basketball hall of fame

Chapter 140 The United States beat Lithuania and advanced to the final

At 2008 o'clock in the evening on August 8, 22, the US team vs. Lithuania ushered in the first game of the men's basketball semi-finals of the Olympic Games.

US team starting: Kidd, Kobe, James, Anthony, Howard.

The Lithuanian team starts: Jaskovicius, Kakonas, Siskauskas, Ravinowicks, Jaff Tokas.

At the beginning of the game, the US team took the lead to get the ball. Kidd advanced with the ball and passed it to the top of the arc to Kobe in the low post. Kobe made a mid-range shot and scored the first goal.

After catching the ball, Howard succeeded in dunking on the dry land, and then hit a small hook to help the US team lead 6:0.

Afterwards, Yavtokas successfully broke through and dunked, but Lithuania was obviously confused by the fast pace of the United States, and made frequent mistakes. point.

Lavrinovich made a fast push and hit a three-pointer. Kobe immediately started scoring mode. After breaking through the bottom line, he glided from the right side of the basket to the left side, turned around in the air and faced the ring to score the ball. Two rounds later, he Successive mid-range shots and 3-pointers succeeded. Kobe scored 10 points in a row, helping the US team hit a 10:0 spurt to pay back. 24:5, the US team led by 19 points.

Jaskovicius pushed forward with the ball, Kidd continued to lead the defense, and passed to the top of the arc to Lavinowicks in the low post. Lavinowicks received the ball and singled Anthony, one top, two carry, three confrontation, Pushing Anthony to the basket, he turned around and threw off the defense, and made a layup with a low hand.

The Lithuanian team kept finding Anthony's defensive weakness, successfully attacked at the basket, and struggled to maintain the score.

Then the old coach K had to replace Anthony and put on Prince, who had a better defense, in order to prevent the Lithuanian team from attacking inside.

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Lithuania, who gradually became familiar with the rhythm, had an increased shooting rate and frequent offensive successes, narrowing the point difference to 14 points at one point.

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At 31:15, the US team led by 16 points, and the first quarter ended.

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At the beginning of the second quarter, Jaskovicius and Reed entered the confrontation mode. The two began to attack three-pointers. Martius made another three-pointer. At 3:36, Lithuania approached the point difference to 23 points.

The U.S. team pressed the audience, and after two consecutive steals, the fast break succeeded. Anthony hit a 3-pointer, and Kobe succeeded in an alley-oop dunk. The U.S. team had the upper hand on the scene.

Under the leadership of Yavtokas and Siskauskas, the Lithuanian team played steadily, even shooting with penalties, and strengthened the defense. Zazadis also hit a 3-pointer in time, with full firepower on both offense and defense.

Lithuania and the US team had the same firepower in a single quarter, 56:39, the US team led by 17 points, and the first half ended.

Howard scored 15 points in the first half, Bryant also scored 14 points.

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In the third quarter of the game, the Lithuanian team suddenly found a touch from the outside line. Lavrinovic, Kayukenas and Jaskovicius scored 4 and 3 points in a row. James also made a long shot, 61 :52, Lithuania frequently succeeded in attacking outside under pressure, reducing the point difference to single digits in one fell swoop.

The old K coach asked Wade to replace Kidd, Prince replaced Anthony again, put on a defensive lineup, and switched defenses infinitely in order to suppress the Lithuanian team's outside firepower.

At the critical moment, the U.S. team pressed the defense once again, causing the Lithuanian team to make mistakes and counterattack.

Howard and James succeeded in dunks one after another, Anthony made a layup, Kobe turned his back and kicked off a 14:3 offensive climax of the Lithuanian team, widening the point difference to 20 points in one fell swoop.

After two rounds of stalemate, Wade suddenly went mad, succeeded in an alley-oop dunk, hit a fadeaway jumper, hit another 3-point long shot, scored 7 points in a row, and stabilized the score.

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At 91:66, the US team led by 25 points, and the third quarter ended.

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At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Wade came up with a 3-pointer, Deron also succeeded in a fast break layup, and Wade succeeded in a dunk in the fast break.

Looking back, Siskauskas hit the 3-pointer again, 98:71, and the US team still led by 27 points.

4 minutes and 35 seconds before the end of the game, Reed succeeded in a fast break dunk, 108:78, and the difference between the two teams came to 30 points.

After 1 minute, Boozer scored 3 points in a row with penalties, expanding the point difference to 36 points in one fell swoop.

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120:84, the US team defeated the Lithuanian team by 36 points and successfully entered the Olympic finals.

Wade scored the highest of the US team with 19 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals; Howard 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks; Reed 16 points, hit 4 three-pointers; James 15 points , 7 rebounds, 6 assists; Bryant 14 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals; Anthony 11 points, 6 rebounds.

Lithuanian team Kayukenas contributed a team-high 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists; Siskauskas 13 points, 7 rebounds; Yavkatos 11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 times Assists; Jaskovich 9 points, 4 assists; Kleiza scored 8 points.

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Kobe Bryant was interviewed by ESPN beauty reporter after the game

ESPN reporter: "Congratulations to the US team for entering the Olympic final again. Who do you think will be the opponent in the final?"

Bryant: "The Huaxia team and Spain's internal strength are almost the same. The key lies in the performance of the core outside players of the two teams. However, no one in the Spanish team can prevent Li Kang's attack. Therefore, the Huaxia men's basketball team will enter the Olympic finals."

ESPN reporter: "Huaxia team, really? I am more optimistic about the Spanish team's advancement, let us wait and see!"

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After the game, the old coach K also accepted an interview with the American TNT TV station.

TNT reporter: "The U.S. team entered the Olympic final again as it wished. Is this within your expectation?"

Old coach K: "Of course, winning the championship is our only goal. Before that, I will not be surprised at all, because we have several of the best players in the world."

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After the game, the Lithuanian team coach Butautas and Kauknas attended the press conference and talked about the game.

Butautas: "We didn't play well tonight, but don't forget that we are playing against the best team in the world, they have the best players and coaches, this team is too strong, the strength, technique and speed are perfect of.

If we meet the United States next time, I believe we will perform better! "

Cokernas said that Mengba is no longer as arrogant as the previous US team, but is fighting for every ball on the court.

Cokernas: "They go all out on the court, and they are very competitive both offensively and defensively. I think they respect us a lot on the court."

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