By Fernando Avila

The 2000 Olympic Team or the 2002 World Team? It is a question of which team has caused more shame to Team USA's name when it comes to international basketball. You may say, "This years team lost three games, how could there be any doubt they left a bigger black eye on USA basketball?" Well, it's a closer call than you think.

The 2000 Dream Team was composed of first-tier superstars. Guys like Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, Jason Kidd and Gary Payton filled up the roster spots for the team. With those kind of players you'd think they would blow the competition away. Wrong. This team went into the Olympics not worried about winning but on intimidating opponents and embarrassing them in front of an international audience (the "Lipton" Vinsanity dunk, anyone?). This is the team that despite having those top-tier players managed only three real blowout victories, with other victories never more than 15 points. They only beat Lithuania by two points. This is the team that forced the selection committee to change the way it selected players for the team because they didn't want excessive egos on the team anymore. This team forced critics to start talks of how the gap between talent from the U.S. and talent from other countries is starting to close. This team helped cause the view that U.S. players don't care for the game and are only concerned with highlights. Everything that is being said about the current squad has more than likely been said about the squad in 2000. However, with all the negatives the team still managed to go undefeated.

Now, fast-forward to 2002. Team USA is now filled with second-tier NBA players. Guys that are the focal points to their respective teams, but not mentioned in the same breath as Kobe, Tracy and Iverson - Paul Pierce being the exception. These guys were the final piece to the disastrous puzzle created by the team in 2000. This was the team that finally lost a game to put a mark on the previously unblemished USA record. Now you may say, "The 2000 team still managed to go undefeated and win gold," but at what expense did they do that? The way they played set up this year's team perfectly for their downfall. They foreshadowed what was going to happen in the future to the US in international play. Remember, the 2000 team proved that the US isn't as unbeatable and people think they are. So exactly which team will have more of an impact on the future of Team USA basketball? Will it be the team that started it all (2000) and or will it be the team that finished the job (2002)? Decide for yourself.