President Barack Obama, along with wife Michelle (left) and daughter Malia, took in Team USA's 80-69 win over Brazil in Washington, DC, in the second of five exhibition games for the Americans before the 2012 Olympic Games in London. It was a relatively close call for the US men, who are now 51-1 under coach Mike Krzyzewski. What did we find out Monday?

What's the main reason Team USA is a big favorite to win gold in London? Simple: It has the best player on the planet. LeBron James was dominant all season in leading the Miami Heat to the NBA title, and he was by far the best player on the court Monday with 30 points, more than twice as many as anyone else. The US only led by seven midway through the final period when LeBron drilled a 3-pointer, powered his way for two layups, and then stole the ball and made another 3 to seal the win. So much for disappearing in the fourth quarter.

Some have dismissed Team USA's lack of size, saying international teams wouldn't be able to exploit that weakness. They're wrong. Brazil's big frontcourt of Nene, Anderson Varejao and Tiago Splitter (pictured) controlled the interior when its guards were able to hang on to the ball. Brazil shot over 50 percent and outrebounded the Americans by eight. That could spell trouble for the US when it faces Spain, which boasts 7-foot brothers Pau and Marc Gasol as well as Serge Ibaka, the NBA's leader in blocks last season.

Team USA's extraordinary athleticism gives it an advantage over anyone it plays and allows the Americans to apply great ball pressure on the perimeter. Though Brazil has a savvy point guard in Marcelo Huertas, the US still forced 26 turnovers and turned them into 28 points. The second quarter was a defensive clinic by the likes of Chris Paul (pictured), Russell Westbrook, Kobe Bryant, Andre Iguodala and LeBron James as Team USA gave up just five points and seized the lead for good.

Carmelo Anthony is starting at small forward for Team USA, probably in honor of his long service with the team. (This will be his third Olympics.) But Anthony clearly has been surpassed as a player by Kevin Durant, the NBA's three-time scoring champ and MVP runner-up last season. Durant scored 11 points Monday and wasn't as sharp as he was in Team USA's first exhibition, when he scored 25 against the Dominican Republic. But Anthony (1 for 7, three points) was partly responsible for the team's slow start as Brazil led 17-9 before Durant got off the bench. If Coach K wants to send out his best unit to start the game, Durant must be on it.

Can we stop comparing this Team USA to the 1992 version, the best team of all time? It might make sense if Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose were healthy. But the US doesn't have great size or 3-point shooting, two vulnerabilities that were exploited by Brazil, which has six current or former NBA players on its roster. The Americans trailed by 10 after one quarter and didn't pull away until late. With two better teams, Spain and Argentina, awaiting in upcoming exhibitions and in London, Team USA must worry about beating its current competition, not ghosts from the past.