New York ? The biggest zone-hater in the NBA, Larry Brown, says he might have the U.S. Olympic qualifying team play something other than its usual man-to-man defense.

Larry Brown? A zone? Given the coach’s long-standing basketball philosophy, the admission was the sporting equivalent of Barry Bonds expressing a desire to bunt or Steve Spurrier instituting a running game.

“Being short-handed with size, we might have to go to a zone to protect some big people,” said Brown, a former Kansas University coach. “I could see us doing it a little bit. Again, though, I want to have man-to-man principles when we do it.”

A smattering of zone principles were discernible from the U.S. team as it defeated Puerto Rico in a scrimmage Wednesday.

The final score was 103-76, according to the Puerto Rican coaches. The U.S. federation, at the behest of the coaching staff, would not provide a final score or individual statistics.

Mike Bibby was the only U.S. player with a steady shooting touch, making four three-pointers — two from each corner — over Puerto Rico’s tightly packed zone.

The American team made several turnovers when trying to force fast breaks and was often slow to get back on defense in transition.

“For the most part I think guys looked pretty decent. I think we were out of sync a little bit,” said Tracy McGrady, who finally found his touch at the end and made two three-pointers in the final minute.