U.S. Basketball Team Arrives in China to Pursue Olympic Gold

U.S. Basketball Team Arrives in China to Pursue Olympic Gold

The U.S. men's basketball team has arrived in China, where the 12-man squad that includes LeBron James and Kobe Bryant will seek to reestablish American dominance at the Olympics.

Team USA's flight from Las Vegas touched down in Macau yesterday for Olympic warm-up games against Turkey on July 31 and Lithuania on Aug. 1. The U.S. team then plays in Shanghai against Russia and Australia before heading to Beijing, where the two-week basketball competition begins Aug. 10.

After claiming a 12th Olympic gold in 14 tries at the Sydney Games in 2000, the Americans finished sixth at the 2002 World Championship and took the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. The U.S. team dropped three of its eight games in Athens, its first losses since National Basketball Association players were permitted in the Olympics in 1992, and also ended up with a bronze at the 2006 World Championship.

``We're trying to be very confident, that doesn't mean overconfident, but confident,'' Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said at a news conference. ``As far as the competition is concerned, they're terrific. We're playing some great teams. That's why this Olympics will be the best ever in basketball because world basketball has gotten to another level, a higher level than it was even in 2004.''

The U.S. team is led by Bryant, the NBA's Most Valuable Player last season, and James, the league's scoring champion. They're among a group of players who made a three-year commitment leading up to the Olympics, a contrast to the way USA Basketball previously selected teams by simply compiling a group of NBA All-Stars.

`Committed'

``The big difference is that players have committed and they too wanted to see this thing turned around because there is pride in representing our country,'' said USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo.

James said he's recovered from a sprained ankle that forced him to miss a 120-65 rout of Canada on July 25 in Las Vegas.

``As far my health goes I will be playing here in Macau and in Shanghai preparing myself to get ready for Beijing,'' said James, who scored 30 points a game for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. ``However coach wants to approach my minutes, that's fine with me. I'm healthy.''

James is one of five members of the U.S. team with previous Olympic experience, along with Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Dwyane Wade and Jason Kidd. Only Kidd has a gold medal, as a member of the team in Sydney in 2000.

Talent and Strength

``We know we have the talent and we know we have the strength to go out and be the best team on the court,'' James said.

The U.S. opens the Olympic tournament against host China and center Yao Ming on Aug. 10. Other teams in Group B are Angola, Germany, Greece and Spain.

The preliminary round runs through Aug. 18 and is followed by the quarterfinals on Aug. 20, the semifinals on Aug. 22 and the final on Aug. 24.

``This is going to be the best Olympics yet because the competition is at its best, the international teams are at their best,'' Wade said. ``There's no secret that the world has gotten better since the 1992 Olympics, but that's not our worry. We feel we have the talent to go out there and execute, so we're very confident.''