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US basketball puts on more team work to prepare Olympics
Xinhua
Updated: 2008-08-08 17:50
BEIJING -- The star-studded men's basketball team of the United States is ready to put on more team work in seeking for the best results at the Beijing Olympic Games.
"Everyone of this team has the potential to be the key player of the competition. But the individual style doesn't suit the international games. We must play like a team," said NBA player Chris Bosh said at a news conference at the Main Press Center on Friday.
"The international games are quite different from the NBA games. There is no three-second violation in the key. The international games are more physical. If you don't focus, you'll be beaten up," the Toronto Raptors' power forward said.
Carmelo Anthony would not quite agree on that. "I cannot say the internationals are more physical than the NBA. But there are 40 minutes (in international games), which means you have less possessions and have to take every chance to score," he said.
Defence is still the biggest issue to the US team, which finished with a bronze medal four years ago at the Athens Games.
"We didn't do the best job on defence (in the exhibition games). We let too many easy baskets. We're still working on it. But basketball is basketball. You just play your game," Bosh said.
"On offence, we just need to get the timing. We'll concentrate on spot shooting because international games have lots of spot shooting. In the NBA, you won't have that many," US head coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
"On defence, our guys lose positions too easy. You have to do lots of help-side, as you do in the NBA," he added.
The US will open its Olympic journey with a match-up against the host China on August 10 at the Wukesong Stadium.
