ANDN THEY’RE OFF!
U.S. U GETS OUT TO QUICK START IN FIRST FULL DAY IN RIO
Carmelo Anthony helped make a liar of Team USA Olympic coach Mike Krzyzewski.
The Americans, seeking a third straight men’s basketball gold medal and 15th in the 18 Olympics in which the U.S. has competed, beat China by 50 and 49 in two preliminary exhibitions. But with China serving as Team USA’s opening opponent Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Coach K did the normal coach-speak.
This would be a “real game,” Krzyzewski promised.
Right, and a sprint between Usain Bolt and any of the baseball Molinas would be a real race.
Kevin Durant took team scoring honors with 25 points, but it was Knicks star Anthony who set the 119-62 rout in motion. After the Americans missed their first five shots — hey, they trailed 2-0 once upon a time — Anthony sparked the run-away-and-hide ambush.
In a mere 98 seconds, Anthony scored seven of his nine points, driving inside, bagging a 3-pointer and later hitting two free throws as part of a larger 18-2 explosion. When the clubbing ended, the Americans led 22-6, and the only real suspense was whether Team USA, which faces Venezuela Monday in the Group A pool play, would cover the Las Vegas line.
They did, with seven points to spare.
For the first time since 1998, betting on the Olympics is legal in Las Vegas, where the Americans were installed as 50-point favorites. The game was taken off the board elsewhere around the world, but if you put a few quid, rubles, bucks or pesos on the Americans, Saturday was a nail biter. Team USA led turnoverplagued China by 20 (30-10) after one quarter, by 29 (59-30) at halftime and by 44 (91-47) after the third quarter that contained an 18-0 U.S. run.
Anthony, America’s first ever four-time basketball Olympian, has emerged as the team’s unofficial leader. He said this past week he wanted to win another gold, a third straight, for Krzyzewski who will hand over the Olympic reins to Gregg Popovich after the Rio games. Krzyzewski appreciated the intent from the Knicks star, who took just five shots, made two, grabbed seven rebounds and had one block and one steal.
“I appreciate that. I have an unbelievable respect for Carmelo. I’ve been a coach for 41 years. I haven’t spent my whole life coaching for the U.S. He’s in his early 30s, he’s basically played for the United States his whole career. You talk about a commitment,” Krzyzewski said. “He’s been in five major championships. This will be his fourth Olympics and one World Championship. There is no other [men’s] basketball player in the history of our country who has participated more than Carmelo. And God bless him, he has become our leader and has become a really good leader.”
Every American scored. Durant, whose free-agent defection from Oklahoma City to Golden State was the NBA’s major offseason story, shot 10-of-14, including 5-of-8 on 3s.
Center DeMarcus Cousins of the Kings scored 17 points, the Pacers’ Paul George had 15 and Kyrie Irving, who won the title with the Cavaliers and LeBron James, had a 3-point frenzy in the third quarter to finish with 12 points.
Yi Jianlian, the former Net — and former Buck and Wizard and Maverick — led China with 25 points. The U.S. rang up 31 assists on 38 field goals and forced 24 turnovers.