Hey, world: The Americans are back – and they’re still carrying a chip on their basketball shoulders.
While romping their way to a 10-0 record and earning a berth at the 2004 Olympics with a gold at the Tournament of the Americas qualifying event in Puerto Rico, the U.S. showed the world exactly what it can do on the court.
Filled with purpose after last summer’s stinker showing at the World Championship in Indianapolis, the Americans devastated Argentina, 106-73, in the championship on Sunday.
Next meaningful stop: Athens. And the U.S. feels ready already.
“It’s great establishing relationships on and off the court with the guys who came in and want to win. Hopefully, it carries over to next year,” said Orlando’s Tracy McGrady. “We just wanted to send a message to our coaches because they kept drilling, ‘Argentina is this and that,’ and they kept bringing up the past. So this was really a statement for them and for whoever made the comment that said we wanted to go home and hang out and be with our families.”
That comment’s originator would be Julio Toro, the coach of the Puerto Rican team, which also qualified for Athens. If the U.S. and Puerto Rico meet next year, give the points. Actually, based on the way the U.S. looked, give the points against anybody.
“This will let the rest of the world know that we are for real,” Jermaine O’Neal said.
“We wanted to play the right way, show everybody we could play as a team and we could do the things all the European and international teams do,” said coach Larry Brown, who said the experience this summer will be invaluable next year. “It will help a lot, especially finishing the way we did . . . Their experience is going to help. The core guys playing here, which wasn’t easy, worrying about families, me worrying about playing time, no practices, really helped us and it will be a good base to start with.”
After Indianapolis, the Americans did what Americans always do after a loss: they sulked – and then they did something about it.
“What happened in Indiana, it bothered everybody,” said Toronto’s Vince Carter. “I mean every American in the league, whether they were on the team or not. Guys who got the opportunity to play on this team were more than happy to do so.”
The talent was upgraded with Tim Duncan, McGrady, Jason Kidd and Allen Iverson, et al. Nine spots are set – including those belonging to Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant, who did not compete these past three weeks – and three positions remain open. One of those is almost certain to go to Kevin Garnett. Carter, Team USA’s third-best scorer in San Juan, certainly proved deserving. Elton Brand also excelled, like Carter, as a “role” player.
Nets Kenyon Martin and Richardson Jefferson competed as “role” players and are long shots for the final roster spots.
“Some guys already on the team already deserve a lot of consideration,” Brown said. “Hopefully, some guys do something this year in the NBA. Hopefully it’s a carrot for them. It is an incredible honor.”
Martin and Jefferson expressed as much.
“It was great. Just to be a part of it was an honor,” said Martin, who changed plans for his honeymoon in order to play and claimed he would love to compete next year.
“It was great to be a part of it,” said Jefferson. “I’d do it all over again twice. Even if it was longer and I played less.”
* The three Nets finished the tournament as the three lowest shooters on Team USA. Kidd and Jefferson both finished 13-of-36 (.361) while Martin was 25-of-57 (.439). The next lowest number belonged to McGrady, at .544 (37-of-68).
