Lackluster U.S. Still Rips Greece

UNITED STATES 97 GREECE 58

TORONTO It has been eight years since Americans won gold atthe World Championships.

Well, despite a slow start and poor performance, Dream Team II(7-0) routed Greece 97-58 and advanced to the final today in SkyDome.

"And that's what really matters most to us," forward LarryJohnson said. "Everybody saw how flat we were. This was our worstgame by far. Maybe some of us were looking past Greece to thefinal. But we still won."

The Americans will play Russia (6-1), which upset previouslyunbeaten Croatia 66-64 in the other semifinal match.

Superior depth and a 58-31 rebounding edge were the keys to victory Saturday for Dream Team II. Led by guard Reggie Miller, whocame off the bench to score a game-high 14 points, and centerShaquille O'Neal, who added a game-high 16 rebounds, three blockedshots and four steals to his nine points, the United States had sixplayers reaching double figures in scoring.

Mark Price added 13 points, Joe Dumars and Alonzo Mourning 12points apiece, Dominique Wilkins 11 and Steve Smith 10. The Greeksonly had two players in double figures, Efthimis Bakatsias andCostas Patavoukas, who came off the bench for 12 and 10 pointsrespectively.

"I was very disappointed with how we played," U.S. coach DonNelson said. "And you have to give Greece some credit for that.They played a good game. We just had too much talent, and we worethem down."

For the sixth time in seven games, the United Statestrailed in the first half. Dream Team II scored only 40 points inthe first half, its lowest halftime output in the tournament.Shooting 26 percent in the first half, the Americans did not gettheir first double-digit lead until forward Shawn Kemp slammed on abreakaway at the buzzer to forge a 40-30 halftime lead.

It wasn't so much what the Greeks were doing right but what theUnited States was doing wrong. The Americans were sloppy (17turnovers) and shot pitifully (40 percent).

The quickness and crisp perimeter passing of the Greeks hurtthe Americans, who, again, did not get rolling until O'Neal came offthe bench with 11:21 left in the first half and the United Statesdown 17-14.

O'Neal's inside presence drew in the defense for an instant openthree-pointer that Dan Majerle converted to start an 11-0 tear.

"Nobody is going to beat the Americans because they are sotalented," Greek center Panagiotis Fassoulas said. "It's an honor toplay them even though we lost by 40."

Nelson said he is confident his players will perform better inthe final.

"Money on the wood makes the game go good," Nelson said. "Andour team is full of `money' players." SUMMARY, PAGE 31