The United States led from the opening tipoff but were never able to run away from a Spanish squad determined to end decades of frustration that has seen them lose all 12 meetings with the USA team on Olympic or world championship hardwood dating back to 1936. The United States led by 9 with three minutes to go.
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Spain is a familiar nemesis for the Krzyzewski-coached national team, having played the USA tough in each of the past two Olympic gold-medal games. “We were there. We always were on their tail”. Team USA came out on top and claimed gold over Spain in 2008 and 2012.
The U.S. pulled away to win 118-107 in Beijing, then fought off an even fiercer challenge in London, winning 107-100.
Spain never discounted its chances. The U.S. won that one by 36 points, but had a much harder time in this one without Bird. “We’re ready for the gold-medal game”.
United States coach Mike Krzyzewski guides the USA team for the final time, set to be replaced by NBA San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich after the Games. These two teams without a doubt, have the strongest rosters in the Olympics, a matchup most people saw coming in the gold medal game. Though he scored just nine points and made just one of his four free throws, this game belonged to Jordan.
The world, in a way, feels closer to the Americans. “In the end we could be talking about a whole different story”. Durant totaled 27 points in the quarterfinal win over Argentina on Wednesday, and Thompson put in 30 in a victory over France last Sunday.
The Americans have played “great stretches of defense” in the Olympics, said assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, but “we had a lull when we got loose with leads, and you can’t do that”. “Sometimes it’s the pressure, sometimes it’s whatever it is, but we click again”.
Despite the fact that Serbia and Australia seemed closely matched on paper, things played out much differently inside Carioca Arena 1.
A veteran Spain squad led by experienced National Basketball Association players Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Ricky Rubio, trailed by 10 points after another Thompson 3-pointer in the second quarter, but a 7-0 run trimmed the deficit to three points. So the Spanish arrived in Brazil a little more disjointed than precise, but that’s over with now.
Marianne Johannes scored 13 to lead France, which will play Serbia for the bronze medal on Saturday. Head coach Sergio Scariolo subsequently was forced to bring the veteran Rodriguez off the bench earlier than usual.
Cousins actually looked like a decent defender while playing with the rest of the group. So let’s play like it.
“I’m not going to be stupid about this”, Bird said. Other people are making comments. That’s what the United States of America men’s basketball team must be feeling right now, as they prepare to meet Spain in the semifinals.
This might be the last time they will have Pau Gasol available and other powers are emerging.
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“We have so many scorers and she finds a way to get everyone in their spots, to get everyone touches and obviously she sacrifices for that”. “But we didn’t. They took advantage of their strength”.
