The 2008 men’s USA basketball team will win a medal this summer in the Olympics, their tempers and emotions will determine if it’s a gold, silver or bronze.

Analysts and writers are not confident about Team USA winning the gold medal.  People said Team USA’s big men are undersized, they lack shooters and there simply aren’t enough balls to go around for these NBA all-stars.  That’s bologna!  It has been proven a team does not need a 7-footer to have a presence in the middle.  Centers Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Carlos Boozer can score, are good rebounders and can block shots.  FIFA (Federation International de Basketball Association) basketball allows players to be physical and that plays favor to Team USA’s centers.  The classic argument of lack of shooters is justified.  A team needs shooters to be able to compete in basketball, especially against foreign teams because they are so fundamentally sound.  Unfortunately most shooters can’t create for themselves.  Michael Redd is a deadly shooter, but he is not a creator.  That’s where the rest of the gang, Carmelo Anthony (Baltimore), LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant, and Jason Kidd, come in.  These athletes can dribble, handle pressure, penetrate, and hit jumpers, especially Anthony, Bryant and Wade.  If any of these athletes get collapsed on while penetrating, Redd will be waiting.

            
   Early in the exhibition matches, Team USA was too unselfish.  Easy shots that anyone of these all-stars would take in a game, they passed the ball instead and sometimes caused a turnover.  Team USA is still playing too unselfishly, but each is comfortable it seems playing their individual game.

            
   The original Dream team, with Michael Jordan and the gang, was the big brother to the basketball world and dominated their little brother, the foreign teams.  Like a younger brother who just starting to play basketball seriously, foreign players were not as skilled or talented as the Dream Team.  The Dream Team was perhaps the greatest team ever assembled, but it is truly hard to say, for reasons giving, that they were the best team ever.

          
     Well, the little brother ( foreign teams) , have grown and look pretty good.  When a little brother is not taken seriously, he will win.  That’s was the issue in the 2004 Olympics when Team USA won the bronze medal-in translation, they lost.

        
       With the differential of FIBA rules and regulations from the NBA, court length FIBA 91x 49 – NBA 94x50, quarters FIBA 10 – NBA 12, three-point line FIBA 20’6 – NBA 23’5, it is organized to support foreign teams, but actually, it’s easier for Team USA.  Foreign teams are still behind the USA in skill and talent, although they have improved greatly. 

           
    The true question mark for Team USA is can they control their emotions.  These Olympics men’s basketball games against Team USA will be like the 80’s, NBA style, meets the new generation.  The foreign teams are going to try to force Team USA into a half-court game to slow the game down, be extra physical in an attempt to keep up the pressure and frustrate them.  This is a highly emotional team, but veterans like Kidd and Bryant will keep the team in check.  Team USA will be poised and responsible for each other.

          
    Wade will be your MVP because he is rested, hungry, the most athletic, healthy, and wants revenge.  Wade led Team USA in points through the exhibition games with 18 per game.

           
  Team USA will win the gold and restore order in the center of the universe, but it will not be easy.  With the victory in Beijing against better competition than the original Dream Team in 1992, this Team USA will be the best ever.

Written By: Barry Barnes