Carmelo Anthony, Forward (New York Knicks)
In the 2008 Olympics, Carmelo Anthony was one of the starting forwards and the fourth leading scorer on the team. This season he'll likely be the first forward off the bench, coming in for either LeBron James or Kevin Durant. Melo is hard to stop as a scorer because he can overpower wings and blow by power forwards, he is also a very good rebounder and should play a big role for team USA, though perhaps not as big as in 2008.
Kobe Bryant, Guard (Los Angeles Lakers)
The elder statesman and veteran leader of the team, Kobe Bryant will start at shooting guard and play a similar role as in 2008, picking his spots for the bulk of the game, then taking over in crunch time. Kobe may have lost a step, but he's still a devastating scorer and can still be a lockdown defensive player. It will be interesting to see if Kobe plays more of a playmaker role with all the other scoring talent on this team.
Tyson Chandler, Center (New York Knicks)
With Dwight Howard unable to participate after back surgery, Tyson Chandler will be called upon as the starting center and defensive anchor. Chandler will be asked to do what he does best: captain the defense and protect the rim, with any scoring he does simply being a bonus. Chandler was crucial to the 2012 World Championship team and really excels under International rules that allow teams to play zones.
Kevin Durant, Forward (Oklahoma City Thunder)
The star of the 2010 World Championship winning team, Kevin Durant will be playing in his first Olympic games and should be a starting forward and most likely the leading scorer on this team. Durant can score from anywhere on the floor and can't be stopped by the best the NBA has to offer, so it seems unlikely that any international team will be able to stop him. Durant's rebounding and length will also be a great aide to the team, but make not mistake, Durant is here to score.
Blake Griffin, Forward/Center (Los Angeles Clippers)
If there's one player who is poised to take the most advantage of all the other talent on Team USA, it's Blake Griffin. Griffin's ability to finish lobs means that any misstep by a defense will find him diving to the rim. Griffin is also a very good rebounder and a will also be able to take advantage of the International rule that allows players to touch the ball on the rim, where he can make a living on putbacks. Griffin's weakness of creating his own shot won't be an issue on a team full or scorers this talented.
James Harden, Guard/Forward (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Harden earned one of the final spots on the Team USA roster for a number of reasons. He can stretch the floor, a must in International basketball, handle the ball, pass, and play both guard spot and small forward in a pinch. Also, Harden is used to coming off the bench. Given the depth of talent on Team USA, Harden will most likely play little and may only see minutes as a three point specialist, but if the need arises, Harden is able to answer the call.
Andre Igoudala, Guard/Forward (Philadelphia 76ers)
One of the most important players on the 2010 team was Andre Igoudala, who's suffocating defense, energy and athleticism were a big boost for the team. Igoudala is one of the top 5 wing defenders in the NBA, while also carrying an offensive playmaking load for his team, so imagine how good of a defender he'll be when he can focus all his energy on shutting down the player in front of him?
LeBron James, Forward (Miami Heat)
Fresh off a regular season and Finals MVP, LeBron James is ready to carry on that success in an attempt to wing his second straight Gold Medal. Durant is likely to be the teams leading scorer, but LeBron will be the main guy on this team, frequently initiating the offense, locking down on defense, and just dominating in every facet of the game like he has for a couple of years now.
Kevin Love, Forward/Center (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Love, another veteran of the 2010 Championship team, will likely be called upon to be the backup center on this team. Love isn't a traditional rim protector, but he won't have to be on this team due to the high level of perimeter defenders on this team, it's unlikely for teams to be able to even get to the second line of defense. Instead, Love will need to rebound missed jumpers, something he's one of the best at in the NBA. In addition to that, Love's ability to score inside as well as stretch the floor will be very useful off the bench.
Chris Paul, Guard (Los Angeles Clippers)
Chris Paul, as he has down his whole career, will be the stabilizing influence on this team, dictating tempo and running the offense as the starting point guard. It will be interesting to see if Paul, who notoriously slows tempo early in the game to preserve energy for later in the game, will play a little faster due to the athleticism around him and backups as good as Deron Williams and Russell Westbrook.
Russell Westbrook, Guard (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Westbrook's role on the 2010 team was to play pressure defense, create turnovers and finish in transition, all things he did very well. Westbrook will likely play a similar role this year, though perhaps in less minutes. Westbrook is unmatched as an athlete and will be a matchup problem when he's on the floor on offense and should be equally as much of a trouble maker on defense, where he can guard both the one and two.
Deron Williams, Guard (Brooklyn Nets)
Deron Williams will likely be the main backup point guard and get some minutes at shooting guard because of his shooting ability. Williams is often overlooked when discussing best point guards in the league, but there are isn't a better combo of scoring and passing in the NBA.
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