“They can go pretty far”, Durant said.
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With Team USA rolling to the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, there is more drama off the court than inside the court. Without his strong start and finish, the US could have lost the game and fallen to second place in Group A. However, their leader would not let that happen and it seems like nobody can stop him in his pursuit of a third gold medal. Sheer talent and some timely 3’s from Carmelo Anthony saved the Americans, but the Boomers from Down Under exposed some weaknesses even if they were not able to get the final job done.
That’s exactly what the US squad repeatedly said following the game.
‘We knew we were going to get their best, ‘ George said after a narrow 98-88 win for the United States over a previously undefeated Australia. “So we needed a real test, and we got by the test”.
The Argentina soccer team, a two-time Olympic champion, has been eliminated following a 1-1 draw to Honduras, which advanced to the quarterfinals along with Portugal. Maybe it was all about being arrogant and underprepared, which means the head coach, if he has any influence at all in this situation, has to run a tighter ship, which coincidentally is also where the players are staying during the Olympics.
United States veteran Kevin Durant got his first score with a tidy three to start the second term.
What the bookies didn’t realize was this wasn’t just another opponent that was going to be intimidated. Other national teams, including Australia, have had core players together for years.
They battled for rebounds, fought over loose balls. “Just play basketball. I was in the zone, I was playing basketball”.
Anthony knocked down nine 3-pointers – one shy of his usa record – and finished 11 of 21 from the field. Anthony would end the game with 31 points, and on top of US basketball history. “We’re not afraid of anyone”. “We earned the win, and we’re going to have to earn our wins throughout. We’re going to play the same way if it’s the top team or a low-ranked team”.
But basketball games are not won at half-time, and Andrew Bogut’s post-match comments were telling. Since then, he’s become the first American male in #Basketball to play in four #Olympics, having been part of the US national team in 2004, 2008, 2012, and now, in 2016. “This game kind of got out of hand with the chippy, physical play”.
Irving – born in Australia – added 19 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:35 left after Australia had closed within four.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski hailed Anthony, who made nine three-pointers against Australia, for his contribution.
“The best thing is, we won”.
The women’s team pulled away for another big win, routing Serbia 110-84 behind a career game by Diana Taurasi.
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The USA versus Australia mens basketball game and the US womens come-from-behind victory in 4×200-meter freestyle relay made this portion of my column a toss-up, so Im going with both.
