Team USA 116, Australia 85: Instant Analysis
Kobe Bryant (photo. Chris Sembrot)Why Team USA won: Threes. No, really, and Michael Redd wasn’t even involved. Holding a shaky nine-point lead with a few seconds left in the first half, Deron Williams stepped up and drilled a triple at the buzzer to send Australia into the locker room down 12. After the break, Kobe (23 pts) and Carmelo (15 pts) opened the second half with back-to-back triples that stretched the margin to 18. Kobe’s old-fashioned three-pointer (reverse layup plus-one) a few minutes later, followed by another three of his own, capped a 14-0 third-quarter run that effectively ended it.
Why Australia lost: If the Boomers had been able to make a few more layups early on, they might have been in the lead at the end of the first quarter and maybe even at halftime. After that, anything was possible. Instead, blowing easy opportunities left the door (and the lane) open for Team USA to drive right through and grab a double-digit halftime lead. And as we’ve seen all tournament long, the Americans treat the second half of these games like Mariano Rivera treats the 9th inning; they slam the door shut.
Looking ahead: As we write this, Argentina and Greece are preparing to tip-off for the right to face the U.S. in the semis. Greece has proven to be less of a threat than everyone thought going into the Olympics, while Argentina hasn’t looked as strong as expected despite some monster performances from Manu Ginobili and Luis Scola in the opening round.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Izzy says:
GO USA!
August 20th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Tha Boddy says:
Team U.S.A Gold all the way!!!
August 20th, 2008 at 9:48 am
sans says:
Seriously, the class of the 08 draft could have taken the Aussie’s in the 2nd half.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Nique says:
Thats whats up! We need to keep going hard, we aint got the medal yet.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:51 am
sans says:
the best comment on nbcolympics.com text commentary: “Nielsen is banging and doesn’t look like he would mind fighting one of the US players.” At least Australia played the game out, unlike a lot of squads out there.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Kobeef says:
Nice work by the Redeem team. If they don’t win Gold at this point it will be a massive upset.
Manuflops is gonna get more than he wants from Kobe.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Big V says:
Just give us the gold, son.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Big V says:
They should add these international squads to NBA 2K9.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Allan says:
This was the toughest and most physically challenging game for the US team but they pulled through. I want Argentina to win over Greece and setting up a rematch with the US. Argentina is not as physical as Australia but more fluid on offense and lots of veteran players to trump the athleticism of the US. This will be another redeem game for US against teams that have defeated them in the past. But with the way the US is playing, whether you play physical or smart Euroball like the Spaniards it won’t do little with the onslaught led by Lebron . .
August 20th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Young Lebron 23 says:
Lebron is offically the best player in the world…
Looking ahead at 2012 olympics in London, during the telecast they said that some NBA rules will be in place. A longer three point line (slightly) and a rectangular lane. More domination.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:19 am
the mamba says:
Argentina will be a tough game, hope everyone comes ready from the start.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Ashlov says:
Foster’s, Australian for, “We got bent.”
August 20th, 2008 at 10:36 am
doc says:
Argentina will be a ass whipping.There is no tough opponent.The only thing that can stop this train is the conductor and he gonna let them run to the gold.I hope we play Balky and them next because I dont want nobody saying they could’ve beat this team.We get to play and smash everybody.Good job Boomers yall get that good 5th-7th place ribbon.Thats the first time I ever heard of a shaky 9 point lead.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Michorizo says:
If the Spaniards are caught talking like Australians will Paul Gasol have to apologize again?
August 20th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Ashlov says:
I’m praying that we get Argentina. They need to get the hot beef injection, too. Everybody gets some!
August 20th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Allan says:
Everybody will get some. Those teams that rejoiced at each defeat the US has had to endure over the years will get some, mark my words! This team is destined to really be the redeem team, the way they are peaking with each passing game is a sight to behold and now Kobe is back as Kobe after missing in action for a few games, well, I can only say goodluck to all the opposition.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:52 am
BxBaller says:
Australia got they ASS whooped. Yo what was up with that Miles cat, dude was chucking everytime he got the rock. I hope we Argentina too, cause we already beat down Greece. Plus all the USA haters are hoping that Argentina can beat us.
2 more wins to the Gold.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Ian says:
doc
i think argentina can give the us a game
ill be close
August 20th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Allan says:
Argentina can barely hang with Spain and Greece! Let me tell you this, we have all been saying that the world has caught up because international players play team ball and can shoot, plus they hide behind the FIBA rules and refs to make them seem more formidable against American teams. This was the past. This day and age it is the Americans’ turn to catch up to the FIBA rules and team ball and now that they’ve reached that level of understanding and appreciation I doubt if the US will ever be down again like they were in 2004 olympics, 2000 and 2006 world championships ! Lebron is now so motivated to be part of the team that he will again be with the core team of Wade, Melo, Bosh, CP3, Howard and Deron to lead the US again in the 2010 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics !
August 20th, 2008 at 11:14 am
doc says:
@ian-I respect your opinion dog but we aint giving out nothing but grade A ass beatings in this tourney.The close games was for the exhibitions.We focused on a goal and really CARE about this Olympics.And you know when we care about this sport its a wrap for all other comers.I say it reaches 30 points.They might close it to 20 at garbage time when the Human victory cigar AKA Boozer is at play out there.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Batman says:
Half-time score doesn’t seem to matter, the other teams go all out to keep it close and get worn down in the 2nd half, and the US just blows them out in the 3rd Q, just like the Spurs or this year’s Celtics…Popavich would be proud.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Luigi says:
Kobe went Hibachi when he just jacked up a 3.. like 4 ft beyond the 3 pt line while a man in his face….
DAZ SOME SWAGGGGG!
but we’re peaking at the right time so we should win gold…unless my fav player not in the NBA. or in the olympics right now Ricky Rubio has something to say about that…
n team USA had some ridicoulus plays like when LeBron decided to go “Cleveland” on AUS…n he just bulldozed AT WILL to the RIM!
n Kobe…he had this move..he faked the behind the back pass. totally broke his ankles..n layed it up..dat wuz NAASTTTTYY MAN!!.
n 1 sequence when it was a fast break [both teams] Future Stud..AI of the Future..Patty Mills. stole the ball from Chris Bosh n went coast 2 coast..so fast..haha n the very next inbound. the Aussies 4 get to play D. n Kidd to Prince for an alley. dat wuz sicck
August 20th, 2008 at 11:48 am
sumthinfresh says:
the argentina/ greece game is seriously competitive … 3 point game with a minute left
August 20th, 2008 at 11:54 am
sumthinfresh says:
looks like we got argentina on friday … stupid 3 attempt by greece at the end – shoulda tried to send it to OT with a 2
August 20th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Dagomar says:
Damn, so happy to see a monster game from Kobe Bryant! Now Team USA really does have all cylinders clicking at the same time. Lebron was a beast as well, not sure how he’s consistantly outrebounding Howard, but he is. All credit to Australia though, they played hard, they executed, and they got the best result they could have hoped for. It’s a shame that the Aussies had to play the Americans so early; I think they could and probably should have medaled.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Dagomar says:
By the way, in my dream world Kobe and Lebron would play on the same team in the NBA. Probably wouldn’t work in the long run, but what a sight to see that would be.
August 20th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
AB_40 says:
it was the third quarter the D went up a few notches, I was tellin ma boy that they was gonna make a run… what happended? 13-0 run I rest my case.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Ian says:
doc
im not sayin team usa is losin but that argentina might be the only team that puts up a game vs them
spain would get wooped again
August 20th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
weezy f says:
is there anywhere we can see the highlights