USA Men's Basketball Team Advances to Gold Medal Game
In a dramatic turnaround, the USA men's basketball team defeated Serbia 95-91 in the semifinals of the 2024 Olympics. The victory secured Team USA’s spot in the gold medal game against France, continuing their quest for Olympic glory.
Comeback Kings
The semifinal clash was anything but straightforward for the USA. Trailing by 17 points at one stage and entering the final quarter down by 13, the team showcased remarkable resilience. Serbia, led by the stellar performances of Aleksa Avramovic, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Ognjen Dobric, seemed in control for most of the game. In fact, Serbia led for over 35 of the 40 minutes.
Nikola Jokic, a pivotal player for Serbia, played almost the entire game, contributing 17 points and a game-high 11 assists. Despite his efforts, the USA's fourth-quarter surge turned the tide.
Veterans Lead the Charge
With the game on the line, U.S. coach Steve Kerr leaned heavily on his veteran players. "Having spent most of the Olympics playing a deep rotation, U.S. coach Steve Kerr relied heavily on his veterans with the game on the line," an observer noted. This strategy paid off handsomely.
The closing lineup, featuring Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker, proved to be a masterstroke. Displaying nerves of steel, the USA outscored Serbia 32-15 in the final quarter. Curry was particularly deadly, hitting nine 3-pointers, the second-most by a U.S. men's basketball player in the Olympics, and scoring a total of 36 points.
James' Triple-Double Heroics
LeBron James, meanwhile, was omnipresent during crunch time. "James, meanwhile, was everywhere down the stretch. Playing the entire fourth quarter, he had six points, six rebounds and four assists and finished with his second career Olympics triple-double: 16 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists," an account of his performance detailed.
Kevin Durant also played a crucial role, being the only U.S. player to register a positive plus-minus in the semifinals. His consistent and composed play helped stabilize the team's efforts during their comeback.
Serbia's Struggle from Beyond the Arc
Serbia’s downfall in the fourth quarter was partly due to their 3-point shooting struggles. The team missed all nine of their attempts from beyond the arc in the final period, a stark contrast to their earlier accuracy and a critical factor in the USA’s comeback.
Kerr's Coaching Maneuvers
Steve Kerr's coaching decisions were central to the USA's victory. Throughout the fourth quarter, he made only one substitution, bringing in Joel Embiid for Anthony Davis until the final seconds, clearly showing reliance on his trusted veterans. Derrick White's 6:46 minutes on the court appeared detrimental as the USA was outscored by 16 points during his tenure, underscoring Kerr's choice to stick with his closing lineup.
As the USA prepares to face France in the gold medal game, the team will hope to carry forward the momentum from their remarkable semifinal comeback. The anticipation and excitement levels are at an all-time high, promising a thrilling conclusion to the men's basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympics.