US begins mining for gold
NBA stars focus on every game
LAS VEGAS - The luggage is packed, passports are in hand, and a long plane ride to China is on the horizon, too, with gold-medal dreams in mind for USA Basketball.
The US team began training camp here yesterday with a practice at Valley High School. Team USA is practicing and scrimmaging this week against a USA Select team, then will complete training camp with an exhibition game Friday night against Canada at Thomas & Mack Center. The Americans will depart for China Saturday.
"It's a lot of excitement, a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of work," guard Kobe Bryant said. "We're excited about it. We're ready for it. We can't wait to get going."
Said center Dwight Howard: "This is Step 1 to get the gold medal. I've been here for three years [with Team USA]. Now it's time to get that gold. We've got a good team. We just got to play together."
After dominating the sport this country invented, the US has not won gold in a major basketball event since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. But with NBA stars Bryant, Howard, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, and Carmelo Anthony, the Americans are favored to win in Beijing. But despite that All-Star talent, the competition will make it a challenge.
Greece, Croatia, and Germany qualified for the Games last weekend. The Group B bracket at the Olympics includes the US; 2006 World Championships gold and silver medalists Spain and Greece; Germany, with Dirk Nowitzki and Chris
"Every game is circled," James said. "It's not one team that we're going after or looking after. Every game we play, from the exhibition game against Canada to the gold-medal game, every game is circled."
The 13-member USA Select squad includes 2008 Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Andre Iguodala, and rookies Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, and O.J. Mayo. Celtics guard Rajon Rondo and center Kendrick Perkins (who recently had shoulder surgery) declined invitations to play for the Select team.
"I'm excited just to be a part of this," Durant said. "I know I can't win the gold with them. But just to come out here and help them is an honor for me. I can't wait for them to bring back the gold."
The US team dominated the Select squad in a four-quarter scrimmage yesterday, most notably on defense.
"The first day was tough for them," said Bryant. "You kind of get used to it and you're playing against all of us for the first time. I think they will be much better [today]."
On his Hornets acquiring ex-Celtics forward James Posey, Paul said: "[Posey] is one of those guys who is going to help our team and hopefully take us to the next level." . . . Howard said his cracked sternum is fully healed and he practiced yesterday. Wade, who missed the final 21 games last season with Miami because of soreness in his surgically repaired left knee, said his knee felt fine at practice . . . US coach Mike Krzyzewski reiterated that Bryant, Kidd, James, Anthony, and Howard will be his starting five, but said he wasn't certain about his rotation.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com
