USA coach Geno Auriemma made it a point, however, after the game to stress that unforeseen developments like Bird’s injury makes it a little bit harder than just who the US will beat next and “when’s the gold medal ceremony”.
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The Americans advance to the semifinal round and will face Spain, which posted a 92-67 rout of France earlier Wednesday.
The Australia Men’s National Basketball Team is the surprise team of the 2016 Rio Olympics as they are one win away from securing a medal when they.
Speaking after the game, Durant said that it was Team USA’s “passion (and) energy” that changed for the better in their win over Argentina.
“Guys like that, they’ve been together and so well-coached, and they’ve helped global basketball take giant steps forward, and we know that’s what we’re playing”, U.S. Coach Mike Krzyzewski said. The Argentinian crowd showed their love for the team, chanting and singing throughout the 4th quarter even as Team USA showed no signs of relenting.
“It’s going to be a different game Saturday”, U.S. forward Angel McCoughtry said.
Lithuania won bronze medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000 and was fourth in 2004 and 2008 before falling to eighth in 2012. It was the first blowout win for the Americans since three close games in the group stages.
“An fantastic journey. I’ve been so lucky to have the opportunity to play four times in this type of event”, Ginobili said in a postgame interview on NBC Sports.
The US and Spain played in the preliminary round and the USA won that one by 40. Some of the same laissez-faire efforts continued to plague the Americans early on, including Kyrie Irving jogging back on defense and causing all sorts of breakdowns that allowed Argentina to get easy buckets and explode to a 10-point first quarter lead.
The glaring accomplishment missing from Spain’s basketball resume is an Olympic gold medal.
Luis Scola had 15 for Argentina and Ginobili added 14. Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski knows his team will be in for a fierce contest.
In another game, Serbia beat Croatia 86-83 to secure another berth of the semifinal, in which it will play against Australia. “They have as much talent and done as well as anybody besides us in the world”.
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And if not, well, according to an ESPN interview that will run today on ABC’s “Good Morning America”, it sounds like James might have one more Olympic run in him come the Tokyo Games of 2020, when he will be 35.
