In this tournament, Anthony proving to be U.S.' best

Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points, equaling the second-best U.S. total in an Olympic qualifying game, in the win over Canada. AP

RELATED • United States hammers Canada by 50

MAILBAG Submit a comment or question for Chris. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

LAS VEGAS -- You won't find too many bigger fans of Carmelo Anthony than Kiki Vandeweghe.

Sitting alongside the former Nuggets general manager in the media row at the Thomas and Mack center, Vandeweghe, in Las Vegas to observe the new and improved Team USA, is effusive in his praise of his former protégé.

"In my opinion, he's the best post player on this team," said Vandeweghe. "And he just keeps getting better. He's the kind of kid who if you tell him something once, he learns it right away."

With three games in the books at the FIBA Americas tournament, there are plenty of arguments to be made for the team's tournament MVP. Jason Kidd, the U.S.' lone gold medalist, is the team's spirit and de facto leader. Michael Redd has given the U.S. its first real shooting threat in years while Kobe Bryant is in the process of reclaiming his status as the world's elite player.

But it is hard to argue with Anthony's credentials. The leading scorer for the United States in the 2006 World Championships (19.9 points per game), Anthony has picked up right where he left off, matching Redd in scoring in the U.S.' first two games before exploding for a team-high 25 points against an overmatched Canada team Saturday afternoon.

Typically an isolation player in Denver, Anthony has used his superior size (he weighs in at a muscular 230 pounds) to bully opponents underneath. He has run the floor well (he was on the receiving end of a beautiful 70-foot long toss from Kidd midway in the second quarter) while collecting 14 rebounds in the tournament. He has even grown more comfortable with the three-point line, connecting on three of his four attempts against Canada.

"Don't forget, for Carmelo and LeBron, this is their [third] year playing international basketball," says Vandeweghe. "They are going to get better."

Like the rest of his U.S. teammates, Anthony seems to have bought into the team concept.

"We all always know where everybody is at on the court," Anthony said. "We are all superstars on the team so there isn't a need for anybody to be selfish."

Indeed. The United States roster is so stacked with star power that it's difficult to distinguish who exactly the role players are. Because while Anthony, Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire have been virtually unstoppable around the rim, they have been aided by consistent performances from Mike Miller (who connected three times from three-point range on Saturday) and Redd, who after another stellar performance (19 points on 50 percent shooting from beyond the three-point line) might be inclined to pack his bags and join the Euroleague.

"You're almost surprised," said Vandeweghe. "When Redd actually misses."

For Anthony, however, his stiffest test awaits: a matchup with Nuggets teammate Nene in the U.S.' final game in the preliminary round. Nene is not one to be bullied -- actually, more often than not he is the one doing the bullying. A superior performance by Anthony on Sunday would go a long way toward proving a point some already believe is true: that in this tournament anyway, Carmelo Anthony is the U.S.' best player.

Notes: Dwyane Wade made his first appearance on the USA bench, donning a red polo shirt and sitting alongside the U.S. assistants. Wade says he is still rehabbing his injured shoulder and is unsure when he will be at 100 percent. ... The U.S. employed a pressing defense for the majority of the game and forced Canada into 16 turnovers. ... After making just 71 percent of their free throws during the first two games, the Americans went 20-of-22 from the line (91 percent) on Saturday. ... Keep it simple, Dwight. Howard on playing with Kidd: "It's awesome."... Because I know you were wondering: the FIBA basketball, like the NBA's, is made of leather."