How they got here: The US survives as the only team without a loss in the preliminary round, going 5-0, but looked far from dominant in their last three victories (decided by an average of 5.3 points).
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It’s widely expected that they’ll smash Team Argentina in this quarterfinals round, and if they don’t succeed, the consequences are devastating.
Judging by Wednesday evening’s 105-78 quarterfinal victory over Argentina, tales of the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team’s imminent exit from the Rio Games may have been greatly exaggerated.
While still being the favorite to win gold, many different media sources, anylysts, and even an ex-NBA player had their doubts.
“They showed some weaknesses that we had and we tried to get better”.
Speaking to reporters during the Summer Olympics, Durant had this to say.
Green played just 13 minutes and finished with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one point. But we played with passion and energy.
USA’s brilliant passing and teamwork – on display when they set an Olympic record for assists in their final group game against China – was thrown out of whack by the game’s herky-jerky style.
The roster for Friday’s opponent, Spain, includes National Basketball Association players Pau Gasol (San Antonio), Nicola Mirotic (Chicago), Ricky Rubio (Minnesota), Jose Calderon (Los Angeles Lakers) and Rudy Fernandez, who formerly played for Portland and Denver.
The United States and Spain meet Friday in the semifinals of the men’s basketball tournament in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola did the punching when the US was knocked down to its lowest point 12 years ago, and the Americans, who’ve handled them every time since, expect their proud opponents to have one last good fight in them.
“I wouldn’t call it relief, I just think we are evolving”, said USA coach Mike Krzyzewski. If that victor happens to be Team USA, they must be happy that they’re only dealing with one of their fiercest enemies! “Jerry Colangelo took over and they decided that we are going to be a team of guys who want to be here and not necessarily the 12 best players, but the guys who fit together and play roles”. “I can’t worry about that stuff and that just keeps me calm in those moments”. However, where they need to focus in this matchup is on the interior with DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan.
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USA team basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski took time to pay homage to Ginobili, calling him “as fierce a competitor that I as a coach have had to face in my entire time in global basketball”.
