The first semi-final of the men’s basketball team at the Tokyo Olympics closed at noon on August 5. The US team defeated the Australian team 97-78 and took the lead in getting tickets to the final.
In this Olympics, the US team did not send the strongest lineup. The five superstars James, Curry, Harden, Leonard, and Davis were absent. Durant became the biggest star.
Durant (middle) and his teammates high-five
The U.S. team’s offensive firepower has declined, and the field is very focused on defense. Although Durant is a scoring machine, he spares no effort on the defensive end, blocking and stealing.
These players of the Australian team play together all year round, and the degree of tacit understanding is obviously higher than that of the American team. Under the leadership of Mills and Ingles, the “Kangaroo Army” beat the American team with a wave of “three-point rain”.
Although the American players were well-defensive, they couldn’t stop the opponent’s fiery touch. The Australian team once led 41-26 in the second quarter. Ingles, Ixum, and Goulding each made two three-pointers. The United States missed all the first 10 three-pointers, and it was not until the 11th shot that the Suns star Booker made it.
Before the end of the second quarter, Durant led the US team to an offensive climax, narrowing the point difference to 42 to 45. Durant scored 15 points in the first half, becoming the only player on the U.S. team to reach double digits. The U.S. team made a cold three-pointer and made 2 of 13 shots in the first half.
U.S. coach Popovich
After the beginning of the third quarter, Durant made consecutive mid-range shots, and his high shots made opponents helpless. Luck also sided with the US team. Australian team center Langdale dribbled the ball out of Durant’s foot, but the referee awarded the ball to the US team. In the men’s basketball games of the Olympic Games, the head coach does not have the authority to challenge the penalties, and there is no video playback.
Mills played for the Spurs under the leadership of US coach Popovich for 10 seasons, and only joined Durant’s Nets on August 4. Popovich’s overall restrictions on his former disciples were more successful. Although Mills could score, his shooting percentage was low.
Holiday is one of the leading stars of the new NBA champion Bucks. He not only guarded Mills, but also scored consecutively in the third quarter.
The U.S. team started “three-point rain” in the third quarter. Booker, Durant, and Tatum each made three-pointers. Using a 32-10 offensive frenzy, the U.S. team took a 74-55 lead. The advantage enters the fourth quarter. The game lost its suspense ahead of schedule, and only LaVine, the former slam dunk contest champion, performed his unique skills one after another.
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Post time: Aug-06-2021