But the undefeated Americans rode a rugged defensive effort and 22 points from Klay Thompson to beat Spain, 82-76, and earn a place in Sunday afternoon’s Olympic final against either Serbia or Australia. Those four were part of a generation that propelled their home country into world power status, and while they could never unseat the USA and win gold like Argentina’s Golden Generation did, they were just as talented. However, the Boomers have a chance to win their first olympic basketball medal, so this should still be a very motivated team. What I would say is that it was a very hard game.
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Kyrie Irving and Team USA advanced to the gold medal game.
“I think the key of the game was their defense”, Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said.
“We always were on their tail”. “I just (feel) like if we had been a little sharper with our shots, if we would have moved the ball a little better, if we would have boxed out more, and make it a two- or three-possession game, then you’re talking about a whole different story”.
It was the lowest-scoring game for the Americans in the Olympics since the 2004 semifinals, when they managed 81 in a loss to Argentina.
Spain never discounted its chances. Anything but a US win-and a comfortable one at that-would be a shock. That’s our main goal since we got together is to win the gold.
Italy beats Americans: The Italians ended the gold-medal aspirations for the USA men’s volleyball team in a second straight Olympics.
And it looked good on the Americans.
Now 69 and coming off knee, hernia and ankle surgeries this spring, Krzyzewski might show he still has some hops if the Americans win more gold.
Age hasn’t slowed Spain down, either. The Serbs handed Australia a 87-61 beating in their semifinals tonight to set up a rematch of the 2014 FIBA World Cup final in which the USA routed them 129-92. “We got to be able to match their physicality, I think that’s going to be important, and not allow that to get us out of our game”. “Sometimes it’s the pressure, sometimes it’s whatever it is, but we click again”. In the other quarterfinal games, Spain beat Turkey, 64-62, and France beat Canada, 68-63.
Already without Marc Gasol, who broke his foot during the National Basketball Association season, Spain had to go portions of its training camp in July without Pau Gasol and Sergio Rodriguez while they handled free agency. They also suffered with the absence of team anchor Sue Bird, benched by a sprained knee.
“You want to get there”, two-time gold medalist Carmelo Anthony said. But the Spanish, as they had in the previous two Olympics, found their stride just in time to run into the Americans.
“That’s just the way I felt”, Gasol said. Other people are making comments.
To get by Spain again, the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team would have to win ugly, so unusual it’s practically un-American. “Serbia is a really small country, so it’s an even bigger success for such a small country, two times in the world championship and now in the Olympic games. I have to not let them be satisfied right now”.
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“We have one more go and it’s still a great opportunity for us”. “That just takes time, and we don’t have a lot of time”. Win that game, and all other evaluations won’t matter a bit. “That’s our mindset and we don’t plan on letting anything come between us”.
