However, Australia, seeking its first Olympic medal with a program aided by players developing their games on college teams in the USA, is focused on ending America’s run. The Americans continue their journey with breathtaking victories against Serbia and France, where they only win by three points.
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Chris Goulding came off the bench for Australia and contributed 22 points in a 81-56 victory over Venezuela, which was knocked out of quarterfinal contention when Serbia topped China 94-60 in the nightcap.
Thompson finally had the three-point shooting eruption that everyone was expecting and reminded everyone that he was one of the Americans’ best players at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The bad news: Team USA hasn’t looked this vulnerable since Krzyzewski took over following the debacle from Larry Brown’s group in 2004.
The 100-97 victory means the two-time defending gold medallists have won their group at 5-0 but must wait until Monday to learn their quarter-final opponent. University of Utah product Kim Tillie was on the court during most of the run that made the game competitive, as he credited an aggressive matchup-zone defense for taking away the USA’s inside game. But the 2016 squad isn’t without its flaws, and a silver or bronze medal isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
It turned out the US needed every one of Thompson’s seven 3-pointers – and the 17 points from new Golden State Warriors teammates Kevin Durant, who was a flawless 7-for-7 from the floor – to make it past another formidable opponent as the USA struggles to find its defense. Even without the injured Marc Gasol, Spain’s entire lineup has been drafted by an National Basketball Association team.
Durant: 17 points on 6-of-6 shooting, six rebounds and four assists. “I think we showed the last three games we can grind it out”.
The Team USA assistant/Minnesota Timberwolves head coach and renowned defensive guru is trying his best to cajole greatness out of this group, barking as he always does on the sidelines while talking and teaching behind the scenes. This, after entering the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead. Venezuela kept it close much of the third quarter, but Australia’s dominating 28-13 final frame led to the decisive margin.
Thompson: 30 points (9-of-16), one assist.
“But obviously we are going to have to play better defensively”, he said. Headed into the first round of knock-out games, however, the USA certainly does not look invincible. Is the Team USA getting weaker? Later, a drive and in-and-out layup was finished by DeMarcus Cousins at the rim to to put the lead back to 10.
For France, while they lost, they’ll still move on to the knockout round.
“This isn’t a tournament that we’re going to just dominate”, George said, according to The Associated Press. Either way, that’s the bar the world set for them, but as long as they don’t lose, the results will be enough for them to quietly slide to the top of the medal podium.
It did not on Sunday, as the United States of America surrendered most of a 16-point third quarter lead but held on for a 100-97 win against a French team that did not play Tony Parker due to a toe injury (and they wanted to rest him before the quarterfinals).
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Ultimately, the Americans likely have too many good scorers to be defeated. While you will often see non-American players talking to the officials, the Team USA players are clearly not comfortable when it comes to this aspect of the game.
