LAS VEGAS -- If the Americans play as well as they did at times Tuesday
night, they might not even miss the guy sitting behind the basket.
The U.S. team made an impressive debut, winning all four quarters of a
scrimmage against Puerto Rico before a Thomas & Mack Center crowd that
included injured teammate Kobe Bryant.
Bryant, unable to play in the upcoming world championships after undergoing
knee surgery last month, made his first appearance at training camp and sat with
USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo about five rows behind the
basket.
And watching Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade put on a show
reminded Bryant -- who also had to pull out of before the 2004 Olympics while
dealing with a sexual assault trial -- how much he wanted to be a part of the
team.
"It's tough, it's really tough," Bryant said after the game. "Especially
coming, seeing guys playing, competing and doing what they did today.
"I've been looking forward to this. Since I spoke with Mr. Colangelo on the
phone I've been looking forward to it, coming out here and playing and
competing. It's very upsetting."
Even without the NBA's leading scorer, the Americans had several impressive
spurts during the four-quarter scrimmage. Scores were reset at the start of each
period, otherwise the Americans would have won 116-82.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski stressed earlier Tuesday that the scrimmage was
nothing more than a practice, but he found his players took it more seriously
than that.
"I like the fact, I think it meant something," Krzyzewski said. "I thought
actually a couple of guys were nervous in a good way. That means it means
something. I thought they tried to play every possession."
The U.S. held a Puerto Rican team that included Orlando guard Carlos Arroyo
without a point for more than 3 minutes to open the second quarter. The most
impressive stretch came during the third period, when James, Wade and Dwight
Howard all threw down powerful dunks -- at the basket right in front of Bryant.
"It's amazing, it's fun to watch," Bryant said. "They come at you in waves.
It's nonstop, the pressure that they put on fullcourt, quick hands, quick feet
that they have."
