Team USA romps V.I., sets stage for Brazil showdown

Brazil guard Leandro Barbosa, the NBA's reigning Sixth Man of the Year, could be a difficult matchup for Team USA on Sunday. AP

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LAS VEGAS -- For the United States, the real tournament begins Sunday.

Yes, I know there is a game against Canada to be played before then. But judging by the Americans' 123-59 rout of the Virgin Islands on Thursday (and on the heels of their 112-69 thumping of Venezuela 24 hours earlier), very few teams have the potential to give Team USA a reason to venture out of the cozy confines of the Wynn Hotel and into the scorching heat, much less a game.

Brazil, however, could be one of them.

There is the NBA factor. Led by the reigning Sixth Man of the Year (and player most likely to have his name stolen for the next Pirates movie), Leandro Barbosa, the Brazilians boast three players who spent last season on an NBA roster. That number that would be higher had Anderson Varejao and Rafael Araujo not begged off due to their lacking NBA contracts for next season.

While Brazil's NBA talent certainly piques the interest of the American public, it's the team's international experience that may be even more valuable in Las Vegas. Most members of the Brazilian national team have been playing together for several years, and they have developed excellent chemistry on the court.

"You can't underestimate how important international experience is," Canada coach Leo Rautins said. "Brazil is a great team and they have been together for a long time."

The addition of Nene, who hadn't played for the national team in four years, bolstered Brazil's lineup with a rough-and-tumble big man unafraid to mix it up underneath. Venezuela and the Virgin Islands trotted out shooting guards and small forwards at the power positions, so size wasn't an issue for a U.S. team that started Carmelo Anthony at power forward. Against Brazil, it could be.

In addition to Nene, who scored seven points and looked ready to decapitate Juan Mendez after a hard foul in the opener against Canada, the Brazilians also have Tiago Splitter, an international man of mystery in his own right. The 6-foot-11 center was drafted by San Antonio with the 28th pick in the 2007 draft after years of flirting with entry. Against Canada, Splitter scored 12 points (on 66.7 percent shooting) and proved an able complement to Nene in Brazil's frontcourt.

"Every time I see Splitter, he is better," Rautins said. "He's bigger, stronger and right now he is playing with a lot of poise. He has a nice post game and he is always going to the offensive glass."

Brazil also happens to be motivated. After winning the Pan American Games title last month, Brazil has no interest in playing in another Olympic qualifying tournament next summer. For the Americans, easy baskets won't come quite so easy -- Nene has been known to occasionally pick someone off in midair.

So enjoy Team USA's first two victories. The Americans did their jobs, and they looked pretty good doing it. Just remember: This tournament begins Sunday.

Notes: Kobe Bryant celebrated his 29th birthday and was treated to a rendition of "Happy Birthday" from the Thomas and Mack Center crowd. ... Michael Redd (22 points) is certainly making his case for tournament MVP. The Bucks' sharpshooter made four three-pointers on Thursday and is averaging 19.5 points for the tournament. ... Scary moment for the city of New Orleans when Tyson Chandler crumpled to the court after turning his left ankle with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Chandler, however, would remain in the game and swat a shot into the second row on the very next possession. ... Mike Miller's shooting woes continue: The Memphis guard went 3-for-7 from three-point range against the Virgin Islands and is now shooting 33 percent from beyond the arc for the tournament. ...The Palms Hotel has a movie theater in it. Anyone else think that's cool?