After MVP Kobe Bryant fell short of the NBA Championship to Boston, he now leads a cast of all-stars from the USA Olympic basketball team to try to win gold in Beijing in August.  Joining Bryant on the Beijing-bound squad was 2000 Olympic gold medalist Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks), Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets), Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz), Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets), Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons) Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).  Currently Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have the United States -350 to win the 2008 Olympic Basketball Gold Medal.

The Pistons issued a statement from Prince in which he said he was 'honored to be selected.'  "I take great pride in being given the opportunity to represent my country, and I strongly believe that with the team that has been assembled, the United States will be represented well," Prince said.  There will be a minicamp this week in Las Vegas and then they will all meet July 20-25 to play some exhibition games before the Olympics in China on Aug. 10.  "I'm excited about the players who comprise this team.  The selections were very difficult and something we've been working toward since we initially got the Senior National Team together in the 2006 summer.  Unfortunately, we are limited to a roster of 12 players and we had incredible commitment for the 33 players in our Senior Team program," said Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will coach the Olympic team in Beijing.

This team is winning gold.  They are more than big enough - no other team in Beijing will have more than one big man the caliber of Boozer, Bosh, and Howard - plus Prince, Kobe, LeBron, Kidd, Wade, Anthony all rebound well for their size.  I really think Jason Kidd played so bad at the end of the season in the NBA that he doesn't deserve to be on this team.  But he will be a contributor to the team with his passing.  Our rebounding and size is not an issue.  We have three studs to play point guard, so we will constantly be pressuring them on defense and never have trouble running the offense.  The only thing is you win championships by playing defense; ask the LA Lakers that after losing to the best defensive team in the league this year in Boston.  Don't forget that while this team is loaded on offense, that's not enough to win. Just ask the Nuggets how this past post-season went.  But this will be the year I feel USA will win Gold.

The Current lines for 2008 Olympic Basketball Gold Medal at SBGglobal.com

• Argentina +500
• Lithuania: +1,400
• Greece: +1,800
• Italy: +2,200
• Puerto Rico: +6,300
• Spain -250
• Field (Any Other): +1,300

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