Kobe Bryant says size does matter in Olympics

The Olympic gold medals have almost already been placed over the necks of the U.S. basketball team even before the Games begin but— in a sport dominated by big men— Kobe Bryant fears the American squad could fall because of its lack of height.

The U.S. team won its third straight friendly on Thursday beating up on Britain, 118-78, in Manchester and will be heading to Barcelona to face the more formidable Spain and Argentina teams.

The touts in England have made Kobe and Co. clear favorites to take the gold at the London Games, but the team is not unbeatable, claims Bryant.

"We definitely have weaknesses that teams can can take advantage of, and I think this trip to Barcelona is going to be very big for us because you are playing Argentina and Spain," Bryant said.  "So, we'll get a good look at that."

Bryant wants his teammates to know that some of the better teams from around the world know how to exploit the U.S. five's shortcomings and their showtime tendencies.

"It's size and teams being able to slow the game down and work the ball inside on us, and we have to do a good job of taking care of our defensive pressure."

The U.S. will play Argentina tomorrow and Spain on Tuesday.

It sounds like Kobe thinks the U.S. players might need smaller heads and longer necks.

Lin unlikely to make U.S. Olympic team; China is waiting

Will Jeremy Lin be playing on the U.S. Olympic basketball team in this summer's London Games?  Don't count on it.

Jerry Colangelo— the current director of USA Basketball— said Lin was "a great story for the NBA, for the Knicks, for this young man and what he's accomplished in such a short period of time."

The key word is "short."

The longtime sports executive also added," The players who already have time invested in the system have equity built up."

Could Colangelo be making the same mistake that big-time colleges and NBA teams did when they let Lin fly under their radar in the past?

In three weeks, Lin has made plenty of athletic directors, general mangers and coaches look back at how they missed out on giving the point guard his shot.