One Bad Dream

During the third quarter of Sundays opening round basketball game at the Helliniko Indoor Arena, Team USAs Lamar Odom, now a Los Angeles Laker, stood near end of the bench. He just stared up into the air, frowning. He just couldnt watch was happening. The U.S. trailed by twenty. Teammate Allen Iverson, no answer, was bricking shot after shot. Puerto Rico guard Carlos Arroyo, who plays for the Utah Jazz, cut through the defense like a steak knife, reminding Iverson, and all the Americans, how a Dream Teamer is supposed to play.

In one of the most shocking performances in Olympic history, Puerto Rico dominated the United States on Sunday, 92-73, forcing basketball fans to ponder where the Americans went so wrong. This was never supposed to happen: after a group of college kids lost to the Soviet Union in the semifinals of the 1988 Seoul Games, USA Basketball sent the pros, supposedly securing global dominance forever. The 1992 team, with Michael, Magic and Larry, didnt call a single time out on its way to the gold. The 96 squad cruised, and although Lithuania almost slipped by the U.S. in 2000, the team still finished first. Since 1992, the U.S. team had been a gaudy 24-0 in Olympic play.

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Now, the world is catching up. With second-tier NBA players, the U.S., now 109-3 all-time in the Olympics, placed sixth at the 2002 World Championships. America is a victim of its own talent — the NBA, with television, has exported its game overseas. And the 92 Dream Team, despite Charles Barkleys taunting of Angola, was the perfect ambassador. But a 19-point loss to Puerto Rico, which has never won a medal, and whose national anthem is The Star Spangled Banner? The U.S. just got beat by the 51st state.

Americas very best, Shaquille ONeal, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, did stay home. But Team USA has two MVPs, Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson, and this years two best rookies, Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony. Still, the team is flawed. From day one, I thought some of these young kids had no idea what was in store for them, said U.S. coach Larry Brown after the game. I could tell from their looks, from their body language that they wouldnt be able to forget about individual things and come together as a team. We came out with the mentality that we had to take the first open shot on every possession. And look what happened.

The United States shot 3-24 from three-point range — Iverson missed nine of ten from downtown. Puerto Rico led by 22, 49-27, at the half, and Brown couldnt pep his players in the locker room — in the first possession of the second half, Duncan and Richard Jefferson missed easy put backs, squashing all hope of a quick turnaround. The U.S. did make a little run, but every time the millionaires threatened, Puerto Rico answered. In the third quarter, a Duane Wade dunk stirred the crowd and cut the deficit to 18, but then Puerto Ricos Eddie Casiano stuck a three in Wades face. After Iversons only three pointer trimmed the lead to single digits, 75-66, with five minutes left, Arroyo, who finished with a game-high 24 points, drew a three-point play on a running lay-up. A few Puerto Rico fast breaks in the closing minutes sealed it. Im angry, Brown says. Im humiliated.

Still, he insists hes not surprised. In late July the United States held a weeklong training camp in Jacksonville before playing a handful of exhibition games. Puerto Rico, and most international teams, have played together for a decade. The U.S. must understand that you just cant just put a team together that quickly, says Puerto Ricos Jose Ortiz, 40, an ex-Utah Jazz forward. They have to change the way they think about it. U.S.A. Basketball also needs new GMs. The 10-member selection committee, which includes Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars and Mitch Kupchak, architect of the Los Angeles Lakers, didn't include a topnotch shooter, like Brent Barry or Fred Hoiberg, even though most foreign teams play tight zone defenses that dare opponents to fire from outside.

Luckily, the Olympics aren't March Madness, where it's one loss and youre out. The U.S has at least four more chances to right itself, and at end of the Olympics Duncan & Co. will most likely wear gold. But for the first time in 16 years, a silver, or no hardware, is a possibility. These things happen, says Odom. No one thought the Yankees would lose to the Diamondbacks. No one though Ali would hit the canvas. Of course, Ali lost epic fights against Frazier. He wasnt laid out in the opening round.