Team USA did not want any surprises in Olympic men’s basketball, because the only surprise in Olympic men’s basketball would have been Team USA not winning gold.
Advertisement
“They have the best coaching staff in the world”, Serbia coach Aleksandar Đorđević said.
Incredibly, all 12 American players scored during the match as they took the heat out of the game to share the ball around.
Krzyzewski, 69, will hand the reins to San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich as he leaves Team USA after almost 11 years and with a 24-0 record in the Olympics. The Indiana Pacers star had one of the more horrific injuries you’ll ever see on a basketball floor during the USA Basketball showcase back on August 1, 2014. The Americans won 46 gold medals. “Someone said to me [after the game], one of the officials said to me, ‘You know next time you play, you ought to play with four.’ And I said, ‘No, maybe the other teams better get their act together and compete'”.
In a rematch of their August 12 pool play game in which they won by just three points, Team USA wasted little time pulling away in this one. With the win, Team USA – this 2016 version that was led by Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Paul George and all the rest – has won 52 consecutive games in FIBA play (24 in the Olympics). He walks away with three gold medals. “As much as I’m going to miss it, I think it’s time to pass it on to some of the guys who have been on the team this year”.
Serbia lost only 94-91 to the USA during pool play but was barely in the game again after a close first quarter.
More significantly, Serbia had given the United States their biggest scare in Rio, battling the Americans right down to the final buzzer in a Group A clash that offered up at least the possibility of an intriguing final. This year’s Olympic squad included only one All-NBA first team choice (DeAndre Jordan), down from the complete set who made the trip to Barcelona.
Advertisement
The U.S. struggled earlier in the tournament, but has been dominant in the medal round, beating Argentina, Spain and now Serbia en route to the Olympic title. They beat Australia and Croatia to make it to the Olympic final.
