BEIJING • It was quite an air show.

The United States sprinted and dunked to a 97-76 victory over Angola Tuesday in Olympic competition.

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard and Dwyane Wade did plenty of slamming, but with Greece lurking in the Americans’ future, all is not rosy.

When the U.S. and Greece play Thursday, expect Greek defenders to gather tightly around the rim. They will dare the Americans to beat them with jump shots.

It’s a sound strategy. The U.S. launched a series of clanging shots Tuesday from the free-throw and 3-point lines. The Americans missed 12 of their first 16 3-point attempts and eight of their first 17 free throws.

For the game, the U.S. sank a blazing 70 percent of its 2-pointers but only 64 percent of its free throws.

“We have to improve,” Bryant said. “We have to improve our outside shooting.”

Bryant can start with himself. He missed all eight of his 3s.

If the cold-shooting touch continues, the U.S. could be in trouble. Greece powered to a convincing win against Germany Tuesday and the Greeks beat the U.S. in the 2006 World Championships.

Carmelo Anthony was part of the U.S. squad that lost to Greece in 2006. He says he looks forward to a chance to get even.

“This is one of the games that have been on my mind,” Anthony said.

For Angola players, Tuesday’s loss will offer pleasant memories. Angola was in contention for much of the first half, and players were happy after the game, even if they had just lost by 21.

“I think they expected to beat us by 60,” said Angola guard Armando Costa.

Angola and the United States have now met three times in the Olympics since 1992. In the first meeting, American forward Charles Barkley delivered a now-infamous elbow to 170-pound forward Herlander Coimbra.

Tuesday’s game featured a less violent atmosphere.

“Barkley elbowed our player,” Costa said, smiling. “This team is a lot more friendly. They play very nice.”-Contact the writer: Columnist David Ramsey can be reached at 476-4985 or david.ramsey@gazettedev.gazette.com. Check out David’s blog at http://daveramseysez.freedomblogging.com

The boat is made of plywood, steel and 30 plastic fertilizer barrels for flotation. Photo by