When in doubt – and you don’t need to be USA women’s basketball Geno Auriemma to call these plays – get the basketball to Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore.
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The Americans, last beaten at the Olympics in a 1992 semifinal, improved to 88-1 over the past 20 years in global tournaments and stretched their Olympic win streak to 48 games.
“We have a group that believes in ourselves, believes in one another”, said guard Patty Mills.
Even worse, were they going to lose to Argentina before they even got to the medal round? It would be a dream for us to beat them. So I think they have been really stagnant offensively.
The United States and Spain played early in the group stage, with the US romping to a 103-63 win, and few expect a different outcome on Saturday.
With the loss, Argentina has been eliminated from further competition.
Spain never discounted its chances.
Despite the defeat, European champion Serbia can capture its first women’s hoops medal by defeating the US-France loser in Saturday’s bronze medal matchup.
“We fed off wanting to play better than the last three games”, Durant said.
The Americans couldn’t relax until the final minute of the last one, when Krzyzewski leaped triumphantly in front of the bench nothing approaching the Olympic high jump record, but the best he can do.
“They congratulated me and I’m very proud of their words”, Ginobili said.
Age hasn’t slowed Spain down, either.
Team USA’s lopsided win should quiet critics until at least Friday when they face Spain at 2:30 on Friday.
Spain will play European rival France in another key quarterfinal clash Wednesday as the Olympic tournament’s win-or-go-home match-ups fell into place. It was rare in the first six games if the shot clock ever got under five seconds. “Sometimes it’s the pressure, sometimes it’s whatever it is, but we click again”.
The other semi-final will see Australia, who dumped Lithuania 90-64, take on the victor of Croatia and Serbia who play later on Wednesday.
The roster for Friday’s opponent, Spain, includes National Basketball Association players Pau Gasol (San Antonio), Nicola Mirotic (Chicago), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota), Jose Calderon (Los Angeles Lakers) and Rudy Fernandez, who formerly played for Portland and Denver.
Only two players remain from the 2012 Olympic team, Anthony and Kevin Durant, with Anthony playing in his fourth Olympics.
The Americans led by 21 at the end of the third quarter, but France (4-3) didn’t quit. “We have to up our focus and our intensity level”. Team USA will now face Spain in the semifinals on August 19 at 3 p.m.
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The nail-biting came to end for the Americans. A lawyer for the two athletes said they will not be allowed to leave Brazil until they provide testimony to investigators.
