“The more interest in basketball on all levels, I’m for”. “I’ve been really a lucky guy, collegiately and internationally to be part of championship teams”.
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With a lineup of National Basketball Association champions, All-Stars and most valuable players no team in the Olympic tournament can match the U.S.in pure skill including Serbia, who have relied on rapid ball movement, a tireless work rate and chemistry.
After Team USA’s 96-66 win in the gold medal game against Team Serbia, Colangelo said that an official walked up to him after the game and suggested that Team USA only play 4 players next time. I’m a lifer in the game. Players on the United States bench celebrate a three point basket.
“[Former Thunder assistant and current Team USA assistant] Monty Williams used to tell me that every day; don’t let anybody steal my joy”. He had already become the leading scorer earlier in the tournament, capping an Olympic career that began with disappointment as a member of the US team that finished third in 2004.
The win was the 49th in a row in Olympic competition for the United States, extending back to the bronze medal game at the 1992 Olympics. Deandre Jordan (USA) of the USA and Demarcus Cousins (USA) of the USA celebrate.
While there’s little doubt that the gold medal game was not as competitive as many expected, Colangelo appears to have forgotten the earlier struggles of his own team in this tournament.
“We’ve got one game”, said Team USA captain Carmelo Anthony.
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.
“They’ll be very, very hard for us”.
“They played better than us”, said Serbian center Vladimir Simac.
“This is a golden silver medal”.
A few of the victories were more hard than usual in this tournament, where half the Americans’ eight games were decided by 10 points or fewer.
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Women’s basketball won gold as well when it beat Spain 101-72 on Saturday, bringing basketball’s medal count to two.
