U.S. team shows a mean streak in victory over Greece, 92-69

BEIJING - Chris Bosh responded with a gentle laugh that would indicate he is as mild-mannered as they come, even at 6-foot-10.
The question: "You looked mean out there. Where did that come from?"
Mean is kind of the look the U.S. men's basketball team is going for. Particularly on defense. And particularly against Thursday's opponent.
Greece was the last team to beat the U.S. in international play, doing so in the semifinals of the 2006 FIBA world championships, and making the Americans look meek and unprepared defensively.
This time, the U.S. was aggressive and organized, stopping the Greek pick-and-rolls and translating that into easy offense in a 92-69 win.
"That's our identity," Dwyane Wade said of his team's defensive temperament. "No question about it.
"We were very aware of their offensive sets and very aware of their personnel, and we played like that. We were kind of a step ahead of what they wanted to do."
Bosh, a thin 6-10 forward who is forced to play center on a smallish U.S. team, was one of a handful of U.S. players who portrayed that identity to perfection.
Not only did the Toronto Raptor score 18 points on 7 of 8 shooting, standing up to the more physical Greek frontcourt, but he grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and even tossed in six fouls in 21 minutes.
Bosh's signature play for the game, though, may have been the charge he took against a driving Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who's nicknamed Baby Shaq and has been listed as heavy as 314 pounds.
"Sometimes you could just see it coming," Bosh said. "I just wanted to keep my position and make sure I protect myself, because I knew I was going to take a blow. A big blow."
The Greeks took a bigger one. That play happened during a second quarter that was arguably the most impressive stretch of international basketball this collection of U.S. players has played.
It began with Wade stealing the ball from Greece and throwing a dart lob pass as he was falling out of bounds. Kobe Bryant caught the pass and dunked it with two hands for one of several highlight plays.
That extended the U.S. lead to six points, and by the time the second quarter ended - Bosh closed the half by blocking a three-point attempt - the Americans held a 51-32 lead and had effectively demoralized Greece with defense.
"If teams get two points or three points, we want them to feel like it's a relief," Bosh said. "We want them to feel like that was the hardest two or three points they ever got. It just shows the spirit of the whole thing."
Bryant matched Bosh with a team-leading 18 points, while Wade added 17 and LeBron James put together a complete game with 13 points, six assists, six rebounds and three blocked shots.
The Greek team that scored 101 points on 63 percent shooting against the U.S. in the world championships was just 41 percent from the floor Thursday, including 4 of 18 from three-point range.
Not only did the U.S. control Greece's pick-and-roll game, but the Greeks only managed seven fast-break points and four second-chance points. Carmelo Anthony even stopped a four-on-one break with good positioning and quick hands.
Wade added six steals, several of which led to transition baskets for the U.S., which is exactly what this team was built to do. Just consider that they did this damage against the Greeks without the designated shooter, Michael Redd, who played just the final six minutes of the game.
"Unless you're on the floor with us, it's hard to understand how fast we are as a team," said James, with a folded American flag bandana covering the logo on his Yankees cap.
The game had the revenge element for the U.S., which made the pool play victory all the more satisfying.
"They were a lot more confident, a lot more cocky, they played with a little more emotion (in the 2006 game)," Wade said. "When you're losing by 10 or 20, you can't play the same. But this is a good team. This is a team we might see again."
The Americans are now 3-0 in pool play, with defending world champion Spain next on the schedule. The Spaniards are also 3-0 after defeating Germany on Thursday.
You can expect more of the mean look from the U.S. players the rest of the way - even if it's a bit out of character.
"I think we all know what it takes to win," Bosh said. "We're going to have to play passionate basketball."