By Michael Spadaccino

They have said that this is the best team USA mens basketball squad since the original dream team. Lebron has already guarneteed the gold. With Kobe, Lebron, D-Wade, & Melo this appears to be the most explosive team to hit the Olympics in years. So, just give them the gold and get it over with…right?. Well, they may in fact leave China with the gold medals around their necks but it wont be as easy as some people may think. Here are four reasons why Team USA may be in for a more difficult time than people think:

4. Pressure to win: As hard as it may be to believe but Team USA hasn’t won the gold since 2000. Every player, coach & executive associated with the team has been or will be reminded of that fact every day they are in China. Team USA will get the best punch of every team they play every game. Not only that but as we see every year with March Madness the crowd will always root for the underdog..expect that to be no different with Team USA this year.

3. Lack of bigman depth: The international game has evolved into a perimiter game with the focus on outside shooting, ball spacing and dribble drive penetration. That being said someone still has to get rebounds. With Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh & Carlos Boozer as the only true bigs on the roster foul trouble and fatigue coud play a factor against the better teams. I know that any one of those guys could log heavy minutes if need be but, again, the international game is much different that the NBA dump down to big, than throw out and reverse if doubled game. With constant subbing it may be difficult to get any one big into a flow and match the productivity that they produce in an NBA game.

2. Lack of cohesion: As we have seen in previous years simply putting on the USA jersey no longer carries the intimidation factor that it did years ago. I don’t think anyone can question the heart & will to win of Kobe, D-Wade, LeBron & J Kidd. But can you just assemble an all star team and expect to be as cohesive as teams that have rosters that have played together since they were 16? I dont think anyone will argue which roster has the best players. I am sure we will see the alley oops dunks and behind the back passes against the Irans & Angolas but against real seasoned teams can we play together to pull out a close game in the final 5 minutes?

1. The competition is better than we may think: Whether we are ready to admit it or not, the rest of the world has caught up to USA in basketball. There are two teams (other than the US) that can make a legitimate case to win the gold this year-Spain & Argentina.

Spain will bring a legitmate NBA all star with Pau Gasol as the team anchor. They also have an experienced backcourt with Rudy Fernandez, who is ready to play with Portland this year, and Raul Lopez. Throw in Raptor sharpshooter Jose Calderon and they have enough shooting and athletism to give USA a run.

The team the best shot to beat USA has to be Argentina. They have 5 legit NBA players and some depth. Manu Ginobili is the leader and top scorer. If his ankle is fully recovered he can take over. A frontcourt of rookie of the year runner up Luis Scola and Fabrico Oberto has the size and skills to give the US trouble. Add in fellow NBA-ers Andres Nocioni and Carlos Delfino and you have 3 perimeter players who can shoot and rebound. And you know they are tough and not afraid of Team USA. A USA-Argentina gold medal game would most likely be a close game all the way…Team USA may win, but just don’t guarantee it, unless you’re Lebron.