Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

More injury concerns for US Dream Team

Updated at 6:43 am on 16 May 2012

The US Olympic men's basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo is thankful for a few extra days to consider a final roster after a flurry of injuries during the NBA playoffs.

Miami's Chris Bosh, out indefinitely with a strained abdominal muscle after an MRI exam, is the latest question mark for the Americans as they prepare a lineup to defend their 2008 gold medal at London in August.

Those definitely out of the Olympics include Derrick Rose, last year's NBA Most Valuable Player for Chicago, Orlando Magic centre Dwight Howard, Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers and LaMarcus Aldridge of Portland.

The US Olympic Committee has granted USA Basketball a deadline extension to name their final 12-man line-up, that decision now coming on July 7th rather than in mid-June during the NBA Finals.

Even with the injury losses, the Americans will be favoured for Olympic gold.

Their line-up could include such superstars as Miami's LeBron James, this season's MVP, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and Los Angeles Clippers stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

Copyright © 2012, Radio New Zealand