2014 FIBA World Cup Finals: USA Wins!

Team USA put on a shooting clinic to take home the gold medal in today's Final

USA vs SERBIA
Before the 2014 FIBA World Cup started, Coach K said to his team, “Bring your Body, Mind and Heart; If you can deliver we can do this!” Team USA took the last step in their journey today at the Palacio de los Deportes de la Comunidad in Madrid. The USA hammered Serbia 129-92. This game was an example of the impact that quickness and athleticism can have on a game.

Serbia began the game strong and got the USA off-balance, taking a 15-7 lead, but their aggressiveness ended up working against them. They were cocky on the floor, and when big Nenad Krstic pushed Kenneth Faried on a rebound, the monster was awakened. The USA got angry, woke up and never looked back. Klay Thompson and Steph Curry picked up the defense on Milos Teodosic, preventing him from penetrating and kicking the ball to his bigs. This created 6 quick turnovers, and the USA was off to the races. Thompson and James Harden went for 18 and 17, respectively, in the first half, and the team shot 12/16 from the three-point line to take a 67-41 lead into halftime. 

In the second half, Teodosic became so frustrated over the USA defense, which was forcing him left out of his comfort zone, that he asked to come out of the game. Bojan Bogdanovic tried to pick up the slack by hitting two threes and also had two nice assists, but at the end of three quarters the lead had reached 105-67. Faried opened the fourth with a jump hook and Bogdanovic had two nice drive-and-scores, but it was pretty much over at that point and both teams devolved into street ball until the buzzer sounded.  

Kryie Irving was the USA’s leading scorer with 26 and was on fire from three, shooting 6/6. Other top scorers included James Harden (23) who played his best game of the tournament, Thompson (12) and Faried (12). The team shot 15/30 from the 3pt line, out-rebounded Serbia 44-32 and made their free throws (83% to Serbia’s 71%). Serbia was led in scoring by Nemanja Bjelica (18), Nikola Kalinic (18) and Bogdanovic (15).

Team USA showed how much this win, and the gold medal, meant when they celebrated at the buzzer, leaping into the air. They looked like kids in love with the game of basketball and grateful for the chance to play with each other and for their country. It was refreshing to see. Kyrie Irving tucked the MVP away very proudly and will take it back to Cleveland and show it to a very excited coach David Blatt.

Although they fell one win short, Serbia was excited to win the silver, their best placing under the Serbian flag. They will return home and be instant heroes, as will the French who took home bronze. 

The 2014 FIBA World Cup All Tournament team is an impressive line-up with Pau Gasol (Spain), Nicolas Batum (France), Klay Thompson and Kenneth Faried (USA) and Milos Teodosic (Serbia). Congratulations to all of the players! I had fun watching.