“I understand it’s a gold medal game, we’ve approached it like any other game”, said Bird, who has helped the USA win the last three golds at the Olympics.
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“Their athleticism, their size, their intimidation, it was too much for us”, said Spain coach Sergio Scariolo.
Missing its starting point guard, the US women’s basketball team struggled for a half to find its offensive rhythm before pulling away from France and moving one victory away from winning a sixth consecutive gold medal.
“We always were on their tail. I really think we can do it, but we have to have the flawless game”. It’s simply hard to see Spain having a better opportunity to beat the USA than the one they just squandered.
The Americans? They’re right back where everyone thought they’d be. The official’s whistle blew – an offensive foul that, essentially, ended Spain’s chances.
In the end, the US didn’t pull away so much as hold on. “At the start of this entire month, every single practice and game we approached it like it was a gold medal game”.
“He played a great game”, USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
The bronze medal game features Spain and Australia. She had started every game for the US the past three Olympics and been a calming influence on offense for the Americans.
Surging into the semifinals with American-esque dominance, the Spanish have won four straight to stave off elimination. Durant totaled 27 points in the quarterfinal win over Argentina on Wednesday, and Thompson put in 30 in a victory over France last Sunday.
Spanish coach Sergio Scariolo credited Jordan and the USA defense with throwing his team off its game. “Sometimes it’s the pressure, sometimes it’s whatever it is, but we click again”. In this one, the coveted gold medal is not for grabs – only the chance to play for it hangs in the balance.
Spain, who had edged Serbia 65-59 in their opening group game, dominated from the start, storming to 20-9 lead in the opening quarter and never trailed the rest of the way.
Lewis piled up the birdies, finishing with four in a row, the last one the most unlikely.
On a squad packed with National Basketball Association players who were top-10 draft picks, you have to look way down the 2008 class before you find Jordan’s name at number 35.
Towards the beginning of the third quarter, Team USA looked to Carmelo Anthony in an effort to get him going. “When we focus in and we kind of dedicate ourselves to playing the right way, it’s a scary sight out there”. “It was tough to score, for both teams today”, Krzyzewski said.
“I’m going to try”, Bird said when asked if she would practice on Friday. Other people are making comments.
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“I would have taken par and ran to the clubhouse”, Lewis said. They made some silly mistakes like traveling on a breakaway dunk and not putting a body on Gasol after shots went up on defense, but managed to keep the lead. “Now we’ve got one more game, and we’ve got to lock in”. Didn’t we invent this game?
