Team USA Starting to Look Like a “Dream Team”
If there were any disbelievers left, Team USA Basketball gave every question a more than justified answer. On Thursday night Team USA obliterated the Nigerian team in Olympic play 156 to 73, an 83 point margin of victory. Team USA steam rolled Nigeria as they began the first quarter on a legendary roll.
The biggest question marks in the Americans play style was they’re inconsistency from behind the arc and the play of superstar Kobe Bryant, both were answered in the 1st quarter. The United States came out shooting an astounding 78.5 percent from the 3-point line by starting the game 11 for 14. The statesmen also shot 81.8 percent from the field to start the first quarter and finished the first with a 49-25 advantage over the Nigerians.
At the half the Americans set a personal record for 3′s made in a game with 14 while shooting over 70 percent from behind the arc.
Speaking of records broken Carmelo Anthony breaks the American and Olympic record for most points scored in a game with 37 points and shot 10 for 12 from downtown. This was the most 3′s made by a United States team with 29 made. They also tied the most assists made by a team in a game with 41 assists, destroyed the most points ever made by a team in the Olympics and showed up the 1992 Dream Team by scoring more than 150 points in a game.
At the bare minimum, this is one of the most historic days in United States Basketball and in Olympic basketball history. Six American players finished the game in double digit scoring and Deron Williams finished with the only double double (13 points and 10 assists) to end the game.
The United States shot 63 percent from the arc while making 29 three’s made, from mid range the United States shot 82 percent from the field and as a whole from the the Americans shot 71 percent on field goals making an a ridiculous 59 to end the game. The Nigerian team turned the ball over 24 times to help the United States get to this victory.
A record breaking day for Men’s basketball in the United States. With this victory it’s one of the top-5 largest margins of victory ever put up in the Olympics, the largest being 100 set up by the United States in the fifties.
Wait. So what was it that Kobe Bryant said before the Olympics about the 2012 team beating a 1992 “Dream Team”...
Tyler R. Tynes is the Featured Columnist for the Philadelphia 76ers with Rant Sports, Beat Writer covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Buzz On Broad and 76ers Analyst for Philly Sports Nut.
Follow me on Twitter @RealTylerTynes for all Sixers and NBA sports updates. And also follow me on Instagram @TheRealTylerTynes.
For inquiries email him at: [email protected]
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