Tyson Chandler
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Isaac Brekken / AP
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Performance: Chandler has received the fewest minutes of playing time of any team member. Despite his modest role, Chandler is the second-leading shotblocker on the team, with 13 rejections in just 72 minutes of playing time. Unlike just about every other member of his team, Chandler has become a relevant player in the NBA because of his defense, not his offense. After six NBA seasons, Chandler is still only a workmanlike offensive player, but as a defensive rebounder and shotblocker, he is among the best true centers in the NBA. In his limited playing opportunities, mostly coming in the last few minutes of blowouts, Chandler has performed well.
Role: To be aggressive in spot minutes as the team's third center.
Chance of being on 2008 Olympic team: Scant. Chandler's spot on the team is likely to go to Greg Oden, whom the USA Basketball decision-makers would like to begin grooming for future international play.
Dwight Howard
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Isaac Brekken / AP
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Performance: In this tournament, Howard's awesome physical capabilities have been on display as he has thoroughly dominated opposing big men on the infrequent occasions that he has been given the ball. Howard's footwork and balance in the post continues to improve, and guarding him one-on-one for any international team here is a physical impossibility. The only problem Howard has is that it's been so easy for his perimeter-oriented teammates (Anthony, James, Bryant) to score that they haven't looked for him all that much. On defense, Howard is the team's shot-blocking presence, and he has risen (literally) to that task when opposing players have managed to penetrate Team USA's airtight perimeter defense. The only thing holding Howard back is his weak free throw shooting (61.3 percent). If the United States is in a tight game in the Olympics, the coaching staff would likely trust Stoudemire on the court at that crucial time.
Role: Howard has not been called upon to do all that much here, but he has responded to the minutes he's been given with his own brand of cheerful, energetic play. He has rebounded strongly, muscled his way to dunks and layups when the ball finds him, and intimidated drivers and blocked their shots.
Chance of being on 2008 Olympic team: 100 percent chance, barring injury.
LeBron James
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Jae C. Hong / AP
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Performance: If there is one image of USA Basketball in this tournament, it's got to be of James throwing down a bevy of awe-inspiring, power-packed windmill dunks. That might be unfortunate, because James' best work here might be his ballhandling and passing on the fast break. James is not a great point guard in halfcourt situations, mostly because any coach would want him receiving rather than making passes that lead to scores. But here, he has functioned beautifully in fast break situations, delivering the ball to teammates at precisely the right moment and not holding onto the ball too long, as many scorers tend to do when they are trying to make a pass. James has also taken advantage of the fact that he has usually been wide open at the three-point line to drain an unprecedented number of three-point shots. James asserted that he has been working on his perimeter shot, but the closeness of the 20-foot, 6-inch FIBA three-point line and his continued opportunities to shoot while wide open have combined to make him the team's top three-point shooter (62.5 percent).
Role: James has done it all -- set up teammates, made three-point shots, viciously finished off fast breaks with dominating slam dunks. He's done it without breaking any plays to seek shots for himself, and that type of selflessness has permeated the team. It sounds so simple, but to see James reverse the ball even though he has a decent look at a shot in order to give a teammate an even better shot is highly uncommon among superstar players with his scoring abilities. Defensively, James has done a fine job guarding smaller players, putting his strength and overall athletic ability to good use.
Chance of being on 2008 Olympic team: 100 percent chance, barring injury.
Jason Kidd
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Isaac Brekken / AP
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Performance: Kidd has nearly eschewed shooting completely in this tournament, taking only six shots in eight games. But that doesn't mean he hasn't had a dramatic influence on the team. His defensive pressure on the ball has delayed opponents from starting their offense. The difference between Kidd restricting every movement of opposing point guards stands in stark contrast to the penetration teams were able to get in the World Championships last summer. On offense, Kidd has recorded 40 assists while committing only five turnovers, an astounding 8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Kidd's Performance here recalls the early point guards of the NBA, men like Hall of Famer Dick McGuire, who scored just a few points but whose main job was to run the team and be a catalyst for the team's plans on both ends of the court.
Role: As always, the steadying influence.
Chance of being on 2008 Olympic team: 100 percent chance, barring injury.
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