USA Basketball: The Gold Medal Game
{originally written August 23, 2016}
Going into the gold medal game against Serbia, I knew Team USA would win, but I wasn’t sure by how much. The last time Team USA played Serbia in the preliminary round, they barely won by three points. Analysts focused their attention on the lack of chemistry, lackadaisical defense, and low shooting percentage by Team USA in their victory over Spain in the semifinal game. They even hinted at the idea of Team USA having a hard time beating Serbia in the rematch. If I wasn’t such a good listener, I wouldn’t have been able to pick up on the hint of sarcasm in their voices.
The game against Spain was decent. It reminded me of the 2008 gold medal game with the same type of intensity and rough play from Pau Gasol. At one point during the third quarter, the Spanish team got within three points, but that was the closest margin despite the two-point differential in the starting minutes. The Spanish had chemistry on the floor with smooth pick-and-rolls, wide-open looks from the arc, and aggressive defense, which kept them competitive. In the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, Spain went on a 10-4 run to close the gap to six points. They outscored Team USA by three points in the second and fourth quarter, but it didn’t matter. Team USA turned it on when they had to and slowed the pace when they felt like it. Despite what most might think, they were in control of that game.
Pau Gasol put up 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds for Spain. Team USA’s Klay Thompson pulled out his Super Soaker and drenched the net for 22 points while DeAndre Jordan collected 16 rebounds by just standing there.
