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| Kobe Bryant USA celebrate 3-pointer against Australia in the quarter-finals at the 2012 Olympics basketball men Summer, Wednesday, August 8, 2012, in London. (AP Photo / Charles Krupa) (AP2012) |
LONDON - very strong and dominant in a way not seen since the Dream Team 1992, the U.S. is now two wins from two straight Olympic gold medal.
Now, Argentina waiting for the third consecutive time in the semifinals. Spain will take Russia in the other semifinal match.
"We're ready," said Carmelo Anthony.
Encouraged by his teammate Kevin Durant to "turn it on," Kobe Bryant scored 20 points - all in the second half - and step on the way the U.S. team to the semifinals with a 119-86 victory over Australia on Wednesday night, which canceled as hard as it could to put the world's best team game away.
"We have maybe a five percent chance to win, but we will fight for it .."
- Manu Ginobili, Forward to Argentina
Bryant made six 3-pointers, LeBron James racked up triple-double with 11 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists and the United States moved a step closer to gold at 20 years of raging historic '92 team in Barcelona. With NBA commissioner David Stern and two-time Olympic Dwyane Wade watching from the stands, the U.S. set up a rematch in the semifinals by Argentina - they were buried by the 29 teams in the preliminary round.
Except for Argentina, with a list of their names thirty-somethings, can find ways to slow the U.S., others sloping loss seems inevitable.
"We have maybe a five percent chance to win," forward Manu Ginobili said after Argentina beat Brazil 82-77 to set up a meeting in a row with the United States in the semifinals. "But we will fight for it."
Bryant is more than spectacular since coming to London. He entered the final quarter averaged only 9.4 points per game, touch the question about whether he was wounded, not interested or may not be able to produce in the same way Anthony, Durant and James are.
There is nothing to wonder anymore.
"He was a sleepy little out there," Anthony sad. "I think I woke up and he responded Mamba."
Deron Williams added 18 points, Anthony 17 and Durant 14 for the Americans, who crushed Argentina 126-97 on Monday night at the beginning of their final round. There was a dispute in one when Argentina keeper Anthony Facunda Campazzo accidentally hit in the groin. Campazzo before he returned to being punched by a U.S. guard Chris Paul, who never denied that he took a swipe at Campazzo.
"All the time," said Paul. "We tangled 1,000 times."
Anthony did not expect Argentina to play well again.
"You just have to go out there and bring them blow - not literally," he said. "We are very excited about this new course in the crowd we say we have to prepare them .."
All were between the U.S. and gold medal is now Argentina, arrogant and dangerous team with experience, and fight with the winner of the Russia-Spain semifinal.
Americans have been captured by the Spaniards before, beat them in the gold medal game four years ago. A fight with Russia will revive memories of the Cold Ward and the 1972 final in Munich, when the U.S. has a 63-game winning streak stopped in the middle of a controversial end is still debated today.
The U.S. has shown moments of vulnerability in this tournament. Not much, but a few.
It came as a team to beat, and through six games, which have not changed.
"We do not have no weaknesses," said Anthony. "Nothing."
Spain outlasts France
Spanish players were about things that can only beat France in the final minutes, holding them to a basket of Spain means in the final 6:50 of the 66-59 victory Wednesday that sent the 2008 silver medalist in the semifinal of the Olympic boys basketball tournament.
Marc Gasol scored 14 points, but defense wins the game is to score goals Spain is usually high.
"We still have to find our flow, we still have to find our best game offensively, but I like the way we competed today.," Said Pau Gasol, who had two big blocked shots down the stretch.
Trailing 57-54 after a basket with 6:51 to play Batum, Spain did not allow another point until Mickael Gelabale jumper with 5.5 seconds left, ending a two-game losing streak.
Juan Carlos Navarro added 12 points and Pau Gasol 10 for Spain, who advanced to play Russia on Friday.
Spaniards keep alive hopes for the gold medal game rematch against the Americans, who beat them 118-107 in Beijing.
France has won four straight after losing to the United States in the opening and looked in good shape for much of this one.
The French controlled most of the first half, leading by as many as eight, with the speed of Parker gave Spain all sorts of problems. Diaw, Spurs teammate, scored 10 points and the French were in front 37-34 at the break.
Spain came out of the locker room with seven straight, going ahead 41-37 on a 3-pointer with 7:11 remaining Marc Gasol in the third. It remains near all time, the French took advantage with a 53-51 fourth.
Source : http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/sports/2012/08/09/london-2012-basketball-olympics-usa-argentina-and-spain-make-semifinals
