PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 6: Jrue Holiday #12, Lebron James #6, Joel Embiid #11, Jayson Tatum #10 and Stephen Curry #4 of Team United States celebrate as Team Brazil’s Didi Louzada #7 looks at a men’s jersey Basketball quarterfinal match between Team United States and Team Brazil on Day 11 of the Paris 2024 Olympics at Bercy Arena on 6 August 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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With its stacked roster (LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards and All-Stars at every turn), it will be difficult for the 2024 edition of Team USA to live up to expectations of the Dream Team level.
They have.
USA Basketball went 3-0 at the organizational level at the Paris Olympics, winning by an average of 21. 4 points per game and without being in danger.
However, none of that is an issue now: we are in the knockout phase of the men’s basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics. Win or go home. As anyone who has ever held a workplace position for NCAA basketball tournaments will tell you, there is a threat in a single-game scenario.
The United States’ clever play has earned them a seeding spot and a place in the quarterfinals against eighth-seeded Brazil, a team that struggled to score and earned a 1-2 score in the group.
Win this game on Tuesday and the United States will advance to face Nikola Jokic and Serbia in the medal/semifinal round (a team the United States beat twice last month by 26 numbers each time). First, the United States will have to take care of its own business vis-à-vis Brazil.
Follow all the action here with our blog, and if you need to watch, turn on USA Network or stream on Peacock.
Steve Kerr hasn’t replaced the fundamental formula coach Mike Krzyzewski laid out with the 2008 Redeem team: The United States has far more athleticism than any other team, so on defense, turn it into upside-down transition buckets and no team overall. can stay awake.
Brazil failed to do so, so the United States moved into the medal round with a 122-87 victory on Tuesday.
Despite all the rumors that Kevin Durant has become USA Basketball’s all-time leading scorer (surpassing Lisa Leslie for the crown in that game), or LeBron James’ assists, or Devin Booker’s 18 trouble and natural shots, it was the defense that won United. States. game and the basis of his good luck at the Paris Olympics.
The United States forced 15 turnovers (LeBron led the way with 3 steals) and kept Brazil under 40% shooting for most of the game (some trash time periods saw their percentage increase in the final surface score). This allowed the United States to do its homework in the other direction. Center Joel Embiid had 14 problems in the first half, but some of them came on third down after Brazil struggled in transition. United States even came up short in the ratings, getting things like a Booker 3 plus foul.
It was the stops and quick breaks that allowed the United States to close out the first half with a 15-0 run on Tuesday, a stretch that put the United States up 27 in halftime and all but ended the game.
It would arguably be harder for the United States to pull it off against a more disciplined (and, frankly, just better) Serbian team on Thursday, but the United States knows the plan.
The United States will face Nikola Jokic and Serbia for the third time in a month (the United States won the first two with a total of 52 points), but this time with the possibility of playing for gold at stake.
The United States and Serbia semifinal is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 8 at 3 p. m. Eastern Time.
You can stream this game on Peacock. Earlier (11:30 a. m. ET), Germany will face hosts France in the other semifinal.
It’s over. Officially. It has been over since approximately halftime.
The United States defeats Brazil 122-87 to advance to the medal rounds of the Paris Olympics, where they will face Nikola Jokic and Serbia to play for gold.
Devin Booker led the United States with 18 points, Anthony Edwards took the lead as he scored 17, while Joel Embiid scored all 14 of his points in a dominant first half. LeBron James finished with 12 points, nine assists and three rebounds. Anthony Davis went up thirteen with 8 rebounds.
Former Raptor (and Rocket, King and Grizzlies) Bruno Caboclo led Brazil with 30, but the Brazilians struggled to score well or slow down the U. S. attack. The U. S. The U. S. forced turnovers (15) and were given stops, then allowed in transition, and so was the ball game.
That’s the biggest concern the United States faced on Tuesday: LeBron James, who was the U. S. Olympic MVP, went to the locker room in the third quarter on Tuesday after accidentally taking an elbow to the face from Brazil.
LeBron is back and the United States cruises along, leading 117-85 at the end. The United States got carried away by this attack and never looked back. It’s time to begin a circular medal showdown with Serbia, a rematch of the first organization game for the United States.
The United States took this entire quarterfinal match of the Paris Olympics with a 15-0 run to close the first half and did not look back.
The United States led 98-71 with 8 minutes remaining in this game and the only question was how much trouble the United States ended up with.
Devin Booker leads the United States with 18, Joel Embiid has 14 (all in the first half), Anthony Davis has thirteen and LeBron has 12 problems and nine assists.
Kevin Durant is now USA Basketball’s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Hall of Famer Lisa Leslie.
Paris is Durant’s fourth Olympic Games. KD is a natural basketball player: he loves the game and the demanding situations at that level. USA Basketball gives him that, in practices against guys like LeBron or Jayson Tatum, as well as on the foreign stage. He also spoke of enjoying representing his nation.
The Olympics are what Durant is all about, and it shows.
Anthony Davis dominates the defense, but now he also has the offensive focus of the game against Brazil.
That’s bad, AD.
This illustrates the intensity of the American team: Devin Booker scored nine points in the first quarter, then touched the court in the moment (United States pulled away).
Booker returned early in the third quarter, made a pair more 3-pointers and is now 15 points and 4-of-6 of 3. It now leads the United States in terms of scoring.
The United States leads 79-53 midway through the third quarter. Brazil simply can’t pull off consistent saves.
Today’s statistic between the United States and Brazil (courtesy of AP’s Tim Reynolds):
The United States was down to 25 in the first half when LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Jrue Holiday were on the court together.
This trio has 33 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. To be fair, the U. S. The U. S. still has 2 minutes that this organization hasn’t played together, but Kerr figured out something that worked for this game and he’s going to stick with it.
This is what USA Basketball looks like: LeBron James throws to Jayson Tatum.
It’s an off-limits activity that few groups in the world can simply stop.
The United States responded to Brazil’s second-quarter loss with a 15-0 score and was complete at halftime, 63-36.
Although the United States’ offense was impressive, with a 50% approval rating overall and 6-of-12 out of 3 as a team, it was the defense that made the difference. The United States forced 10 Brazilian turnovers and limited them to 34 percent shooting, allowing the United States to pass out and run. No one can prevent the United States from holding a public hearing.
Embiid leads the United States with 14 goals, taking 3 of 3 from deep. LeBron James has 10 points and eight assists, while Devin Booker has nine (all in the first quarter). Stephen Curry added 7 with some 3-pointers.
If the United States has approximately 20 additional minutes, they will advance to the medal (against Serbia).
LeBron James – at 39 years old in his last Olympic Games – the NBA MVP. Probably the MVP of the Olympic Games.
He moved to the United States after the Brazil run and did so with his vision and IQ: LeBron had seven assists in the first half, many of which were dimes to players like Jrue Holiday and Stephen Curry.
Embiid leads the United States with 14 goals (adding 3 of 3 from beyond the arc) and the United States leads again with 19, 55-36, with less than two minutes left in the first half.
We said it before the attack (scroll down): if Brazil needs to beat the United States, it is because the Americans lose and defeat themselves.
Welcome to the fourth, where a pair of United States turnovers and Brazil 3-pointers pushed the South Americans to a 10-0 run, turning the United States’ 19-point lead into a single-digit game, ultimately 42-34.
Whether it’s win or go home, United States has to mind its own business. Now it’s time for LeBron or else to calm down the United States.
Brazil is led by former Laker Marcelinho Huertas (nine points, 3 assists) and Lucas Dias (eight points).
Steve Kerr takes seven NBA All-Stars off the bench. This insane intensity, which depends on guys like Anthony Edwards and Anthony Davis, is too much for teams.
That’s too much for Brazil. Edwards, who leads the United States in scoring, has five off the bench.
The United States leads 40-26, a lead that reached 19 with some baskets by Brazil (and a timeout by Kerr).
Nothing changes a coach more than a foul on a shooter, especially when that shooter is Devin Booker. The Suns star scored 4 points, one of the main reasons why he scored nine to lead the United States in the first quarter.
The first quarter statistic: The United States shot 62% and four of 7 from 3 as a team.
It’s hard to beat that kind of offense, which is why the United States leads 33-21 after a quarter in Paris. Devin Booker led with nine points, adding a 4-point play. Joel Embiid has 8 and that includes some 3-pointers. LeBron James has four problems and five assists in the first.
The United States is too athletic for Brazilians, which prevents them from going running. I don’t know how Brazil will be able to buck the trend when the intensity of the United States begins to take over.
Joel Embiid objected to Brazil offering rebounding and defense instead of a physical front line; he did that and much more.
Embiid temporarily scored 8 points, added two three-pointers, grabbed 3 early rebounds and a force all over the court.
The United States led 27-14 with 3 minutes left in the first quarter, and they only depended on their strong point: the bench.
The American team is much more athletic than Brazil and showed it early with baskets, cuts to the rim by Stephen Curry and LeBron James, and even a dunk by Jrue Holiday.
Add in a Devin Booker transition and the United States takes an early 16-6 lead.
Brazil will depend on some players with solid experience in the NBA and on the international scene to win against the United States.
The Five from Brazil:
• Marcelo Huertas • Raúl Neto • Gui Santos • Bruno Caboclo • Leo Meindl
The keys for them will be the 41-year-old former Laker Huertas and the former Raptor Caboclo, who want to be huge to have a chance.
Steve Kerr named the starting five for the US team against Brazil and it is the same as the opening match of the Olympics against Serbia:
Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
He is a defensive and athletic five who will look to overwhelm Brazil from the first kick-off.
USA Basketball looked dominant over the course of three games in Paris, thanks in large part to its intensity: Steve Kerr brings five NBA All-Stars off the bench in every game.
All of this skill helps keep American players’ individual statistics a little below those of other nations, but makes them harder to beat. However, let’s analyze the statistics of the American team in the organization stage:
Points consistent with match1. Antonio Edwards 16. 72. Kevin Durant 163. LeBron James 14. 3
Rebounds consistent with the game 1. Jayson Tatum 7. 52. Anthony Davis 73. LeBron James 6. 7
Assists consistent with the game 1. LeBron James 7. 32. Devin Booker 4. 32. Stephen Curry 2. 7
Percentage of good fortune in the field1. LeBron James 64. 3%2. Kevin Durant 63. 6%3. Antonio Edwards 63. 3%
Canada had hoped for a medal in Paris, but returned home without any equipment, frustrated by Victor Wembanyama and hosted France 82-73 on a night where the lack of shots (23. 8% of the three-pointers on the night) and the movement of the ball through the Canadians took a heavy toll. .
The stars of Team Canada, along with coach Jordi Fernandez, were brutally fair after the match about the lack of quality play around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
• Gilgeous-Alexander: “For the most part, we’ve understood the mission. Tonight, we didn’t.
• Gilgeous-Alexander: “They played better than us. They played more than us. . . That’s what happens when you let groups get off to a smart start.
• Lu Dort: “We had difficulties executing our projects. (France) made some difficult shots and we had to take them.
• Fernández: “Offensively, I consider it our maximum egocentric game. We did not give percentages of the ball.
• Fernández: “We don’t fit in with his power and his physique. »
All of them talked about the fact that in 4 years the Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles.
Could Brazil disappoint the United States?
Everything is possible. However, let’s be honest, the United States struggles by looking beyond this adjustment and facing Serbia in the next round, something this veteran American team is unlikely to do.
Brazil stands out for being internal physicality and hitting the offensive glass, averaging thirteen offensive rebounds consistent with the game. The United States has had moments of defensive weakness so far and will want to focus on capturing the defensive panels. Brazil also excelled in shots beyond the arc, achieving an Olympic record of 45. 3 percent out of every three games.
If Brazil can find enough offense by hitting their three-pointers and grabbing offensive spaces on their misses, if leading scorer Vitor Benite and most productive player Bruno Caboclo (the former Raptor) can warm up, Brazil can stay close. Maybe.
France made the adjustment: Four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert was benched (he played less than four minutes, in part because of a finger injury). Facing a small and fast Canadian team, France did not need to be big and slow, so they left Victor Wembanyama alone in the paint and relied heavily on former Celtic Guerschon Yabusele.
Worked. Brilliantly.
Yabusele finished with 22 points, former Hawks second-round pick Isaia Cordinier, starting in Evan Fournier’s position, scored 20 and the French shut down the Canadian offense and led head-to-head to win 82-73 and advance to the medal. round.
Evan Fournier had 15 on the bench for the host country, which played before a packed, rocking crowd.
It was a brutal loss for a Canadian team hoping to win a medal in Paris. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander himself was in the MVP spot and scored 27, but he didn’t get enough assists as the Canadiens’ lack of shooting came back to haunt him, hitting just 23. 8% of his threes in this one. Wembanyama and France turned that game into a half-court game and Canada simply didn’t have the space to make it work.
France will face Germany in the semi-finals.
I love this look at USA Basketball’s Mortal Kombat “Choose Your Fighter” vibe
Serbia entered the Olympics as one of the biggest threats to American hoops dominance and its chances of winning a fourth consecutive gold medal. However, going into Tuesday’s issues, it looked like they couldn’t even qualify for the medal round after Australia went 18-0 in the first half and trailed by 24 at one point in a round-of-16 matchup. Chicago Bull Josh Giddey (25 numbers) led a deep Boomers team that was in control.
Then Nikola Jokic arrived.
The three-time NBA MVP led and led a comeback, finishing with 21 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists as Serbia came back strong to force overtime and ultimately win 95-90. They advanced to the medal round, where they will face the Winner of the United States vs. match. Brazil. FIBA Patty Mills continues to be something special for Australia, she racked up 18 numbers and hit the basket that forced overtime.
Serbia has faced the United States twice (once in an exhibition in Abu Dhabi and once in the Olympics’ first organization-level match) and lost as many as 26 each time. Serbia has Jokic and Bogdan Bogdanovic (17 points, 6 assists). Serbia would likely stay close to the Americans when Jokic is on the field, but when he’s sitting, they struggle (which probably sounds familiar to Denver). fans).
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