Kevin Durant had 30 points, 24 in the first half, as the US built a 52-29 halftime lead.
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The 2016 class under coach Mike Krzyewski may not have had quite the flair of past teams but overcame some testing group games with narrow wins over Australia, France and Serbia for another gold. “I want to see the level raised”.
“I’d love to see that”.
“It’s just his love for the game”, said usa forward Paul George, who completed his own incredible story following a horrific leg injury. “But what I’m just saying is you look around, you look at the programs that may be big-time programs going forward”, said Colangelo. I get joy when I’m out there playing and it went to another level just playing alongside these great players and playing under Coach K and his staff. Durant made that all go away. “I learned a lot on the court, off the court and just having fun with them”.
“I’m all for raising the bar for global basketball”, he began. The Americans averaged a 22.5-point winning margin in the tournament.
The United States’ play has been marked by inconsistency. And while USA Basketball would nearly certainly reserve a roster spot for him if he was interested, it seems unlikely James would want to participate shortly after concluding what would be his 18th NBA season. Players are more skilled now than they ever, and the rest of the world has a long, long way before it catches up. “I’m amazed at these guys”.
That raised doubts about the ability of the newly assembled team to play as a unit and handle the perpetual motion of worldwide play.
By the time Lindsay Whalen’s layup just beat the halftime buzzer, the USA led 49-32 and Spain had just two baskets in the final 6:55 of the half.
During the second quarter, Team USA stretched their lead to double digits.
After all, Team USA had showed signs of struggling in their group play games, including blowing an 18 point first quarter lead to this very same Serbian team and only winning by three. Spain edged the game by a single point defeating the Aussies 89-88.
An 8-0 march to gold was capped by a resounding 96-66 romp against Serbia on August 21, completing the USA basketball program’s mission in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Draymond Green, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan and DeMarcus Cousins will all likely get strong consideration, if not guaranteed spots.
FIBA, basketball’s world governing body, is introducing a new qualification system similar to the one in soccer, where teams will play home and road games against regional opponents to qualify for the 2019 Basketball World Cup in China.
“It’s because of the shoulders that we stand on”, Moore said.
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The Rio Olympics weren’t always so easy for Durant and the USA, but they ended the way most expected, a ideal 8-0 record and gold medal, even if these Americans had to earn it a little more than some of their predecessors. That’s why Krzyzewski was so effusive in his praise of Anthony, who dedicated himself to a fourth and final Olympics and said afterwards this was the end for him, too.
