The 2008 Beijing Olympics is upon us and decorated swimmer Michael Phelps is not the only recognizable American hoping to return home with gold. There are twelve other American athletes, the men who comprise Team USA Basketball, who this time travel to China with a chip on their shoulders, for they are no longer considered the best in their sport. On August 10th, Team USA Basketball officially begins their quest for Olympic gold, a shot at redemption and the right to once again proclaim that America's brand of basketball is the best on the planet.

Over the past eight years, Americans have been flat out embarrassed in international competition. Team USA finished sixth in the 2002 World Championship. They finished 3rd in both the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 World Championships. Despite underachieving recently, Team USA is once again considered the favorite to win the gold medal. By all accounts, they should live up to those expectations. This team and coaching staff, under the guidance of Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, was assembled differently than in years past, embracing a team concept over emphasis on the individual superstar. While this current Dream Team' still features Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, only one player on this roster, Jason Kidd, owns a gold medal, hopefully leaving eleven more with the desire to join him in that honor.

Under the leadership of head coach Mike Krzyzewksi, several factors, if used to their advantage, set up nicely for an American return to dominance, yet Team USA must not take any opponent lightly. Not only will anything less than a gold medal be a tremendous disappointment, it will also serve as a glaring reminder that the United States is no longer the epicenter of the basketball world.

Rules: While international rules are generally the same as the NBA, there are a few subtle differences that Team USA should be able to use to their advantage. International play is more physical than in the NBA. Hand-checking, long banished from the NBA, is allowed. Team USA will have to adjust to more physical play on the defensive end, particularly on the perimeter, while learning what is whistled and what is not. A return to perimeter hand-checking should help a stronger USA team if they practice it properly. They also can't get frustrated when covered in that fashion. While many American players may still be able to use their star power to warrant a foul call, Olympic officials will not stand

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