After 36 games and 57,600 minutes on court, it all comes down to one match: Team USA and Spain vying for that treasured gold medal. Join us for live score updates and blog from midnight tonight.
One versus two in the world – the matchup we’ve all been waiting for and what many predicted would transpire. And, it is the Beijing Olympics gold medal game rematch.
Before fans witness a music-inspired closing ceremony, and athletes prepare to bask in gold medal type glory and earned admiration, they will all focus their eyes on the basketball gods and the challengers from Europe.
The road to gold
Team USA, as expected, went through the group stage unbeaten and fair to say, unchallenged – aside from Lithuania. Considered equal to and some say better than the 1992 Dream Team, this American outfit defeated Tony Parker and the French team in their first outing 98-71, before easily pushing aside Tunisia by 47-points.
Next up were the Nigerians whom were unsurprisingly absolutely annihilated, Lithuania gave their all only to fall short 99-94, and then it was Argentina’s time to experience showtime.
Come bracket time, it was the Australians that would try and cause an upset: it wasn’t to be. Again, it was the South Americans who would face Team USA just days after being wiped off the court. Again, we would observe the same result.
The Spaniards finished third in Group B behind Russia and Brazil – the two teams they would drop losses to. Spain’s wins came against China by a mere four-points, the Boomers 82-70 and Team GB by just one-point.
In a low scoring match, Spain would defeat France by 13-points, then topple the Russians 67-59 to gain their ticket into the gold medal event. This isn’t the Spain of old and what we’ve come accustomed to seeing: their game play has been average and are competing under pressure.
Keys to success
Team USA needs solid contributions from the bench – Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love, Deron Williams (who must stand up) and Russell Westbrook (if healthy). The star-studded roster, aside from their big wins and dunks to match, have been known in these games for their sluggish starts to matches.
Defensively, Team USA must apply pressure to the European outside shooters, forcing low percentage shots. In the big man stocks, Tyson Chandler and Love will needs to watch their aggressiveness: in they get in foul trouble, the game is open to be taken over by Spain’s talls.
For Spain, the Gasol brothers, Pau and Marc, along with Oklahoma City thunder F/C Serge Ibaka must step up – it’s as simple as that, especially Ibaka. On the outer, Juan Carlos Navarro and Sergio Llull have to support Jose Calderon in hitting their shots from the field. Calderon is shooting at a decent 43.9 percent compared to his mentioned teammates.
Prediction
In coach K’s final game at the helm, Team USA will triumph by 19+ 108.
Twitter: @CamLarkin
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
That was closer and the rest of the world are improving, but with such a team it's a miracle the U.S.A. don't demolish opposition.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
There will be no changing of the guard in 2012. Team USA prevailed and won back-to-back Olympic gold medals after defeating Spain 107-100 in front of a packed and adoring stadium. The match turned out to be a fitting end to the London games with one versus two vying off for the treasured prize. It was a rematch (Beijing Olympics) in every way. Could there have been a better curtain call? I doubt it. Kevin Durant led all scorers with 30 points. LeBron James contributed 19 and Kobe Bryant 17 as they fought back a determined challenge from the Spaniards. The debate about whether this USA side is better than the 1992 Dream Team will once again rise, discussions will be had within households, in offices and on the outdoor courts right across the globe. What the ’92 team didn’t have though was the level of competition delivered throughout these 2012 games, particularly in the gold medal playoff. In a game that was overly officiated, it proved to be very physical – but then again, the winner was going to be crowned champion and awarded with a gold medal. You couldn’t expect anything less. Spain were led admirably early on by Juan Carlos Navarro (21 points) who was dynamite from outside before Pau Gasol (24 points) brought the Europeans back into the game, at times taking the lead. In the final quarter and a half, Gasol was an unstoppable beast. Players from both sides were forced to sit due to foul troubles, a factor that really hurt Spain with Marc Gasol missing crucial minutes due to his four fouls. The fact of the story was that when Spain came hard and applied great pressure, the Americans would hit back hard with big baskets including a James deep three late in the game. Team USA stepped up massively in the final quarter and were able to put the brakes on Spain who failed to score 20 points in the quarter. The win was a fantastic sendoff for coach Mike Krzyzewski and superstar guard Kobe Bryant after both declaring that the game would be their last for the national side.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Cheers. Check out my site a little later for the analysis. A top game, fitting gold medal match.
ThelmaWrites
Guest
Thanks for the on-line coverage, Cameron. I'll read the blogs now.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Team USA win 107 to ESP 100. In the final Qtr, USA kept ESP to 18 pts while they scored 24. Durant scored 30pts, James 19, Bryant, 17, Paul 11. Navarro 21pts, Rudy 14, Pau Gasol 24, Marc Gasol 17.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
There will be no chaning of the guard in London - Team USA win back-to-back gold medals.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
USA lead by 7 pts. Less than 20secs.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Team USA has kept ESP to 13 pts in this qtr.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Here comes the bench!!! THE GOLD IS GOING TO TEAM USA.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Chris Paul ... a wonderful play, gets to the rack and puts this game away.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
KD 30, LBJ 19, Kobe 17.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Lead back to 6 before LBJ hits a major 3!!! USA 102-ESP 93. Foul on Pau Gasol, USA ball. Game over?
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
LeBron. James. To. The. Hole. 8 pts lead.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Under coach K, USA is 61-1. This is also Kobe's final game for Team USA.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Navarro to Rudy, yes - ESP down by 6pts. 3:20mins to go, USA 97 ESP 91.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Kobe collects the rebound and banks it in - Navarro answers up the other end. USA by 8. Melo is injured, not moving well.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
USA get out to an 8pt lead.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Agree with you 100 percent.
Cam Larkin
Roar Guru
Kobe is fouled on a 3, heads to the line. USA lead 93-ESP 86 with 6mins left in gold medal game.
Johnno
Guest
For pure shooting ability Kevin Durant has as good a 3-point shot as i have seen. I watched durant in the world championship grand final on tv vs turkey in 2010 his 3-points were great. He can shoot as good a 3-point shot as i have ever seen.