US wake up from nightmare start but are still no dream team

LEBRON JAMES eyed Shawn Marion’s pass coming toward him and made a split-second decision to redirect the ball. One nifty touch pass later, Dwayne Wade converted it into a layup.

The basket broke the last tie and began a game-changing 10-point run at the start of the fourth quarter, leading the US to a 89-79 victory over Australia in the Greek capital yesterday.

The win might have been a big step toward reversing the fortunes of a US team that struggled to beat Greece and was embarrassed by Puerto Rico in a 19-point loss.

“Everything’s not clicking yet, but we’re heading that way,” Tim Duncan said. “It was a great learning experience today, being able to fight back and staying with each other.”

After a defensively inept first half and a so-so third quarter, the Americans increased their defensive intensity, moved the ball with aplomb and put together a few of the showtime moments their Olympic predecessors took for granted.

“This young kid [James] and Dwayne Wade started throwing the ball inside, and all of the sudden everybody on our team got better,” coach Larry Brown said.

“But we’re not dealing with Michael Jordans and Larry Birds and Magic Johnsons that have done that from the beginning, and it’s going to take time for some of these young people.”

Duncan scored 18 points, Allen Iverson and Marion each added 16 and Wade scored 12 for the US team, which shot 57% from the field - 71% from 2-point range but only 3-for-17 on threes.

The Americans kept their turnovers down, found better shots than in their first two games and realised the only way to fuel their offence is through defence.

The US forced four misses and a turnover on Australia’s first five possessions of the fourth quarter, and the ball movement was fluid and flashy during the 10-0 run that put the Americans ahead 75-67.

Australia, led by Shane Heal’s 17 points, never threatened again.

“If we stop people, we’re the most athletic team in this whole tournament and we can get out and get easy buckets,” said James

From the start, the Americans looked to run their offence through Duncan in the low post. But their defensive rotations were slow and they repeatedly left players open at the 3-point line.

Brown could only shake his head as Glen Saville sank the Aussies’ fifth 3-pointer of the first quarter for a 24-18 lead, and the US were down by 12 before the period was over.

The Americans’ reluctance to attempt a 3-pointer was clear late in the second quarter when James hesitated so much before the shot that the ball never even made it to the rim.

“I think they continue to [improve], but they’d better make jump shots to win the gold in this tournament,” Heal said.