Bird, the Americans’ starting point guard and team captain, was sidelined with a sprained right knee. Bird said her plan is to try to practice Friday, and see how she feels. “But during the game?”
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“During the game, pretty hard”. “We were just a little out of sorts and I feel like I can help in that department”.
France put up a valiant effort against United States of America in the semi-final game, but a crushing third quarter punched the US teams’ ticket to the gold medal match. It is, potentially, her final game as an Olympian, and there’s no question that, in her heart, she wants to be on the floor for it.
“I can not believe we are in the final”, said Spain’s Laura Quevedo. “I am not going to be stupid about this. But if I can play, I’m definitely playing”.
That would be quite a boost. But on the ensuing fast break, Gruda blew the layup, and along with it, a chance to give France a lead.
Bolt wanted to lower his world record of 19.19 seconds but the light drizzle at Olympic Stadium contributed to a slightly slower winning time of 19.78 in the final.
Lindsay Whalen, a 32-year-old veteran, is the only other true point guard on the USA roster.
“We’ll go for it”.
Even though the United States were the only team to finish group play without a loss, questions about their ability to claim a third straight gold swirled after three unimpressive narrow wins to close out the preliminary round. But she has shown up in a big way in golf’s return at the Olympics. Like the other teams Team USA had already faced, France came out with fearless faces and a little bit of hope they could pull off an upset against the basketball giants.
The US women opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run and scored 11 consecutive points late in the period for a 65-44 lead and France never threatened again.
Still, the absence of Bird loomed. “France is a hell of a team”.
France fought hard and made it difficult for the US team during the first two quarters, and the score was 40-34 for the Americans at the half, but the decisive shift came in the third period when the USA squad scored 25 points to their rivals’ 8, and the game stayed out of reach for France from then on. The team that was averaging 105 points and 30 assists was held to 40 points in the opening 20 minutes and just four assists.
Maroulis celebrated the win by running around the mat in a circle and holding the United States flag with both hands while it was draped over her back. But Auriemma pulled back on that thinking.
“History’s not going to get you a gold medal”, Taurasi said.
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“It’s not like that”, Auriemma said, “and our players really found out today that without Sue it’s certainly not going to be like that”.
