Dream Team

:For the TV series of the same name, see Dream Team.

Dream Team VI

The humiliating outcome in 2002 prompted a number of NBA superstars to agree to join the team for the 2003 Tournament of the Americas, which the squad was required to participate in to qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics. The team easily cruised to a first-place finish, earning it a spot in Athens, Greece the following summer.

Related Topics:
2004 Summer Olympics - Athens - Greece

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However, the dominant team that competed in 2003 could not be kept together. Primarily due to security concerns, 10 of its 12 players elected not to participate in Athens, causing USA Basketball to scramble to fill their places. The revamped Dream Team VI generally consisted of either young NBA players early in their careers, or veteran players thought to be somewhat beneath superstar status. The only established superstars on the team were Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson - not coincidentally, the only two players left from the 2003 roster.

Related Topics:
USA Basketball - Tim Duncan - Allen Iverson

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Dream Team VI roster

• Carmelo Anthony, of the Denver Nuggets
• Carlos Boozer, of the Utah Jazz
• Tim Duncan, of the San Antonio Spurs
• Allen Iverson, of the Philadelphia 76ers
• LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers
• Richard Jefferson, of the New Jersey Nets
• Stephon Marbury, of the New York Knicks
• Shawn Marion, of the Phoenix Suns
• Lamar Odom, of the Los Angeles Lakers
• Emeka Okafor, of the Charlotte Bobcats
• Amare Stoudemire, of the Phoenix Suns
• Dwyane Wade, of the Miami Heat

"Dream Team VI" was coached by Larry Brown.

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Although this team was occasionally called a "Dream Team" because it was composed of NBA players, it is likely that the media will end the use of that nickname after its performance. Indeed, some media outlets took to calling it the "Nightmare Team." "Dream Team VI" was defeated by Italy by 17 points in an exhibition game in Cologne, Germany; two days later, also in Cologne, the "Dream Team" needed a long Iverson three-pointer to keep its friendly game against Germany from going into overtime. For the very first time, the world saw that in fact a "Dream Team" was beatable. The vulnerability of the Americans was confirmed on August 15, 2004 when Puerto Rico defeated them 92-73 in the very first game of the 2004 Olympics in Athens. It was only the third Olympic basketball defeat ever in the history of the United States and the first one for a Dream Team. Carlos Arroyo of Puerto Rico led the attack in the game, which suggested that the level of international basketball had caught up with that of the United States.

Related Topics:
Italy - Cologne - Germany - Germany - August 15 - 2004 - Puerto Rico - 2004 Olympics - Athens - Carlos Arroyo - International basketball

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After winning close games against Greece and Australia, the U.S. team lost another game against Lithuania, dropping to 2-2 in the Olympic tournament. Sarunas Jasikevicius, who missed a three-pointer that would have beaten the U.S. in the semifinals four years earlier at Sydney, scored 28 points to lead the Lithuanian team.

Related Topics:
Greece - Australia - Lithuania - Sarunas Jasikevicius

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Even though it managed to win easily against Angola, 89-53, because of the goal average rules Dream Team VI entered the quarterfinal round in 4th place, the lowest seed of their group. The Americans faced undefeated Spain in their quarterfinal game and finally put up a dominant performance. Led by Stephon Marbury's 31 points, Dream Team IV defeated the Spaniards 102-94, eliminating them from medal contention.

Related Topics:
Spain - Stephon Marbury

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Any momentum gained from that victory was lost a game later, however, as the team was were defeated by Argentina in the semifinals, 89-81, ending the Dream Team's lock on the gold medal. Dream Team VI ended the Olympics with a 104-96 win over Lithuania to win the bronze medal. It marked only the third time that an American team failed to win gold, and the first time for a Dream Team. Before 2004, American teams had only lost two games in all previous Olympic tournaments, whereas this one lost three.

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Results at the 2004 Olympics in Athens

• USA 73 Puerto Rico 92
• USA 77 Greece 71
• USA 89 Australia 79
• USA 90 Lithuania 94
• USA 89 Angola 53
• USA 102 Spain 94
• USA 81 Argentina 89
• USA 104 Lithuania 96

Final standings at Athens 2004

• Argentina 6-2
• Italy 6-2
• United States 5-3
• Lithuania 6-2
• Greece 4-3
• Puerto Rico 3-4
• Spain 6-1
• China 2-5
• Australia 2-4
• New Zealand 1-5
• Serbia & Montenegro 2-4
• Angola 0-6