Bosh is leading the way with 12 pts

This showdown with Greece might not be for a medal, but make no mistake, Team USA wants to win this game desperately. For the ‘Redeem Team’ to gain redemption, they need to first get revenge on the team that beat them in ’06.

* We knew it after hearing about the way Greece attacked the Germans, this game was going to be a dogfight. But there were some questionable calls against Team USA – namely the three fouls on Jason Kidd within 1:25 seconds that had the Americans on their heels for the first five minutes.

* Coach K was piping mad at one of the officials, borderline having to be restrained in the early going as he lobbied for a three-second call in the lane. Instead of booing him as the leader of America’s most hated Dukies, it’s fun when Krzyzewski is coaching the team that you’re rooting for, for once.

* Team USA’s second unit was again significantly better than the first, piloted yet again by Dwyane Wade – but this time on the defensive end. He’s strapping up at the top of the key and causing the Greek offense to be stagnant. After seeing his windmill ‘oop in one of the early exhibition games, we officially knew his legs were back. But did you think he was going to be this good?

* That might have been the most sensational alley-oop we’ve ever seen. Wade stole a pass in the backcourt and threw it blindly near the square of the backboard for Kobe to soar and rip the rim down with two hands.

* Sofoklis Schortsanitis, a.k.a. that huge dude who looks like a supersized version of Tractor Traylor, has to cut the sides of his jersey to give his arms some breathing room. Don’t you think that an Olympic jersey could have been customized for his massive 6-9 344 lbs. frame?

* SportsCenter could run a 5-minute highlight on this first half alone. LeBron’s put-back on a missed ‘Melo lay-up, his steal in the backcourt and reverse cram, the pick-and-roll between James and Chris Bosh for a beautiful and-1, and Chris Bosh blocking a three-pointer to end the first half are all in there.

* Kobe mouthed to LeBron late in the first half to “keep the pressure on.” There’s no love lost between these two teams. The U.S. is on a mission – they want to run the Greeks out of the gym, and they’ve played the best that we’ve seen so far.