“But at the end of the day, it’s about us”, USA forward Kevin Durant said.
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The 13 points scored by Argentina’s Manu Ginobili in the first half did nothing to prevent Spain from racking up a significant 48-35 lead by halftime.
“We must digest the defeat, it’s tough for me”, said Collet. They didn’t know to switch or not.
The U.S. made it through group play undefeated, although things got increasingly dicier as the tournament went on.
Fast-forward 14 years, to these Olympics. The Americans were the only unbeaten team as well as the highest-scoring and best-rebounding team at the event.
It all kicked off with a game against the Boomers where they were down at halftime and scrapped through by ten – from there Serbia and France have also taken them all the way to the wire and they look like a team relying on talent alone – or in other words becoming very complacent.
But Collet had his own opinion about the Americans, who are riding a 22-game Olympic win streak in their quest for a third straight Olympic gold medal.
“It’s just one game, anything can happen”. This team has looked susceptible to loss No. 2. In 2008 and 2012 combined, the US won only one group stage game by fewer than 17 points. Fourteen years later, those two guys are back here in Rio with Ginobili. He burst out of the gates with an 18-point display to lead them over France. “We just got to win as a team”. Team USA played an exhibition against Argentina last month and won by 37 points.
Group B was much more closely contested as Croatia, Spain, Lithuania, and Argentina all finished tied for first, separated only by a tiebreaker, leaving host Brazil and surprisingly-competitive Nigeria out of the knockout stage.
“We are in the flawless spot to be in the semi-finals”, said Spanish point guard Sergio Rodriguez, noting that “we are playing in the Olympics, we have to enjoy it”. They’re more athletic, bigger than us.
“I am telling you right now, If we are ready to fight after the last three games” Klay Thompson stated to ESPN’s Sport Center after making 30 points in the USA winning over France 100-97. They fell to France on a late Tony Parker game victor and were an open three at the buzzer from pushing the U.S.to overtime. What’s interesting, though, is that Andrew Bogut (Golden State), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland), and Patty Mills (San Antonio) are all mere role players on their respective teams, asked to play defense and take shots if the ball ever finds them. There is still a chance that Team USA can avoid a repeat of 2002.
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However, oddsmakers have noticed Team USA’s struggles in Rio and have adjusted the lines accordingly with each subsequent close game.
