Coach K Counting On Five Interlocking Rings On The Court

BEIJING (AP) - The Olympic symbol ? five interlocking rings ? proved fitting for the U.S. men's basketball team in the 2004 Games.

Not as an emblem of basketball unity ? five individuals working like the fingers of a dextrous hand ? but as a symbol of NBA players underachieving in the international game, with each of the five single-minded starters requiring his own hoop at which to shoot.

Jerry Colangelo, the former Phoenix Suns CEO, watched and nearly wept, then swept into power as the U.S. team's managing director, determined to restore America to its former default position as the foremost world basketball power.

The team Colangelo has compiled for Beijing will look similar to the 2004 edition, but he and his hand-picked coach, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, vow this squad is more experienced, more cohesive, better trained, more unselfish and better adapted to the international game.

"Back in '04, the Olympic team's performance in Athens left a great deal to be desired," Colangelo said this summer at a U.S. Olympic summit in Chicago. "I had no idea at that moment that I would be asked if I would consider taking over the program, but I did have a prerequisite . . . full autonomy.

"I was aware of how things were structured in the past, and I felt we needed to change the culture."

Colangelo saw international teams relying on cohesiveness ? most Olympic teams consist of players who grew up playing together ? and intelligent use of the international game's nuances to surpass the U.S. team's obviously superior talent.

The United States hasn't won a gold medal in a major international tournament in eight years. It took bronze at the 2004 Olympics, and in 2006 lost to Greece in the semifinals of the FIBA World Championship.

Colangelo and Krzyzewski resolved to build a team that would share the ball, play defense, hit three-point shots and be willing to train together for three years with the goal of winning a gold medal. They hope the result is a team that will not have to rely on sheer talent to reestablish American dominance.

"With this program, we've asked them to be committed to playing for their country and not just to play," Krzyzewski said. "These guys have done that. Over the last two years, we've seen this program develop to where, whether it be LeBron James, Kobe Bryant or Jason Kidd, they feel like they're part of a team, part of a movement, and they're very proud to represent the United States.

"I think in some respects over the years we've been pretty arrogant, saying it's our game. It's not our game. It's the world's game. And the respect we've shown to international basketball over the last two years will pay dividends."

U.S. dominance of the world peaked with the christening of the Dream Team. NBA superstars such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Charles Barkley crushed all comers ? with Barkley sometimes acting the ugly American and tossing a gratuitous elbow into the skinny chest of an overmatched Angolan.

In Athens, the United States lost to Puerto Rico, Lithuania and Argentina, and coach Larry Brown castigated his squad, Carmelo Anthony in particular. The resulting medal resulted in a new nickname for James ? "-LeBronze."

'No excuses'

James prefers the nickname for his new squad ? the Redeem Team ? and guaranteed a gold medal in an interview with Time magazine. He -also recently warned his teammates not to assume that his guarantee is guaranteed.

"When we're with our teams, we complain, 'I wish I had Chris Paul in the backcourt,' or, 'I wish I had Dwight Howard,'" James said, according to the Washington Post. "'I want this guy, I want that guy,' because we all want to win.

"Well, everyone is in the room. Everyone is here. There's no excuses. Now we have to get the job done."

Following that speech, Krzyzew-ski concluded the meeting by nodding and saying, "Amen."

Colangelo forged the roster with the passion of a preacher, personally interviewing players all over the country and insisting they train and play like a team.

Three stars ? James, Anthony and Howard ? have spent the past three summers playing for Team USA, and virtually everyone on the squad played together in the 2006 World Championships or last year's FIBA Americas tournament.

Last week, the United States played its first exhibition game, beating Canada 120-65 as guard Dwyane Wade, returning from a knee injury, scored 20 easy points.

"They are," Canadian coach Leo Rautins said, "obviously the most talented team, without a question, in the world."

Colangelo wasn't concerned with talent, which is what he told players when they met.

James was not much of a factor in Athens, and as Colangelo described his team concept and plans for James to play a more prominent role in Beijing, James raised his hand and said, "I'm in."

Colangelo asked Anthony to defend himself, and wound up offering him a roster spot on the spot.

And while in Chicago to interview prospective players, Colangelo asked to meet with Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd, coveted for his outside shooting.

Redd drove himself from Milwaukee to Chicago, wearing sweats after a Bucks practice. He knocked on Colangelo's door, then took his garment bag into the bathroom and changed into a suit and tie for the interview.

"That was pretty darn impressive," Colangelo said. "I've learned a lot about these individuals, getting to talk with them and look them in the eye."

Howard the one true center

Former Wolves star Kevin Garnett declined an invitation, as did Shaquille O'Neal and Amare Stoudemire, and if the roster has a flaw, it's a lack of depth at center and power forward.

"As far as Garnett is concerned, we never got any positive feedback," Colangelo said. "It was more about, 'I've been there, I've done that, it's time for someone else to do it.'"

Howard, the team's one true center, is recovering from a stress fracture in his sternum.

The team's forwards are James, Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh and Tayshaun Prince; the guards are Kidd, Bryant, Paul, Redd, Wade and Deron Williams.

The 2004 team failed to defend the perimeter effectively, dooming it in an international game based on outside shooting and ball movement. The Redeem Team should be better at shooting and defending the perimeter, but it will be undersized and vulnerable near the basket if Howard is hurt or gets into foul trouble.

Krzyzewski and Colangelo don't sound concerned. "I think we have a unique opportunity right now in representing our country, and not just by going for the gold medal in Beijing," Krzyzewski said. "We can set a standard for how the game should be played right now in our own country, with teamwork, with camaraderie, with enthusiasm, with an attention to detail that makes basketball such a great team game.

"This team is showing all of that. Hopefully we'll show it at an even higher level, and that will serve as an example for the kids growing up, where basketball won't be all about a sound bite or a highlight dunk.

"Our guys are doing that. They're very unselfish."

That's not a word associated with the NBA, or its stars, or recent U.S. teams, but Krzyzewski is counting on this team to work like five interlocking rings, and not five guys wishing they had their own personal hoop.

Coach K Counting On Five Interlocking Rings On The Court

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