Michael Ventre

All over the world, Americans are viewed as selfish bullies, obsessed with power, lording their superiority over those less fortunate, trying to dictate how others should go about their business, greedily amassing as much wealth as is humanly possible and sneering contemptuously when criticized.

In spite of all that, they made the medal round.

Yes, the American hoopsters are still at it, vying for first place in the world championships in Japan despite their obvious shortcomings. While the U.S. national basketball team rates No. 1 in individual talent, attitude, bling and perhaps even coaching, it is considered far below average when it comes to team play — hence the aforementioned perceptions.

But can the Yanks change? Is it possible that they have reinvented themselves in a few short weeks, wiping away all that negativity and excelling in the true spirit of teamwork that culminates in a title?

Unlikely.

Some of the other remaining teams, while not nearly as star-studded as the star-spangled assemblage that includes Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Chris Bosh, are more efficient offensively and defensively, and more experienced in international play. What they lack in marquee value they make up for in confidence and competence.

This should be “Hoosiers” all over again, except this time the Americans will be mighty South Bend Central, and a team from Argentina or Spain will be Hickory High, running a clinic in humble unity en route to glory, albeit without Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper.

For one thing, the Americans don’t play the kind of defense necessary to win the World Championships. It isn’t because of a lack of coaching. Mike Krzyzewski is practically the game’s tent-show evangelist of defense. But aside from holding puny Senegal to 58 points and a young, outclassed Australia squad to 73, the Americans are allowing an average of about 93 points per contest. That would actually be quite admirable if this were the NBA, but in international play the defense needs to be even stingier.

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It isn’t necessarily because of laziness or lack of effort or concentration. It’s more a matter of cohesion and old habits. When you assemble a team of young men who are used to being stars — mostly on the offensive side of the game — it’s difficult to slap them together in a short period of time and change their entire nature. Carmelo has been exceptional in this tournament thus far, but he’ll never be known for his devotion to defense. He just isn’t that guy.

The stuff about American arrogance is overblown, at least now. They have been foiled in international competition enough times to know that this isn’t like college or the NBA or summer pickup games. They have a sense of cold reality.

But that awareness has to translate into appropriate action, and that’s where the trouble lies. It is the American star’s instinct to take over a ballgame rather than make the extra pass or see two or three moves down the line. Individuality is deep within their DNA, put there by ESPN and other sources that feed their star egos.

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