Aug

22

Team USA Heads To Finals Beat Argentina 101-81

Posted by Jeff Sack under Slam Dunk Olympics Central 

The “Redeem Team” the 2008 Team USA Men’s Basketball squad, is one win away from accomplishing their mission. Not only to win the Gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, but to win back the respect of the rest of the planet. The Americans will take on Spain this Sunday in the Gold Medal game after defeating 2004 Gold Medal winners Argentina Friday 101-81. The victory for the United States also helps take away some of the sting to losing to the Argentinians in the 2002 World Championships, and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Team USA came out of the gate on fire as they grabbed a 30-11 lead at the end of the first period. Argentina not only lost the quarter, but more importantly they lost their leader and best player Manu Ginobili who injured his left ankle again in the first quarter. The injury was so severe that Ginobili never returned, taking Argentina’s best chance of winning with him. However the way that Team USA is playing currently, it would have been a tough task for even the Argentinians at full strength to have won this contest.

Argentina was able to cut their deficit to 49-40 as the game reached the half. Team USA came out of the locker room in the third quarter and dominated once again building their lead back to 78-64 at the end of the period. The squad from South America was not a threat in the final quarter.

Carmelo Anthony led six players in double figures for Team USA, as he scored 21 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block 1 steal, in the semi-finals victory. LeBron James scored 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, Kobe Bryant, who is so popular in China that he could probably be elected Premier ( could you imagine that, Chairman Kobe?) was one of three players with 12 points, he also had 2 rebounds, 2 steals,1 assist. Dwyane Wade came off the bench with 12  points, 1 assist, 1 steal, Chris Paul also came in off the pine and scored 12 points, 3 steals, 3 rebounds, 2  assists. Chris Bosh recorded a double-double, as he scored 11 points, and grabbed 10 boards, 1 block, Dwight Howard just missed a double-double as he scored 10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal.

Argentina was led by Luis Scola who also recorded a double-double, a game high 28 points, 11 boards, 2 blocks, 2 steals, in the loss. Team USA will take on the Spanish National team Sunday for the Gold Medal. The two teams met earlier in the Tournament, as Team USA won convincingly 119-82.

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