telephoto lens of a television camera figured prominently in the proceedings.

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Go get him!Tom Thibodeaus booming, baritone voice knifed through the air inside sold out Carioca Arena on Saturday as the U.S. team dropped back to play defense early in its Olympic tournament opener against China.Stay home! he barked. Back, back! Get up! By yourself!Thibodeau didnt stop, and his commands could even be heard by fans sitting in top rows of the upper deck.From the opening tip to the final horn in the 119-62 blowout, Thibodeau, a hard-driving, hoops lifer who prides himself on teaching the old-school way, screamed instructions at the American players. They have quickly learned that their Team USA assistant coach -- and the new head man with the Minnesota Timberwolves -- is demanding when it comes to defense.Im used to Thibs, man, U.S. center Demarcus Cousins said with a laugh. Thats Thibs in walkthrough, so were used to it.And the rest of the world better get used to this U.S. team playing lock-down defense. Armed with unmatched offensive firepower, the Americans, seeking their third straight gold medal, are creating an identity with their backs to the basket.We get after it on that side of the ball, said forward Draymond Green.They got after China from the outset. Warriors forward Klay Thompson, one of the games elite perimeter defenders, made a steal on Chinas first possession and the U.S. finished with 15 steals, forced 24 turnovers and held China to 30 percent shooting.With another roster of NBA stars, there is a continuous red-white-and-blue wave of players flooding in from coach Mike Krzyzewskis bench. When the U.S. starters needed a break against China, Krzyzewski sent in a fresh group and Thibodeau made sure they knew what they were doing defensively from the moment they stepped on the floor.From his seat next to Coach Ks, Thibodeau pointed like a traffic cop at a busy intersection, and of course, made certain his demands were heard.Thibs is going to lose his voice by the time this is over with, four-time Olympian Carmelo Anthony said. I think everybody in the world can hear Thibs on the sideline. Its motivation for us, to know that we have somebody on the sideline thats in tune to it. Hes pushing us and hes keeping us uplifted.The U.S. plays its next game on Monday against Venezuela, a team it beat by 35 last week despite a poor shooting performance.Thibodeau, fired last year by the Chicago Bulls after five solid seasons and hired to help toughen the T-Wolves in May, is relishing his role as the U.S. squads minister of defense. This is what he lives for, and the chance to mesh a group this talented to play team defense is as good as it gets.And its already apparent that Thibodeaus message has gotten across as the U.S. players, some of whom are not exactly known for their defensive skills, are being more vocal on the floor. During the win over China, the Americans were calling out screens, switching and looking to help each other whenever possible. Theyve clearly bought in.During the first quarter against China, Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving poked the ball away before diving headfirst on the floor trying to come up with the steal. As he laid face down, Thibodeau clapped in approval.Floor burns are a badge of honor to Thibodeau, who feels the U.S. team is embracing his principles.The strength is our versatility, he said. We have 12 guys who play hard and play for each other and they are committed to doing that. It started the first day and theres no let up so when we go to our bench theres is no drop off. Every one of these guys is a great player and is s starter, so when we sub that pressure is going to remain and were going to keep coming for 40 minutes.Kevin Durant, who along with Anthony is the only returning player from the 2012 London team, said he and his teammates know that when the shots arent falling, they can always fall back on their defense.Defensively, were pretty good, he said. When we put Draymond out there and just start switching everything, that makes us even better and then we got two guys that are different rim protectors in Marcus, who takes charges and covers the paint, and DJ (DeAndre Jordan) who blocks shots at the rim. We just got every area covered. And we got long defenders on the wing and great point guards that use their hands, so we got to continue to lean on that.Thibodeau will make sure of it. Custom Colts Jerseys . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. Cheap Custom Colts Jersey . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. http://www.customcoltsjersey.com/ . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Custom Rock Ya-Sin Jersey . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Rock Ya-Sin Jersey Large . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira raised his fist as he rounded first base after his ball landed in the cap of a young fan standing in the front row beyond the right field wall. That grand slam was big -- not only for his recovery from a wrist injury but for his slumping squads confidence. Teixeira hit his first homer of the season, Brett Gardner had a tiebreaking single in the sixth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 7-4 Monday night to spoil Nick Swishers first game back in the Bronx. "We needed that," Teixeira said. "I know its going to take a few weeks to get back in the rhythm of playing every day and seeing big league pitching every day, but this is a good first step." Andy Pettitte lasted only 4 2-3 innings in a wild return from the disabled list -- his 500th career start. Shawn Kelly (3-0) and three other relievers held the Indians scoreless the rest of the way to help New York win for the second time in nine games. This was the first time they scored more than four runs in that stretch. Yankees designated hitter Travis Hafner, wearing Swishers old No. 33, homered against his former team in the seventh off Justin Masterson (8-4), who matched a season high by allowing seven runs. Cleveland shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera had to be helped off the field after straining his right quadriceps running out a grounder in a three-run fifth. "He got it pretty good," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "So, were going to send him back to Cleveland tomorrow to get scanned and, most likely, this is headed toward the DL. But well let him get scanned so we know exactly whats going on there." Kelly pitched 1 1-3 innings, Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson one each of hitless relief, and Mariano Rivera retired Swisher on a fly to left with a runner on second for his 20th save in 21 chances. "These guys have done a great job. Theyve been lock down all season," Teixeira said. "Were not in this position if it were not for the bullpen." After a brief thunderstorm cancelled batting practice, the Indians put a runner in scoring position in the first when Mike Aviles singled and went to second on Pettittes wild pitch. With two outs, Swisher walked up to the plate to a sustained ovation. He stepped out of the batters box for a moment with that familiar, toothy grin on his face. A moment later, the switch-hitter settled in from the right side to face a pitcher he called a certain Hall of Famer. But Swisher wouldnt step out when plate umpire Manny Gonzalez called strike three to end the first inning. Swisher dropped his bat and held his spot in the box while discussing the call with Gonzalez. The popular outfielder was upset last October when he was booed by the "Bleacher Creatures" during a punchless playoffs. Before the game Monday, though, he insisted he was "living in the now, bro," and wasnt worried about his reception.dddddddddddd When Swisher took his position at first base in the bottom of the first, the "Bleacher Creatures" showed him all was forgiven. They chanted his name -- a tradition normally reserved for Yankees only. Swisher turned and saluted the crew, just as he did with New York from 2009-12, although usually from right field. In a jab at their former teammate, the Yankees encouraged Lyle Overbay, making the first outfield start of his 13-year career in right field, to turn and give the Swisher salute. "The fellow teammates talked me into doing that," Overbay said with a laugh. "They forced me to." Swisher gave the Indians the lead in the third when he hit a grounder to third base with runners on second and third. David Adams fielded the ball and tried to tag Aviles, who was advancing to third. Aviles was called out but Michael Bourn scored from third. Swisher scored on Carlos Santanas two-run double in the fifth after walking during a stretch in which Pettitte threw 10 straight balls and the second of two wild pitches. Overbay got his first outfield putout to end a bases-loaded threat in the fifth, catching Yan Gomes shallow popup on the run. Santanas double chased Pettitte in his first outing since going to the DL on May 17 with a strained muscle in his upper back. Pettitte gave up seven hits and four runs and was left stuck on 249 career wins. He walked three and struck out three, and couldnt protect a three-run lead. "Its frustrating cause we finally get some runs on the board and then you give the lead back to them," Pettitte said. "I felt good early. I felt like maybe I ran out of gas a little bit." Teixeira gave him that cushion with his eighth career slam in the third off Masterson. They were Teixeiras first RBIs since he was activated from the disabled list Friday. He missed the first two months of the season with a wrist injury sustained in early March. Masterson had pitched a marvelous four-hitter against New York on May 13 and was 4-2 with a 2.08 ERA against the Yankees -- but still hasnt beaten them in the Bronx. He was lifted after allowing Hafners one-out homer in the seventh. "Three hanging pitches is kinda the story in the end," Masterson said. "Teixeira, I was trying to get one down away. ... With Haf, trying to get it down and in and it was up and away, almost over his head and he hits it out." In all, Masterson allowed nine hits and seven runs in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked three. NOTES: The Yankees released OF Ben Francisco. ... Drew Stubbs snapped an 0-for-17 skid with a double in the fifth. ... The Indians were playing the first of nine straight games on the road against the Yankees, Detroit and Texas. ... Yankees RHP David Phelps (3-3) faces LHP Scott Kazmir (3-2) on Tuesday. ' ' '