Team USA's 105-78 semifinal win over Argentina on Wednesday dimmed the fears kindled by a too-close-for-comfort stretch of group play.But it didn't extinguish them.Still, credit the U.S. for finally making good on all the talkfrom the exhibition slate to nowof buckling down on D."Defensively is where we have to man up," Paul George told reportersafter Team USA sneaked away with a three-point win over Serbia on Friday."We can outscore teams," Klay Thompson told reporters after narrowly escaping against France on Sunday. "But that's not going to win us a gold. We've got to lock up, and we will."Finally, the Americans made the leap from acknowledging the problem to implementing a fix."We played with passion and energy tonight," Kevin Durant said on the NBC broadcast. "That was the big difference."Argentina shot 38 percent and saw its renowned offensive fluidity congeal as Team USA clamped down following yet another predictably lazy beginning. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski started DeAndre Jordan ahead of DeMarcus Cousins, likely searching for better rim protection, but the real game-changing stretch came when the U.S. replaced its weaker perimeter defenders with rangy wing stoppers.Paul George was omnipresent on D, short-circuiting Argentina's sets and forcing turnovers, as SB Nation's Mike Prada observed:Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry also contributed to a decisive 38-8 run spanning the first and second quarters, further underscoring how dangerous Team USA can be when it utilizes the right personnel. The plus-minus numbers from the first half show just how much more impactful America's defensive weapons were than their offense-only counterparts.A strategic tweak featuring more aggressive switching helped speed up the game, which always plays into Team USA's hands. And with superior defenders forcing Argentina into frantic play, the U.S.' most fearsome offensive artillery capitalized on the chaos.Durant led all scorers with 27 points on scorching 9-of-13 shooting, while Cousins obliterated Argentina's overmatched interior defensewhich is absolutely what should happen when Luis Scola plays the role of anchor.This was the kind of engaged, committed performance nervous supporters of Team USA had been waiting for. But let's be sure and qualify that relief, as ESPN.com's Kevin Pelton hinted:NBA.com's John Schuhmann also offered some important context:Because of its impotent defense and nonexistent rebounding, Argentina was never going to threaten an even minimally interested American squad. Although it was refreshing to see the U.S. perform like the dominant outfit its talent suggests it should be, it's still too early to proclaim all problems solved.Spain, a squad peaking at the right time, looms ahead in the semifinals. After suspect play in the group stage and an 0-2 start, Pau Gasol and Co. look potent. They had no trouble with France on Wednesday (more on that later) and will challenge Team USA with defense and shooting prowess far more dangerous than Argentina's.If Durant scores efficiently, George and Butler see more time and the overall defensive focus lingers, the U.S. shouldn't have trouble with Spain. But it's a mistake to assume one significantly improved showing against a weak opponent sets a new baseline for expectations. This is who the Americans are supposed to be, but we can't yet be certain it's who they are.The true test for Team USA lies ahead.In fairness, we can't end this here eitherwith a shot at the fading strength of Argentina. Not with Golden Generation stars Manu Ginobili, Carlos Delfino, Andres Nocioni and Scola likely playing their final international game as a unit.That group's remarkable run is over, and it ended with Ginobili in tears at the final buzzer, walking off the floor, towel draped over his shooting shoulder as appreciative chants rained down. At 39, the man who led Argentina to a gold medal in 2004 and helped define a decade of basketball in his country is done.If sustained commitment and passion ever crop up as issues for Team USA again, it wouldn't hurt to reference that last image of Ginobili heading into the tunnel.Australia Crushes LithuaniaWith a dominant 90-64 victory over Lithuania, Australia has advanced into the Olympic semifinals for the first time since 2000.The "Boomers" never trailed and used a 26-point first quarter to set a tone they would carry until the end.This was, as CBS Sports' Matt Moore put it, a thorough drubbing:Patty Mills did Patty Mills things, running off screens and weaving through traffic en route to tallying 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Aron Baynesanchored the middle, going for 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in the win.For what it's worth, while Lithuania has looked out of sorts since a 109-59 loss versus Spain on Saturday, this wasn't a disappointment for them. As Yahoo Sports' Dan Devine noted:Mantas Kalnietis, easily the MVP of group play, put forth a balanced, albeit unspectacular, performance. He finished with 12 points, five assists, one steal and one block against a swarming Australia defense. Without him going bonkers, Lithuania didn't stand a chance.Australia will face Serbiain the semifinals, looking to secure its first-ever Olympic medal.Spain Clobbers FranceSpain made quick work of France during its quarterfinal matchup, taking a 13-point lead into the half and extending that edge through the third and fourth quarters to cap a 92-67 victory.Pau Gasol, Spain's savior to this point, didn't have a big game (five points, eight rebounds, three assists). Then again, he didn't need to have a huge afternoonNikola Mirotic exploded in the first half, firing on every cylinder, per theDunc'd On podcast's Nate Duncan:Sixteen of Mirotic's 23 points came in the opening two frames. He had his way with France's sloppy perimeter defense, swishing five of his eight three-point attempts. WillyHernangomezadded 18 points and five rebounds, while Ricky Rubio looked like himself for the first time in Rio, collapsing defenders, dishing out five assists and finishing as a plus-20 in just under 18 minutes.France had no answer for anything Spain did. Tony Parker (14 points, four assists) enjoyed his moments, but neither Boris Diaw (four turnovers) nor Rudy Gobert (2-of-6 shooting) could get going offensively. The team has now failed to medal in each of the last four Olympics.Spain will meet Team USA in the semifinalsa matchup that, while tough, couldn't come at a better time for this surging underdog.Serbia Fills Out the Final FourSerbia took an intense 86-83 win from Croatia in Wednesday's nightcap, swinging the game with a 34-14 third-quarter surge that turned a six-point halftime deficit into a 14 point lead.With a post-break strategy that cranked up the defensive pressure, Serbia generated turnovers and cashed in those extra possessions with slick off-ball cuts and timely treys.On the night, Croatia committed 18 giveaways compared to just 10 by its opponentsa statistical chasm that might well have made the difference.Croatia recovered remarkably, cutting the deficit to one point inside the final two minutes, but it couldn't complete the comeback.Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Serbian charge with 18 points on the night, while Miroslav Raduljica punctuated that key third-period run with a brutal transition slam over Dario Saric, memorialized here by FIBA.com:Croatia's Bojan Bogdanovic topped all participants with 28 points, and his wing scoring would have posed a major challenge for Australia, who awaits in the semis. For all of the Aussies' size and stellar backcourt play, they lack a shutdown swingman.Nonetheless, if Serbia's defensive intensity holds up, we should be in for one of the chippiest, hardest-fought matchups yet seen in Rio.Thanks to Grant Hughes for contributing to this piece.
Click here to read full news..
