Memory of loss to Greece still fresh

BEIJING - The United States men's basketball team has gone from the "Dream Team" to the "Redeem Team" in these Olympics. After failing to win gold in a major competition since 2000, the Americans can take their first big step toward redemption by getting revenge against Greece tonight.

The US entered the semifinals of the 2006 world championships in Japan undefeated. But the Greeks upset the Americans, 101-95, and the US finished with a disappointing bronze medal. Tonight, the Americans (2-0) and Greeks (1-1) meet in Group B.

"We're looking forward to it," said Chris Bosh, who was on the 2004 team that took bronze at the Athens Olympics. "We've been waiting on this opportunity since they beat us. It's getting on two years now and we haven't forgotten. We are really looking forward to playing them and seeing where we are because we know they are a very good team."

The US has blowout wins over China and Angola, but it has a tougher schedule ahead with Greece, Spain, and Germany. Greece lost its opener to Spain by 15 points, but blew out a German team with Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman, 87-64, Tuesday.

Greek guard Vassilis Spanoulis, who plays professionally for Panathinaikos BSA Athens, is averaging 19 points. His team is averaging 76.5 points, a 38.5 3-point percentage, and a 63.6 free throw percentage.

"You have to play them with great intensity for 40 minutes," US coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Our guys already know that, but we'll reinforce that. It's a great game for us to play, too, to get ready for the medal round because we feel Greece has as good a chance as anybody. That's how much we think of them."

The US roster is completely made up of NBA stars; Greece doesn't have a player in the NBA. Even so, the Americans have a lot of respect for the 2006 world silver medalists.

"Basketball is such a global sport, you really don't have to have NBA players," Kobe Bryant said. "You can be a great basketball player and never play one game in the NBA. That's just how it is."

Spanoulis says that today's Greek team is better than it was two years ago. The US squad is also considered to be better, with more experience and the addition of Bryant and veteran point guard Jason Kidd. "The difference with this great [Greek] team with respect to two years ago is that now we play with our heads more than with our enthusiasm," Spanoulis said. "The difference is that now, Team USA [has] Kobe Bryant, and that is a big difference."

Pau Gasol scored 13 points to help lead world champion Spain to a 72-59 victory over Germany. The Toronto Raptors' Jose Manuel Calderon led Spain with 15 points . . . The Milwaukee Bucks' Andrew Bogut had 10 points and seven rebounds to help lift Australia over Iran, 106-68.

The Associated Press contributed to this report; Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com.