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SAITAMA, Japan – When the United States men’s basketball team is strengthened – defense, rebounds, ball movement, three-point shot – there isn’t a team here at the Olympics that can beat them.
Americans are so good when they’re good they don’t even have to be good for 40 minutes. At least not yet.
The United States went on a 28-4 8:20 streak that ended halftime to take control of the semi-finals en route to a 97-78 victory over a talented Aussie team.
Saturday morning here, but Friday night in the United States (10:30 p.m. ET), they will seek their 16th gold in 19 Olympic appearances, including four in a row. Assured of at least one silver medal, they have continued their streak of medals at every Olympic Games they have competed in.
The United States will face either a French team that beat them at the start of these Games, or a Slovenian club led by Luka Doncic. These two teams will play later Thursday here in Japan.
Seeming lost in defense and lagged in attack, the Americans fell into a 15-point hole in the second quarter against Australia. But a timeout by Gregg Popovich changed the game of Americans and the direction of the game.
“Our defense was pretty bad,” Popovich said. “It kind of carried over to the offensive end. Each of us was going to save the day, so the ball kind of stopped. We reported it and they responded. … I thank them for understanding the game as they do and for accepting the truth. These guys want the truth. And they reacted to it. “
Kevin Durant led the Americans with 23 points and was able to rest for much of the second half as the game spiraled out of control. Devin Booker added 20 and Jrue Holiday 11.
More importantly, the United States played a much better defense, forbidding the Australians to take wide open three or cut safely at the net. Patty Mills had 15 and Danta Exum had 14 for the Australians, who many believed to be the Americans’ fiercest competition here.
“[Defense] fueled our offensive, ”Popovich said. “We did pretty well. “
After this big deficit in the second half, the United States closed the match by outsourcing Australia by 37 points.
Slow starts, then hot runs, were an American hallmark during those games. They have found themselves forced to reverse early deficits in four of their five games so far.
Against the Czech Republic, they made 21 of 25 shots at one point. They had an 18-4 streak to open the quarter-finals against Spain. Even in their loss to France, they used strong streaks of play to build up four distinct leads of eight or more points, to let them all slip away.
And now that has turned a tense early game and a halftime deficit into a relatively easy win.
Another game for gold for the Americans. They may even need to play well the entire game. Or not.
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