Sports: Discuss: The Redeem Team

Thoughts about the 2008 Olympic basketball tournament:

• U.S.A. basketball is on top. Everything's right in the world again. But, if the States didn't stink up basketball tournaments the last eight years, these games would never have been must-see TV.
• Everyone calls Team USA the "Redeem Team"--and that rings true in a lot of ways--but no one has embodied redemption more than Dwyane Wade. He is easily the MVP of these games, providing a spark off the bench, leading the squad in scoring, and playing mad defense. His performance in these games showed that he belongs (again) in a conversation for basketball's elite. He's once again playing with reckless abandon, and if he somehow remains healthy for the upcoming season, then Miami should be considered as a contender in a weak Eastern conference. They still have to answer to Boston, but if Michael Beasley is the superior scorer and rebounder that he is being advertised as, and if Shawn Marion is at peace with being a third banana again, and if they can somehow pick up a quality point guard, then the Heat will be a threat.
• If Bryan Colangelo's plan was to build a FIBA-type basketball team in Toronto, then the Olympics showed that Chris Bosh is the perfect franchise player to revolve that style around. He showed his versatility during these tournaments--playing big inside, running the floor, guarding guys ont he perimeter. If newly-acquired Jermaine O'Neal can stay injury-free, this should allow Bosh to play at the power forward spot, where he could be a matchup nightmare for a lot of teams.
• 118-107 for 40 minutes. That was a terrific game to watch.
• The only player that didn't "redeem" himself was Jason Kidd, who was exposed as a player that has completely jumped the shark. It's driving me insane how he's a part of this team--a starter, even--when they already have the top two point guards in the NBA. If he's starting because he's Jason Kidd, why couldn't they bring Charles Barkley in to start at power forward? They could've easly had Kevin Durant for his roster spot, who would have been the perfect back-up 4 coming off the bench to replace either Carmerlo or LeBron. Poor Dallas. They're going to have to compete in a conference that has Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Tony Parker, Monta Ellis, and Baron Davis as starting point guards.
• Portland's going to be fun to follow, aren't they? Not only will they have Greg Oden trying his hardest not to become the next Patrick Ewing (I know he's a Hall of Fame player but Oden will be a disappointment if his ceiling ends as the next Patrick Ewing); not only have they added Summer League MVP Jerryd Bayless at point; but now they will have Rudy Fernandez, the Spanish Manu Ginobili, at their helm. He's fearless and can be a go-to-guy in the clutch.
• Ricky Rubio will be a lottery pick for whichever draft he announces his eligibility in. I'm hoping he ends up in New York with Coach D'Antoni so they can lead the next seven-seconds-or-less team.
• Carmelo's career needed this Olympic experience. He did everything that was asked of him, including sitting on the bench in the final minutes of the Gold Medal game to give Wade, Kobe, Lebron, and Bosh playing time. Seeing him wiping a tear as they raised the American flag during the medal ceremonies shows that he finally gets what it takes to win as a team. Too bad he's going back to a team that can't play defense.
• Of course, it's nice to see Team USA get it once and for all. Sure, they had the most talented team in the Olympics, but they've always had the most talented team in any given international contest. They didn't win gold because of talent. They won because they were committed. Being together for three years made this a true team, not just a traveling all-star collection of players that sell merchandise. They were committed to their roles, they were committed to playing defense, they were committed to playing as a team offensively, they were committed to winning gold. The Redeem Team (or Dream Team 8, whatever you want to call it) were a thing of beauty.