Olympic Live Thread: USA vs. Serbia (#GoForGold)
2016-08-21After seven up and down contests, some blowouts… some nail-biters… but all victories, the United States men’s basketball team has reached the precipice of the goal they set at the beginning of these Olympic games. And, to come away with their third consecutive gold medal, all they have to do is get through a re-match with Serbia… the team that gave them arguably their toughest game in the tournament. If not for a missed wide open three attempt by Bogan Bogdanovic… who knows how that one might have ended, but the US escaped with a hard-fought three point victory.
The two teams square off once again with gold on the line today at 2:45 EST in the Carioca Arena in Rio as the 2016 Olympic games draw to a close. The Serbians should once again prove to be a worthy opponent for the Americans, although, if Team USA can display the type of gritty defense they showed against Spain, it should result in a more convincing win than last week.
Prediction: Coach K’s golden boys handle the Serbian uprising and pull away 101-84 to capture their third straight gold medal.
If you’re watching along, chime in with your two cents… And, if you’re looking for something to read in advance of the game, check out Marc Stein’s profile on Coach K in honor of this being his final FIBA and Olympic game.
GO USA!
What a year for Kyrie.
Didn’t see the blowout coming. But, did predict USA team score of 95 and Durant scoring big.
Great to see Team USA and coach K get gold.
ANY OLYMPIC PLAYER THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY ON AN NBA ROSTER THAT MY RECEIVE ATTENTION FROM SOME NBA TEAMS—?—–YOUR THOUGHTS / OPINIONS
CONGRATS KYRIE/ BEEN A HELLUVA SUMMER FOR YOU–RELAX COME BACK STRONG TO CAMP / AND ” LET’S GO GET # 2 “
Cavs’ endless basketball summer finally coming to a close. What a ride.
Nice that training camp is just around the corner…
It’s crazy how, between going to the finals in the spring and having players on an Olympic squad, we basically have no break from basketball this year.
Melo getting choked up in his post-game interview…
Well that game was anticlimactic. Good to see the U.S. raise the bar though. Gonna be interesting to see the top U.S. threats in the next few years. Gotta think maybe Lithuania with the Zinger. Spain, Argentina, so old now.
Aussies could be back with vengeance if Simmons plays… Can’t believe Canada can’t get it together with Wig, TT, etc.
Agreed.
Hahahaha. No one can come close to USA basketball. There are no rivals. It’s like the Cavs in the eastern conference.
The Zinger is Latvian. I think Croatia’s gonna be good. Australia’s got great young talent too. Canada ought to make the next Olympics.
Kluber wearing his Party at Napoli’s shirt in presser…
Classy by coach K thanking everyone.
Man: horrible weekend by the Aussies. Laid an egg against Serbia, and totally jobbed against Spain. Give Sergio credit for hitting the freebies, but man.
Melo Gold
http://www.friedas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Melogold_03.jpg
http://static.stereogum.com/blogs.dir/2/files/2014/02/Beck-Mellow-Gold-640×636.jpg
Random Cavs Tweet of the day…
https://twitter.com/JordyMac52/status/767456461291073536
Link didn’t work.
He deleted it and replaced with this…
https://twitter.com/JordyMac52/status/767457552409821185
Love the Monty Williams love. Want to see him get another head coach chance some day. Still the worst firing of the last five years.
Sub-par game from Kyrie, but not like the US needed him this game… Meanwhile, no Serbian player in double digits… Just a dominant performance by US… Saved the best for last…
Irving did a nice job of setting up the offense. He initiated some of the stuff that got KD going.
Foul trouble kept him off the floor for much of it though…
True.
Pretty good tournament for KI. He really tried to play like a pg and flashed some of his usual ridiculousness.
Agree… honestly, this was probably his worst game…
Here come’s HB. Gold medal garbage time!
Bogdonovic is a baller, but Jimmy Butler is his father. HUGE BLOCK.
The Cavs showed the long term plan for playing the Dubs: wear Steph out all game.
Hilarious…
https://twitter.com/Adam_Jacobi/status/767453947997003776
Training camp: six weeks away.
There’s little discusssion of who’s been the worst U.S. player: Barnes vs. Dray vs. DeRozan.
I’d say Barnes… DeRozan has had some flashes, and Dray still played D… Barnes is just terrible…
Thanks for the live thread, EG! I just caught up. Hell of a performance by the U.S. KD terrifies me going into next year.
He should terrify all NBA teams… He’s gonna have a lot of open shots…
Well, at least the Tribe game was exciting…
Only reason for KD to still be out there is the scoring record…
Bogdanovic 0-8/0-6 from three…
Screamin A spitting hot takes…
Kyrie picks up his fourth foul…
WHAT IS SINGLE GAME PT RECORD FOR USA—-DOESN’T MELO HAVE IT WITH 38 ?
It’s 37 by Melo in 2012… although KD did have 38 in a FIBA game in 2010…
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/19713912/carmelo-anthony-sets-us-mens-olympic-record-for-points
wow. Best play I’ve seen from the US. EG, can you vine it?
Looking for it… not many Vines of these games
“LIVE BY THE 3 PT SHOT —DIE BY IT ” —-HAVE HEARD THAT SAID BEFORE
Bogdanovic killing Serbia with his poor three point shooting…
MAN EVIL WITH THE ” MULTIPLE BLOGS ” ARE YOU ON SOME ENERGY DRINK (HA-HA )GREAT REPORTING/ COVERAGE AS USUAL —–HOW BIG IS THERE (SERBIA ) POST PLAYER —MAKES JORDAN LOOK SMALL ?
Yeah, he’s a big dude…
The KD takeover game?
KD is taking over
Wow… KD! Has he sat down yet?
Finally, some quality D
MACVAN/SERBIA—DRAFTED SAME YEAR AS KYRIE—ANY ROSTER SPOT FOR HIM ?
you have to imagine our shooting will improve. Missing foul shots in big games is so frustrating.
KD must have heard me…
Ugly game so far… lots of missed shots on both sides and turnovers…
KD cold from the outside thus far…
USA does not look good. Silver lining is that they are still close, playing like garbage.
Kyrie with the nice drive and float…
https://vine.co/v/5MLDietZzXF
USA has been really good on in-bounds plays… another one just now from Ky to Klay…
Lots of ISO so far with poor results…
kyrie needs to settle down a bit
DeAndre two big plays to save one possession…
Two turnovers to start… one each from Kyrie and KD…
Suffocating D is the key here. Paul George is my MVP prediction. Kyrie loves these big moments so look for him to have a big game–especially late.
Aussies pretty much robbed of a medal by ref. Then that should serve as warning to US, if you keep the game close anything can happen.
I am impressed by Serbia’s D, so they may keep the game within 10 pts. Durant need to come big. Coach K should quickly remove Melo and/or Cousins if they are off. Team may not get into any offensive rhythm. The whole team, the only pass first play maker is Draymond and he is not playing. My final score prediction, 96-89, Durant goes for 27.
http://ww3.hdnux.com/photos/44/53/74/9617178/5/920×920.jpg