Crossover Chronicles is a relatively new blog, so we decided it was a good idea to introduce you to the crew. We’re doing that in a new feature called “Writer-Palooza.” For the next few days, we will feature one writer, introducing him to you via an original piece, his favorite basketball video, and a wildcard post on any topic that he wants.
Today we feature Sr. Editor Jeff Garcia. You can find him on Twitter here.
This truncated NBA season has been putting a toll on players. Barely a training camp, and a rush to get 
back on the court may have been fine and well for the fans and players in the short-term but in the long term, it could prove problematic.
And no I am not talking about the injury bug which has bit some teams but rather looking down the road to the summer of 2012 and the 2012-2013 NBA season.
This summer will be the 2012 Olympics and for many NBA teams, this means seeing some of their star players participate. From Team USA to the French national team, the race for gold will feature many NBA stars. And as that may be a tremendous honor to represent their country, it also means non-stop playing time and wear-and- tear.
Let’s rewind, NBA teams had a minimal training camp as they prepared to get back on the court after the lockout ended. Now players are hitting the hardwood four to even fives times a week. To say its a grueling season would be an understatement. Coaches are willing to sit players down off a back-to-back, perhaps sacrifice a game or two early if it means preserving their player’s health.
Do not forget, the playoffs are to end later than usual to accommodate the shortened season which means players heading to London will have minimal time to recover before Olympic training camps begin and the games starting on July 27.
This means star players such as Tony Parker, Pau and Marc Gasol, LeBron James, Ricky Rubio, Manu Ginobili, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Love and any other player playing for their respective country will be heading off to prepare for the London games once the NBA playoffs end.
OK so now these players are done with Olympic training camps and now have to play for gold. Team USA, France, Argentina, Spain, Brazil will likely make deep runs in London. If you are the Spurs, Heat, Grizzlies, Lakers, Blazers, Wolves or any other team which has players suiting up for the upper tier Olympic teams, this will mean an increased risk of injury, and exhaustion considering those players just finished a rapid NBA season and playoffs.
Alright now the London games are over on August 12. So now some NBA players (more than likely from Team USA and Spain) who just played for gold will now have to return to their teams to prepare for the 2012 NBA training camps.
The short season and Olympic games more than likely will show their effects next NBA season and for some teams it might be worse.
Take Spurs’ Tony Parker.
This past summer he played for the French national team in Lithuania to qualify for the Olympics. France played in the medal round and ended up capturing the silver medal. He then took his talents to France to play with ASVEL-Villeurbanne for the duration of the lockout. Once the lockout was over, he stopped playing for ASVEL immediately but headed to San Antonio for training camp and is now playing at a high-level for the San Antonio and is logging 33.6 minutes per game during a truncated season.
The way the Spurs are playing this season, the team could have a deep playoff run which means more wear-and-tear for Parker. Once, the Spurs’ season is over, he will then play for France in London.
And considering Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan are not spring chickens, this leaves Parker as the Spurs best player long-term.
Say what you will about players playing throughout the summer and where you side on the argument, but many teams should be worried about the summer of 2012 and might want to keep a close eye on the London games as next season rolls around.
