It took a 32-15 last quarter burst and a world class capturing demonstration lastly from Stephen Curry for the US to flee the semi-final with a conquer Serbia 95-91. Ranging from the 7:20 mark, the US made 10 consecutive and clutch subject aim makes an attempt over 5 1⁄2 minutes — beginning with a four-point play by Kevin Durant and ending with a Curry layup (after stealing a foolish cross from Bogdanovic) — to overhaul the Serbians and held on for the stirring victory.
The Serbians matched Curry within the opening half with a collectively stable capturing effort, and have been extra of a nuisance and bodily presence guarding the Individuals who’ve been accustomed to extra working area. Serbia ran its lead up as excessive as 17 – main for 33+ minutes of recreation motion earlier than succumbing to the primary livid US rally needed to make in these Olympics within the closing seven minutes. Group USA wanted each one in all Curry’s 9 threes to fend off their worthy opponents and overcome Serbia’s 15-for-29 begin from behind the arc.
Curry hit a scorching 5 of his first six makes an attempt (4 of 5 from three). However the specter of a sweatier-than-usual Jokic within the submit and on the wing enabled Serbia to search out all types of success in a catch-and-shoot procession. Aleksa Abramovic, particularly, benefitted from open area to hit a trio of triples. The non-Curry starters had issue denting the scoreboard, till Jame’s first nook three. A steal and lay-up from Abramovic put Serbia up 5. The final of Curry’s threes for the stanza introduced the US inside 4, however the regarding end result after one was Group USA’s first important deficit, 23-31.
Edwards knocked down his solely shot for the sport(!) to begin the second interval. However he deserted his project shortly after,and a Serbian hit a nook three to place them up 9. Jokic drew a second foul on Anthony Davis, which kickstarted a Serbian run. Jeff Van Gundy’s quote about it being a ‘make-or-miss league’ bounced round my head, because the US protection was made helpless with every successive Serbia bucket. The US was glued to 25 over a number of minutes, and a rambling Jokic driving and-1 put his workforce up 17. Embiid’s foul-line jumper and nook three sandwiched round Devin Booker’s layup ate into the deficit. Bogdanovic’s straightaway three prolonged the Serbian to result in 15, and the journeyman guard did the three-finger gesture to the temple in the direction of Carmelo Anthony. James acquired into it with a Serbian participant, after which knocked down a triple. James answered the ultimate of Abramovic’s threes with a traditional three-point play over Bogdanovic, and the US was very fortunate to move to the half down 11.
Embiid’s linked from three to begin the second half and usually tried to make Jokic really feel his presence felt. Bogdanovic hit his first triple of the third and continued to bark at anybody round him it appeared. Embiid and Jokic then traded lumbering buckets. Curry made his first splash of the half to trim the Serbian result in single digits. Ognjen Dobric’s pair of threes stored the US at bay. Jrue Vacation’s nook three introduced the US inside two possessions, and Embiid drawing an offensive foul on Jokic additional ignited his bench. Vasilije Micic then hit two jumpers to stymie the US surge. Marko Guduric’s audacious four-point play brought about Group USA to provide again all of its positive aspects within the stanza – they went into the fourth perilously down 13.
The Individuals wanted a trio of MPV-type performances from Curry (36 factors and eight rebounds), James (16 factors, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists), and its most maligned member, Embiid (19 factors and 4 rebounds). Regardless of the heaping quantity of criticism thrown at him all match lengthy, the Sixers middle got here via when it counted probably the most. Coach Steve Kerr drastically lowered his rotation with a punchless bench and Durant the one one logging greater than 20 minutes. In Serbia’s third matchup with the US on this Olympic season, Jokic (17 factors and 11 assists) discovered the mandatory help from Bogdanovic (20 factors and 4 rebounds) and Avramovic’s (15 factors and 4 rebounds) stellar capturing strokes and heady board play from Nikola Milutinov and FIlip Petrusev. They’ll tackle Germany within the Bronze medal recreation on Saturday.
Observations
Had the Serbians pulled off the monumental upset, former participant Evan Turner could have needed to alter his future considerably.
I’m simply nonetheless in awe at how rapidly these video games go or flip or shift in comparison with the 48 minute NBA format.
With Edwards committing two early turnovers within the first half, it could have been higher to herald Jayson Tatum to offer some size and disruption on the defensive finish.
Sequence of the Recreation: As issues acquired chippy with the groups late within the first half, Embiid juked Jokic up within the air, and took it down the correct baseline for a an influence slam to convey the US deficit to 10.
Playground Sequence of the Recreation: Anytime that Curry shot the ball within the first half.
Jokic ran his two-man recreation with any prepared teammate whereas Serbia ran up its lead, which is fascinating provided that the one Denver teammate he has that may knock photographs down and create offensve with him persistently subsequent season is Jamal Murray (and perhaps Russell Westbrook?) .
The sideline angle of Bercy Area and the world lighting appears just like the Wolves’ Goal Heart.
It’s the US and France within the Gold Medal recreation Saturday at 2:00 PM CDT!
