One of Kyrie Irving’s 12 assists, which tied a Team USA single-game record, was particularly impressive.
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“Basketball has gotten better but they’re still the best team in the world”, said France’s Nicolas Batum, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets and is one of four active NBA players on the French team.
“I believe that we have had the good fortune to touch the sky with our hands”, Nocioni said afterward.
The U.S. now sits and waits to find out their opponent for Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
Great. Dominant. Those are the standards the Americans have set.
Warriors forward Kevin Durant finished with 17 points, as Carmelo Anthony and Kyrie Irving each totaled 10.
The 100-97 victory means the two-time defending gold medalists have won their group at 5-0 but must wait until Monday to learn their quarterfinal opponent. In fact, the Americans could even end up finishing third in Group A. The chemistry exhibited by Australia, Serbia and France is based out of a continuity the thrown together American squad can’t match, and it’s led to a host of issues.
But after needing to pull away late to beat Australia 98-88 and holding on to edge Serbia 94-91 on Friday when Bogdan Bogdanovic missed a 3-pointer, anything seems possible. “We wanted to strive for greatness, and we obviously had three close games in a row (now)…but a win is a win”. “Whatever the case is, we do have to do a better job. Hopefully these will be the ones that help prepare us later on for the style of this tournament”. Instead, they began draining it Saturday and planned to transfer almost 1 million gallons of clear water from a nearby practice pool in time for the start of synchronized swimming.
“Today they did not play very well and still won so they are still the favourites”, said 7-foot, 1-inch (2.16) French centre Rudy Gobert, also known as the “Stifle Tower”.
“When we get on the court we can’t just watch them and be scared”. This group is learning on the fly, and they’re not giving themselves high marks.
Thus we go to the knockout phase with the USA facing just as many questions as it had when it started this tournament. “There’s talent around this world and they’re showcasing it”. Before the USA entered the knockout stage in 2012, the team went 5-0, defeating opponents by an average of 38.2 points per game.
From there U.S. will play the victor of Spain and France and should they win that game as well, will then advance to the Gold Medal game against one of Australia/Croatia/Serbia/Lithuania. Although a clutch of perennial powers have all creakily descended from their respective peaks – namely Spain, Argentina and the hosts Brazil – no longer is Team USA expected to roll like so many know-it-alls worldwide presumed when we got here. Teams now know if they keep moving the ball and stay patient, the U.S.is certain to make a mistake. “So that may be sometimes”. France, meanwhile, finished third in Group A and could see the USA again in the semi-finals.
The Americans responded well to the threat, as they did against Australia – although less so against Serbia, as they held on for a three-point victory. “But we’ve got to be a lot stronger mentally”.
In the paper, there is no way that a team can beat the Americans.
First it was the rugby style 98-88 win on Wednesday over the Australians, that feisty bunch with five National Basketball Association players of its own.
The backcourt pairing is being boosted by Andrew Bogut, who has played like a jilted lover frantically getting in shape to show their ex what they’re missing.
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“We never saw that in any exhibition game or whatever”, Krzyzewski said. “You can’t play it any better than we played it in the first half”.
