My profile:
TORONTO -- The United States made the gold-medal game at the World Championship of Basketball into a showcase for the strength of the NBA.
"There was pressure on us to win, but it was easy because we had the talent,'" Dominique Wilkins said Sunday after the United States' 137-91 rout of a fatigued and outmanned Russian team.
The first time at the World Championship for NBA players resulted in a clean sweep of eight games, with every victory by at least 15 points. It's the third world title for the United States, which also won in 1954 and 1986.
The United States made a habit of starting slow in their first seven games of the 16-team, 11-day tournament, but they put this game to bed early, making 16 of their first 17 shots and leading Russia 42-16 when the game was less than nine minutes old.
"We wanted to play our best early, and it was no contest," coach Don Nelson said.
After scoring just 40 points in the first half of Saturday night's 97-58 semifinal victory over Greece, the United States matched that just 8:19 into the final and went on to its highest point total of the tournament.
Russia, which lost to the United States 111-94 Friday night, was coming off an emotional 66-64 semifinal victory over favored Croatia, a game that ended just 15 hours before tip-off Sunday. The Russians also played without their best big man, Andrei Fetisov, who was not in uniform because of an injured right ankle.
"Last night's victory took everything out of us," Russia coach Sergei Belov said. "The desire was there, but we couldn't do it. Fatigue took away our strength, which is defense. But staying with these players for 10, 20, 30 minutes is an achievement."
Coleman, starting for just the third time, got the Americans going with a 3-pointer and a three-point play in the first minute of the game, and Joe Dumars followed with another 3-pointer for a 9-0 lead.
Coleman scored all of his 13 points during the 42-16 burst that started the game. The United States shot 71.8 percent (28-for-39) in the first half and led 73-40 at halftime.
"We got on the fast break and pushed the ball up court," Coleman said. "Russia played great against Croatia, but against us they were a little tired. I was really enjoying myself out there, just trying to take advantage of opportunities. I think this was the best game we played."
Wilkins, the oldest American player at 34, led the United States with 20 points. Shaquille O'Neal, who finished as the team's leading scorer with an 18.0 average and was tournament MVP, scored 18 in the final game, although he missed three 3-point attempts in the late going.
Alonzo Mourning scored all of his 15 points in the second half, and Shawn Kemp finished with 14.
The final-game blowout improved the United States' scoring average to 120.1, the equivalent of 144 points in a 48-minute NBA game.
The devastating first half took any drama out of the game for the crowd of 32,616 at SkyDome, the largest ever to see a basketball game in Canada.
|
|
Tweet |
|
This article has no comments. Be the first to leave a comment |
Discussion
Comments
To post comments you must be registered
Comments via Facebook
Most Read
1.
Soviet Crooner Khil Dead at 77
Brezhnev-era crooner Eduard Khil, a People’s Artist of Russia who rose to international acclaim in recent years as the “Trololo Man” after footage of his jolly yodeling became an Internet sensation, died early Monday in St. Petersburg.
2.
Putin Vows to Stand by Europe's Side
President Vladimir Putin on Monday offered European Union leaders help in their fight against a deepening debt crisis, on the same day that the ruble slid to new lows against the euro.
3.
Pussy Riot Case Enters Next Stage
The preliminary investigation of the Pussy Riot affair has been completed, allowing the defense to begin examining evidence against the women accused in the case.
4.
Euro 2012 Leaves Ukraine Rocked by Racism Controversy
Victor Chikelu, a Nigerian medical student, was punched and told to go back to Africa by a drunk in the Kiev subway two years ago.
5.
Peskov: BP Move Not Bad Signal for Investors
The Kremlin doesn't believe that BP's possible departure from its Russian joint venture would be a bad signal for other foreign investors.
6.
Lessons for Investors From TNK-BP
The highly depressed valuations on the stock market today would have you believe that Russia is a sort of a hybrid of a Las Vegas roulette wheel with an economic profile to make even Greece look attractive.
7.
Russians Convicted as Mercenaries in Libya
A Libyan military court sentenced two Russians, 19 Ukrainians and three Belorussians to long prison terms Monday for serving as mercenaries for Moammar Gadhafi during the conflict that led to his overthrow last year.
8.
Medvedev Says Putin Swap Was 'Honest'
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev insists that swapping places with President Vladimir Putin was an "honest decision."
9.
Soviet Children's Fear of Being Left Alone
One of the issues that has troubled me most since I began teaching in Russia did not surface in my classes until more than a year had passed.
10.
United Russia Pushes for Military Training in Schools
A group of United Russia deputies wants to reinstate Soviet-era military training in high schools to promote patriotism and fondness for the armed forces.
1.
City Mistakenly Plants Marijuana Field Instead of Lawn
After the city spread soil containing "grass" seeds around the Brateyevo metro station, a field of marijuana plants sprouted up instead of a lawn.
2.
Soviet Crooner Khil Dead at 77
Brezhnev-era crooner Eduard Khil, a People’s Artist of Russia who rose to international acclaim in recent years as the “Trololo Man” after footage of his jolly yodeling became an Internet sensation, died early Monday in St. Petersburg.
3.
McFaul Faces Kremlin Scorn Once Again
The Foreign Ministry assailed U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul for comments the ministry said went "far beyond the bounds of diplomatic etiquette."
4.
Prominent Businessman Shot Near FSB Headquarters
A prominent business leader was shot and wounded by three masked men in the heart of Moscow on Friday — just steps away from FSB headquarters.
5.
Putin's Final Act
Russians are usually patient and slow to rebel, but once they have turned on their leader, they don't stop until he is out.
6.
U.S.-Russian 3-Year Multientry Visa Bill to Go to Duma
After months of delays, the government has finalized a much-touted visa agreement with the United States and drafted the corresponding bill.
7.
Putin's Foreign Policy Goes on the Road
In a symbolic gesture, President Vladimir Putin on Thursday arrived in Minsk to pay his first foreign visit as head of state to controversial Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
8.
Putin Denies Russian Role in Syrian Violence
Under mounting international pressure, President Putin denied that Moscow is fueling bloodshed in Syria with arms exports and that Russia unilaterally supports the Assad regime.
9.
European Debt Crisis Driving Workers East
Despite its inconveniences, Moscow has become a magnet for foreign job-seekers, as unemployment in Europe is hitting record highs amid the debt crisis.
10.
McFaul and State Department Respond to Attack
The U.S. ambassador and the U.S. State Department said they were surprised by blistering criticism from the Foreign Ministry regarding comments McFaul made to students last week.
1.
Hundreds of Arrests Set Grim Backdrop for Victory Day Celebrations
As Moscow gears up to celebrate its victory in World War II, 67 years ago Wednesday, the shadow of political conflict shrouds the capital as hundreds of arrests cloud Victory Day festivities.
2.
City Mistakenly Plants Marijuana Field Instead of Lawn
After the city spread soil containing "grass" seeds around the Brateyevo metro station, a field of marijuana plants sprouted up instead of a lawn.
3.
Russian Satellite Takes Highest-Ever Resolution Picture of Earth
A stunning 121-megapixel snapshot of the Earth was taken by a Russian weather satellite in what is thought to be the highest resolution picture of the planet ever taken from space.
4.
Bodies, No Survivors Spotted at Superjet Crash
Search and rescue helicopters and volunteers struggling through thick forest and mountainous terrain spotted bodies but no survivors on the Indonesian mountainside where a Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashed by the time darkness forced an end to the search Thursday night.
5.
Tabloid: Superjet Downed by U.S. Industrial Sabotage
A tabloid claims that Russian intelligence agencies are investigating the possibility that the U.S. military may have brought down the Sukhoi Superjet that crashed in Indonesia.
6.
Furniture Magnate Shot Dead in Mercedes in Moscow Region
A 46-year-old furniture magnate was killed with six gunshot wounds to the head and chest early Sunday as he arrived in his Mercedes at his home in the Moscow region.
7.
New Cabinet Has Familiar Cast of Characters
President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced the makeup of the new Cabinet answering to Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, with three-fourths of the members having been replaced.
8.
Soviet Crooner Khil Dead at 77
Brezhnev-era crooner Eduard Khil, a People’s Artist of Russia who rose to international acclaim in recent years as the “Trololo Man” after footage of his jolly yodeling became an Internet sensation, died early Monday in St. Petersburg.
9.
Superjet Missing in Indonesia With 50 on Board
A dark cloud was cast Wednesday on the revival of Russia’s aviation industry when a Sukhoi-built Superjet 100 with 50 people on board disappeared from the radar screens of Indonesian flight controllers.
10.
McFaul Faces Kremlin Scorn Once Again
The Foreign Ministry assailed U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul for comments the ministry said went "far beyond the bounds of diplomatic etiquette."
