The Olympics are here! The Olympics are here!

Well, kind of.

Tonight Team USA, after a hard week of practice against Team USA Select (not to be confused with Team USA Extra Crispy) takes on Team Canada in what is being billed as the 2008 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge. We thought we'd give you a little preview of what to keep an eye on tonight at 8PM EST on ESPN.

1. Redeem Team/Team Redemption/No, Seriously, We Should Be Better Than Everyone This Time: Look, I'm a big fan of globalization. I think we should embrace our brothers in the human race. And I totally agree that many of the other teams have gotten their teams to the point of being legitimate contenders.

Come. On.

Tonight is all about setting a tone and sending a message, that this USA squad has the focus, determination, talent, and devotion that the recent Team USA's have lacked. This team needs to go out and obliterate Canada. With the talent, coaching, investment, and motivation this team has, it should be able to send a clear message to the rest of the world that basketball is our game, and we're back to take it home. That's not disrespecting Canada ....

2. Wait, Yes, Yes It Is: Quick, name a player on Team Canada's roster! Go ahead! I'll wait. ... (*draws dreamy cartoon of Dwyane Wade dunking on a canuck) Ready? No, Steve Nash is not playing. Nope, Samuel Dalembert got kicked off the squad, though some people are confused as to why. Give up? Well, we've got Joel Anthony, who you may remember from the Heat. How about Carl English, undrafted out of Hawaii? Perhaps Rowan Barrett is more to your likely, at 35 years old? Look, I'm a D-League guy. I'm big on guys with little hype and a good work ethic. But we're going to slaughter these guys. It ain't even funny. This is a squad that failed to qualify for the Olympics, mind you. So then, how much will we win by is the question. I'm not trying to be arrogant, I'm just trying to be honest.

3. The Spread: So we've got a team that's got it's share of problems. How much will we beat them by? There's not a spread that I can find out there. Even Vegas Watch is stumped. Personally, I'd put it at USA(-18). Enough for it to be comfortable, but nothing insane since it's basketball, and Lord knows our boys have a knack for losing their focus in exhibition games. That said, it would be nice for them to go out and put something disgusting up in terms of efficiency, shooting percentage, and highlight reels. The Olympics are especially dangerous for us, and some of that feeds into tonight. If we annihilate them, great, whoopee, that's what we're supposed to do. If it's close, within 15, it's clear that this team needs more work to get its head screwed on straight. If we lose ... well, let's not even think about that right now. (And yes, when we jinx them I will voluntarily deport myself.)

4. Changing Of The Guard: Raise your hand if you believe Jason Kidd is really better right now than Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Okay, those of you who raised your hands, please go back and watch the entire 2007-2008 season. I'm kidding, no pun intended. Kidd has a veteran leadership presence on this team, and knows more about international basketball competition than anyone else on the roster. But it'll be interesting to see how the point guard situation plays out. Chris Paul and Deron Williams have a natural rivalry with one another that of course won't blow up with both of their eyes on the gold, but there may be a little bit of an inclination to outdo one another. Throw in the fact that Kidd is close buds with Williams, and the dynamic could be something to watch. In practice videos, Coach K has been preaching to the guards to use their bodies more to get physical, something that leans towards Williams' frame and style. Chris Paul with these type of athletes around him, though? Yikes.

5. Get Good, Get Up, Get Out: No injuries. LeBron James will be missing tonight's contest with a sore ankle, though I'd bet he's a loud presence on the sideline. Dwight Howard has some soreness that's kept him out of some practices as well, though he'll go tonight. Canada is pretty short, overall. I'd bet we see all of the members of the squad play even minutes. They need to avoid a major injury, and with Dwyane Wade on the roster? The second he sneezes I'm yanking him and putting him in a sterile isolation chamber.