US Basketball Will Go For The Gold After Win Against Argentina

BEIJING — The climb back to the top is nearly complete. One more win and U.S. basketball is golden again.

The Americans ended their streak of final four flops and Argentina's hopes of an Olympic gold-medal repeat, starting fast and finishing strong in a 101-81 semifinal victory Friday.

All that's left is what the U.S. players came for: a gold medal.

The United States scored 21 of the first 25 points, got a big break when Argentina star Manu Ginobili reinjured his left ankle, and surged into its first gold-medal game in eight years.

There's still 40 minutes to go, but this U.S. team looks good as gold. All the Americans have to do now is beat Spain, who they clobbered by 37 points in pool play, on Sunday to win their first gold in a major international event since the 2000 Olympics.

What followed was a frustrating and embarrassing stretch in which they couldn't even make the podium in the 2002 world championships, then managed only bronze medals after losing in the semis of the 2004 Athens Games and '06 worlds.

Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James were part of those bronze busts, and vowed they'd leave China with gold. Anthony scored 21 points and James added 15, 13 in the second half.

Luis Scola scored 28 points for Argentina, which didn't relinquish its title without a fight. Even without Ginobili for the final 3 1/2 quarters, the Argentines cut a 21-point lead into single digits and frustrated the Americans with their physical play, but they didn't have enough depth or firepower without their best player.

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Lithuania and Argentina will meet Sunday for the bronze. Spain beat Lithuania 91-86 in the first semifinal.

When the Americans fell from the top of world basketball, it was Argentina as much as anyone who took their place _ and hastened their fall. The Argentines, with Ginobili's flair and Scola's force, won gold in 2004 and silver in the 2002 world championships, beating the United States in both tournaments. The victory in Indianapolis was the first time a U.S. team lost with NBA players.

They knocked off the Americans again four years ago in the semis, and Bryant said two nights ago he wanted to face Argentina in this round.

Now Argentina's time has passed. The Americans want their spot back.

The U.S. lead was already 10 points when Ginobili, who came in leading the tournament with 20.3 points per game, went down in a play away from the ball, limped to the sideline and took off his left sneaker after reinjuring the same ankle that slowed him so badly in the Western Conference finals.

The Americans extended the lead to 21-4 and were up by 21 early in the second quarter. But they went ice cold against Argentina's zone, committed some silly fouls that gave away free points at the line, and saw the lead trimmed all the way down to 46-40 on a basket by Scola in the final minute of the half.

James wasn't with his teammates when the starting lineups were announced, having to sprint out from the back after his name was called. Then he was curiously absent in the first half, managing only two points.

He scored five quick ones in the third quarter, teaming with Dwight Howard to help the Americans break it open again. Anthony got mixed up in some chippy play with Scola and Andres Nocioni, but kept his poise and scored eight points in the period.

James hit two quick 3-pointers in the fourth to extend the lead to 84-66, and it wasn't in doubt again.

And for the most part, this Olympic tournament hasn't, either.

Bryant, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul all had 12 points for the Americans. Carlos Delfino scored 17 for Argentina.

(This version CORRECTS

8th graf to correct Scola's points to 28 sted 26 to reflect official scoring change.)

Comments

[GleenTurner]

Population of China- 1.3 BILLION

Population of USA --300 million

Population of Great Britain --60 million

Population of Germany --82 million

Population of Russia--141 million

Total medals of China---96

Total medals of USA-107

Total medals of Great Britain-47

Total medals of Germany-41

Total medals of Russia-69

[chinationreport]

Congratulations!! Happy for USA, sad for Yao Ming:
http://www.chinationreport.com/YaoMingPictures.html

Enjoy his pictures!

[schicklett3]

Go team USA!!!!!

[wndrwrthg]

American sports fans are the most pathletic in the world. It would please me to no end to see this bunch of overpaid prima donnas crash and burn and hear the anguished lamenting of the fans. Since the reagun years the U.S. participation in the Olympics have been nothing more than a petty jingoistic excercise by the twits who call themselves fans. It has become more about medal counts than about the celebration of the athletes endeavors.

[whatsthatsound]

Wow, that's harsh! American fans are no more "pathetic" than fans of other Olympic teams. Most people root for the home team; what's the big deal? And if, though highly unlikely, Team USA loses in the finals, there won't be any anguished lamenting. People will move out of the little microcosm these sports events create, and get on with their lives. And the "prima donnas" will go back to their teams and try to kick some butt in the NBA.

[whatsthatsound]

It seems like the only team on the planet who could give these guys a run for their money is the Boston Celtics. Now THAT is a game/series I would love to see!

[MagisterLudi]

It's tow Lakers head-to-head int eh finals. Gasol vs. Kobe. Fun will be had by all.
What GREAT Olympics Chinese put together. The facilities look nothing short of stunning.

[Forester]

Yea, isn't it amazing what you can do with unlimited slave labor and complete control over all media. I particularly like how the gymnasts and divers were taken from their families at age 3 to remote training facilities for the glory of the motherland. Really gets you, right here. There were two old ladies sent to "re-education" facilities this past week after requesting permits to protest in the designated "protest area" in Beijing. There have been zero permits issued because the govt said all the "issues had been resolved". Don't look on NBC/GE for these stories.

[MagisterLudi]

Yawn Forrester for another overheated and narrow suburban perspective.
Axiom:The more hyperbolic the rhetoric, the less sincere are the feelings.

[Bobleblah1]

Luis Scola is balling out of control right now.
he's going to have a huge season in 08/09
Houston if healthy will win the NBA championship.
TMac, Yao, Artest, Scola, Battier, Skip 2,

Yowzers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BIG JOHN]

iIF THEY CAN KEEP SKIP TO MA LU OUT OF JAIL. HOUSTON WILL NEVER WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP COMING OUT OF THE WEST, TO MANY GOOD TEAMS, THE SUNS, LAKERS, SPURS, NEW ORLEANS AND THE BEAT GO'S ON. YAO'S HEALTH IS A BIG 7 FT 5 QUESTION. TMAC'S HEALTH IS A OVERRATED QUESTION, ARTEST WELL ENOUGH SAID ABOUT HIM.

[Forester]

I used to hate Kobe and the Lakers - but I can't believe I actually root for the guy now. He is one the best players in the history of the game, and has become a team player, nearly winning it all last year. I try and not think about the criminal issues and focus on the court.

[TroubleNYC]

That '04 squad was an embarrassment. Thank goodness they've manned up.

[manicallday]

God I can't stand Kobe. That pictured on the front page is a reach in!

[AgentMacGyver]

Looks like a loose ball. I don't recall the play, maybe you do.

[Quotidien]

no blood no foul

[BIG JOHN]

CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY YOU CAN'T STAND THE BEST PLAYER IN THE GAME. I'M SURE IF HE WAS ON YOUR TEAM YOU WOULD LOVE HIM.

[Daly]

Brilliant