BEIJING - From the NBA season to a youth camp in Lexington, Ky., then on to training camp in Las Vegas and five exhibitions in China, Tayshaun Prince has been keeping a rapid pace.

Now he's ready for the payoff: an Olympic gold medal.

When Team USA opens play in the Beijing Olympics, the opponent will be none other than China (Sunday, 10:15 a.m. EDT).

Forecasts indicate that it may be the most-watched sporting event of all time.

Consider that Beijing alone is home to 17.4 million of China's 1.3 billion population. And no athlete is more revered and recognized here than Houston Rockets center Yao Ming.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere for the first game," Prince said a few hours before Friday's opening ceremonies. "We have to play with that hunger and that desire in order to come out and be successful. Hopefully, going into the first game, we really come up to the plate early and try to make a statement about how we're going to play throughout the tournament."

Prince, a former University of Kentucky standout who has played all six of his NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons, epitomizes what Team USA is all about.

He's talented, with an eye on defense. He's versatile. He knows his strengths and limitations. And he's a team player.

Team players were in short supply four years ago, when Team USA finished third at the Athens Olympics.

If the 1992 Americans were the Dream Team, the 2008 version is the Redeem Team.

LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer and Dwyane Wade return from the 2004 team. Can you say motivated?

"By (no) means a situation where it's going to be handed to us," Prince said. "We've got to go out and take it. And we're definitely going to be put to a challenge."

Prince, who says he "feels great" despite his hectic schedule, sees defensive intensity as the trigger to Team USA's success. Good defense creates good offense. Aggressive defense should speed the pace and let the Americans get out and run on offense.

He says there will be nights when he plays five or six minutes, maybe more. And there will be some games when he might not play at all.

So playing at full speed for eight games should not be a problem for NBA veterans.

"Everyone's role is clearly defined. When they come into the game, they know they have to bring energy, bring that hunger," Prince said. "Obviously, by what happened in oh-four, Lebron, D-Wade, Melo, Boozer are really doing a good job of showing that hunger, and I think everybody's following their lead.

"But more importantly, just go out there and play great defense, try to knock down open shots. Obviously we have a lot of firepower on both ends (and) we've got guys that can play several positions. So a lot of guys are interchangeable."

Prince has been named to the last four NBA All-Defensive second teams.

"I know people label me as a great defensive player," he said. "But a great defensive team will beat a great defensive player any day."

Teammate Jason Kidd thinks Team USA may have the best defensive team ever.

So does Deron Williams.

"That's our No. 1 priority," said Williams, the Utah Jazz guard. "We know that with the guys we have we're not going to have a problem scoring. So if the defense is there every night, in case the offense slips, then we still have a chance to win the ball game."

The one spot where the Americans could be considered short-staffed is in the paint. Orlando's 6-foot-11 Dwight Howard is the only center on the roster, backed by 6-10 Toronto forward Chris Bosh. They'll have to play big against one of the game's most basic plays.

"The pick-and-roll is obviously the hardest to defend in any game whether it's international or in the NBA or in an oriental country," Prince said. "The good thing about it is we have guys like Dwight and Chris Bosh who are quick and athletic, than can be able to get up there.

"Also we have guys on the weak side like Deron and D-Wade and Melo, and those guys can be able to cover the basket while the 'bigs' are away from the basket. Then again, we have guys at the four spot that are able to switch or able to do different things in case we do get hurt. I think that's one thing about this team, is we have a lot of guys that are able to play different positions, guard different players, so if there's a certain situation where pick-and-rolls are hurting us we have different options."

But Prince and his pals are chasing only one medal option: gold.