The 2016 Olympics version of the “Dream Team” came out and made a statement on Saturday in Rio with a 119-62 win over China in the team’s opening game.
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Durant scored eight points in the first quarter and Carmelo Anthony added eight as the U.S. jumped out to a 30-10 lead after the first quarter, capped by Jimmy Butler’s fast break reverse layin at the buzzer.
Durant, of Golden State Warriors fame, and Anthony, of the New York Knicks, have already shown their dominance during the Olympics showcase tour.
The US Team-led by Olympic veterans Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony-are the heavy favorites to win the gold medal once again. Those opinions won’t change after this performance.
Plenty of platitudes and praise were being handed out, but no medals: Those will be awarded on the final day of the Rio Olympics on August 21, when United States players are expected, as they have at 14 of 17 Summer Games, to bring home gold.
Anthony has played 72 games in Team USA threads and despite his elder statesman status, he is still a focal point of the team’s offense and is third in scoring at 13.6 points per game He’s hit the most career Olympic 3-pointers on his team and ranks in the top five in most other categories.
Luckily, team United States of America won’t face Gasol until later in the competition, since they are placed in what some have called the “easier” group.
“I feel like that’s where our real identity stands”, said Irving, who finished with 12 points.
That’s a world removed from the lodgings at the Olympic Village provided to other athletes, including Australian NBA player Andrew Bogut.
Bogut said after the injury, his plans were still to play in the Olympics, there was just the matter of how the knee felt. However, USA Basketball are still tipped to go all the way and capture the gold medal in the quadrennial event. There was extra motivation after missing the 2012 London Games with an ankle injury.
“We won by a lot of points, but they made us better”, he said.
“I didn’t want it taken away that easily”.
“I felt good, I kind of was surprised that I did”, Bogut said.
The team may be lacking Olympic experience, but there’s no shortage of talent, as 11 of the 12 players on the roster have been NBA All-Stars in recent years.
He caught six alley-oops despite playing a France team with Utah Jazz 7-foot-1 centre and defensive specialist Rudy Gobert.
Almost 50 National Basketball Association (NBA) athletes participate in Rio, of which only 12 play for the US.
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It’s the second time both teams will be housed on a cruise ship during the Olympics. They’ll probably start five National Basketball Association players.
