U.S. Basketball steered in right direction

   The U.S. enters the elimination round looking like the overwhelming favorites to win a medal. People think that this was because of the addition of Kobe Bryant but the truth was it started all the way back in 2004.

    With the embarassing loss to Puerto Rico, (We're supposed to lose beauty contests to them not Basketball!!), Lithuania, and spanking by Argentina that lead to the Bronze medal in Athens, Team USA got the cold shower after a bad hangover effect. There was no hiding that they *ish did stank. Team USA realized that it was going to need long term committments from players and better organizational approach to get the U.S. back to supremacy over the rest of the world. 

    So after cajoling and pleading to the young players that egotist Larry Brown didn't want to play, (Ya know James, Anthony, even Wade a bit) they developed a group that could grow with one another. In 2006 that group would grow to add Dwight Howard, and Chris Paul. Now the U.S. had a definitive starting five and other players that they could mold into that core. 

    In the 2006 FIBA's the team began to coalesce a bit more. They also learned by losing to a Greek team 101-95  in the semifinals that they would have to better scout and be prepared for upstart opponents. The Americans realized that defense was going to be a key instrument to their success.

    Organizationally the single best thing U.S. basketball has done is make a real effort to study their opponents. I felt that in the past the team merely thought that they could just impose their style of play on an opponent without studying their opponents weakness and strenghts. That and insufficient time to adjust to fellow teammates much less international rules and style of play doomed the U.S. teams in both '02 and '04.

    That problem was being addressed in 06, and now we're seeing it pay off in earnest. The biggest thing for the players and coaches is actually playing really tough defense on the perimeter and giving great weakside help with the ball. It was something that honestly was lacking all the way up to the Greece game in the prelim rounds.

    All of these factors have helped make the U.S. team much better. However don't forget the odds say they're going to play one tough game and upcoming Australia could be a lot closer (8 points or less) the whole way than most people are anticipating. I do believe with this system in place though the U.S. return to championship form will probably happen this year.