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Anthony, U.S. try to be gold reliables

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 19, 2008 at 2:01 p.m.

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No, Carmelo Anthony technically hasn't given a guarantee. Anthony got out of the guarantee business four years ago when he promised a gold medal for the Americans and they ended up with a fold medal.

Nevertheless, Anthony can sense redemption is at hand. Four years after Team USA's Greek tragedy, he's counting on standing on the top of the podium Sunday.

"After we win this gold medal, nobody will ever remember 2004," the Nuggets forward said after practice Tuesday.

That might be a stretch. Even after NBA players entered the Olympics in 1992, the John Thompson debacle in 1988 still wasn't forgotten.

That U.S. Olympic men's basketball team settled for a bronze medal - as did the 2004 team in Athens. Throw in the controversial 1972 final loss to the Soviet Union, and the Americans have not minted gold in only three of 15 Olympic tournaments they have entered (they boycotted in 1980).

"After '04, we were at the lowest point as far as USA Basketball was concerned," Anthony said. "We were at the bottom for us."

But Anthony can sense a "360-degree turnaround" is at hand. So his geometry is off, but you know what he means.

Five routs down, three to go

The Americans, who face Australia today in a quarterfinal, are three wins from getting back the gold. Judging from their play so far, it might be three routs away.

In pool play, the U.S. went 5-0, outscoring teams by an average of 32.2 points. The Spanish arrived in Beijing supposedly as a legitimate gold-medal contender, and the Americans crushed them 119-82.

"Nobody is going to beat them," Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman said after his Germany team was walloped 106-57 on Monday by the U.S.

If that becomes the case, perhaps a gold medal would be most sweet for Anthony, LeBron James,

Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer. They are the holdovers from 2004.

While having to settle for bronze has been gnawing at the four for four years, it's tough to put too much blame on them. The young players (Boozer at the time had played two NBA seasons and the other three only one) didn't log big minutes.

"It was frustrating," Anthony said. "I know on a team like this, you're not supposed to worry about how many minutes you play and things like that.

"But guys like myself and LeBron James, we were expected to play in 2004, but we didn't. So that kind of takes down a notch of your confidence."

Anthony's ordeal in Athens has been well chronicled. Coach Larry Brown said he didn't buy into the team concept, and he played little.

The situation still irks Anthony. But he doesn't like to talk about it.

"I didn't have any problems with Larry, man," Anthony said. "He had problems with me. A lot of people never really got a chance to really hear what I have to say. But I don't really have nothing to say. That's over with for me. I'm in 2008 right now."

2008 much more fun

And 2008 has proved a lot sweeter for Anthony. After U.S. players were booed in Athens even while they walked down the street, Anthony said Chinese fans have cheered them so much, it feels "like a home game" when Team USA isn't facing the hosts.

Anthony is averaging 8.6 points as the starting power forward. While he might have been the team's leading scorer at the 2006 world championships and the 2007 Olympic qualifying tournament, this is the first time he has played alongside James, Wade and Kobe Bryant at the same time, and he has been the one to sacrifice scoring.

"In '06, he probably was in the best shape I have ever seen him," said Team USA assistant Jim Boeheim, Anthony's college coach at Syracuse who said Anthony had something to prove coming back from his 2004 Olympics troubles. "Last year, he was still there. This year, he probably was one step off that (when he showed up last month for training camp in Las Vegas).

"Now, he's gotten it back going full blast. This is probably the best defensively I have ever seen him play. . . . He started out shooting poorly, and he didn't have all three of those guys before (James, Wade and Bryant). They're really scorers."

With Anthony's offensive role reduced, he has sought to become more of an all-around player. He played solid defense Monday against Germany's Dirk Nowitzki, helping hold the Mavericks forward to 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting.

"I get tired of people saying I can't play no defense," Anthony said.

While Anthony's Olympic rebounding average of 4.8 doesn't initially blow anybody away, consider he's doing it in an average of 17.6 minutes.

Nuggets coach George Karl would like to see that kind of production in the NBA, where Anthony's career average is six in 36.5 minutes.

"He's been fantastic," Bryant said of Anthony doing things other than score. "He's been playing great defense. The last game, he rebounded the ball like an animal (six in 14 minutes against Germany). Obviously, the numbers are going to be skewed for everybody. He's been fantastic."

Lightening it up

Bryant likes even more about Anthony.

"He's probably my favorite person on the team," Bryant said. "He's funny as hell. That's my guy. That's my dude. He's just funny, and he and I, we get along extremely well."

Keeping a sense of humor was more difficult for Anthony in Athens. But in Beijing, his trademark smile has captivated plenty.

"I'm really proud of him," Boozer said of Anthony bouncing back. "I'm happy for him. When we get that gold medal, he's going to be one of the happiest men on the podium."

Anthony already is pretty chipper.

"Everything is better on and off the court," he said, comparing these Games to 2004. "I'm happy. I'm having a lot of fun on the court just hanging with the guys and visiting and talking with (players from) different countries."

On Monday, he joked with Kaman, a U.S. citizen who got a German passport earlier this summer because his great grandparents had emigrated from the country. He said to Kaman, "I didn't know you were German," and Kaman laughed.

After the game, Anthony joked with fellow Baltimore hero Michael Phelps, who visited the locker room. Of Phelps' eight swimming gold medals at these Games, Anthony watched him win Nos. 4 and 5.

Now, though, Anthony wants his own gold. He gave the bronze to his mother but insists he will keep this one if the color is two shades better.

"We've got a chance to redeem ourselves, and we can't wait for that moment," Anthony said. "We're knocking on the door (and trying) to accomplish what we've been waiting to do for four years."

Perhaps Anthony's guarantee just came four years too early.

Anthony open to 2012

Carmelo Anthony is enjoying the Olympics so much, he'd love to be back for the 2012 Games in London.

"Hell, yeah," the Nuggets forward said. "I'll be (28) years old. . . . Depending on what the process is, I am open to 2012."

If it involves another three-summer commitment, though, Anthony doesn't seem too keen on that. The current team has gotten together each summer since 2006.

"It is a grind, but I don't think that, from what I'm hearing, there will be another three-year commitment. . . . So I will have to see that," Anthony said. "But if it's come to play and try out in '11 or '12, then I'll be good for that."

USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said no plan will be unveiled on how to choose the 2012 team until after the upcoming NBA season has started. But Colangelo indicated there could be a change in the process.

"I have thought about it, if it happens the right way and we finish the job, and how we might do it," Colangelo said. "I don't think it's even appropriate for me to say now what we might do. . . . If we can finish the job, I can say that we can take it to another level. How we do that might be different than how we've done it the last three years."

Anthony hardly would be the only player still in his prime in 2012. Of the 12 U.S. players, eight will be 30 or younger when London is calling.

Comments

  • August 19, 2008

    3:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jmdeshazer writes:

    His defense has been phenomenal. Along with Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard, their low post presence has been huge. He has set up many of those aerobatic dunks by Wade, Bryant and James with his rebounding and hustling for loose balls. He has kinda become the Najera of Team USA.

  • August 19, 2008

    4:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ActualThinker writes:

    "I get sick and tired of people saying I can't play defense". I dont think many people are saying you CANT I think we are saying you DONT. Melo has been great defensively for his country but takes way too many plays off for the Nuggets.

  • August 19, 2008

    4:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Squatch writes:

    You hit it ActualThinker its not cant its wont.

    I hope Kobe rubs off a bunch on Carmelo and changes how Melo plays the game. I keep hearing about what great shape he is in and wonder if that is because of all the talent and experience on the US team or if he sees how hard the other guys work to be the best. There is no doubt in my mind that Carmelo can be one of the best to play the game but he needs to mature and quit worring about making highlights so he can get his props.

  • August 19, 2008

    7:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gylizard1 writes:

    Maybe this is a real wakeup call for Melo...he knows he just has to put his mind to it and PLAY defense..rebound..do what it takes..not just score. I was sad to see Camby go..but in the long run..it will make these guys all better..they won't have any choice but work harder. Besides..Marcus was getting a little old..and was only an injury away from being gone anyway. It would be nice to see them go after Francisco and add him to the mix..he would compliment the Birdman and Balkman nicely.

  • August 19, 2008

    7:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jkl writes:

    If you have a 360 degree turnaround, you are at the place from which you started. Perhaps he meant a 180 degree turnaround.

  • August 20, 2008

    12:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    Go Melo! And roll this over to the NBA season. Nuggets fans would LOVE to see you average 9-10 rebounds a game. I know you can play defense. I've seen it. But 48 minutes of defense is better than the 24 we used to see from you.