No Big Man, No Problem: USA Basketball Selects Its Olympic Roster

When selecting the final roster for USA Basketball for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, it would be nice to say the heads of state, as it were, had numerous choices at every position. But that's not the way it worked out. In fact, after hearing that players like Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan weren't going to Beijing and myriad others wanted a break, USA CEO Jerry Colangelo and staff were faced with a decision. And that decision was -- and as unpopular as this reasoning may sound to some purists -- create a team without a big man presence inside and attempt to dominate teams in the manner the Americans have been dominated in recent international basketball tournaments.

In sum, the Americans will attempt to run-and-gun the way the rest of the world does, and play to its strengths as opposed to its weaknesses. We saw this type of play during the FIBA Americas in Las Vegas last year and it led me to believe the Americans could actually be successful employing this type of offense, combined with suffocating pressure defense, which could lead to points on fast breaks. But other countries have been doing this for years and the Americans just started. Is it too much too soon for the Americans? Well, in two months, we'll certainly find out if the USA has indeed caught up to the rest of the world. For this Olympics the mantra will be "No big man, no problem." So how will it work?

POINT GUARDS

The Americans did have the pick of the litter when it came to point guards, surprisingly, with only one glaring absence, albeit a big one: Chauncey Billups. In place of the lunch pail point guard from the Motor City, USA selected another lunch pail type in Utah's Deron Williams, a poor man's Billups who can fill up a stat sheet. Jason Kidd will return as the team's likely feature point guard, a selection that surprised nobody. New Orleans' Chris Paul will also get some minutes and likely be the team's backup.

SHOOTING GUARDS

Again USA Basketball had no issues selecting the two-guards for Beijing. That's easy to say when players like MVP Kobe Bryant, sharpshooter Michael Redd, and Dwayne Wade of Miami are in the mix. Wade had an average season by his standards so it will be interesting to see how focused and ready he is. The lunch pail type will be Detroit's Tayshaun Prince, who won't play a ton but will be counted on to do the dirty work that San Antonio's Bruce Bowen would have done, had he been selected to the team. Bowen's omission raised a few eyebrows, including mine.

FORWARDS

No other team in the world has a front court like the Americans do. LeBron James highlights the unit, which will dazzle the worldwide audience with spectacular rim-rocking dunks and unparalleled athleticism. Carmelo Anthony will be counted on to shoulder the load if James is off his game and Chris Bosh of Toronto will have to step up his defense if he ever hopes to play against the heavyweights, for Coach K won't let him see the light of the day, save for the occasional cakewalk.

CENTERS

Calling either Dwight Howard of Orlando or Utah's Carlos Boozer a center is a misnomer. What they should really name this position for the Olympics for the USA is Chairman of the Board. Because that's precisely the job of the two in this tournament, rebounding. When Kevin Garnett told USA CEO Jerry Colangelo thanks but no thanks and Tim Duncan did the same, it created a rift in the paint under the basket. Moreover, who would set screens for Kobe and LeBron as they swashbuckled through opposing defenses en route to a highlight reel three-point play? Well, like it or not, that's the philosophy this time around for USA Basketball, a team hoping and praying they don't see many big men in the tournament. For if they do, it could be a short one, if Kobe and LeBron are off their games.