Rio-Cap: USA 96, Serbia 66 (or, Staying Golden)
2016-08-21It wasn’t much of a surprise that Team USA was able to successfully defend its Olympic basketball title for a second consecutive games… and in fact, they made it look incredibly easy, removing any doubts about a quarter into their golden three-peat. After a somewhat inconsistent (at least by their golden standards) tournament, that saw the Americans actually look a little vulnerable in close games with Australia, Serbia (the first time) and France, they took care of business quickly in the gold medal round and subdued the Serbs with little trouble.
So, just when it seemed as if the world might have started to figure out how to beat the US, they instead showed that they may have been just bored, lackadaisical or intentionally sandbagging for the gold…
Whatever it was, Kevin Durant made sure it didn’t continue into the final game. KD was lit almost from the jump. After missing his first two shots, he made 10 of his next 17 (including 5-11 from downtown), as he played like the dominant force most expect him to be in the NBA next season. You could almost hear the collective groan of GMs across the league as the Durantula gave a preview of the devastation he’s capable of when motivated. He added four assists, three boards and two steals to his gaudy 30 points, and by halftime, he had almost outscored Serbia all by himself (24-29).
KD got help from new teammate Klay Thompson, who added 12 points on 5-11 shooting and played some stellar defense, and off the bench from DeMarcus Cousins, who abused the Serbian front line with 13 points and 15 rebounds. DeAndre Jordan also chipped in five boards and another three blocks for the US, while Carmelo Anthony had a relatively quiet final Olympic game with seven points and seven boards, but became the first men’s basketball player to ever win three gold medals. Kyrie Irving also had a fairly subdued game, as he was held to four points and four assists due to being saddled with four fouls. Yet, he did become only the fourth player ever to win a Championship and an Olympic gold medal in the same season, joining Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and LeBron James.
Kyrie Irving joins MJ, Scottie, & LeBron as only people to win NBA title & Olympic gold medal for #USA in same year. pic.twitter.com/32ljjuH0RP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 21, 2016
The game itself wasn’t really in doubt after a low scoring first quarter that saw the US take a 19-15 lead on a KD triple. The Americans went on to blow the doors off of Serbia with a 33-14 second quarter to take a 23 point lead into halftime. Defense was a factor, as the US held the Serbs to 38% shooting and a paltry 17% (4-24) from beyond the arc. They also demolished Serbia on the glass, 54-33 and actually used quite a bit of ball movement to get the offense rolling early and often. Only two Serbians made it to double digits (and that was mainly thanks to garbage time buckets), as the US held star Milos Teodosic to just nine points and Nikola Jokic (who broke out against the US in their first matchup) to just six.
In the end, there was plenty of time to reflect on the storied Olympic careers of both Melo, who officially retired from International play following the game, effectively passing the torch to the next generation of American stars, and of Coach Mike Krzyzewski who finished his run at the head of USA basketball on a 76 game winning streak. It will remain to be seen what players will step in to take the challenge in 2020 in Tokyo when Gregg Popovich takes the reins. It’s undeniable though the impact and legacy Coach K has left on the International game… and the impact it’s had on him…
“It’s been the ultimate honor of my life in coaching,” Coach K said this week, “and I’ve coached for 41 years.”
That wraps things up for the 2016 Olympics, and as Nate mentioned on the Live Thread, puts a perfect cap on this almost endless Cavalier Summer. You’ll have to just hang in there for the next six weeks until training camp starts up again… but in the meantime, we’ll do our best to keep you entertained until the Cavs get set to defend their title.
Strength in number…??????
I’d be so embarrassed to be a fan of Fraud Team
Cavs still Champs.
EVIL YOU DESERVE A “GOLD MEDAL ” FOR YOUR OLYMPIC COVERAGE !!
Something like this?
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/321576589980-0-1/s-l1000.jpg
EG, thanks for your work on the Olympics. Great analysis. Thinking ahead, I wonder if Kyrie’s ascension will continue under Pop. Coach K clearly had a soft spot for his old recruit (he started all 9 games at FIBA ’14), but it also seems that FIBA rules and Kyrie match up well. I don’t know enough about basketball to know why.
I wonder if both Kyrie and LBJ would play together in 2020… maybe Kev too?
I think LBJ is done for olympics as he will approach more advanced age and focus would be to prolong NBA career. Melo could go every year as his season usually ends in April.
But, melo retired ofcourse.
Even four years from now, LeBron will be among the best in the NBA. Fraudboy will still be having nightmares.
I was thinking about Love and what he brings to the international game. Shooting, footwark, smart passing–he seems a good fit. He would also do better against the more average athleticism of the FIBA. LeBron is good in any situation, but I don’t see FIBA as his greatest area of strength. However, I sense he has FOMO and loves cavorting with other star athletes. That and the chance to play for Pop, leads him to sign up. Would be funny to see four starters for the dubs and three from the Cavs on the same team, no?
And yes, yoeman’s work by EG on the Olympic coverage. Fantastic job the last two weeks, Evil one.
Thanks Nate! It was fun to watch the team come together…
Happy to see Paul George up on the podium
Funny stuff, from the Ringer (and note that the loudest voices on this blog wanted to trade this guy) https://theringer.com/team-usa-stock-watch-melo-way-up-9c59d9dfdf03#.h950j9www Shea Serrano: Nobody showed up in Rio with less to lose than Kyrie Irving, which, if we’re measuring it precisely, was nothing to lose. That’s what happens when you’re the person who hits the shot that wins your haunted and beleaguered franchise the most improbable championship in NBA history. He could’ve gone 0-for-40 in the gold-medal game. He could’ve actively and openly tried to help teams beat USA. He could’ve picked up the ball in the middle of the Olympics… Read more »
For the 900th time. No one wanted to trade Kyrie. We were afraid the Cavs would have to trade him if he didn’t play better. He did. We’re all happy.
The thing is though, is when I’m wrong, like about Tristan Thompson, I say, “That was dumb, I suck”. You still have not admitted to being completely wrong. All you have to do is say, “I was wrong to want to trade Kyrie and start Delly, that was dumb, I suck.”
Then just maybe I’ll stop bringing it up. Learn from your mistakes.
Nobody was arguing to start Delly. That’s your own fantasy slant on the debate. Go back and read the old blogs. The criticism was that Kyrie was no good at system basketball. There was discussion about how to improve the Cavs system because Lebron in particular ever since leaving Miami seemed intent on playing in a system where the team wasn’t overly dependent on him.
When there was trade talk it was Kyrie for Chris Paul.
Oh-Oh! Cols is off his meds again.
Cavs are the best team in the NBA. Champs!!!
Evil, you’re working too hard, man! But thanks for all the Olympics coverage.
Ah, I was watching the games anyway, so happy to recap them…
NBA champions and gold medalist Kyrie Irving. What a year!
Can’t even begin to imagine how proud Kyrie’s old man is right now. To think all those hours of schooling his son’s ass in the driveway paid off in this way: millionaire, NBA champion, Gold medalist. What’s next for Uncle Drew?
Congrats kyrie what a great year your a golden child and nba champion you got the ring and the medal yeah uncle drew this year comeback like bat out of hell your growth will propel the cavs defend what is rightfully yours. Never underestimate the heart of a champion!