U.S. set for final vs. feisty Serbians
MADRID — After a difficult summer, the Basketball World Cup has been pretty easy for the U.S. No games have been close in the final minutes, and only one was even competitive entering the final period. This depleted team that was supposed to be vulnerable has instead been invincible. The Americans believe that tough game is coming today — and so does Serbia, their opponent. “They have supreme confidence and just that expectation, I think, that they feel like they’re going to win,” U.S. guard Stephen Curry said, “and we have that same mentality as well.” Serbia is the only team left that can stop the Americans from repeating as world champions, looking to regain a title that’s meant so much in its basketball history. The Serbians barely qualified for the 24-team field as the seventh-place finisher in last year’s European championship. They were 2-3 in the group stage, advancing as the fourth and final team from the powerful Group A, but have peaked since the games became win or go home. A 90-72 rout of previously unbeaten Greece in the round of 16 was followed by an 84-56 victory against Brazil in the quarterfinals. Then the Serbians built a huge lead and held on Friday for a 90-85 victory against France, which beat Lithuania, 95-93, Saturday to win the bronze medal. “They’re just playing great basketball right now and actually it’s beautiful to see. I hope I don’t see that beauty tomorrow night,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “I cannot say we’re going to win against the U.S., but I’m sure we’re going to give all our best and try to fight, but it’s going to be hard for sure,” former NBA center Nenad Krstic said. The Americans have never repeated as world champions. The previous team to win titles consecutively was Yugoslavia in 1998 and 2002. “It’s everything for us,” U.S. forward James Harden said. “We came here with one thing on our mind, that’s to win the gold medal. “We came this far, doing an excellent job this far in this tournament. So one more game to complete our mission.”