For the record, the NBA's current uniformed personnel base contributed 28 players to last summer's Games in Beijing, where Team USA used a commitment to offensive sharing and pressure defense in taking back the gold medal.

Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski seems to be doing just fine at Duke, where the Blue Devils look ready to challenge for a high seed in the NCAA tournament. It should be noted that despite working with Olympic offensive coordinator Mike D'Antoni, CoachK has dialed back the tempo (from 16th to 79th nationally) and D'Antoni-inspired offensive sets the Blue Devils used extensively last season. This year, Duke's offense is giving heavy doses of a "horns" (twin high post) look that's been used in the NBA for years.

D'Antoni has had an interesting first-year run in New York, where the 16-24 Knicks dumped their top two scorers (with their considerable contracts and baggage) after an encouraging start.

Nate McMillan, another Team USA assistant, is having a fine year in Portland even though Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden is not (as somehow anticipated) the second coming of Wilt Chamberlain.

Jim Boeheim, Team USA's special assistant in charge of zone defense, is doing well at Syracuse, although his team has picked up the bad habit of rolling over during road games.

For now, the unreasonable sample size prevents me from declaring that, rather than spending every fourth summer playing basketball for your country, NBA stars should do something less taxing ... such as entering network-sponsored dance competitions.

But until more evidence is uncovered, we really can't accuse the NBA of being a place where post-Olympic burnout happens.