Olympics

Sam Smith

As the final buzzer blew and USA Basketball exhaled Friday in the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo with the scoreboard flashing 87-82 for the U.S. over France in the Olympic gold medal game, the social media site Twitter likewise sounded off. About Zach LaVine.

Not that LaVine carried the USA team to victory.

That was Kevin Durant, the world's best basketball player, once again digging the USA out of another poor shooting start and deficit and scoring 29 points while making every crucial basket to hold off a relentless French team led by Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier with 16 points each. Jayson Tatum added 19 points for the U.S. team and Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard 11 each.

LaVine had five points, though he attempted just three shots while making two, his back-to-back layup and three pointer in the midst of the USA run gave the USA team a late 14-point third quarter lead.

France had defeated USA Basketball to open the Olympics, and the U.S. survived a meltdown with a seven-point lead in the last 23 seconds that was reduced to a basket. Durant's free throws provided the relief.

And then as Nicholas Batum missed a desperate three with six seconds left, Durant appropriately had the ball. He threw ahead to LaVine, who casually took a few steps and left handed dribbles. And as the horn began to screech a dirge for France, LaVine lifted off, bookending the ball with his right hand, switching back to the left and going airborne, pushing the ball through his legs as he rose toward the rim and then putting it into his right hand, cocking the ball and slamming it home.

The points didn't count, but the message did.

Zach LaVine provided an exclamation point to the USA's victory, slamming how a between-the-legs the dunk just after the final buzzer sounded

USA Basketball, maligned, doubted and condemned, losers of a pair of Las Vegas exhibition games including to Nigeria and then barely escaping the opening round after a loss to France is the Olympic gold medal champion.

And don't say you can't win with Zach LaVine.

In fact, coach Gregg Popovich girding for that last possession stand against a potentially shocking collapse inserted LaVine back into the game for his defense.

Durant was the unquestioned star of the team, saving the USA team from big deficits in several games with a more serious concentration of mid range shots. Durant was the only U.S. player to average more than 20 points. Jayson Tatum was second at 15.7.

LaVine dipped to 9.7 for the tournament after modest scoring games the last two. But he finished the six games first on the USA team in overall shooting and three-point shooting (only Draymond Green was higher but with few attempts). LaVine was third in assists and first in assist-to-turnover ratio at almost seven to one. He was one of six USA players with a double digit plus on the plus/minus chart and fourth along the USA players in offensive efficiency.

He joined a joyous and relieved USA team parading around the basketball court after the game, bouncing in a circle of delight and draped in American flags.

Zach LaVine gets an easy bucket at the hoop while in front of France's Rudy Gobert

"We wanted them again," Durant said about the rematch with France. "We went through real adversity, losing an Olympic game, losing two exhibitions. To fight through this adversity against a great team, to come together so fast. It was beautiful to see, it was beautiful to be a part of. We fought through everything."

Particularly the reservations, that this USA team was likely booked into a more drab room; color it silver or bronze.

With two exhibition game losses to start their run and blowing the late seven-point lead to France and losing in the Olympics opener, this favored USA team didn't seem the favorite of many.

The roster was doubted for its lack of size and concentration on individual scorers. Popovich's coaching was questioned as out of step with these superstar players and the increasingly talented international field with NBA All-Stars on several rosters. Three USA players participated in the NBA Finals and arrived barely in time for the first game.

The U.S. team recovered to defeat weak Iran and Czech Republic teams to emerge from the Group play. LaVine had 13 points in each of those games. But that meant a game with No. 2 world ranked Spain. Despite falling behind by 10 in the first half, the USA rolled over Spain in the quarterfinals and then Australia in the semifinals after falling behind by 15 in the second quarter. In both games, Durant's scoring saved the U.S. from perhaps irretrievable deficits as starters Damian Lillard and Devin Booker shot poorly.

The USA being carried by Durant again with 21 first half points of the USA's 44 led much of the first half. And by five at halftime after a 12-8 opening deficit and missing its first eight threes. The U.S. missed its first 10 threes in its previous game. The U.S. team shot a dismal 28 percent on threes against France and again was saved by its mid range marksmanship.

This time it was the U.S's defensive play that forced 18 France turnovers and added five blocks, three by Bam Adebayo. France didn't have any, though has a large rebounding edge. But it was the hustling defensive play to offset French size. France in the first half continually rolled Gobert to the basket against the USA's switching defensive scheme. But several times late in that second quarter LaVine fronted Gobert on the switch to force the ball around the perimeter again.

The USA continued with that effort in the third quarter, it's best in these Olympics, and seemed on the verge of dominating with a 71-57 lead late in the third quarter. France shot back within 71-63 after three quarters and opened the fourth with another three to get within one basket.

Lillard, who had a poor shooting tournament, finally made a pair of shots and Tatum added a three for a USA 10-point lead. But the isolation-oriented Tatum dribbled one off his foot going between his legs multiple times and Lillard again missed a quick, long three to give France a chance. Lillard then missed two free throws with 23 seconds left and a seven-point lead. France scored and trapped and Jrue Holiday threw away the ball and France got a pair of free throws to get within 85-82 with 10 seconds left. But the U.S. got the ball into Durant, who made a pair of free throws before LaVine made the final statement.

The gold for the U.S. team was the 100th medal for the U.S. in these games and fourth straight gold medal for USA Basketball in Jerry Colangelo's perfect run as managing director. In 18 Olympics in basketball, U.S. teams have 16 gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

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GOLD! Zach LaVine & Team USA defeat France in Olympic final

Bulls.com

Despite fighting off foul trouble, Zach LaVine scored 10 points, two assists, zero turnovers, and was impactful defensive as Team USA defeated Spain 95-81 to advance the the semifinal round of Olympic play. The Americans will play the winner of Argentina/Australia for an opportunity to play for a gold medal.

USA Basketball has begun to show some mettle in Tokyo. And now Zach LaVine and the USA team are about halfway to that desired gold medal.

LaVine with 10 points, including seven in a pivotal second quarter when the USA team overcame a double-digit deficit, was one of seven USA players to score in double figures in a rugged 95-81 victory over No. 2 world ranked Spain.

The U.S. team Thursday will face the winner of Argentina/Australia in the semifinals for an opportunity to play Saturday in the Olympic gold medal game.

LaVine fighting off foul trouble that left him sitting much of the fourth quarter had those 10 points with a pair of assists and again zero turnovers in 21 minutes. LaVine made two of five three pointers. LaVine still leads the USA team in three-point shooting among those with more than one attempt per game at 50 percent. He's shooting a team-best among the perimeter players at 57.7 percent overall, leads the team in assists and he's fourth best in team plus/minus rating. He's fifth in minutes per game playing off the bench.

LaVine also had a steal and his defense on Marc Gasol in the third quarter was in a vital stretch when the USA team broke from a halftime tie to take a 16-point lead and despite a few Spain surges remain ahead the rest of the game. LaVine's fronting of Marc Gasol helped cause a turnover that led to a fast break USA score. Kevin Durant, who led the USA team with 29 points, then passed to LaVine for an open corner three and 63-49 USA lead.

Zach LaVine skies for a dunk as Spain's Alex Abrines looks on.

The margin seemed to help change the effective early Spain strategy that had them dominating on the boards, 25-12 in the first half with six blocks. That contributed to a 21-19 Spain lead in the first quarter and 39-29 midway through the second. LaVine had seven of his 10 points in the second quarter as the USA rallied late to tie the game at 43 at halftime.

Durant credited that run and third quarter defense as the turning points for the USA team.

"We found our identity," Durant said. "It was huge to tie it up at halftime and then we hit them in the mouth in the third quarter."

All pretty much but Ricky Rubio, the supposedly notoriously poor shooter who again like in an exhibition last month in Las Vegas looked more like Steph Curry. Rubio made 13 of 20 shots for 38 points with LaVine probably most effective against him when Rubio was scoreless in the second quarter.

But the new Cleveland Cavaliers guard didn't have much help, especially with Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol not playing much in the second half after physically dominating the smaller USA team in the first-half and adding flawless execution for multiple open layups.

The U.S. team, settling for three-point shots early, missed 10 of its first 12 attempts and was four of 17 on open threes in the first half. Their 14-4 run to close the second quarter with LaVine adding a driving baseline dunk in the waning seconds seemed to both invigorate the USA team and lure Spain into playing faster and smaller.

Spain did finish with a 42-32 rebounding advantage with seven blocks to one for the U.S. But the U.S. team forced 14 steals at their more comfortable quicker pace and finished shooting 41 percent on threes. Plus, after settling again for isolations instead of seeking out hot shooters or finding guys with mismatches, the USA moved the ball better after halftime and sought more drive and kick threes and layup attempts in a more well rounded effort.

Devin Booker added 17 points followed by Jason Tatum and Jrue Holiday with 14 each, Damian Lillard with 13 and Bam Adebayo with 12. Though Rubio also had another highlight blocking an Adebayo open dunk attempt. Who was that bearded man?

Spain is now out of medal contention in an unusual early round contest matching the reigning Olympic champion USA team and reigning World Cup champion Spain, the USA ranked No. 1 coming into the tournament and Spain No. 2. Slovenia with Luka Doncic thus far has been the most dominant team in the tournament.

The U.S. now is 17-2 against Spain in Olympic or World Cup competition. The Americans won 82-76 in the 2016 Olympic semifinals, 107-100 in the 2012 gold medal game at London and 118-107 in the gold medal game in Beijing in 2008. The USA team now is 3-1 after losing its opening Group game to France. France plays Italy Tuesday morning and the winner faced Slovenia Thursday in the opposite semifinal to the USA game against the Argentina/Australia winner.

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LaVine and Team USA defeat Spain to advance to Olympic semifinals

childukich

Late in what became a USA Basketball 119-84 victory over the Czech Republic Saturday, Bulls guard Zach LaVine was battling Patrick Auda on a switch into the paint. LaVine fronted and then pushed around to the 6-9 Auda's side as the one time Seton Hall player and veteran European forward called for the ball. LaVine's denied the opening and the ball was passed to the other side of the court.

Auda was determined not to be denied in this sweaty dance. He maneuvered along the baseline and came out the other end, his clever teammates bouncing a pass into him. But LaVine was proving even more resolute. He pushed his body into Auda's, not allowing him the space the bigger Czech players used to take an early double digit lead on the U.S. team. LaVine finally knocked the ball away, Auda grasping at air and stumbling as the ball scooted out of bounds toward USA coach Gregg Popovich. As the ball was being retrieved, Popovich grabbed LaVine and, according to the announcers present in Tokyo, was saying, "That's what we're talking about."

Just like the final score than enabled the USA team after a disappointing loss to open Olympic Group play to advance to the single elimination knockout round quarterfinals starting Tuesday.

"Our defense did a really good job of picking up and getting to the ball and then being able to rebound," said Jrue Holiday, who helped hold Bulls guard and Czech star Tomas Satoransky to 12 points. "First quarter they were throwing it into the paint, throwing it into the bigs and doing whatever they wanted to. I think for us that's just attention to detail, trying to front that post, trying to make it hard for them."

LaVine with 13 points and five assists without a turnover was among those USA players performing that role after the inefficient start.

Zach LaVine scored 13 points off the bench in the win vs. Czech Republic

Jayson Tatum led the USA team with 27 points to break his shooting slump and Kevin Durant in becoming the all-time USA Men's Basketball scoring leader led the USA from the early deficit with 23 points on eight of 11 shooting with team highs of eight rebounds and six assists. Holiday added 11 points for the USA team that made 20 of 42 three pointers after missing eight of their first 12.

It's a USA team built for shooting and speed, which opponents have tried to take advantage of with inside power. The Czech Republic with a pair of seven footers did early in a game in which the loser likely would be eliminated from the basketball tournament. They took a 9-2 lead and 19-9 going inside against the same starting lineup of Durant, Damian Lillard, Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker and Holiday. That sent the U.S. team into an early timeout with former Loyola scoring star Blake Schilb leading the Czech team. He led the Czech Republic with 17 points on five of six threes.

The U.S. began to recover as Durant found LaVine for an open three and then the Bulls uncanny shooter made the most magical shot of the game, an off balance, line drive three against pressure with the shot clock expiring. That got the USA team back within 21-15 and trailing 25-18 after the first quarter.

While the game was vital for both teams facing elimination with one loss each in group play, there also was the personal contest of teammates LaVine and Satoransky. Holiday and LaVine mostly defended the Czech team leader with a LaVine/Satoransky Bulls scrimmage breaking out early in the second quarter when Satoransky beat LaVine for a score on a step through move in the halfcourt. LaVine immediately went back at Satoransky with a crossover drive in transition and blow by to get the USA within 31-29.

Though Sunday could be a bigger day for Satoransky's Bulls future with the deadline for the Bulls to fully guarantee his contract for next season.

Durant surpassed the all-time USA scoring total shortly thereafter and the USA team began to assert control with a 47-43 halftime lead.

The USA team's pressure defense on the ball began to create problems for the Czech team after halftime. LaVine contributed to that as soon as he reentered the game in the third quarter with a steal leading to a three pointer and 71-58 lead. That was part of a 16-2 close to the quarter for an 82-60 USA lead after three. That was extended in the fourth quarter on stretching-their-legs transition plays like when LaVine grabbed a rebound and streaked Mask-like full court for a layup score.

LaVine finished making five of seven shots with three of five threes and the team's third best efficiency and plus/minus rating. And USA Basketball gets to play into August.

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Team USA beats Czech Republic as LaVine and Satoransky duel

USA Basketball disarmed Iran early and ran away to a 120-66 victory in Olympic group play.

The victory early Wednesday morning evened the USA record at 1-1 following the inartistic loss to France. The USA team now plays a must game early Saturday against Tomas Satoransky and the Czech Republic to seal their deal and advance to the "knockout round" quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament.

The USA, coming off missing its last 11 shots in the late game upset loss to France, came out blazing behind the shooting of Damian Lillard, who made six first-half three pointers. Lillard led the USA team with 21 points, all on threes, followed by Devin Booker with 16 and Jason Tatum with 14.

Booker and Jrue Holiday started the game to replace Draymond Green and the Bulls Zach LaVine, the latter who had a terrific all around game.

Playing mostly point guard again and joining Holiday in a harassing defense, LaVine scored 13 points, led the USA team with eight assists and zero turnovers and led the USA team with five of five free throws as the USA game was more balanced and active. LaVine also had four rebounds to trail USA leader Kevin Durant with five.

"We had some circumstances that not everybody's dealing with, but nobody cares," said LaVine about several late arrivals for the roster. "So we're jelling really well, getting to know each other and starting to play together on the court."

Zach LaVine elevates for a dunk as Team USA dominates Iran in Olympic pool play.

The USA team coming off a poor shooting game against France shot 55 percent overall and 48 percent on 19 of 39 threes. But it also was the example of players like LaVine that altered the game's balance of power.

LaVine was picking up defensively in the backcourt as USA players pressured Iran, which was led by former Memphis Grizzlies 7-2 center Hamed Haddadi with 14 points and seven rebounds. Though Haddadi had three quick scores to start the game, the USA with its improved pace and aggressive defense was competent on the boards. Iran only had a 41-39 edge in rebounding. But the USA led by LaVine's eight had 34 assists on 42 field goals to finally demonstrate the USA's kind of historic dominance that many have demanded.

The USA broke open the game after leading 12-9 midday through the first quarter. With Lillard's shooting, the U.S. team went ahead 23-12 with 3:29 left in the first quarter when LaVine first entered. He started against France, but coach Gregg Popovich went with the two new starters who'd arrived late—Booker and Holiday—from the Bucks/Suns Finals.

The USA team dominated in that next segment with a 28-11 run during LaVine's time on the court into just before halftime. The U.S. team scored 11 straight points to end the first quarter. The Olympic games have 10-minute quarter and slightly shorter length basketball courts.

LaVine in an encouraging sign for his eventual return to the Bulls was picking up defensively in the backcourt, forcing the Iran guards to spin and turn to get upcourt with inspired two-way play. The USA team plays a switching system on defense. LaVine was adept in fronting the post on mismatches and forced the ball away from bigger players several times. That second quarter run with LaVine included his back to back three pointers as LaVine was efficient with three of five shooting for his 13 points and two of four threes.

In the second half, LaVine made a steal that led to a Durant fast break dunk and cleverly penetrated and drew several defenders before finding an open JaVale McGee for a three-point play. LaVine's three-point play enabled the USA to hit the rare 100-mark in Olympic game play.

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Team USA dominates Iran, Zach LaVine scores 13 in victory

chidmoriarty

Bulls guard Zach LaVine scored eight points and started for Team USA in his Olympic debut, but the Americans were unable to score enough buckets late in a 83-76 defeat in Olympic pool play.

When Zach LaVine made a three pointer with 5:25 left in the game for a 72-67 U.S. lead, it looked like USA Basketball was ready to step into the ring of the knockout round quarterfinals.

Instead they suffered the black eye the USA team in an 83-76 loss that ended a 25-game USA Basketball Olympic game winning streak.

The USA team plays Iran Wednesday in its four-team bracket with France and the Czech Republic. Two of the four teams advance to the eight-team elimination game quarter finals.

LaVine starting for the USA team was sturdy and consistent.

He scored eight points with three assists and two rebounds and was one of the few USA players who shot credibly. LaVine was three of six shooting from the field. Only LaVine and interior scorer Bam Adebayo shot 50 percent overall. Only LaVine with two of four three pointers and USA high scorer Jrue Holiday with 18 points shot at least 50 percent on threes.

Zach LaVine skies for a breakaway dunk against France in his Olympic debut.

Though LaVine missed his three-point attempt in what became the crucial closing sequence for the USA after France high scorer Evan Fournier of the Celtics made a three for a 76-74 France lead with 57 seconds remaining. LaVine, Kevin Durant and Holiday all missed threes with Durant also missing a jumper and Adebayo a layup amidst a frenzied USA three offensive rebounds and a steal in what became five consecutive USA misses.

France with Rudy Gobert adding 14 points then closed the game with free throws for the margin.

The USA's Achilles heel of its mismatched roster again was apparent as France easily out rebounded the U.S. team despite the late flurry of U.S. offensive rebounds. France also moved to a lineup of a second seven footer along with Gobert after halftime when France changed the outcome after trailing 45-37 at halftime.

The USA team is built to outshoot teams instead of being able to dominate physically, which opponents did to the USA team in the exhibition games. France did so again while the USA team flailed on threes, making 10 of 32. Scorers Durant and Damian Lillard were a combined seven of 22 shooting and four of 15 on threes. USA players talked about addition adjustments to the different basketball and the officiating, the latter which isn't giving USA players the typical contact fouls they are awarded in NBA games. Durant was in foul trouble early and fouled out.

"We still have a chance to accomplish our goals," said Holiday, who led the USA team in scoring with 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter despite it being his first day in Japan after flying following the Bucks title parade. "We were up with 1:30 left. France is a good team. We were up nine or 10. We've just got to keep going. I'm very positive about tonight. I feel we'll get better every game."

Adebayo had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Lillard had 11 points and Durant 10,

When the USA took its biggest leads late in the first half, it was behind LaVine with five straight points, a three on a Holiday pass and a dunk on a Draymond Green pass with 1:58 left in the first half for a 42-33 USA lead.

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Zach LaVine scores eight points in Olympic debut, Team USA falls to France.

Zach LaVine scored 15 points and had a Twitter-trending poster jam as Team USA defeated Argentina 108-80 for their first win in exhibition play. Olympic teammates Bradley Beal and Bam Adebayo offered praise for the Bulls guard.

English theorist John Staurt Mill's syllogism was one of the most famous:

All men are mortal.
Socrates is a man.
Therefore Socrates is mortal.

Shakespeare practices the device in his work Timon of Athens: All men are men that Timon has forgotten.
Flavius is a man.
Therefore Flavius is a man that Timon has forgotten.

And then there's USA Basketball:
USA Men's Olympic Basketball 2021 loses when Zach LaVine doesn't start.
Zach LaVine started for the first time Tuesday against Argentina.
Therefore USA Basketball didn't lose again.

Perhaps there were some other reasons for the 108-80 USA victory to make it 1-2 in exhibition play. Like the improved USA shooting, 51 percent overall and 45 percent on threes. The effort with their first rebounding advantage in the three games and swifter pace and ball movement, leading to 27 assists on 37 field goals and much less difficult shot attempts.

Though the highlight was supplied by the Bulls LaVine with a get-your-poster-here slam dunk and three-point play with 8:53 left in the game to give the USA an 86-62 lead. It was one of several highlight plays for the far more assertive LaVine, a play that not only energized his teammates but immediately was trending on Twitter.

"We've seen him do some crazy stuff," said Bradley Beal, who with Kevin Durant led the USA team in scoring with 17 points. "Obviously, we know his athletic ability. It doesn't surprise us. It definitely gave us a lift and a boost. Zach's talented. We know what he's capable of doing. We want him to stay aggressive and continue to be unselfish as he has been."

LaVine, Tuesday, got his first start with the USA team with Jayson Tatum sitting out with knee soreness. Coach Gregg Popovich said it was merely a continuation of playing various combinations. Though Durant, Beal and Damian Lillard continued to start as they have all three games and appear locked in as Olympic starters.

LaVine scored 15 points for his best game with USA Basketball. He also had five rebounds, three assists and a steal. He is tied for the team lead in steals and leads the team in steals per minute in the three games. He is fifth in scoring at 10 points per game and shooting 50 percent overall.

Whether it was because he started the game or because of the team's 0-2 start, LaVine seemed more comfortable and self assured in Tuesday's game. He had been mostly deferring in the first two games, facilitating on offense and mostly concentrating on defense.

He again initiated the team's offense in the backcourt, pushing the ball but with a faster USA offense. His steal led to an early score as the USA team quickly took a 15-4 and 24-12 lead and never trailed this time. LaVine had an early corner three in the run in shooting five of eight overall. The U.S. team led 33-19 after the first quarter and 58-42 at halftime.

LaVine had a running two-hand slam dunk late in the first half and in the third quarter connected with Adebayo full court for a score pushing the ball up court. Hey, did the Bulls finally find their point guard?

That's not believed to be the plan, although the USA team is relying on LaVine's primary ball handing. Durant, Lillard and Beal also have delivered the ball out of the backcourt.

Bradley Beal smiles and reacts to LaVine's ferocious poster dunk against Argentina.

LaVine and Popovich have talked about LaVine's defensive effort for the team and there were some good moments. The USA defense relies on a lot of switching and late in the third quarter the Argentine team forced LaVine onto big players and got two scores. But when they tried it again, LaVine fronted the post entry to blow up the play and then forced a pass out with physical play and turnover.

LaVine's highlight play came when Argentina began pressuring in the backcourt. With Draymond Green navigating the ball forward, LaVine sliced toward the middle of the floor and got the pass. He dove hard down the lane on the right side and rose over Argentina's Juan Pablo Vaulet and with one hand sent the ball down the well of netting. LaVine lay on the court afterward signaling that he also was hit in the head. Or perhaps what was that guy thinking trying to stop that LaVine slam dunk?

"It deserves a 10," Adebayo said on the court in the post game TV interview. "We haven't had a body yet. It was good to finally get one. Glad it was Zach."

The U.S. team closes exhibition play with a rematch against Australia Friday and against highly regarded Spain Sunday before leaving for Tokyo.

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Zach LaVine scores 15 as Team USA beats Argentina in exhibition play

Team USA dropped their second straight exhibition game, falling to Australia 91-83. Bulls guard Zach LaVine scored five points. The USA Men's Olympic team will look for their first exhibition win when they take on Argentina on Tuesday night.

Maybe it's part of the plan for the rest of the basketball world not to take the USA team so seriously.

The USA Men's Olympic Basketball team Monday suffered its unprecedented second consecutive exhibition game loss, 91-83 to Australia. They play again 5 p.m. Tuesday against Argentina.

Bulls guard Zach LaVine, inheriting a similar role to that assigned to Jimmy Butler in the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, scored five points, making one of his four three-point attempts and a pair of free throws. All LaVine's attempts were threes. He primarily was used in a supporting role in his 13 minutes of play, defending at the top of the perimeter and playing a facilitating role on offense. It was not unlike the way former Bull Butler was employed with the 2016 team when Butler averaged 5.6 points in the eight games and was ninth in scoring among the 12 U.S. players.

Damian Lillard led the USA team with 22 points, followed by Kevin Durant with 17 and Bradley Beal with 12. They were the only U.S. players scoring in double figures and seemed to be predominantly featured on offense for the USA team in what was the second tuneup for the Olympic games in Japan starting July 23.

But once again like in a loss to Nigeria Saturday, the international opponent with a lineup of NBA regulars including Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes, Patty Mills and Matisse Thybulle were more prepared for team play. The small USA team without a primary facilitating guard was out rebounded again and had fewer assists.

There still are additions for the USA team coming from the Finals series—the USA used Select Team players again—and more practices to come to develop teamwork and continuity. But the USA team suffered, in some sense, from its own talent.

Too often the USA players settled for difficult, long shots instead of working the ball around with patience. It's been noted the roster doesn't include a classic big man with Draymond Green Monday moving into the starting lineup at center for Bam Adebayo. Coach Gregg Popovich said the starting lineup remains uncertain as he experiments with combinations. Durant, Beal and Lillard started both games.

Without much size, the USA team lacked post play. Zone play is permitted in international play. So the Australia team like the Nigeria team was more adept at sealing off and crowding the lane to prevent penetration. As a result, the USA team failed to get into the paint enough to find clear shots from the corners in drive-and-kick actions. There was again too much settling for difficult shots that those USA players usually can make.

Zach LaVine shoots over Australian guard Patty Mills

The Australia team shot 42 percent on threes, though the USA cut down on attempts compared with the opener, and 53 percent overall. The USA team shot 36 percent on threes and 46 percent overall. The USA team came out with more urgency and spirit than in the first game was more forceful to start the game. They led 46-37 at halftime after by 11 earlier.

Popovich believed the USA players tired some in the second half, which led to several turnovers in the backcourt and back door cuts for baskets by the veteran Australian players.

Australia, a highly ranked Olympic team seeking its first Olympic basketball medal, turned around the game with defensive pressure to start the second half with a 14-point third quarter turnaround.

While the USA team is facing more NBA talent on other teams than anytime since the pros began playing in 1992, the USA star players from the NBA also seemed to have difficulty adjusting to the officiating and rules. They didn't react Saturday when a Nigerian player knocked a ball off the rim which would have been goaltending in the NBA. Also, they didn't get foul calls being bumped into, as they would in the NBA, and when colliding with a defender after they shot. The USA team attempted 12 free throws to 10 for Australia with more physical play permitted than by the NBA officials.

Mercifully, there were no replays or challenges.

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Team USA falls to Australia in exhibition play, LaVine scores five

chikstrycharz

People often don't appreciate the significance of what they are doing because, well, they are doing it and it is happening now. You know, just part of another day.

Which was why USA Men's Basketball Olympic coach Gregg Popovich Thursday invited Bulls senior advisor Doug Collins to speak to Zach LaVine and the USA team. Because next year will be the 50th anniversary of the most controversial closing moments in Olympic basketball history and Doug Collins relives it regularly.

"Doug hit a home run yesterday, very honestly," Popovich told media on a Zoom conference Friday. "He was fantastic. I wanted them to feel him. I wanted them to feel what the Olympics meant to him. To this day what happened in '72 hurts him. I wanted that to be felt and transferred to our players, how important these games are and how wonderful a memory they can have if we are successful in this quest. He did that."

Or have a memory that haunts them the rest of their lives.

Collins was just about to be the basketball star of the tragic, terrorist-infected 1972 Munich Olympics when he made two free throws with three seconds left in the game to—it seemed—give the USA team a 50-49 victory and preserve the US's undefeated streak in the Olympics.

And then on the third inbounds of the same possession, Russia got a layup to win the game with a full court pass and score similar to Christian Laettner's famous 1992 game winning shot over Kentucky in the NCAA tournament.

The USA team, losing the protest by the votes of then so called Eastern bloc nations still in the midst of the Cold War, refused to appear at the medals ceremony. None of the USA players ever accepted their silver medals. They remain in a vault supposedly in Switzerland or Munich.

It's an historic story, but such things and memories become gauzy with time, forgotten in the rush, especially these days, to declare the most momentous events the last one seen. But there never has been anything like the finish of that basketball game that gave the USA team its first Olympic basketball loss.

Collins from Illinois State on the way to being the No. 1 pick in the 1973 NBA draft was one of the stars of that team along with Maywood's Jim Brewer. Future Bulls assistant Johnny Bach was on the coaching staff. It still was a time of bitter US/Soviet Union relations. Olympic judging was as political as equitable.

Doug Collins played his entire NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The veteran Soviet team led most of the gold medal game against a USA team of top collegians, who still were dominating worldwide basketball. With a few seconds remaining and trailing by one, Collins stole a pass and sprinted for his basket. He was fouled and almost knocked unconscious in the exceptionally rough game that often resembled hockey. Collins finally rose and swished both free throws for what seemed like the win.

International rules did not permit a timeout, so the Soviets inbounded the ball and threw up a fullcourt shot that missed. Their coach claimed he had called a timeout. Which wasn't allowed. The officials, who couldn't communicate with one another speaking different languages, denied the timeout. But they gave the Soviets a second inbounds with a second left. Again it failed and the game was over with a USA win.

Then an Amateur Federation executive came out of the stands to say there should have been three seconds on the clock. He wasn't permitted to do so, but the referee again gave the Soviet team another inbound. This time with the USA defender asked by the referee to back up, the Soviet inbound threw a fullcourt pass to a teammate for the winning layup. The Soviets won 51-50. Almost 50 years later, you still can't convince Collins. Or many others but the Soviets.

"He (Collins) was also emotional about what the game meant to him," Popovich related. "He lauded our guys for making this sacrifice and wanted to in some ways warn them how we had to become a family, as I have said before, basically fall in love with eachother and be responsible for and to each other and be accountable and play with that in our minds.

"He got all that across and he was especially effusive about Kevin Durant," Popovich added, "because even though I've already said about his love of the game and the sacrifice he is making, he also has been injured quite a bit in the last couple of years and has gone through a tough time, and he's still here. Doug really made sure that was appreciated by everyone in the basketball world. He was great."

doug-collins-gives-team-usa-unique-perspective-on-olympic-hoops

Doug Collins gives Team USA unique perspective on Olympic hoops

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