Making the Cut - CTV.ca

Kevin Nielsen, CTVOlympics.ca Staff

On Monday, USA Basketball announced the 20 finalists for the 12 spots for its 2012 Olympic team.

The star-studded list included a couple of surprises in terms who made the cut, and whom was left off.

The names of New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry were missing while Dallas Mavericks forward Lamar Odom and L.A. Clippers guard Chauncey Billups were among the 20 finalists.

As for Stoudemire's exclusion, one theory goes that given Stoudemire's injury history, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo does want to spend any time trying to tear down any red tape put up by a potentially nervous Knicks front office.

This American squad that takes to the court in London might be the best since the original Dream Team at the Barcelona Games in 1992. I suspect that Spain will be their opponent in the gold medal game, but the Europeans will have a tough time keeping up with this bunch.

The final roster of 12 players and six alternates is due June 18. In 2008, the Americans held a training camp before picking the final dozen, but with the lockout-shortened season, no such camp will occur this time.

After taking a little time to mull over the group of 20, here are the players who I think will be on the final roster .

Point guards: Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls), Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder), Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers).

The roster will likely only have room for three names from the aforementioned five. Paul, Rose and Williams appear to be locks with Westbrook being the odd man out. With all four being fairly young , this group of four, along with Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics, could be battling for inclusion in 2016 as well. Billups is currently playing shooting guard for the Clippers but seems like a long shot to represent the Americans in London.

Shooting guards: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat), Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets), Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers).

Wade and Bryant are almost guaranteed to be on the final roster. Bryant is having a tremendous season and would be the elder statesman of this team. Wade was in strong consideration for the MVP award last year and will likely be again this year. Gordon has tremendous range but there may not be room for another guard on this roster. Billups could be the 2012 version of Jason Kidd but this team has much more experience than the 2008 gold medalists as the core of the team will be made from that squad.

Small forwards: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), LeBron James (Miami Heat), Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers).

As with the backcourt, there are a couple of names that you can pencil in to the roster right away. Barring injury, Durant, James and Anthony will be in London. Iguodala could be a surprise inclusion to the final roster given his tenacity on defence but that would leave the team a tad small when they come up against a squad with size like Spain. Gay is definitely an alternate.

Power forwards/Centres: Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers), Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks), Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks).

I have lumped these two positions into one category as some of these players could spend time at both positions. Given that I have selected eight players from the above groupings for inclusion, that would only leave four spots open for this group. I can't picture Howard or Bosh not being selected, so that fills another two spots.

Much like the point guard position, there are some tough decisions to be made here between Griffin, Love, Aldridge and Chandler. Let's pretend that Odom's name isn't on the list to make things easier. Each big man has their own strengths to add to the squad: Griffin (explosiveness), Love (rebounding and passing), Aldridge (versatility) and Chandler (defence).

As Colangelo admitted on Monday, Griffin was considered for the 2008 squad before being injured , so I would have to believe that he will be there in London.

Truth be told, I think it comes down to Love or Aldridge for the last spot. While Chandler would provide a nice anchor down low, the Americans could get away with a power forward at the five. Love can shoot the three and is the top rebounder in the NBA -- it would be hard to pass that up.