NBA Season is not Lost
If the Lockout is resolved and the NBA 2011-2012 Season is not lost, it leaves Team USA with less than a month to prepare for the tournament as the NBA Finals closes in mid June. Less time for training camp for the players to shape up and gel with one another. Less time for the coaching staff to evaluate closely the players in the pool.
Everything has to be done in a short amount of time. There is also the possibility of pool selection where the coaches have to narrow the pool to 15 players even during the NBA Playoffs. Those narrowed players could practice immediately.
NBA Season is Lost
Suppose an NBA Lockout is in the duration of July 2011 to June 2012. The London Olympics open in July 27, 2012.
As what I pointed on my previous post, an NBA Lockout that ends up devouring the whole season, it will have some risky benefits. Assuming the USA Basketball and the NBA / Team Owners agree to release the players and the players on the pool are willing to join the pool, then preparations can start early.
More time for a comprehensive and careful selection of players from the pool, more time for training camp and more time for players to gel on court.