"Team" USA

Back from vaca and I can't stop hearing about the cohesiveness and the improvement and the camaraderie that this US team has compared to the last two teams that ended up with bronze medals at the '04 Olympics and the '06 WCs.
First, I can't imagine Dwyane Wade would like to hear that. I mean, the announcers make it sound like the last teams had chemistry problems or selfishness issues or something. The '04 team was pretty much a disaster because of Larry Brown's insistence that no one shoot the ball, ever. Last summer's team lost because, first, it was still flawed in its make-up, with no shooters like Michael Redd and Mike Miller, and because there was no Jason Kidd, who has been such a difference maker with his defense and tempo-pushing.
This team with Kobe Bryant has played better defensively and shot better from distance, but it's also playing weaker teams than either of the last two national teams did. I'd love to see this group play the real Argentina team, or the Greek team that was on fotia (I believe that is Greek for fire), and see how it reacts. I still think this US team would win, but it's not because the players get along better than those other teams. It's because there are defenders like Kobe and Kidd on this team and more variety on offense. Dwyane would do nothing to hurt this team, that's for sure.
Also, I'm more than a little disturbed with Bill Walton's knowledge of all these other countries. My goodness, those are facts that wouldn't even help on Jeopardy! they're so obscure. Also, his use of the word "literally" is a bit out of control. To quote one of the most underrated TV characters of all time, Phillip J. Fry of Futurama, listening to it makes me "literally angry with rage." I do like how he gives shout outs to specific writers during his telecasts. Some guys just mention the paper or magazine. Bill always manages to praise the writer, which, of course, I love.
Last thought: If I had to predict it right now, the guy who I think will join the Heat this offseason is Alexander Johnson. Wait, that one already happened.
OK, then I'll go with Ron Artest. If the Heat pulls off a trade for him, then I wonder if Pat Riley's whole three-year coaching plan will remain intact. Three words: He cra-zeh.