US cagers runaway favourites to pocket gold

Sydney: Team USA are runaway favourites to take their third consecutive gold medal in the men's Olympic basketball but a host of improving nations are battling for silver and bronze.

Since NBA players were admitted to the Games in 1992, the US has waltzed through the tournament, boasting such stars as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Shaquille O'Neal.

This year's team -- featuring Jordan's "air" apparent Vince Carter, Gary Payton and Kevin Garnett -- may have the cake, but it lacks the icing.

In the run-up to Sunday's tip-off for the men, Australia's five-time Olympian Andrew Gaze finally said out loud what others had only dreamed of: The U.S. men's basketball team -- 40-0 in Olympic play since 1992 -- is beatable.

"I think they are equally as talented, no question...but they don't have that (mystique) right now," Gaze said. "I think that could work in the opposition's favour as you don't have that (feeling) like you're almost scared to touch them."

Part of the reason for bringing NBA players to the Olympics was to heighten basketball's international exposure. The plan has worked, with the sport now rivalled only by soccer in global reach.

But it has equally led to a rise in the level of international play and dozens of foreign players are now plying their trade in the NBA.

Team USA's margin of victory in five exhibition games -- five wins, no losses -- ahead of the Olympics was an incredible 35.2 points, but far from the whopping 43.8 points Jordan, Bird and Charles Barkley posted during competition in Barcelona in 1992.

This year's team is also the youngest of any NBA-laden Olympic squad with an average age of 26.7 years, down from 29.4 in 1996 and 29.1 in 1992.

Only Gary Payton has previous Olympic experience. But all of the players are first round NBA draft choices between the 2nd and 14th picks overall."To compare us to other US teams is difficult. The game has changed since then and the international competition has gotten much more competitive," Team USA co-captain Alonzo Mourning told Reuters.

"But I guarantee you we are not going to lose, not a game. No disrespect to the other teams, we just won't let it happen," the two-times NBA defensive player of the year added.

Reigning World Champions and 1996 silver medallists Yugoslavia are expected to stay competitive with the US for at least one half, with Sacramento Kings swingman Predrag Stojakovic and former Miami Heat guard Predrag Danilovic supplying the scoring punch.

Hosts Australia will have no shortage of NBA experience with Phoenix Suns centre Luc Longley and Chris Anstey of the Chicago Bulls up front and former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Shane Heal teaming with former San Antonio Spur Gaze in the backcourt.

Lithuania, which has taken bronze in the past two Olympics, will also cause problems for other teams, though its roster has been depleted by the loss of Portland Trailblazer centre Arvydas Sabonis, Cleveland Cavalier centre Zydrunas Ilgauskas and European all-star Arturas Karnisovas due to injury.

The US women's team is also favoured to take basketball gold, but its path will prove much tougher.

Led by WNBA stars Lisa Leslie, Chamique Holdsclaw, Sheryl Swoopes and veteran Teresa Edwards -- the most decorated Olympic basketball player with three gold and one bronze medal -- the US women have both the size and speed to retain their title.

Australia, boosted by a boisterous home crowd, will be led by WNBA star Michelle Timms and seven other players with WNBA experience while Russia, Brazil and Cuba are also medal contenders.

"There's a lot of talent around right now and we have to stay focused on our goal, to win the gold," said coach Nell Fortner, who also guided the US to a World Championship win in 1998.

(c) Reuters Limited.