A US team of highly-paid NBA stars are tasting gold as they head into Wednesday's Olympic basketball medal round aiming to redeem themselves for a dismal bronze at Athens four years ago.

　　The explosive team made up of the world's best players such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade were never challenged in breezing through five preliminary games beating opponents by an average of 32 points per match.

　　"It's going to be like that for the next three, too," NBA scoring champion James said of Wednesday's game against Australia and a possible semi-final and gold medal match.

　　"We're trying to play with a chip on our shoulder. We go out every night and try to get better."

　　Renamed the "Redeem team," the current group of American players are seeking to make amends for Athens, the first time the USA has not won basketball gold since National Basketball Association players began playing at the Olympics in 1992.

　　The Americans have won a record 12 Olympic basketball gold medals and have dominated their opponents with an all-time 114 win, five loss Games record.

　　Wednesday's other knock out round matches feature Lithuania against China, Argentina facing Greece and Spain pitted against Croatia.

　　Australia pushed the US in a pre-Olympic warm-up before losing 87-76 in a heated match up in which the Boomer's NBA centre Andrew Bogut missed due to injury.

　　"I expect them to play hard, to play tough, they're not intimidated. They won't back down. They'll come ready to play," Los Angeles Laker superstar Bryant said of the Aussies.

　　"They run a continuity offense, they're very proficient at it. They run hard cuts, set hard picks, they're very smart. It will be a different ball game."

　　Although all eyes will be on the USA-Australia game, the quarter-final between reigning Olympic champion Argentina and longtime European power Greece will likely be the most formidable match up.

　　Argentina, led by NBA stars Manu Ginobili, Lius Scola, Fabricio Oberto and Andres Nocioni, knocked out Greece in the same round in Athens, something that the Greeks have not forgotten.

　　"We know Argentina is a very experienced team … we hope to have a little revenge because they knocked us out in the last Olympic tournament in Greece in our home," Greek guard Nikolaos Zisis.

　　Greek coach Panagiotis Yannakis will be looking for a perfect game from his boys.

　　"When you play a team like Argentina, the first thing, no mistakes, patience, and try to have a clear mind on every pass and every time you defend," Yannakis said

　　"It will be a difficult game, they have a lot of players that can change the game, everyone of them. That means we need a lot of concentration."

　　A win by China over powerful Lithuania, will give the host nation its highest ever-finish in Olympic basketball, something towering centre Yao Ming has already promised his home court fans.

　　Reigining world champions Spain will also look to dispatch a disciplined team from Croatia in the hopes of meeting Team USA in the gold medal match and revenge a 119-82 drubbing to the Americans in the preliminary round.