Nate McMillan, in Beijing for the Summer Olympics, talked with Casey Holdahl of trailblazers.com about his role as an assistant coach, the opening ceremonies, the kindness of the Chinese people and managing a team full of NBA superstars.

Casey Holdahl: What has you experience been like so far in Beijing?

Nate McMillan: Very busy. We’re basically going from about 7 in the morning until late into the night most days: shootaround, practice and preparing for the following day since the competition has started. They’re pretty long days. We haven’t really had time to see the city or experience what China is all about. And we’re ok with that. We’re here for one reason, and that’s the Olympics, trying to get the gold medal. So it’s been pretty busy but exciting.

Casey Holdahl: What kind of reaction have you been getting from people in China? It sounds like Team USA is just as popular as Team China.

Nate McMillan: That’s pretty true. We are very popular, amongst not only the Chinese but the other Olympians. We’ve had the event, the opening ceremonies, when all the US athletes were together, we were the one team - at least the players were - all of the other participants wanted to get a picture with. It was kind of weird to see everybody sort of drift toward the basketball players; wanting pictures with Kobe, LeBron, Dwyane. It’s kind of weird.

The Chinese fan base is huge into the NBA. They back the NBA a lot.

Casey Holdahl: So you’re saying people haven't asked to have their picture taken with you?

Nate McMillan: No. Half of them don’t even know who I am. But they know NBA basketball. So we, the coaches and the players - and the players especially - are very popular over here. The Chinese definitely support their team, but after that, the USA basketball team is probably the most watched and followed team over here.

Casey Holdahl: Could you describe what the opening ceremony was like for you?

Nate McMillan: You guys saw something totally different than what we saw. A lot of what people are telling us, we never saw. We were in the gym, in an arena with the other countries waiting to march in. We didn’t see the fireworks; we didn’t see the show before the teams marched in. We saw none of that. We didn’t even have it on screen.

So for us it was kind of painful, in a sense that we were standing or sitting in a pretty hot arena for two or three hours before it was time for us to march in. We were soaking wet by the time we marched in from the humidity and just being so hot. But once we got into the arena it was pretty exciting to see all the fans and all the countries there. But it was a very long day for us. It started early that morning with our practices and then having to get back and get to the stadium. And once we got to the stadium, I think we were the 140th country called, so we had to wait for 139 countries to walk in there.

Casey Holdahl: NBA players usually aren’t accustomed to waiting around.

Nate McMillan: But again, a lot of the other countries were coming over and a lot of the players were walking around and everybody was kind of hanging out, meeting each other, exchanging pins. Just doing the Olympic thing. For the athletes it wasn’t to bad because they had an opportunity to meet other athletes from our country and then meet other athletes from other countries. You didn’t have to sit in the stadium. You could walk around the concourse, which a lot of our players did.

Casey Holdahl: Have you been surprised by anything culturally since you’ve been Beijing?

Nate McMillan: These are some of the nicest, kindest people you’ll meet. They’ve gone out of their way. I’m sure this is just how they are, but they’ve really gone out of their way when it comes to hospitality. They make people feel comfortable. A very respectful people. It’s been good. It’s really been enjoyable to have the support and to see a different culture of people in a sense that they are different than Americans, at least the way they’ve hosted the Olympics. When we left the hotel to come play China, the people who work at the hotel were alongside our bus as we left cheering us and waving goodbye. It was unbelievable. They’re just a very respectful people.

Casey Holdahl: What was the atmosphere like in the first game against China? How did you think Team USA performed?

Nate McMillan: I though China played very well early. We eventually wore them down, but it was an electrifying atmosphere in there with the Chinese fans. Opening ceremonies, the Chinese playing the US, and both teams are probably the most popular teams here, so the building was very loud for both teams. The fan base here is a little different than in our country. They were cheering for both teams whenever anyone made a basket. They’re not rude. If you make a play, they cheer, whether you play for the Chinese team or the US team. So that was kind of weird. We felt like we had just as many supporters in that game as the Chinese fans did.

Casey Holdahl: In regards to the team, have you had to do any managing of egos? Is it difficult dealing with so many great players on one team?

Nate McMillan: You have to do some managing. A lot of it takes care of itself. Jason Kidd, when we added him last year, as well as Kobe, you brought that experience. Dwyane Wade and LeBron and Carmelo came into the league together so they know each other. We’ve tried to put a team together. We’ve added guys like Tayshaun Prince and Michael Redd, Chris Bosh. The chemistry feels pretty good but there’s always some managing that you have to do with a team. These guys have allowed Coach K to do that.

Casey Holdahl: Your role on Coach Krzyzewski’s staff seems to primarily revolve around defense. How have you felt the team has performed so far defensively?

Nate McMillan: We’ve done some good things. I think the test is tonight and for the rest of the competition. The teams will get better starting tonight when we play Greece. And then we follow up with Spain and Germany, then it’s into medal play. I think that tonight is the real test for us.

Defensively we’ve played well. We’ve done some real good things. Coach K is a defensive-minded coach. He’s the one guy that focuses on defense and what he’s done is allow myself or Mike D’Antoni to really have a voice, me on the defensive end of the floor and Mike on the offensive end of the floor. But we’re all working together to come up with a style for this team to play. But I would say tonight the competition gets better.

Casey Holdahl: What happened in that game in 2006 against Greece?

Nate McMillan: That was our first year. It was one of those things were they had a real good night. We had that game under control, then in the third quarter they came out and executed well. We were kind of a little shell-shocked and before we knew it we lost control of that game. And they had won it.

Casey Holdahl: There has been talk that tonight’s game against Greece is a chance for Team USA to get some payback. Do you view it as a chance for redemption?

Nate McMillan: Well, it is. That was the last loss. In our three years of being together we’ve lost one game and the one game we’ve lost was to Greece. So it’s an opportunity for us to redeem ourselves tonight against them.

Casey Holdahl: Do you feel like the players are focused on this game as their first real test?

Nate McMillan: We know that with the competition we faced last summer and the games leading up to now. Lithuania was a good team. So was China, Angola, the Canadian team we played in the last few weeks. But we know that those were basically tune up games. It starts, really, today against Greece. And then Spain is very good, Germany, and then we’ll be in medal play. We’ll see teams from Argentina, possibly, from the other pool, Russia.

This is what we’ve been working toward the last three years: this game tonight and the remaining games.

Casey Holdahl: What is the plan to counter the Greek zone defense and their physical style of play?

Nate McMillan: We just have to be aggressive. We felt like in our last game we allowed them to just run their stuff. All of these teams over here, if you allow them to run their offense, they’re pretty effective. We feel we’re more athletic and we have to be the aggressors. We have to be on the attack. We can’t sit back and wait to see what they’re going to do. We have to force the tempo defensively as well as offensively and not allow them to control the tempo. We did that for two quarters last time we played them and then the second half we came out thinking we had that game under control and they came out aggressive and got the momentum and were able to win the game. It’s a 40-minute game and we want to keep pressure on this team both offensively and defensively for 40 minutes.

Casey Holdahl: Team USA is shooting 55 percent from the field, which is great, but only 27 percent from three. Is that a concern against a team like Greece who are likely to play a lot of zone?

Nate McMillan: Of course it is. The three-point ball is a shot we know we have to make. Our guys have had some good looks at the basket. We know Greece knows that percentage and if you are looking at that number, you’re going to pack it in and make the other team make some shots. We know that. We’ve got to make shots. We’ve also got to make free-throws. In our last two or three games we haven’t shot well from behind the three or the free-throw line. That’s going to need to change if we want to continue to win.

Casey Holdahl: Do you foresee Team USA playing any zone tonight considering that’s how other teams have negated Greece’s strengths?

Nate McMillan: It’s part of the package this year as opposed to two years ago when we played no zone. We played very little zone leading up to tonight’s game, but we have practiced the zone. Last summer we used a lot of the zone. So we have it and we can use it, but we haven’t used it a lot. That’ll be Coach K’s call from the sidelines. We have talked about at times using it to disrupt the rhythm of a team. So we’ll see how the game goes tonight but we do have it were as two years ago we didn’t have it at all.

Casey Holdahl: Spain is up next for you after Greece. Are you looking forward to getting a closer look at Rudy Fernandez?

Nate McMillan: I’ve seen Rudy. He looks good. He’s had two very good games, but the focus in on tonight’s game, not Spain.

Rudy has done a nice job for Spain. That’s a good team. That’s a very good team. I know that game will be coming but we’re not looking past Greece tonight. The main thing is to get the game tonight and then we’ll start focusing on Spain.

Casey Holdahl: Just speaking about Rudy individually, have you seen anything new from him or have you been surprised by anything you’ve seen from him?

Nate McMillan: I saw him a couple of years ago and he was young. He wasn’t starting or getting a lot of playing time. Now he’s starting and he’s playing a lot. He’s a talented player. He plays with a lot of energy; a lot of passion. I think the fans are really going to be excited with the style of play that he brings to the floor. He plays the game very passionately. He puts everything out on the line. He doesn’t hold back. He seems to be, in the two games I’ve seen him in, fearless.

I went down to the locker room the other night to talk to him. He’s excited about coming to Portland and looking forward to playing for us. And we’re excited about him coming. I think there’s going to be a learning curve for him, of course, as it is for any young player, but his ceiling as far as what he’s capable of doing: I think he’s got a high ceiling. I think he’s going to be a really good player.

Casey Holdahl: Finally, have you been able to follow Greg’s progression while you’ve been over in China? His working out yesterday in front of the media was pretty big news here in Portland.

Nate McMillan: Of course. I talk to the coaches just about every other day. I talked to Greg two days ago. I’m in contact with all of our people back there so I know exactly what our players are doing. I spoke with LaMarcus. I spoke with Brandon. So I’m in contact with all of those guys.

Greg is doing fine. He’s doing good. He’s working out with our coaches twice a day and he feels good. As I told him, it’s only a month away before we start up. It’s important that his conditioning, both mentally and physically, that he tries to get himself ready for an NBA schedule. He’s in there working like he should be.