TEAM USA STILL HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO

Friday night's exhibition game in Las Vegas was not much of a contest, which is how the U.S. senior men's basketball team wishes all their games would be this easy in the Olympics.

In preparation for the Beijing Olympics, Team USA has organized six "friendlies" against the rest of the world and Canada was the first victim. As expected, the United States rolled past Canada, 120-65, thanks to a ton of points in the paint against an overmatched team.

Let's be real. Canada is not a threat in international competition. Heck, Canada didn't even have its favorite son (Steve Nash) and adopted brother (Samuel Dalembert) in the lineup. Instead, the Canadians threw in Joel Anthony, Rowan Barrett, Andy Rautins, Olu Famutimi and Jesse Young into the Lion's Den.

Dwyane Wade, starting in place of an injured LeBron James, was one of three USA players who scored 20 points. Michael Redd and Carmelo Anthony each scored 20.

Redd is the most important player on Team USA's roster not named Kobe Bryant. Redd was 6-for-8 from 3-point range against Canada and his outside shooting will be key when the U.S. runs into teams that play zone defense, which is pretty much all of the teams in the Olympics.

Redd was not on the roster in 2006 when the U.S. lost to Greece in the semifinals of the FIBA World Championships, easily the worst loss in USA Basketball history. Yup. The worst loss in USA Basketball history!

In 1972, the U.S. was just flat-out robbed against the Soviet Union in Munich. In 1988, we sent an overmatched college team that could not hold up against the more experienced Russians in Seoul. Fast forward to the disappointments in 2002 and 2004 when American teams were put together in a month.

However, in 2006, the U.S. had two years to prepare for the World Championships in Japan and fielded a team that would become the foundation of the 2008 Olympic team: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Chris Paul.

The '06 squad had a full training camp in Las Vegas, buzzed through a few warm-up games and even had an inspirational pep talk from some war veterans. Remember the whole "salute" gesture after every dunk by LeBron, 'Melo and D-Wade? Everything was going according to plan until Greece shot the lights out and humbled the United States, 101-95. That loss sent USA Basketball back to ground zero.

So far, Wade, LeBron and 'Melo are 0-for-2 in bringing home a gold medal from international competition.

Before Team USA starts feeling good about itself after shoving Canada to the ground, the Americans should take some precaution. The defense still has some holes and the offense does not have enough shooters to open the floor.

LeBron guaranteed a gold medal in Beijing. I hope he has an insurance policy because I guarantee that winning a gold medal won't be easy.

Next up: Big, bad Turkey on Thursday night.