Chris Mannix: Five issues facing Team USA

Tag : rolled bronze

LAS VEGAS -- Here is one, irrefutable piece of evidence we knowabout Team USA: they know how to win in Las Vegas.
Friday night's 120-65 pasting of Canada was the U.S.'s 11thconsecutive win in Sin City, a record that dates back to lastsummer when the U.S. won the gold medal at the FIBA America'stournament with a perfect 10-0 record.
But as they pack their passports and head for China, here are fiveissues that jumped out during the Americans' five-day mini-camp inVegas.
1. What about the shooting?
Since the 2004 Olympics, when the Americans struggled mightily fromthe perimeter, shooting has been considered the U.S.'s Achillesheel. But if the last two summers are an indicator, that problemmay be solved. The addition of Michael Redd gave the Americans their first pure shooter since Ray Allen in 2000, but there is evidence that the rest of the team isgrowing more and more comfortable playing from the perimeter. Redd, Carmelo Anthony , Kobe Bryant , LeBron James and Jason Kidd all shot better than 45 percent from beyond the arc last summer.Against Canada, the U.S. shot 50 percent (11-for-22) fromthree-point range with Redd (6-for-8) leading the charge.
"The strategy [against the U.S.] is to contest shots,"said Canada coach Leo Rautins . "But when these guys get hot, it doesn't matter if youcontest. They are going to make them."
2. Will their lack of size hurt the U.S.?
Not having another pure center like Brad Miller or Marcus Camby will be a significant problem for the U.S. in Beijing. USA coach Mike Krzyzewski is already planning on using Anthony and James almost exclusivelyat power forward, leaving Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh to back up Dwight Howard at center.
Boozer and Bosh are not centers, meaning the U.S. will havedifficulty controlling the glass when Howard inevitably runs intofoul trouble. Though Krzyzewski said FIBA officials informed himthat they would be cracking down on flopping at the Olympics, manyforeign players have made falling down an art form. Krzyzewski saidhe has spoken to his players about watching out for floppers and to"keep their heads" when calls don't go their way
Still, even with Tyson Chandler in the lineup last summer, the U.S. was battered on the boards byteams possessing nowhere near the size of some of the U.S.'sopponents in Beijing. Argentina (which has Luis Scola and played last summer without Fabricio Oberto ), Spain ( Pau Gasol , Marc Gasol and Jorge Garbajosa ), Greece ( Sofoklis Schortsanitis , Antonis Fotsis , Yiannis Bourousis ), Germany ( Chris Kaman , Dirk Nowitzki ) and even China ( Yao Ming , Yi Jianlian ) have enough size to dominate the U.S. on the glass.
It's worth watching.
On the flip side, the commitment to smaller, quicker players shouldhelp the U.S. overcome the pick and roll defensive deficienciesthat plagued them in 2006, particularly against Greece, whichpick-and-rolled them to death on its way to shooting 62.5 percentand knocking the U.S. out of gold medal contention. Krzyzewski saidin '06, the U.S. didn't have enough time to prepare an "X'sand O's" strategy and in the last two years, Coach K has goneout of his way to seek input from his players on how they prefer todefend the basic play.
3. Is there a potential disaster looming for the United States?
Probably not, but keep an eye on how the U.S. plays early. Fourteams from each group advance to the medal round and the U.S.,which is in Group B, has a tough early road. More than likely, theU.S., Greece, Spain and Germany will advance with Angola and Chinaas the odd teams out. But watch out for China, who the UnitedStates will face in the Olympic opener August 10th. The host nationwill be highly motivated and has enough size to give the Americansfits on the inside.
If the unthinkable happens and the U.S. fails to get out of groupplay, be prepared for calls for a complete overhaul of the program.
4. What should the U.S. be excited about heading to Beijing?
Defense. This is probably the best defensive unit the U.S. hasfielded since NBA players began participating in 1992. Bryant, Kiddand Tayshaun Prince are among the best defenders in the world at their position, and Chris Paul led the NBA in steals (2.7 per game) last season.
The intensity of Bryant and Kidd has filtered down, too. Ordinarydefenders like James, Redd and Wade have improved significantlysince putting on the USA uniform. The U.S.'s ability to defendman-to-man -- and thereby avoid scrambles that result inuncontested shots -- will be critical.
5. So ... after five days with the team, what's your prediction?
Gold: Argentina
Silver: Spain
Bronze: USA
I think Rautins said it best Friday night: gone are the days whenthe U.S. can just assemble an All-Star team and expect to win. USAhoops el jefe Jerry Colangelo has done an admirable job trying to establish continuity with theteam. But in the three years he has run the team, only threeplayers -- Anthony, Howard and James -- have played each year.
More than any other competition, Olympic basketball is won throughcontinuity.
"Most of the Olympic teams," said Rautins, "havebeen playing together for a long time. Greece, Spain, Argentina,these teams have ostensibly been playing together since they gottheir first look at the '92 Dream Team and fell in love withbasketball. It doesn't matter what level of talent the U.S. puts onthe floor; until the day comes when 12 NBA stars elect to skipthree years of their careers to focus exclusively on internationalcompetitions, the U.S. will struggle to compete.
That's not naysaying. That's just the harsh reality of a globalgame.