All of that only served to underscore what a golden opportunity the Canadians let slip last September in Mexico City. However, the South American squad will have to win games in Rio without Greivis Vasquez after battling injuries over the past several months.
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The Americans beat the Chinese twice in exhibition play by scores of 106-57 and 107-57, and this one was even less competitive.
Cousins and Jordan have been outstanding in 5 games thus far, and both have received acclaim from USA coach Mike Krzyzewski.
With a win, Canada would have booked passage to Rio, as both finalists earned automatic Olympic berths. Instead, they were shunted into a last-chance tournament for a last wild-card spot, where they wound up losing in the final to France. With nearly the exact same high-speed roster heading to Rio it will take a quality effort for anyone to keep up with them, as shown by big wins over Canada and France in their recent lead-up games. And Venezuela is not on anyone’s list of basketball powers. They aren’t on anyone’s medium list: Venezuela has one Olympic appearance prior to Rio; they finished 11th in Barcelona in 1992.
China, which is now ranked No. 14 in the latest FIBA World Rankings, lost to the national teams of Australia, the United States, and Brazil in the past ten days in their build-up to the Olympics, according to Xinhua.
It showed on Monday night, despite a game effort from the South Americans in the first Olympics ever contested on this continent.
While this is Irving’s first time competing in the Olympics, he’s no stranger to the national team experience. The top four from each group go into the quarterfinals. He was just 20 years old, and along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, represented a new wave of talent – a group that was relegated to the far end of the bench as head coach Larry Brown tried to entrust the team to veterans who would adapt to his style of play.
Could that happen again to Team USA with James, Stephen Curry, Chris Paul, Anthony Davis and many others opting to stay home rather than spend their summer vacation in Rio? Klay Thompson picks up two quick fouls? “Like when you go home, except on a boat”, United States guard Kyrie Irving said. In one game, DeMar DeRozan tried to do a 360 dunk on somebody. “Every one of these guys is a great player and is s starter, so when we sub that pressure is going to remain and we’re going to keep coming for 40 minutes”.
Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky revealed earlier this week that she says the Hail Mary before a race. It felt like the dagger. Team USA led 43-24.
As the second half unfolded, it was American dominance all over the arena. They outshot Venezuela 55 per cent to 33 per cent, including better numbers from two-point range, three-point range, and the free-throw line, out-rebounded them and had more assists. It was shark-against-tuna kind of thing.
Plenty of platitudes and praise were being handed out, but no medals: Those will be awarded on the final day of the Rio Olympics on August 21, when U.S. players are expected, as they have at 14 of 17 Summer Games, to bring home gold.
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But for Team Canada, it wasn’t about beating the Americans in Rio in 2016. But when George-who is on this current Olympic roster, by the way-broke his leg back in 2014 during a meaningless exhibition, owners’ mumbling about the issue grew even more honest and severe.
