It took a good quarter and a half for the talent to worm its way to a significant lead, but Team USA finally escaped the literal grabbing clutches of Team Venezuela on Monday night, downing the foul-happy squad by a 113-69 score. Paul George led all scorers, in a team effort, with 20 points.
As was Venezuela’s hope, the game started slow, with the underdog fouling (29 times in total) to stop just about every one of Team USA’s fast break opportunities. Venezuela also spread the floor and attempted to use each and every second of the shot clock in hopes that that one member of Team USA’s five heads would eventually turn and that Venezuela could use a Princeton-like pass to take in an easy score.
That rarely happened, but it didn’t mean Team USA didn’t have its initial troubles.
In danger of not only going into the second quarter with half as many points (15) as they scored in the same quarter against China in its first game, but actually down a point to the unheralded Venezuelan squad. Jimmy Butler’s corner 3 with seven seconds left in the period changed all that, but Gregory Vargas bullied his way to two free throws just before the final buzzer to send things into the second period all tied up.
That first quarter included an inexcusable six turnovers for the United States, twice as many as its counterparts. Once Venezuela forced the team into the half court sets it isn’t comfortable within – Team USA isn’t made up of longtime teammates, remember – the execution tilted.
Things changed, ever so slowly, in the second quarter.
The score was tied as late as the 9:03 mark and it was stuck at just a two-point game (24-22) with seven minutes left in the period, but the knockout touch of Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant helped spur Team USA to a 24-4 run to send the second quarter. The States matched its 30-point first quarter output against China in the period, with both Anthony (10 points; which allowed him to pass Michael Jordan for third on the Team USA all-time scoring list with 258, just behind David Robinson and LeBron James) and Durant (11 points) somehow hitting for double-figure points in a half that was ruled by constant clock-killing by the other side.
This was Venezuela’s plan, just as it was in the exhibition match between the two teams. The squad finished the first half with 15 total fouls, while constantly working the shot clock until its bitter end, picking up shot clock violations that still managed to give the team a slight defensive advantage as it prevented Team USA from leaking out in transition after a miss.
As the fouls piled up, though, so did the chance to get to the line. Durant hit for 4-6 freebies in the first half, while Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler came off the bench to nail six free throws on his way to nine points. Team USA turned the ball over just three times in the second quarter.
Venezuela surprised the U.S. by taking quicker shots and more chances with its drives in the third quarter, coming two points within tying the favorite in that period, but the States never felt ill at ease. By the time bench helpers like Paul George (18 second half points) and Butler (who finished with 17 after that gritty first half) put their imprint on things in the fourth quarter, the rout was on.
(One stray came in the form of Klay Thompson, who missed all five shots and now is shooting 1-11 on the Olympics through two games).
Team Venezuela won’t be Team USA’s most annoying opponent, that might come in the form of Australia (who lie in wait with an undefeated record, ready to take on the defending gold medal winners on Wednesday), but they’re not far off. The team took advantage of inexperienced referees and Team USA’s own developing and shaky chemistry to make an ugly go of things.
Still, in the end, it’s hard to argue with a 44-point win. Even if the way to 113 points was a little boring.
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