American drumbeat: Don’t forget Greece

Friday, Sept. 14, 2007 | 7:38 a.m.

Spanoulis, Kakiouzis, Schortsanitis, Diamantidis and Papaloukas are household names around the Carmelo Anthony compound in Denver.

He didn't allow his U.S. national basketball teammates to forget about those players, and that defeat, either, during their recent romp to the FIBA Americas title in Las Vegas.

"I reminded them all day," Anthony said, "every day."

Those Greeks were the key figures in a 101-95 victory over the U.S. last year in the semifinals of the FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Only the two finalists (Greece beat Spain) received spots in next year's Olympics in China.

The Americans were relegated to earning their ticket to Beijing in a tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center that looked like the varsity vs. the jayvee each time Team USA played.

That might be giving too much credit, though, to some of those foes.

Every day, Anthony told his teammates about getting Greece'd. He plans to make that a regular topic with those players during the entire upcoming NBA season.

"It's motivation, you know?" Anthony said. "We were kind of embarrassed by that loss. I'm pretty sure we won't forget that. Pretty sure."

He and LeBron James were the major players on that team in Japan who were on the squad that powered its way to the gold medal, over an incomplete Argentina squad, in the Americas finale.

Both teams qualified for the Olympics by reaching the Americas championship game.

Center Dwight Howard was the only other player on the U.S. team in Las Vegas who also played against Greece, but he logged only 13 minutes off the bench against the Greeks.

Anthony had 27 points, on 9-of-15 shooting, on Sept. 1, 2006, in Saitama, Japan. James scored 17, going 8-for-14 from the field.

The Greeks had a 12-point edge entering the fourth quarter and held off a charge by the U.S.

"Losing always sticks with you," James said. But " we forgot about last year. This summer, we brought in a brand-new mind - set. It's a new team."

Anthony's abilities and skills, and hardheadedness about the Grecian pick-and-roll formula for success against the U.S., are why he has emerged as perhaps the most important player on the American team.

He has perspective and knows the value of history, even when some of his peers want to forget about the past.

That's what will be so important in Beijing, where the real national teams of Argentina, Spain and, yes, Greece, will bring their A players and A games.

"We wished their main players were here," James said of the lack of Las Vegas competition. "Obviously, they couldn't be here. So we had to take care of business."

With his enthusiasm and passion, and hard work at both ends of the court, Anthony has endeared himself to U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Anthony was devastating at Thomas & Mack, averaging a team-best 21.2 points and shooting at a 61.3 percent clip, 57.8 percent outside the 3-point arc.

James averaged 18.1 points, many on fast breaks and rim-rocking dunks. He was just as valuable on the bench, supporting teammates with fervor.

Kobe Bryant, a fan favorite, rounded out the top three with 15.3 points a game. Recuperating from knee surgery, he was sorely missed in Japan.

That trio forms the key core that Team USA Managing Director Jerry Colangelo wants to keep together for China.

Jason Kidd and Deron Williams are efficient and selfless floor generals - they combined to give 92 assists, with only 15 turnovers.

Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard seem locked in at center. Michael Redd could be the long-range bomber.

One source close to the team revealed that Colangelo would try to coax Kevin Garnett, whom the Boston Celtics acquired this summer from Minnesota, to play on Team USA.

Colangelo said injuries and deep NBA playoff runs will be major factors.

"There's still a lot of work to do," Colangelo said. "One bad game at the wrong time, and you're knocked out. We found that out last summer."

That's a repeat performance Carmelo Anthony doesn't want to experience.