US Hoopsters brutalize Australia, two games away from gold

Australia was the latest darling of the European sports media (along with ESPN “anyone but the Americans” cheerleader Chris Sheridan) that was supposed to give Dream Team 2.0 their toughest test and possibly pull the upset.  If that’s the International community’s “best shot” they might as well make like softball, call the Olympics over under a “mercy rule” and award the Gold Medals to the American hoopsters now.

Somehow the aforementioned media types are granting the Aussies a “moral victory” for only being down by 12 at the half.  Not much of a “silver lining”, as the US  Once again, the US defense was suffocating, holding their opponents to 42% shooting and limiting Australia’s best player—Andrew Bogut—to 4 points.  Obviously not aware of the “moral victory” storyline, the US offense ripped the Aussies for 116 points on 56% shooting.  Kobe Bryant was the offensive catalyst this time with 25 points and after that it was the same old story:  balanced scoring from the best basketball team on the planet with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Deron Wiliams and Carmello Anthony each adding double digits.  outscored the Australians 61-42 in the second half to win easily 116-85.

Once again the insane US depth allowed them to limit their starters’ minutes—Kobe and LeBron were the only players to log more than 20 minutes—and that doesn’t make the task of their semifinal opponents from Argentina any easier.  Neither does the fact that Argentina beat the US in the silver medal game four years ago, at least if their performance against Greece is any indication.  Seeking revenge, the American players stared down their Greek opponents before that game like boxers before a championship fight.   With no hope for a “lookahead”, Argentina will get a focused and apparently somewhat pissed off US team on Friday night.

The International media also took some solace that the Aussies “had no fear” of the Americans and committed several hard fouls, most notably by Mark Worthington late in the second half that infuriated LeBron James.  And as the US has shown previously in the Olympics, “making them mad” isn’t exactly the best strategy—the Americans came out smoking to open the 2nd half, going on a 14-0 run keyed by 9 points from Kobe Bryant to put the game on ice.

In the other semifinal bracket, Spain will meet Lithuania for the right to compete in the gold medal game.  The Americans have already hammered Spain in the preliminary rounds.  Though the international media is “late to the party” the reality is starting to sink in that the only real shot against the US is for them “to beat themselves”.  Unfortunately, they’ve looked determined and focused meaning they’re a prohibitive favorite to reclaim the gold medal.