Their choice to stay away from the Athletes’ Village may be good thing since Olympic organizers have been dealing with complaints. The Americans bring speed in transition, they have knock-down shooting from beyond the arc, and have effective post players as well.
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Both the men’s and women’s teams will stay on board a luxury cruise ship named the Silver Cloud as they avoid the less-than-desirable conditions that have been reported in various areas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. And for athletes there to play the fine sport of basketball, it’s a particularly tough time given that, y’know, most beds aren’t built to house literal giants.
While staying outside of the Olympic Village is nothing new for USA Basketball – the last time being the 1988 Summer Games – this summer will be the first time in 12 years that the teams have stayed on a cruise ship.
It’s hardly the first time US basketball players have lived outside the traditional athletes quarters.
USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo visited the women’s team at practice and addressed the players afterward, wishing them luck in Rio.
And when Silversea says “luxury”, Silversea means “spacious yet intimate”. “So we have so much fun together and everybody’s so competitive and we all want to win, and when you got guys like that, it makes it that much more fun”.
The 2016 Summer Olympics will take place in Rio from August 5 to 21.
Extra security precautions surround the United States squad, the cruise ships being another layer of protection for National Basketball Association talent that has proven among the most popular at any Olympics since the 1992 original “Dream Team”. This year they’ll be staying on the Silver Cloud Cruise Ship, along with the women’s team.
Since women’s basketball became part of the Olympic programme in 1976 the US have lost just three games.
“What I hope happens is, that if we are fortunate enough to win a gold that it is a big deal instead of the big deal is, if we lose”, said USA coach Geno Auriemma.
There was even a fire break out in one of the apartments, after which about 100 athletes from the Australian contingent had to be evacuated for about 30 minutes. “We really didn’t have a chance to interact with nobody”.
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USA guard Klay Thompson, whom Durant will play alongside next season at Golden State as well as for the next two weeks, likes the balcony views.
