With Bryant in high gear, US unstoppable

BEIJING - Ko-Bay . . . Ko-Bay . . . Ko-Bay.

That was the sound the fans chanted over and over in tribute to Kobe Bryant, who has not only emerged as the world's most popular basketball player here, but one of the most popular Olympians.

Bryant averaged 12.6 points in five Olympic preliminary contests for the United States men's basketball team. The Lakers star, however, picked up his game in the elimination round by scoring 25 points and nailing four 3-pointers in a 116-85 blowout over Australia last night at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium.

The Americans (6-0) will play 2004 Olympic gold medalist Argentina (5-1) in the semifinals tomorrow (10:15 a.m. EST). Spain (5-1) and Lithuania (5-1) are in the other semifinal.

"Being that it's do or die, it's go time," Bryant said. "This is what we came here for and we're all ready to go. Money's on the line."

The Americans won Group B with an average margin of victory of 26.8 points, averaging 103 points. But in the preliminary games and pre-Olympic exhibitions, Australia gave the US the most trouble, losing, 87-76, in an exhibition Aug. 5 in Shanghai.

The US finished a physical first quarter with a 25-24 lead and finished the first half leading, 55-43, after Deron Williams nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

But the Americans blew the game open with a 14-0 run to start the second half. Nine of those points came from Bryant, who started and ended the run with 3-pointers. The Australians never challenged after that.

"As far as the second half, we wanted to come out and dictate the rhythm," Bryant said. "We had a particular [offensive] set we wanted to run and it materialized. I got a lot of open looks and I knocked them down."

Said guard Dwyane Wade: "Kobe is now coming along. Kobe is now playing great."

Forward Carmelo Anthony, who had 15 points, added, "[Bryant] had it going. Any time a guy gets it going, any one of us, we're going to find him. But a guy like that who can score at will and is one of the best scorers in the world, we're going to find him. If he gets it going, we're going to keep going."

Yao Ming is a popular native son for China, which got eliminated by Lithuania yesterday, 94-68. US stars Anthony, Wade, and LeBron James are also popular with the Chinese fans.

But no basketball player has received louder cheers, Yao included, than Bryant. Last week, the NBA announced that Bryant's jersey is the hottest seller in China. Some fans wore Kobe jerseys to the game and one held up a poster of his face. Bryant was mobbed by fellow Olympians when he went to the Olympic Village. At a swimming event, one swimmer acknowledged Bryant, who was sitting in the stands.

"His popularity, he's probably the No. 1 athlete out here," said James, who had 16 points and 4 steals. "It's been unbelievable to see how big he is as an athlete. We all know how big he is."

Said Wade: "His popularity is unbelievable. Not only when he's with us, but when he goes to other events the way people scream for him. He's the star of stars."

Bryant is playing in his first Olympics and international competition for the US. But with his talent and experience, it didn't take long for the 2008 NBA MVP to become a leader, even among players with Olympic and international experience.

"What he's meant to our team on both sides of the floor is unbelievable," Wade said. "Defensively, he is now taking the best player out of it. And offensively, he's now getting his rhythm back. He's getting his legs under him.

"When he's shooting the ball the way he is, taking it to the hole the way he is, it's scary to see him get into a rhythm. I'm glad I'm on his team now and I'm seeing him get into that rhythm."

The Americans had completed their interviews prior to Argentina's 80-78 victory over Greece late last night. But before Bryant even knew the result, the competitor in him came out.

"We want to play the best," Bryant said. "We want to play the defending champs. It's all about a challenge."

Argentina forward-center Fabricio Oberto, who plays for the Spurs, said, "Kobe is a great player, one of the best players in the world, and it's really tough to defend him. It's tough to defend the USA because they have so many weapons."

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com