miami Heat
Lamar Odom	F/C	6-10	230	Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Love	F	6-10	260	Minnesota Timberwolves
LeBron James	F	6-8	250	Miami Heat
Kevin Durant	F	6-9	230	Oklahoma city Thunder
Carmelo Anthony	F	6-8	230	New York Knicks
Rudy Gay	F	6-8	230	Memphis Grizzlies
Blake Griffin	F	6-10	251	Los Angeles Clippers
Andre Iguodala	G/F	6-6	207	Philadelphia 76ers
Kobe Bryant	G	6-6	205	Los Angeles Lakers
Chris Paul	G	6-0	175	Los Angeles Clippers
Chauncey Billups	G	6-8	202	Los Angeles Clippers
Eric Gordon	G	6-3	222	New Orleans Hornets
Russell Westbrook	G	6-3	187	Oklahoma City Thunder
Derrick Rose	G	6-3	190	Chicago Bulls
Deron Williams	G	6-3	207	New Jersey Nets
Dwyane Wade	G	6-4	220	Miami Heat

There are only 12 players that will compete in the 2012 Olympic tournament in London.

My two safest pick on going to the Olympic Squad is Tyson Chandler and also Dwight Howard as they are the only reliable inside defenders of the rim and a safe bet for Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University will select first.

My three almost certain players that will appear in the squad alongside Tyson Chandler and Dwight Howard is Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Chris Paul. My three players to be picked along the two main players is that why not carry the Two-Time Scoring Champ Kevin Durant that helped United States to win qualification to the 2012 Olympic and why not bring LeBron James who is able to play the 3 and 4 spot (4 spot if needed by Coach K) while Chris Paul need no introduction as he is a visionary passer of the ball and will make a good floor leader as he don't search to score first but make his team-mates score first.

Now to pass some judgement on the other 7 players I think the coach will bring to the 2012 Olympic Squad.

Kobe Bryant:

Needless to say Kobe Bryant is still a effective player to have in the squad to the Olympic 2012 but he may need to come out from the bench in this edition of Olympic unlike the 2008 where he was the starting 2 guard alongside Chris Paul.

Kobe Bryant will bring the team the needed veteran presence in the team as one of the elder statesman in the 2012 Olympic Team.

Kobe is now the Leading Scorer in the NBA with an average of 30.3 Points Per Game at the age of 33 and while carrying an injury to his shooting arm.

Kevin Love:

I think Kevin Love could make it to the 2012 squad via the virtue of his ability to rebound and also to play the 5 spot (Centre) if needed to by Coach K.

Love will give toughness at the 4 spot and he is a better defensive cover at the 4 spot (Power Forward) if he were to come out of the bench.

Derrick Rose

The reigning M.V.P (Most Valuable Player) should be given the chance to shine in the Olympic Stage.

Although he is not a pass first point guard like CP3, D.Rose will give the US Team scoring threat and the chance for Coach K to play D.Rose and CP3 together in certain stretch to confuse the opposing team.

I have him to be the floor leader of the second unit of the US Team in Olympic 2012.

Andre Iguodala

I have Andre Iguodala in the team as he will be my choice of Wing Defender in the US Team.

His ability to be a Guard and a Forward will play a key role in the US Team in the Olympics.

Andre is a wiling defender and he is a better pick then Carmelo Anthony who is a liability in the defensive end unlike Andre.

Russell Westbrook

As a 2 player combo for Oklahoma City Thunders alongside Kevin "Durantula" Durant, Russell Westbrook is a solid Point Guard who thrives to play alongside West elite player KD35.

Russell Westbrook is an average Point Guard if compared to the other elite Point Guard but he makes it all up with his athletic ability.

And Coach K did pick 3 Point Guards to Beijing (Deron Williams, Chris Paul and also Jason Kidd) so there could be a 3 Point Guard that will be brought to London 2012.

LaMarcus Aldridge

After a great start to the shorten season where Portland Trail Blazers have lost their Franchise Player in Brandon Roy; LaMarcus Aldridge has taken the franchise on his back and carry the team.

LaMarcus Aldridge is a player I choose is die to his ability to play the 5 spot if Coach K need to play a small unit.







Last Pick is the hardest but I will narrow the list to a few players I think Coach K and his assistant will bring:

1) Dwyane Wade
2) Chauncey Billups
3) Carmelo Anthony

Dwyane Wade is a dark horse for me is due the fact that he get injured so often at the age of 30 is not a good sign (probably due to his playing nature earlier in his playing career in the NBA)

Chauncey Bullups is a tough Point Guard who will be a steady hands and will provide a veteran leadership and having a player who is a maker of many clutch shots over in his stellar NBA Carrer.

Carmelo Anthony is a quantity scorer if you feed the ball to him but he has one weakness, which he is a liability in the defensive end although he is willing to defend (in 2008 Olympic, the defensive liability weren't so visible when you have a intimidating 6-11 C/PF Dwight Howard guarding the rim).


Which means Lamar Odom, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, Deron Williams, Rudy Gay missed out on selection to make it to the Olympic but I think Lamar Odom has a chance to be a replacement should there be a need to replace injured players.