The gap used to be as big as the distance from Chicago to Australia. The U.S. Dream Teamers were so far ahead of the world in 1992 that a telescope was needed to see them.
But in 2000, the gap has tightened. For the United States basketball team, it got so tight it almost became a noose ready to be pulled.
The U.S. won the basketball gold medal Sunday but lost its shield of invincibility in the Olympics.
Scare No. 1 occurred Friday when it barely survived a heart-stopping 85-83 victory over Lithuania in the semifinals.
Surely with that close call, the U.S. would blow the baguettes out of France in the finals. Instead, the Sons of Dream Team found themselves ahead only 76-72 with just over four minutes left. The U.S. scrambled to an 85-75 victory, but an international message had been sent: Who’s afraid of the U.S. basketball team?
“This is not the Dream Team,” French forward Cyril Julian said. “The Dream Team was Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. This is just the U.S. team.”
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NBA Commissioner David Stern has seen the difference in the eight years the league has been sending its best players to the Olympics.
“In 1992, the players on the other teams wanted to take pictures with the Dream Teamers,” Stern said. “Now the international teams come in with a different mind-set. They’ve overcome the mental aspect and they’ve gotten better.”
This bunch not only didn’t have Michael, Magic and Larry Bird from the first Dream Team. It also didn’t have Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan or Grant Hill, who decided they needed a rest more than a gold medal.
But it wasn’t like the U.S. went into the Olympics with the Bulls’ starting lineup. Name one NBA general manager who wouldn’t take a nucleus of Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Gary Payton, Ray Allen and Alonzo Mourning.
Yet this team found itself having to shift into high gear down the stretch against a nondescript French team. The immortal Laurent Sciarra torched the U.S. for 19 points.
“I think we’re finding out everyone is getting closer,” said France’s Crawford Palmer, a former Duke player. “Their mystique hasn’t been wiped away. Everyone still respects them. But I think everyone now believes they can play with them.”
Did the U.S. underachieve? Did the players think they were going on vacation in Sydney and wind up almost getting their pockets picked?
“Nobody said it was going to be easy,” Garnett said. “It shows the future of international basketball is very bright. They have very disciplined players.”
The U.S. didn’t. The Americans committed 14 turnovers in the first half and at times seemed more committed to making a highlight film than trying to make a basket. And they didn’t make any friends with their trash-talking. French coach Jean Pierre de Vincenzi called the U.S. team “talented but very arrogant.”
The U.S. players left Sydney with mixed emotions, happy to have won, but puzzled as to why they became the target of Australian fans, some of whom were rather vociferous.
“It was unlike anything I had seen,” Garnett said.
Yet the players did get their ultimate reward. They came for the gold and got it.
“It’s like getting the biggest birthday cake you could imagine, and buying 24 barrels of whipped cream, and then times it by 10,” Garnett said.
“I’m happy I got the gold. And I’m happy I got the experience.”
If called, he will serve again in 2004, Garnett said. The U.S. again will be an overwhelming favorite, but after this year, nothing will be taken for granted.
“The next Games will be interesting,” Palmer said.