After pulling out a few close wins in the group stage, the US got its troubles out the way early in the quarterfinal.
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Shots weren’t falling early for the Americans in the first quarter, but unlike their previous two wins over Serbia and France by a combined six points, the United States regained form and looked like the dominant basketball force we’ve come to expect.
If Khris Middleton took Harrison Barnes spot, would your interest in Team USA dramatically change?
That might as well have come directly from Coach K, so you know they’re listening.
Reserve Marine Johannes led France with 13 points. “The last three games … showed some weaknesses we had and we tried to get better”. But the rest of the American contingent that has been around for all the matchups with the Spanish never believed the talk that Spain, even with Gasol, Calderon and five-time Olympian Juan Carlos Navarro nearing the end of their brilliant careers, was too old for another run. Scola led Argentina with 15 points, while Ginobili had 14 points and Nocioni 14.
From here, the U.S.is headed for a tough semi-final test against Spain on Friday. Rivals France and Spain played next – with the victor getting the U.S. -Argentina victor – and Croatia faces Serbia in the nightcap.
One of them shouldered the offense, the other keyed the defense.
Too much isolation play, an over-reliance on hero ball, and a lack of offensive fluidity through noncohesive pieces might as well be describing the squad in Athens, yet is now bizarrely indicative of the Rio team.
And while George isn’t quite the overwhelming one-on-one scorer Anthony is, Durant helped pick up the load with a stellar performance. Durant was 7-of-9 from three in the game, which was timely considering his teammates were 4-of-24 from beyond the arc.
“We got our swagger back, offensively and defensively”, declared Paul George to reporters after the United States ran their Olympic winning streak to 23 games. However, it’s clear that they have high quality talent with the likes of Andres Nocioni, Luis Scola, Facundo Campazzo, and of course Manu Ginobili.
“When you put a lot of great basketball players on the floor, they figure out a way to make it work”, Butler said. It was a touching moment for South America’s most successful group of players ever.
It’s down to the wire in Olympic men’s basketball, with Team USA and Team Argentina finally facing off in the quarterfinals.
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USA, seeking its third straight gold medal, will face Spain on Friday.
