They did not build this team with the word "team" in mind. The fact is if you build a basketball team around college and pro players together, the USA has a pretty strong team. They didn't get a true point guard because Kidd and Bibby turned them down, and they didn't ask Kirk Hinrich. They didn't get a three point shooter because they didn't ask a Redd or even a J.J. Reddick, and Ray Allen turned them down. Lamar Odom has to play post because Jermain O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, and Shaquille O'Neal turned them down. So they have far too many slashers and cutters, and not enough post players, ball handlers, and absolutely no shooters. Also, don't forget that this team didn't get to work out too much together because of the NBA season, and the fact that many of the players on last summer's qualifying team pussied out.
But, I'll take this team.. Because they want to be there. The primadonnas you speak of are the ones that were too lazy to play for their country or too irrationally scared. These guys aren't getting paid more money or getting big cars for being on the Olympic team. And they damn sure aren't over there trying to get the approval of those that wanted to see them fail, including a strong portion of the American public that dislike the urban basketball culture. They deserve some respect, and the embarrassing thing is that the USA is too busy disowning them.