Running an NBA team looks a lot easier than it is. Michael Jordan knows this, and Larry Bird is finding it out.

That reality began to play out here late Wednesday night when Jermaine O'Neal, the Indiana Pacers' only All-Star, condemned the Pacers' organization. In doing so, he also implicitly criticized local hero/new general manager Bird for the firing of coach Isiah Thomas.

O'Neal is a member of the USA Basketball team at the Olympic qualifying tournament where he said his concentration will stay on Puerto Rico, Canada and Argentina.

"I'm continuing to play for USA Basketball," O'Neal said, "trying to get to Greece so we can get a gold medal and put the USA back on top of the basketball world."

O'Neal, who played for the losing USA team in the world championships last year, continued that quest here Thursday as the U.S. team defeated Puerto Rico 91-65.

Tim Duncan led the U.S. with 16 points. The U.S. got a boost with the return from injury of Tracy McGrady. The win leaves the U.S. undefeated heading into Saturday's semifinals, again against Puerto Rico. In the other semifinal, Argentina plays Canada. The winners are assured an Olympic berth for 2004 and the losers play off Sunday for the final spot.

While the week was a dizzying roller-coaster ride for O'Neal, who led the U.S. team to an avenging victory over Argentina on Tuesday before learning his mentor Thomas had been fired, it also becomes a major test for Bird's new career in the NBA.

The Indiana state legend has been a brilliant success at everything he has attempted in basketball. Now comes the hard part.

Bird accepted the job of replacing Donnie Walsh as GM in July and seemed to endorse, albeit grudgingly, Thomas. O'Neal, who had been a free agent, said it was perhaps the main reason he re-signed.

"I did not want to play for any other coach," O'Neal said. "If it weren't for Isiah Thomas, I wouldn't be here. He gave me the confidence to be not only the player I am today, but the father I am, the son I am. He really has been a father figure to me. I'm extremely disappointed."