USA - Carmelo & Co set to take on Puerto Rico again in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (FIBA World Championship) - The most scrutinised squad in the history of USA Basketball resumes its quest to reclaim world dominance on Thursday night when it takes on Puerto Rico for the second time in three days.

Led by superstars Carmelo Anthony,  LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Team USA play Julio Toro's men at the Thomas & Mack Center.

At the outset of training camp, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski - the first college boss put in charge of the national team since the advent of the NBA era in 1992 - said the goal was for the Americans to re-establish themselves as the dominant team in international basketball.

Krzyzewski was an assistant with the original Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and he is one of the best coaches in the NCAA at Duke University.

Team USA have not been the most dominant side for 10 years, when they trampled
foes en route to the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics. Since then, the Americans have been reeled in by the rest of the world.

In 1998, the United States finished third at the FIBA World Championship with a team stripped of NBA stars by fallout from the lockout. In 2000, the Americans won the gold medal in the Olympics, barely beating Lithuania in the semi-finals and France in the final.

In 2002, the US finished an embarrassing sixth at the FIBA World Championship, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars. It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where Americans lost in group play to Puerto Rico and Lithuania and in the semi-finals to Argentina, eventually settling for the bronze medal.

The fall from the top prompted wholesale changes within USA Basketball, including the appointment of managing director Jerry Colangelo, the hiring of Krzyzewski ahead of NBA
coaches and a tryout process which had not been used since the 1980s.

Instead of nominating a squad of stars all looking for minutes and shots, Krzyzewski is trying to assemble a team that includes role players and defensive specialists such as Bruce Bowen and his former star at Duke, Shane Battier. However, the group again appears to be in need of consistent perimeter shooting, which has been a long-standing problem for Team USA.

Injuries and withdrawals have helped Krzyzewski narrow the roster from 23 to 15, 10 of whom are 25 or younger. He has to make three more cuts before the FIBA World Championship begins on August 19 in Japan.

Their first game in Japan will be against Puerto Rico, a side which has had some success
against the Americans.

In the Olympics opener for both teams two years ago, the tiny commonwealth stunned the US 92-73. Leading the way for Puerto Rico was point guard Carlos Arroyo, who now plays
for the Orlando Magic.

On Tuesday, Arroyo scored 17 points in a 116-82 scrimmage loss to Team USA, which was the quicker, deeper team. Anthony scored 20 points and James added 15.

After that loss, Puerto Rico coach Julio Toro said: "It is like they are on a mission."

What is perplexing about that comment is that Toro was actually talking about his own team.

The Americans travel to Ghangzhou, China to face All-Star center Yao Ming and China on Monday and loaded Brazil on Tuesday.

From there, the Americans venture to Seoul to take on Lithunia on August 13 and Korea on August 15. Krzyzewski likely will make his cuts after the exhibition finale.

At the FIBA World Championship, Team USA are in Group D with the Puerto Ricans, China, Senegal, Slovenia and Olympic silver medalists Italy.

Only the winners of the 24-team FIBA World Championship and the Olympic hosts China automatically qualify for the 2008 Games in Beijing. If Team USA do not win in Japan, they must qualify through the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela.

By PA Sport
Exclusively for FIBA