Thompson Says U.S. Olympic Team Needs to Improve

Even after winning seven of nine games in pre-Olympic competition, U.S. Olympic basketball Coach John Thompson said the team still needs to improve in several areas.

“We’re not where I want to be,” Thompson said Friday in Los Angeles, at the team’s final news conference before departing for Hong Kong Sunday. “But I don’t think you ever can be. That’s part of the challenge.”

Thompson, who has been experimenting with Danny Manning at point guard, declined to name a starting lineup for the team’s Olympic opener, Sept. 18 against Spain.

“When you name a starting lineup, you have five players who are happy with you, and seven that are upset,” Thompson said. “I’m more concerned with who plays during the important times down the stretch than who starts.

“We’ll have to get the ball inside to David (Robinson) and J. R. (Reid). Hersey (Hawkins) and Mitch (Richmond) will have to get the ball outside. We’ll have Vernell Coles and Charles Smith IV handling the ball, and Stacey Augmon will be our defense specialist creating an up-tempo game.”

The Olympic team won six of eight games against National Basketball Assn. all-star teams, before completing pre-Olympic play with a 91-71 victory over Athletes in Action Tuesday night.

Reid has especially impressed Thompson.

“He’s the Mike Tyson of basketball,” Thompson said. “He’s built like him and has great speed and quickness.”

Robinson, college basketball’s player of the year in 1986-87, who has been serving in the Navy the past year, also drew praise from Thompson, who said: “He’s playing a lot better than people give him credit for.”