If there was any fatigue from attending the spectacle of the Opening Ceremony the night before, it didn’t show as the USA Men’s Basketball team routed the Chinese in the opening game at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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“I thought China played really hard, they have a lot of young players and they are getting better and we were good”, said USA coach Mike Krzyzewski.
He acknowledged that the U.S. team must act as one and not as a collection of stars if it wants to triumph once again. “Every game is important”.
Durant was certainly in a rhythm as the four-time National Basketball Association scoring champion hit 10 of 14 field-goal attempts.
In Team USA’s 50-point annihilation earlier this summer, DeMarcus Cousins led the way with 21 points and Anthony chipped in with 20.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski nevertheless stressed that “we have the utmost respect for the game and for the global community”.
Kevin Durant celebrates a basket as in front of China’s Gen Li (12) and Warriors teammate Klay Thompson in the 119-62. That group missed its first five shots, but never looked back after the game was tied at four.
Some of that inexperience was on display on Saturday, particularly when coach Mike Krzyzewski started the second half with Kyle Lowry, Paul George, DeRozan, Jimmy Butler and DeAndre Jordan.
“This is that second unit that comes in and gives them a defensive lift”, television commentator Doug Collins said.
The team may be lacking Olympic experience, but there’s no shortage of talent, as 11 of the 12 players on the roster have been NBA All-Stars in recent years.
Chinese point guard Zhao Jiwei led the country in rebounds and assists with 6 and 5 respectively as head coach Gong Luming was clearly overmatched by the star-studded U.S. squad. “We’re about to just lock in in just one location, and we can just really focus on playing basketball and getting better individually and as a group”.
“It’s such a lovely thing”. But, we have some great players here. The center scored 13 points.
That was the high point for China, the last and only time they would lead, as the USA clinically rolled to a 59-30 halftime advantage, leaving a flat atmosphere inside the packed Carioca Arena.
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“We regard it as a learning process when we face U.S.”, said China coach Gong Luming after Thursday’s practice session. They are a heavy favorite to win a sixth consecutive gold medal in Rio and have won 41 consecutive Olympic contests, with the last loss coming in the 1992 semifinals.
