Can Team USA redeem its lost honor?

After James Naismith invented the game of hoops, it has become as American as apple pie, or the statue of liberty, or Marilyn Monroe, or John Wayne, or the Appalachian divide.

Hence, when the Soviet cagers pricked the American cage balloon at Helsinki Olympics by a half-shot, it boomed aloud for the Americans like a national disaster.

Uncle Tom's basketball pride got further licking when the NBA selection landed sixth - the worst finish - in 2002 World tilt right in their home turf; additional beatings thrice in 2004 at the Athens Olympics to land at third place; and, another third place damper at the 2006 World Championships in Japan.

These unexpected defeats dampened the glory of the 1992 Dream Team of Michael Jordan-Larry Bird-Magic Johnson, et al. that pulverized their foes by more than 40 points a game.

Then came the 2007 Team USA juggernaut. Still smarting from the ignominy of past years, Duke U coach Mike Krzyewski and his NBA cage millionaires emerged very focused. Except in flashes of NBA showmanship when leading by a mile, team basketball became their battlecry. This is the essence of international team basketball played by the rest of the world.

That 2007 TEAM USA approximated the greatness of the Jordan-Bird-Johnson Dream Team: Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Lebron James, Amare Stoudamire, Jason Kidd, Michael Redd, Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince, Mike Miller, Deron Williams, Dwight Howard, and Tyson Chandler.

In the FIBA Americas Championship to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, representing the North, South, and Central American region, TEAM USA came through unscathed with nary a ruffled feather in 10 games. It put to shame Puerto Rico and Olympic champ Argentina twice in a row in whopping margins, to vent their frustration in the 2002, 2004, and 2006 international cagefests.

However, the real acid test will be in the 2008 Beijing Olympics this month where Team USA battles the much improved world hoopsters representing the FIBA best. Group A comprises Australia, the 2004 Athens defending champion Argentina, Croatia, Iran, Lithuania, and Russia. Angola, host China, Germany, Greece, 2006 Worlds champ Spain, and USA complete Group B.

Except for four - Amare Stoudamire, Chancey Billups, Tyson Chandler, and Mike Miller - who backed out for some reasons, and replaced by Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, and Carlos Boozer, Team USA for the Beijing Olympics has the same invincible composition as the 2007 version. Definitely, while its offensive power is tremendous, Coach "K" and his millionaires club are committed that Team USA's redemption depends on teamwork and team defense.

That other national teams are no longer pushovers is a hard fact that Team USA has grudgingly realized. International basketball stresses overall team play as against the NBA one-on-one showmanship; perimeter and 3-point shots are equally important as slashing to the basket; and very high percentage in foul throws is a must. Ironically, this was wanting in past Teams USA compared to European and other national teams.

One factor that may be iffy is the individual player's health and injury-free conditions, like Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James with their history of injuries. In the Beijing Olympics, the final test of Team USA in their quest for the gold medal, has yet to be seen if they can steamroll their foes, as in the pre-tournament games in Macau and Shanghai a week ago.

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