After having lost the reigning MVP and a recent three-time Defensive Player of the Year, comparisons between this year's Olympic team and the Dream Team apparently are on hold.
Four months ago, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo predicted this year’s Olympic team would offer a “fair comparison with the Dream Team.’’ That was seconded by Miami forward LeBron James, who said, "We can stack up with those guys."
One, though, shouldn’t expect as much such talk when the Olympians get to London this summer, 20 years after the Dream Team’s dominant showing in Barcelona.
This year’s outfit won’t be quite as strong with losses due to injury of the best center on the planet, Orlando’s Dwight Howard, and last year’s MVP, Chicago point guard Derrick Rose. And there’s still plenty of time left in these playoffs for another star to come up lame.
So it’s not surprising Colangelo now says he’s “not going to be making any comparisons regarding our team’’ to the Dream Team.
But that’s OK. This year’s outfit might not be another Dream Team. But unless there’s a stunning mass defection, it should be one of the best Olympic teams in history.
The team should feature James, about to win his third MVP; Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, who just won his third scoring title; and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who has two scoring titles and an MVP. And while there's a big drop-off at center due to the loss of Howard, at least the possible starting center, New York’s Tyson Chandler, did just end Howard’s three-year stranglehold on Defensive Player of the Year.
Colangelo added a new wrinkle Thursday to the process when he revealed to FOX Sports Florida he’s very confident the deadline for picking the team will be pushed back from June 18 to sometime in the “middle’’ of a July 5-12 training camp in Las Vegas. That increases the chances greatly of a young player or a long-shot candidate coming up big early in camp and earning one of the final spots on the 12-man roster.
For instance, it might be risky to name center Anthony Davis, coming off his freshman season at Kentucky, to the team after not having seen him on the court with NBA stars. But if the deadline is extended and Davis is swatting balls into the seats at camp, he’s got a shot.
Also, the NBA Finals could go as late as June 26. A deadline extension would help if a player who just finished a long playoff run isn’t enthralled about heading to camp as little as nine days after the end of the season.
For now, let’s assume there are no more injuries or defections. Of the 18 finalists, here’s how the final roster should look, with players cut being Olympic alternates:
Wing players
LeBron James, Miami: There’s no better place to start than with the King. Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski raved about James’ leadership for the 2008 gold medal-winning outfit in Beijing. If James finally can add a championship ring to his resume, this could end up being the best summer of his life.
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: This guy is 33, also the approximate speed of a long-playing record. And he figures to keep playing for a long time and set plenty of records. Still, Bryant often has nagging injuries, so there’s no guarantee he won’t need to have surgery this summer on something and have to drop out.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City: Durant figured he should have made the 2008 team after his rookie season, and he’s right. Instead, Team USA went with, egads, Tayshaun Prince. But Colangelo guaranteed during the 2010 Worlds, when Durant was busy winning MVP and leading his team to a gold medal, that Durant has a spot locked up for 2012.
Dwyane Wade, Miami: Wade, 30, says these will be his third and final Olympics. Obviously, he wants to go out with memories similar to the 2008 games and not the 2004 games, when Team USA staggered to a bronze medal while actually losing to Puerto Rico, the U.S. territory with a population of 3.7 million (that would be like losing to Oklahoma).
Carmelo Anthony, New York: Don’t expect Anthony and Mike D’Antoni, the Team USA assistant and former Knicks coach that Anthony has been accused of running out in March, to meet regularly for fish and chips in London. Still, any friction shouldn’t affect whether Anthony makes the team.
Post men
Tyson Chandler, New York: Team USA officials always have liked this guy for his savvy defensive play. His teammates have loved him also. And why not? He never shoots, giving more opportunities to other players.
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers: Likely would have been on the 2010 Worlds team had he not been still recovering from a knee injury. So he had to wait until the 2010-11 NBA season to dunk in Timofey Mozgov’s face. Russia still has a chance to earn an Olympic berth, so another Mozgov-ing this summer is not out of the question.
Chris Bosh, Miami: Like James and Wade, Bosh hopes his Heat will play deep into June and he won’t have much of a break for camp. All season, Bosh has called Miami the best team in the NBA. Next, he can call Team USA the best team in the world.
Kevin Love, Minnesota: It remains a mystery why Love didn’t play a bigger role at the 2010 Worlds. Perhaps it motivated him. He exploded the next season to become one of the best big men in the NBA. And he took another step this past season.
Point guards
Chris Paul, Clippers: Yes, there should be more Clippers than Lakers on Team USA. But for those who think a Clipper actually being on the Olympic team is historic, consider Danny Manning was technically one after he was taken No. 1 by the team in 1988 draft and played later that summer in the Seoul, South Korea.
Deron Williams, Brooklyn: It seems awkward writing that alongside Williams’ name after the New Jersey Nets officially moved earlier this week. But it might not matter since it could end up being Dallas next to Williams’ name in the Olympic program.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City: It should be exciting seeing Westbrook on the international stage with his teammate Durant. Heck, it would worth the price of admission just to see the two throw lobs to each other on an otherwise empty court.
Alternates (six remaining finalists)
Anthony Davis, Kentucky: USA Basketball wanted to get Davis in the pool of players since he could be a big piece for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. But if this guy is looking like Bill Russell in training camp, he’s got a chance to make this year’s team.
James Harden, Oklahoma City: Along with Davis, he was one of two late additions named Thursday. If USA Basketball officials feel they need another outside shooter, he has a chance. But the guard might need a defection by one of the team's many decorated wing players.
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia: At least the history books say the forward has a chance to make the final roster. Team USA did go with perimeter defensive stopper Prince four years ago.
Rudy Gay, Memphis: Nice player, but the Grizzlies wing wouldn’t add anything Team USA doesn’t already have.
Eric Gordon, New Orleans: Nobody gave the undersized shooting guard much of a chance to make the 2010 Worlds, but he did. Now, he really has no chance.
Lamar Odom, Dallas: Because he was on the 2004 Olympic and 2010 Worlds teams, USA Basketball decided to be nice and pay the big man’s expenses to Las Vegas before he’s cut.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
