Spain - USA 107-118 USA made it. After eight years without the Gold on the Olympic, USA grabbed it beating reining World champions in the final. Despite USA registered comfortable victory against Spain in Preliminary Round, this time it was a totally different story. Kobe Bryant (198-G-78) and his teammates were on their level scoring 118 points but Spaniards surprised everyone netting 107 also finishing the game with 6 rebounds more than USA.
Spain had a pretty good start. After four minutes in the opening quarter Juan Carlos Navarro (192-G-80) and Ricard Rubio (192-G-90) set the score on 15-11 extending it later to plus 5. In just four minutes Dwyane Wade (193-G-82, college: Marquette) led his team to impressive 21-9 run for 31-38 at the end of the first frame. After triple by Carmelo Anthony (203-F-84, college: Syracuse) USA touched plus 13 but Spain through Pau Gasol (214-F/C-80), Rudy Fernandez (197-G-85) and Carlos Jimenez (203-F-76) quickly get on 42-48. Chris Paul (183-G-85, college: Wake Forest) made two free throws at the USA's last possession in the first half for 61-69. Spaniards few times touched minus 4 in third quarter. They were so close but still far away from a turn. Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony were on fire at the end of this period which resulted with 80-91 but Juan Carlos Navarro made a lay-up at the buzzer closing the gap on nine points. After triple by Rudy Fernandez in 33rd minute Spaniards came one fantastic 89-91 and it seemed that they will finally tie the score but than NBA superstar Kobe Bryant stepped up for USA. He nailed 11 po
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Could three-on-three join the Olympic lineup? - Aug 15, 2012
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Could three-on-three basketball be coming to the Olympics?
It will if FIBA, the international governing body, has its way. Secretary-general Patrick Baumann said Saturday that his group planned to propose it to be played as early as the 2016 Rio Games.
Three-on-three, the game played in driveways, on playgrounds and around the country during the annual Gus Macker tournaments, debuted in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games [read more]
Could three-on-three basketball be coming to the Olympics?
It will if FIBA, the international governing body, has its way. Secretary-general Patrick Baumann said Saturday that his group planned to propose it to be played as early as the 2016 Rio Games.
Three-on-three, the game played in driveways, on playgrounds and around the country during the annual Gus Macker tournaments, debuted in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. FIBA wants to create a comprehensive ranking system that would determine the best three-on-three teams in the world. FIBA already has a three-on-three world tour and world championship, but Baumann welcomed all three-on-three tournaments, such as Gus Macker and Hoop It Up, into the fold as long as those tournaments adhered to FIBA rules, including the registration of players in a database to chart wins and losses.
"Like volleyball has beach volleyball, swimming has synchronized swimming, we want three-on-three to be part of it," Baumann said.
After rankings determine the top teams worldwide, Baumann said, each nation would be responsible for creating a format to determine which team it would send to the Olympics.
Baumann reasoned that three-on-three would allow more countries to experience the Olympics and help FIBA expand basketball's global popularity. He said smaller basketball nations regularly send teams to the three-on-three world championship.
"We've chosen three-on-three as being one way of bringing that community into the Games," he said. "For us, this is also really about growing the mass of players on a grass-roots basis. We want them to be part of the family and hopefully have new talents for the game."
Eurobasket.com All-Olympic Games Awards 2012 - Aug 13, 2012
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EUROBASKET CENTER
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MVP: LeBron James (203-SF-84) of USA
Best Guard: Emanuel Ginobili (198-SG-77) of Argentina
Best Forward: LeBron James (203-SF-84) of USA
Best Center: Pau Gasol (214-F/C-80) of Spain
Best Coach: David Blatt of Russia
1st Team
G: Alexey Shved (198-88) of Russia
SG: Emanuel Ginobili (198-77) of Argentina
SF: LeBron James (203-84) of USA
SF: Kevin Durant (206-88) of USA
F/C: Pau Gasol ( [read more]
By Raymond Rolak
LONDON-- The USA Basketball program sparkled at the 2012 London Olympics. USA brought an encore gold over Spain 107-100. Spain played with a stubborn and very capable resolve. The score did not indicate how strong Spains effort was. Even though USA had the edge 83-82 at the start of the fourth quarter they were pushed to the brink.
The final few minutes were dramatic. With 3:20 left and USA leading 97-91, Carmelo Anthony had to leave the game with an ankle twist [read more]
By Raymond Rolak
LONDON-- The USA Basketball program sparkled at the 2012 London Olympics. USA brought an encore gold over Spain 107-100. Spain played with a stubborn and very capable resolve. The score did not indicate how strong Spains effort was. Even though USA had the edge 83-82 at the start of the fourth quarter they were pushed to the brink. The final few minutes were dramatic. With 3:20 left and USA leading 97-91, Carmelo Anthony had to leave the game with an ankle twist. Kobe Bryant (198-SG-78), LeBron James (203-SF-84), Kevin Durant (206-SF-88, college: Texas), Kevin Love (208-PF-88, college: UCLA) and Chris Paul (183-PG-85, college: Wake Forest) were the finishers for Team USA. Spain still had the height advantage on the floor. A critical defensive lapse by Spain allowed James to drive the basket for two. James followed with a three on the next USA possession. Spains Marc Gasol put a vicious pick on Paul. Rudy Fernandez (198-SF-85) fouled out for Spain and that started the real end for any chance of Spanish gold. After a driving layup by Paul with 51 seconds remaining, Coach Mike Krzyzewski showed some theatrics that we dont typically get to see from the legendary coach. It was 104-93 as Coach K was jumping for joy near the bench and as he substituted during the last minute. It was a team victory and everyone participated. Krzyzewski wanted to emphasize that. With 12 seconds left it was 106-100. James Harden (196-SG-89, college: Arizona St.) missed a USA free throw but made the second. Spain came down the court quickly for a three attempt. It missed and Anthony Davis (208-C-93, college: Kentucky) grabbed the final rebound. It was a compelling and dramatic final game. Durant led all scorers with 30 points. Earlier, Russia beat Argentina 81-77 for the bronze medal. Coach K said after, We beat a great team. My guys cooperated, everyone told me that they would do whatever was needed. Come off the bench, play defense, the cooperation was tremendous. The victory was dictated by the USA defense and the ability to lock-down the Spanish drives inside. Krzyzewski had said earlier that this was his last Olympics. Another Chicago native son, USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, who hired Krzyzewski in 2005, isnt going to let him leave the program so easily. Colangelo plans to take another shot at persuading Krzyzewski to stay for one more attempt and coach the Rio, Brazil Olympic Games in 2016. Hes said this is it and Ill respect his choice, Colangelo said in London. But knowing me as I know me, Ill have that conversation and well see. With the win, Krzyzewski joins Henry Iba (1964 and 1968) as the only U.S. coaches to lead teams to consecutive Olympic gold medals.
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