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03
Redemption draws near. Team USA ended their streak of Final Four flops, starting fast and finishing strong in a 101-81 victory over Argentina Friday. Here’s what they’re saying out in the ether about the game …
SLAM Online: "It was a little troubling to me to see how easily the USA
lost focus, and I blame that as much on the coaching staff as I do the
players. For whatever reason, Team USA refused to keep pushing the ball
inside, and every time they started falling in love with the outside
jumpers, Argentina made a run. And the USA coaches seemed to encourage
this, even calling plays for three point shots out of timeouts.
Argentina was banged up coming in — Nocioni was told not to play by
doctors but played anyway. And even Ginobili was injured, Team USA
seemed content to stay on the perimeter and fire up jump shots
throughout the first half. Dwight Howard had the first shot of the game
when the US worked it to him under the basket, and then he didn’t get
another shot in the first half. Not sure why Coach K seemed content to
let the US keep jacking up 3s, but that outside-in stuff doesn’t work
in international ball."
Dime: "Why Team USA won: Poise. This is why they wanted guys like Kidd,
Kobe, Tayshaun, LeBron, Wade, Carmelo and Coach K. They’ve been through
the wars — NBA Finals, Game 7’s, NCAA championships, etc. — and
wouldn’t panic when the pressure was on. Notice ‘Melo going perfect
from the stripe even when his jumpers weren’t falling and the Argentine
bigs were trying to antagonize him. Notice Kidd penetrating the zone
(USA kryptonite for years) with crisp passes. Notice LeBron and Kobe
stepping up to take leadership roles in the second half when things got
tight. How many teams would have collectively freaked out when
Argentina made its big run in the second quarter?"
TrueHoop: "I’d say Team USA is halfway redeemed — by making it to the
final game which has eluded them in the last three major international
tournaments. This is a big burden removed. All that’s left is beating
the Spanish team they manhandled in qualifying. It’s entirely possible
that Spain (a team that seemed to stop competing once Team USA got a
decent lead) will play much better, and may have even saved some tricks
for the big contest. But you have to be feeling good right now if
you’re Coach Krzyzewski. The vast majority of the variables have been
removed. Now it’s down to one game, and your team is (pretty) focused
and healthy."
With Leather: "Early in the second quarter, the lead grew to 21, plus we got to witness one of the most beautiful things in all the world of sport: Manu Ginobili wincing in (for once, genuine) pain before limping off with an injured left ankle. He awesomely did not return. Unfortunately, from there on out the Americans played unevenly, turning the ball over and clanking threes, and even allowing the Europe of South America to cut the lead to 6 at one point late in the first half. Only the fact that Team USA is way, way better gave them the win. Why, 20 points is the closest margin of victory for the U.S. in these Olympics. Phew! Close one, right?"
48 Minutes of Hell: "Team USA was active out there [on defense]. I mean really active. Shifting feet, quick hands. Even Melo was fired up and playing some hard D. If this team USA approaches the defensive end of the court with that much tenacity, they really are unbeatable. […] I said the Argentineans would live and die with the long ball, and it pretty much turned out to be true. They went 6-23 from the outside, a meager 26.3%. I was thinking they were gonna need to shoot over 40% from outside to even have a chance at stealing this one. Looks like that didn’t pan out."
Cavs Board: "’That’s it Kobe. That’s it Kobe. Play ball.’ That’s what you heard from LeBron James standing across from Kobe Bryant at the 3 minute mark of the first quarter when Kobe was at the line shouting with what I can only assume was Luis Scola or any other Argentinean who had rubbed him wrong … […] The Argentineans came out rubbing guys on screens, shoving guys just to disrupt inbounds plays, and just being the general nuisances you would expect from a team led by renowned flopper Manu Ginobli (who made a brief appearance in the first half and then was not seen again). The Americans weathered the initial emotional burst of the Argentineans to blow open the lead with some timely steals, some transition baskets, and then a barrage of three pointers, many of which came as the result of crisp passes around the perimeter."
The Rip City Project: "By the way Roman Gonzalez is in for Argentina. His ’stache is boss. Straight out of the 70’s. He also looks like he should be in Beer Fest and not at the Olympics for anything."
