Once every four years, the basketball gods choose to combine to best talent across the NBA and pit them against, well, overmatched competition for the most part. There are only a small handful of countries which can present a challenge to Team USA, but it only takes one game to make the difference between a gold medal or bust. For that has been the equation facing the Team USA for ages, anything less than a gold medal is seen as a total and abject failure.
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The USA team for 2016 Rio Olympics is especially intriguing. It features less star power than the 2012 team, but it is not a pushover by any means. Nor is it a lock to win the gold medal when you consider the competition. Here is an in-depth analysis of the roster, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) facing the Team USA in the 2016 Rio Olympics:
#1 Team Roster
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Playing for Team USA gives one an incredible opportunity to take their game to the next level. Kevin Durant saw his game skyrocket after the 2010 FIBA Championship. As did Stephen Curry, Tyson Chandler, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose.
For the 2016 Rio Olympics, Team USA is missing a number of superstars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Any team would be gutted by the loss of those names, but USA's talent pool is deep enough to power multiple teams.
The USA roster is still the most impressive in the tournament by far as it features Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan and Paul George among others. The roster is rounded up by Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozen and Kyle Lowry. Helmed by coach Mike Krzyzewski, USA has been undefeated in the last two Olympics.
Clearly, Team USA features the biggest names in the tournament.
#2 Strengths: Skill and athelticism
Oh boy, where to begin! Here's how Coach Mike Krzyzewski put it, "We have great shooters and explosive scorers, we're big and athletic, and I think we'll really be able to defend."
The biggest strength of Team USA has usually been their explosive athleticism. These athletes can run faster and jump higher than anyone else. Running up the score on fast breaks has been a staple of USA teams in international competitions. The amount of ground Durant, George and DeRozan will cover in transition is scary.
Team USA would be salivating at the prospect of competing in international basketball. DeAndre Jordan would be salivating to himself at the prospect of the international rule which enables players to knock the ball while it is on the cylinder without goal-tending. Thompson, Durant and Irving would be tingling at the shorter 3-point line. And the entire team would be relishing the prospect of being more athletic and riding their win streak.
The superior athleticism will help the team with their trademark smothering defense, and the interior presence of DeAndre Jordan or DeMarcus Cousins will deter drives by the opposition. Team USA's star power alone can run the score up 10-0 even before the game begins against some opponents.
Directed by the unflappable Coach K, the team is going to be really hard to beat. One can bet on any of Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving to step up as the alpha male on this squad on offense.
#3 Weakness: Team chemistry
Just having a collection of all-stars does not make a team, just as the 2004 team which failed to win a gold medal learned the hard way. Good team chemistry can be a fleeting mixture, disturbed at the slightest provocation. One of the biggest weaknesses of Team USA in any year can arise from the fact that they don't spend as much time playing together as the other teams do. The players come from different teams which spend more time competing against each other.
Establishing priorities on offense and roles on defense can be difficult when you are hastily putting together a program. And then there is the issue of rivalries within the team.
We recently saw DeAndre Jordan and Kevin Durant collide mid-air to snatch an open defensive rebound in a match against Argentina, and the resulting scrimmage ended in a turnover for Team USA. There is no love lost between a Clipper and a Thunder-turned-Warrior. One wonders if these issues can be suppressed or will they come back to bite them.
Team USA comprises of players who are used to a certain pecking order. They are usually the alpha dogs on their teams and have a clearly defined role. It can take time for a team to find its identity, by the time that happens one may end up holding a silver medal. In the past, no matter the number of stars on the team, it was clear who the alpha dog was. In dire straits, the team turned collectively towards Kobe Bryant. His legendary work ethic and primacy will be missed this time around.
Critics have slammed the superstars for skipping the Olympics, and some are deriding Team USA as being more of a B Team than a Dream Team, or Less-than-Dreamy Team. All this only serves as motivation for the most talented squad in the Olympics to put on a show. Should they fail the criticism will be brutal.
#4 Opportunities: Rivals weakened as well
Team USA isn't the only team missing its A-list names. Spain will be without big men Marc Gasol, who is out nursing his foot. Fellow big Serge Ibaka has elected to opt out of participating in the Olympics this year. There were rumors that he was none too happy about his 'reduced role' in the 2012 Olympics and his absence this time, may have something to do with that. The burden now falls on Pau Gasol to pull a rabbit out of his hat.
Argentina, the last team to defeat Team USA and win the gold medal in 2004, has seen its core age to the point that their threat is largely neutralized. Manu Ginobili is 39 years old, while Luis Scola is 36 years old. Their capacity to surprise has largely been neutralized.
Serbia is also without Boban Marjanovic and Nemanja Bjelica, putting more pressure on the captain Milos Teodosic. France is another team which can present a challenge, but Tony Parker and Boris Diaw aren't getting any younger.
#5 Threat: The shortened 3 point line and surprise packages
The 3 point line presents the greatest threat to Team USA. It is the greatest equalizer in the games. Games can turn on their head in a matter of seconds and a couple of long range bombs can completely change the outcome of a match. International teams put more emphasis on shooting and fundamentals, those traits can result in an upset at any given time.
While team USA is full of NBA all-stars, the rest of the world is no slouch either. Spain still has a number of names to which can present a strong challenge. Jose Calderon, Rudy Fernandez, Nikola Mirotic, Juan Carlos Navarro and Felipe Reyes will provide ample support to Pau Gasol in avenging their last two silver medals while shooting for gold.
France is another team which features a number of NBA/ex-NBA players on its roster with Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum and Nando de Colo. Teams like Lithuania and Serbia can't be counted out either.
For Team USA, anything less than a gold medal would be a total failure. The competition will have them in their cross-hairs as they are the team to beat. It remains to be seen if any team can actually accomplish that feat.
