So did a golden era of worldwide basketball.
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Harrison Barnes capped the scoring with a long range three to make the final score 105-78 and send the United States swiftly into the semifinals at the top of their game.
In front of a chanting, flag-waving crowd of Argentines who came to throw a raucous farewell party for their Golden Generation, the Americans delivered their most complete performance in Rio.
George and Kevin Durant spearheaded a 27-2 run that catapulted the United States into the lead of what became their 105-78 victory over Argentina.
“We aren’t like the Lakers, Kobe Bryant”, said Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo when asked about Gasol’s unselfish play, perhaps forgetting where Gasol won his two National Basketball Association championships.
Turning a slow start into an early ending with a 27-2 run in the first half, the Americans put away one old rival and set up a meeting with another. But the team got back on course behind 27 points from Kevin Durant and intense D from Paul George, advancing to play Spain in the semifinals Friday.
The answer might be nothing.
For a moment, at least, it looked that way when Argentina led early in their knockout round game with the US.
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Just a few hours later, his 39-year-old San Antonio Spurs teammate Manu Ginobili followed suit by calling an end to his worldwide career with Argentina. “We formed part of something unique we did for our country and it’s going to be there”.
Ginobili scored 14 points in his final game in Argentina’s blue and white, tearing up after receiving applause from his fans and warm wishes from his opponents.
The Americans have won 23 straight in the Olympics since, and this was how they usually do it: too much firepower, too much defense, and way too much talent.
Former Warriors forward Harrison Barnes played in garbage time and hit a 3-pointer. Spain finished second in their group with a 3-2 record. And then there was Spain, which dominated France 92-67. The U.S. edged Spain 118-107 in the 2008 final and 107-100 four years ago in London.
Durant makes his teammates leave their seats with killer crossover and Euro step. In the last two gold-medal games, Spain played extremely close trailing for basket in the fourth quarter against USA.
The Olympics have seemingly been a breeze for the U.S. women’s basketball team, but will they finally be tested in the semifinals?
But once play began, the USA rarely played up to those expectations, with one narrow victory after another as the competition toughened.
And Krzyzewski credited the hard victories over Australia, France, and Serbia (by a combined 16 points) as reason enough for his squad’s resiliency.
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They were finally in top form Wednesday. And when the Spanish opened this tournament with two straight losses, it was easy to think they wouldn’t get another shot at the Americans. “They showed some weaknesses that we have, and we tried to get better”. If the U.S. men’s team is going to win these Olympics, it will happen with defense, pure talent, and good old American superstars. Rebounds-United States 51 (P. George 8), Argentina 35 (L. Scola 10). Durant finished the quarter with 13 points and four assists.
