The Men’s USA basketball team is aiming for the gold once again after their rout on Argentina in an exhibition match on Friday.
Team USA was dominant in an 111-74 victory that proved Team USA is loaded with star power and dominant inside game. The team showed an abundance of talent among a gifted group of players who want to play well for each other and their. It’s also a team who is missing Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.
“There’s a willingness from these guys to work on anything we need and to work hard,” Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “These are very good guys.”
Kevin Durant lead all scorers with 23 points in Friday’s win. It was the first of five exhibition games the U.S. will play before traveling to Rio for the Olympics.
The odds of Team USA taking home the gold are not necessarily guaranteed without Bryant and James in play. However, the team has an incredible amount of depth as Krzyzewski rotated players in and out. Kevin Durant even knows that.
“Nothing is for sure,” Durant said. “We want to get this gold, and right now we have a job to do. We have to prepare the right way.”
Team USA shot 45 percent and outrebounded Argentina easily 55-30. Demarcus Cousins was a big contributor in that category as he corraled 15 rebounds in just 16 minutes. Coach Krzyzewski even knows that their inside presence is a key advantage.
“We really have an inside presence one the boards,” Krzyzewski said.
Paul George finished with 18 points and Carmelo Anthony was only a single point behind him with 17 for Team USA. For Argentina, Andres Nocioni had 15 points and Manu Ginobili had 11 points. Argentina knew they were playing an extremely talented team, probably the best in the world according to Luis Scola.
“Obviously, they have the best talent and the best size in the world,”Argentina’s Luis Scola said. “That’s a big difference in their favor.”
