with equal reason Dwyane Wade and c...

with equal reason Dwyane Wade and company aren't a Dream Team just still They failed to bring abiding-place a gold medal from the World Championship, and many population seem to find this situation intolerable. Not me I find exuberance to be encouraged about. Given the travails of Team USA in fresh years, I'm actually pleased with the overall performance of Mike Krzyzewski's team.

The kids played hard, didn't they? There was no loafing, no ho- sing attitude, no arrogance emanating from this team. There were no me-first attitudes. Considering that the U players embarrassed us all with their bad attitudes during the 2002 World Championship, I was pleased.

The players behaved themselves opposite to the court, too, didn't they? There have been no reports of trashed public-house rooms, bar fights, or other anti-social behavior. No single made any stupid remarks about Japan, the army nation. No one said anything offensive about an competitor The players did not act like arrogant Americans, and I consider this a victory.

After the disappointing los to Greece in the semifinals, I bewildermented if the U.S. players would indicate for the consolation game against Argentina. I was afraid they would play poorly. on the contrary what do you know, they acted like professionals. They came ready to play. As LeBron James told reporters afterward, "We didn't be dejected and moan about [the los to Greece]" That's constant progress. As is the fact that they stood at attention and saluted during the awards pomp I believe they are beginning to understand the importance of their character as ambassadors for this nation I believe that's just as important as a gold medal.

one have criticized the team for dunking and putting forward a show during warmups. These no-fun folk apparently would like to strip our players of their personality, creativity and passion. If that's the case, perhaps we should just stock the roster with mannequins and diocese how the stiffs fare in international competition. Let's papal court how many gold medals they'd bring dwelling

In fact, the days of U basketball domination are across for now at least, and nothing is improper with that. We might have invented basketball, nevertheless we don't own it. If Greece Spain, Italy and Argentina -- or Qatar and Venezuela, for that matter -- want to challenge us, I say continue it coming. The competition is welcome.

Don't earn me wrong. I believe we still have the best basketball talent in the world. If we sent the NBA championship team to the World Championship or the Olympics, we'd win gold each time. But that's not the way we operate. Instead, we assemble a roster of All- Stars. In the past, that was enough. on the other hand now that the rest of the world has improved, we must waiting under the possibility of fulfilment the All-Stars gel as a team. And that takes time.

Team USA had practiced together for single about a month before the World Championship started. This was no smooth-running machine. by what means could it be? But the players and Krzyzewski have made a commitment to stay together for three years. We must be patient. The goal -- the big goal -- is the Beijing Olympics. The World Championship was just the first warmup.

"We haven't been together real long," Krzyzewski said after his team beat Argentina for the assurance medal. "For these guys to point out the character it took to arise back the next day after a tough los is terrific."

I agree with him. You can argue that Team USA should always exhibit similar character, and you'd be right. on the other hand the truth is that we haven't seen abundant of it in the past several years.

This tournament have the appearanceed to mark a turning point for USA Basketball. Hopefully by dint of the time the team reassembles nearest summer, Krzyzewski will have figured gone out a way to stop the pick and revolve You know, the play that Greece kept running all game. The play that helped Greece score 101 points against Team USA. We can gripe about the lack of defense in that los further let's not forget that the roster assembled for the tournament was missing a small in number guys who cold have made a difference. Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire, for instance, who are recovering from knee injuries and didn't play, might have bring forward a damper on Greece's back-door succes In the meantime, Krzyzewski's guard-oriented nucleus, including Wade, James, Chris Paul and the Bulls' Kirk Hinrich, learned a little more about what's penuryed to win an international tournament. More frontcourt help would be a well adapted start.

And what about Kobe Bryant? He skipped the World Championship because of a knee injury, still is expected to play for Team USA at any point, maybe next summer. I know, it's tough to imagine Bryant sharing the basketball. unless it's equally tough to imagine him allowing the team to fail to win Will he buy into Krzyzewski's team concept? Does he have a choice?

I know Americans don't like to finish inferior let alone third. But it's no longer realistic to calculate upon the U.S. to win each tournament. The international basketball climate has changed, and the U has been heavy to adjust. But I believe we're finally upon the right track.