“He’s still the same person, the same personality”, Carmelo Anthony, now the team’s elder statesman by virtue of competing in his third straight Olympics and the man who bagged an impressive 17 points in the team’s 111-74 opening exhibition win over Argentina. “We’ve got wings that can guard four positions”.
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Such was their dominance that coach Chuck Daly did not call for one timeout through the course of the Olympics, some games even saw opposing players asking for autographs of the U.S. team’s stars, clearly in awe of their star power.
Things may change should Team USA run into some stiff competition, but the current style keeps all the players satisfied. A former first round pick of the Milwaukee Bucks in 2007, Yi spent four seasons in the National Basketball Association before returning to play for the Guangdong Southern Tigers.
“We should have won, but the way we won was excellent”, Krzyzewski said, pointing specifically to his team’s defensive intensity and ball movement. Krzyzewski added that they are learning more about each other and that they are growing together as a unit.
“I respect the guys that declined the opportunity, but I think we still have a great team here, a lot of talent”, said Cousins.
China is 14th in the rankings compiled by FIBA, basketball’s worldwide governing body, 13 spots behind the U.S. All of its players play professionally in China. It’s something they’re already proving in global play for the US team. Despite wearing the colors of the team every American basketball fan roots for, Durant and Green were both greeted by a chorus of boos by fans at the Staples Center.
So it was left for each side to set a mission and focus on specific details in what turned into a 106-57 rout for Team USA. Yi scored 18 points while second-round draft choice Zhou Qi scored only two on a measly 1-of-6 shooting. With DeMarcus Cousins pulling down 15 rebounds in just 16 minutes, the US dominated inside, outrebounding Argentina 53-30. But it’s the one that got away that still seems to most fuel them.
And the two exhibitions with China, followed by the rest of the warm-up schedule will likely serve as a solid primer for group play and perhaps the tournament’s later stages.
Jordan finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three blocks and a parade of rim-rattling dunks.
The Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan chipped in a dozen points and blocked three shots-including a block on China’s first possession.
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That animosity was on full display Sunday night when Durant and his Warriors teammate Draymond Green took the floor for Team USA in a friendly tune up before the Olympics against China.
