Originally published Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 12:00 AM

U.S. men's basketball aiming to end nightmare run

Sooner or later, people will stop measuring every U.S. Olympic basketball squad against the Dream Team. U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski is...

By Andrew Bagnato

The Associated Press

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L.A. Lakers star Kobe Bryant was added to the U.S. team to boost the squad's shooting.

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Sooner or later, people will stop measuring every U.S. Olympic basketball squad against the Dream Team. U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski is hoping it's sooner.

"There's only one Dream Team," said Krzyzewski, an assistant coach on that fabled squad. "That was '92. The mistake that our American people make is calling every team after a 'dream team.' This isn't Rocky I, II, III and IV."

A lot has happened in 16 years. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and friends have moved on. More important, the world has caught up to the United States in the game it invented.

In its last three major international competitions, the U.S. has brought home two bronze medals.

The 2004 U.S. Olympic team lost three times on its way to third place. The Americans had lost two games, total, in the previous 14 Olympics.

That's not a dream, it's a nightmare.

The mission for this team as it goes to Beijing? Simple. Restore what Americans think is their rightful place atop the international hoops podium.

"It is redemption," said guard Dwyane Wade, one of four holdovers from the 2004 Olympic squad. "That's what it is: a road to redemption."

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo, the former Phoenix Suns owner, demanded a three-year commitment from players when he took over in 2005. He knew the U.S. approach — drafting an all-star team, getting fitted for uniforms and then heading into competition — no longer worked.

The Americans decided they needed more shooters, and added Michael Redd and Kobe Bryant. They also learned they needed to defend the screen-and-roll, and added international veteran guards Jason Kidd and Deron Williams.

"We know defense and rebounding wins championships, whether it's the Olympics or the NBA," Bryant said. "So we're going to put a lot of emphasis on that."

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