The Americans then end the first quarter with an 11-4 run in the last two-and-a-half minutes led by the forwards DeMar DeRozan and Paul George who scored all eleven points for Team USA.
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When it happened, this was an absolute mind-blower.
Spain also has former National Basketball Association players Rudy Fernandez (Real Madrid) and Juan Carlos Navarro (FC Barcelona Lassa). It was also the Americans’ first loss in pool play.
The handwringing about whether the Olympics is bad for Klay Thompson can stop. Draymond Green is out here recording near-trillions on the box score. The U.S. shot 37 percent from beyond the arc, while France shot a measly 26 percentage.
When looking at the 2004 Summer Games in hindsight, this isn’t such a shocker.
Both the U.S. and France are through to the quarterfinals beginning Wednesday.
“Today they did not play very well and still won so they are still the favorites”, said 7-foot, 1-inch (2.16) French center Rudy Gobert, also known as the “Stifle Tower”.
Team USA’s primary strength, and what it’s ridden to success over the past decade-plus, is the ability to put five super-athletes on the floor, have them unleash hell on defense and push the pace on offense.
The Team USA assistant/Minnesota Timberwolves head coach and renowned defensive guru is trying his best to cajole greatness out of this group, barking as he always does on the sidelines while talking and teaching behind the scenes.
Klay Thompson led the USA team to its 50th straight tournament win. Heading into the quarterfinals, the United States has a lot of work ahead to win gold. Australia pushed Mike Krzyzewski’s crew a bit, but the Boomers are probably the second-best unit in the Olympics.
Without Tony Parker, France clawed back from 15-point deficit to close it by three points on a beat-the-buzzer three-pointer from Antoine Diot on Sunday, reports Xinhua.
“We’re not intimidated”, Ingles said following the teams’ matchup in the preliminary round. “There’s talent around this world and they’re showcasing it”.
The primary theory is that the the US squad is facing teams that have played together for years, while it was only assembled a few weeks ago. Now, it seems, the rest of the world has great players like we do.
France played like a team that wasn’t scared.
The U.S. was able to stay undefeated during pool play, clinching first place.
“The luxury (their opponents) have is that they’ve been together for so long”, George said.
Either way, after a third straight narrow win, 100-97 over France on Sunday, this has been a lot more hard than it should be, or than it has been in the past. America escapes with a 100-97 win, to remain the lone unbeaten team in Group A. Win that, and it will be the France-Spain victor (two of the best teams in the Olympics) next.
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While the United States has made headlines in Rio with several gold medal victories by names like Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, and Katie Ledecky, the middle of the week cast doubt on the expectations of the Men’s Basketball team.
