After several close games along the way, the US men’s basketball team was all business on Sunday as they routed Serbia, 96-66, in the gold medal game that brought down the curtain on the competition in the Rio games.
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In addition to the gold medal, Krzyzewski’s last game as National Team head coach resulted in the team’s 76th consecutive win, a National Team record.
Sergio Rodriguez of Spain strikes DeAndre Jordan of the U.S. during a drive to the basket in their semifinal match Friday (Saturday in Manila) in the Rio Olympics.
“Coming to win the gold despite what the media say about this group – not talented, not point the team out”.
“It’s just his love for the game”, said usa forward Paul George, who completed his own awesome story following a horrific leg injury.
“We played a great game today”.
Team USA totaled 121 medals at the Summer Games. He finished undefeated, 24-0, across the last three Games.
“I know there was kind of a lot of buzz around us not playing well a couple of games, two, three games in the early round”, Carmelo Anthony said, “but the way that we locked in and the way that we focused in to be able to have this gold medal around our necks was special”.
Paul George said he and his teammates took out their frustrations on Serbia after hearing all the talk about them being less talented than previous US squads and not blowing teams out.
But solid defense of the Americans shattered the confidence of the Europeans, who were hammered on one-on-one situation.
The quarter nonetheless ended 19-15 in the US’ favour, thanks to a first three-pointer from Durant, but they also had two rare travelling violations, and the ball stolen four times.
Averaged 14.8 points per game (11th), shot 61 percent from field (1st), won silver medal.
Since Colangelo took over Team USA in 2005, the Americans have won seven FIBA titles, including gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The game was also the last for U.S. captain Carmelo Anthony, the only American basketball player to appear at four editions of the Games. Obviously we had a championship ahead. “We did a great job of being mindful of all that, bottling all of that up and really unleashing it against Serbia”.
They were blown away though in the second quarter as the U.S. outscored them 33-14 to lead 52-29 at half-time.
The Americans haven’t lost since, winning 25 straight in the Olympics.
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Team USA beats Serbia 96-66 for Gold as the NBA led team handed the Serbians a crushing defeat and maintain American supremacy in Olympic basketball.
