Another game, another rout.
The United States men's basketball team has looked unbeatable at the Beijing Olympics.
The latest evidence came Wednesday with a 116-85 spanking of Australia at Wukesong Basketball Gymnasium.
That put the United States into Friday's semifinals against Argentina, an 80-78 winner over Greece.
Now 6-0 in Beijing, the United States is winning by an average of 32 points. It seems the only team that can stop Team USA is Team USA.
Tayshaun Prince, the former University of Kentucky and current Detroit Pistons standout, doesn't foresee a slip.
”We're not overlooking nobody. You know why? Because we play the same way every game,“
he said. ”We tried some different things in exhibition play, but once we got here at the Olympics we've really been playing the same way. Everybody's been playing hard and aggressive. So we're gonna go down fighting, no matter what.“
Australia hung around for much of the first half. Trailing by nine points early in the first quarter, the Aussies rallied to tie at 21. But they never took the lead.
Australia was still within seven, 50-43, late in the first half. But Team USA closed the half with a 5-0 run and opened the second half by scoring the first 14 points to pump the lead up to 69-43.
Kobe Bryant scored with 25 seconds left in the half and, after an Aussie miss, Deron Williams nailed a three-pointer just before the buzzer sounded.
Bryant had nine of the first 14 points in the second half. Carmelo Anthony added a three-pointer and Jason Kidd scored in transition.
Bryant finished with 25 points. LeBron James had 16 points and nine rebounds. Carmelo Anthony scored 15. Deron Williams and Chris Bosh each added 10.
Prince had nine points, a rebound and a steal, playing 13 minutes.
”Australia tested us in the first half like they did in the last game, in that exhibition,“
said Prince, referring to an 87-76 win Aug. 5 at Shanghai. ”I think that out of all the teams that we've played so far, they run their offense the best. And I think they do a good job of really moving the ball, setting a lot of screens, back screens, and trying to get you to fall apart with the 24 seconds."
”I think that's why they stood around so much, as opposed to other teams we played — when we get out early and get steals and things like that, they break apart a little easier than Australia does. Australia, their coach does a great job of keeping them together, try to keep them running their offense. ... They're very versatile. They've got bigs, they've got shooters, they've got drivers. Other teams have one or the other. I think them and Argentina are the two teams that have a little bit of everything, to where you have to be solid on defense.“
Over six games, Prince is averaging just less than 13 minutes off the bench. He has 28 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block with only two turnovers.
”The toughest part is trying to come in and really respond and help the team in any way you can. Especially for the guys who ... are starters in this league and haven't really experienced coming off the bench,“
he said. ”This is obviously a surprise, but we know what's at stake. And, obviously, the caliber of guys that we have, we just have to be ready. And I think today I was ready. I think in the games I have been ready, whether it's shooting the basketball or playing some defense or doing whatever. So I've just got to continue to stay ready.“
Australia (3-3) was led by Patrick Mills with 20 points. Glen Saville had 13, Joe Ingles 11 and Brad Newley 10.
The Aussies were beaten badly on the backboards, 57-28. Team USA shot 43-for-76 (57 percent) from two-point range and 12-for-29 (41 percent) from long distance, but an unimpressive 18-for-31 (58 percent) at the free-throw line.
”Obviously, tomorrow we've got to get in the gym and shoot some free throws. I think that's the only thing that we really didn't do well today,“
Prince said. ”But we shot the ball well. We did what we wanted, attacking the rim, 57 rebounds. ... We've got to have teams play our style, and I think once we opened the game up, we started to play our basketball.“
