USA - Chandler and Gay have work cut out before London

NEW YORK (NBA/Olympics) - In 2010, Tyson Chandler and Rudy Gay played key roles for the USA team that ended a 16-year drought at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey. Now, they're hoping for a shot at another gold medal - at the London Olympics.

To earn that right, they will have to stand out from the USA's 20-man preliminary squad. But before then, both have a lot to prove in the shortened 2011-2012 NBA season. How they fare in the coming months could impact their Olympic chances.

After helping the Dallas Mavericks to last season's title, Chandler must show himself to be the missing link to turn the New York Knicks into a contender.

A team that also includes 2008 Olympic gold medallist Carmelo Anthony and two-time Team USA member Amar'e Stoudemire, the Knicks have got off to a slow start this season and dropped to 9-15 following a loss in Boston on Friday.

Chandler sees that changing sooner rather than later.

"It's only a matter of time. I definitely feel like the talent is there and the pieces are there (to be a playoff calibre team)," he said.

"Obviously we wish we had more wins right now but we're fully confident that we can turn it around. It's a great group of guys.

"We just have to get used to playing with one another more."

While it's still some time away, Chandler does hope to make it in Mike Krzyzewski's USA team that will defend its Olympic gold medal in London.

"For sure I hope I can play on that team in London," said the 29-year-old. "It's always a great honour to be able to represent your country."

If he does get selected, Chandler stands a chance to make it a memorable three-year stretch - world champion in 2010, NBA champion in 2011 and potentially an Olympic gold medallists in 2012?

"It sounds incredible. The past year has been the best of my basketball career and I hope to improve on it," he said.

Gay, meanwhile, is looking to prove he's still the player he was before a partially dislocated left shoulder caused him to miss the second half of last season, including a surprise playoff run by his Memphis Grizzlies.

"It was tough obviously. It was a good season, a magical season for us," the forward said of his team which beat the odds and top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the First Round of last year's post-season, before falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

"For me personally it felt like something that I had to go through."

This year, the injury bug has hit again for Memphis, with the loss of All-Star forward Zach Randolph to a knee injury. He is expected to return in March.

Gay however makes no excuses for his team, which followed a seven-game winning streak last month with four losses in a row and, as of Sunday, aren't among the top eight teams in the Western Conference standings.

"It's been kind of tough but it is what it is," he shrugged.

"We want to win, no matter what. We have to play aggressively."

Looking ahead to this summer, Gay hopes to be in the reckoning for the USA and is willing to do whatever it takes to get on the team.

"I'm going to go and try out, play as hard as I can and do the things that they want me to do. At the end of the day if they want me to play, I'll be there," said the 25-year-old.

With 2008 Olympians Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Anthony most likely to be on the team once again, Gay knows scoring won't be an issue.

Instead, he must show that he bring a lot more.

"Being a glue guy is something I can do, it's something I'm willing to do," he stated.

"Turkey was a great experience for me. This coming summer could be another big moment in my career, something that I can hang my hat on."

FIBA