| Team U.S.A. downs Russia 89-79 |
By Jason Behr
September 9, 2010
Led by Kevin Durant's 33 points and 5 rebounds, Team USA advanced 89-79 over
Russia in the quarterfinal round of the FIBA Championships. Coincidently their game
was played on the 38th anniversary of the controversial 1972 USA-Soviet Union
Olympic Final. There was no controversy in Thursday's game however, as Team USA
used a 15-5 run in the 3rd quarter to widen their 5 point lead up to 15.
Sergey Bykov scored 17 points for Russia, which exceeded expectations in this
tournament after coming to the worlds without some of its top talent, most notably
Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz.
Andrey Vorontsevich had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Timofey Mozguv, recently
signed by the New York Knicks, scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
The game opened up with Russia dictating the tempo and was able to slow the fast
break/transition game of the U.S. The teams started off trading 3 pointers and then
trading runs of 9-0 for the U.S. and 7-0 by Russia. The U.S. run was triggered by Kevin
Durant’s 7 straight points on his way to a game high 33. Russia was able to load up the
paint with defenders and force the U.S. team to shoot 3’s. They also attacked the U.S.
basket taking advantage of their size advantage. The first quarter saw Coach K insert
every player on the bench either due to foul trouble like Andre Iguodala had or poor play
except for Kevin Durant. Only Kevin Durant’s 13 first quarter points on an array of 3
pointers and jumpers kept the game tied at 25 to end the first quarter.
The U.S. continued their bad habit of running to much individual isolation that led to
sluggish ball movement and a 1 for 7 field goal start in the second quarter. Only when
Andre Iguodala re-entered the game and Lamar Odum started doing some dirty work
around the rim did the U.S. get it going. Those two closed down the paint area for the
Russians and turned around the defensive intensity for the U.S. This led to Russia
turning the ball over 16 times and led to numerous easy baskets by the United States.
The third quarter saw the U.S. slowly take over the game and cease any potential late
game drama. Russell Westbrook was a one man wrecking machine in the 3rd quarter
dropping in 10 pts 4 of which came on back to back steals leading to dunks on the
other end. The U.S. team kept up the suffocating defense and had plenty of ball
movement on the other end. Chauncey Billups redeemed himself nicely from the first
half and ended with 15 points on 4 for 8 shooting from 3 point land.
September 9, 2010
Led by Kevin Durant's 33 points and 5 rebounds, Team USA advanced 89-79 over
Russia in the quarterfinal round of the FIBA Championships. Coincidently their game
was played on the 38th anniversary of the controversial 1972 USA-Soviet Union
Olympic Final. There was no controversy in Thursday's game however, as Team USA
used a 15-5 run in the 3rd quarter to widen their 5 point lead up to 15.
Sergey Bykov scored 17 points for Russia, which exceeded expectations in this
tournament after coming to the worlds without some of its top talent, most notably
Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz.
Andrey Vorontsevich had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Timofey Mozguv, recently
signed by the New York Knicks, scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
The game opened up with Russia dictating the tempo and was able to slow the fast
break/transition game of the U.S. The teams started off trading 3 pointers and then
trading runs of 9-0 for the U.S. and 7-0 by Russia. The U.S. run was triggered by Kevin
Durant’s 7 straight points on his way to a game high 33. Russia was able to load up the
paint with defenders and force the U.S. team to shoot 3’s. They also attacked the U.S.
basket taking advantage of their size advantage. The first quarter saw Coach K insert
every player on the bench either due to foul trouble like Andre Iguodala had or poor play
except for Kevin Durant. Only Kevin Durant’s 13 first quarter points on an array of 3
pointers and jumpers kept the game tied at 25 to end the first quarter.
The U.S. continued their bad habit of running to much individual isolation that led to
sluggish ball movement and a 1 for 7 field goal start in the second quarter. Only when
Andre Iguodala re-entered the game and Lamar Odum started doing some dirty work
around the rim did the U.S. get it going. Those two closed down the paint area for the
Russians and turned around the defensive intensity for the U.S. This led to Russia
turning the ball over 16 times and led to numerous easy baskets by the United States.
The third quarter saw the U.S. slowly take over the game and cease any potential late
game drama. Russell Westbrook was a one man wrecking machine in the 3rd quarter
dropping in 10 pts 4 of which came on back to back steals leading to dunks on the
other end. The U.S. team kept up the suffocating defense and had plenty of ball
movement on the other end. Chauncey Billups redeemed himself nicely from the first
half and ended with 15 points on 4 for 8 shooting from 3 point land.
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