However, Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan had nothing but praise for Team USA’s cruise-ship lodgings. “Here in Rio my goal is to help this team and lead this team to a gold medal and enjoy the process and enjoy the journey”.
Advertisement
Members of the United States women’s basketball team board the Silver Cloud cruise ship upon arriving for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The USA Dream Team will try to take home its third consecutive gold medal when the Games kick off with Saturday night’s China vs. USA match at the Carioca Arena 1. Only he and Carmelo Anthony returned from that team, but the new guys were plenty ready for their Olympic moment.
“We just wanted to send a statement to the rest of the world”, Anthony said. But, we have some great players here. Former NBA player Yi Jianlian finished with a team-high 25 points for China.
As the players were announced, there were some familiar faces missing, with LeBron James, Steph Curry and Chris Paul opting not to play. The road to Rio was easy, but before the team left the US, coach Mike Krzyzewski cautioned that it won’t be easy when the Olympics tip off.
“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.
Durant, Green, and Klay Thompson will try to win a gold medal together before embarking on the Warriors’ quest for an National Basketball Association championship this season.
“When you spend eight nights in five different hotels it’s tough to get into a routine”, Auriemma said.
There is no guarantee that China will win but adjusting the offense to a more free-flow style, taking the most efficient shot rather the first shot available and making sure they secure rebounds. I’m just excited. I want to go see the Holy Redeemer.
United States player Klay Thompson named these teams as some of the toughest competitors at these Olympics, along with Serbia and Spain. They play again Monday against Venezuela, another team they beat easily in exhibition play.
Apparently, life on a luxury ship isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, even when it’s a ship dedicated to housing the USA men’s and women’s Olympic basketball teams during the Rio Games. “Coach K” was an assistant coach to the 1992 “Dream Team”, the 1992 USA men’s Olympic basketball team, widely regarded as “the greatest sports team ever assembled”.
“This result was already kind of expected before the game even started”, said China coach Wang Zhelin.
Forwards Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony – the only two holdovers from the 2012 London Olympics gold-medal team – led the way. They had 31 assists on their 38 baskets.
Advertisement
China (0-6) has never beaten the US on Olympic hardwood and there was not the faintest hint that this was going to be the evening that drought would end, even when Ding Yanyuhang scored the first points on a pair of free throws. The United States took a 30-10 lead into the second quarter after a 26-6 run.
