Final thoughts
Well, we expected Spain to put up a fight against the US, and they certainly did just that. If a few things had gone differently, Spain very well could have pulled off the upset. Whichever team faces them in the gold medal game (spoiler alert: it almost certainly will be Australia) won’t just be happy to be there, they will know that they really do have a chance to beat this team.
Which is a good thing for the sport overall, I think. This year’s US men’s team has been more intriguing than previous editions because they’re clearly more vulnerable. It should be a great gold medal game. This will, however, end today’s USA basketball liveblogging here at the Guardian, although obviously we will continue to have live coverage of the Olympics literally around-the-clock. Thanks to everyone reading this, particularly those who contributed. Ciao!
The US will go on to face the winner of Australia vs Serbia in Sunday’s gold medal game!
US wins!
Spain 76-82 USA, FINAL
Sergio Rodriguez ends the game with a layup but obviously that’s not going to be enough. The US have eliminated Spain and will go on to play in the final!
Spain 74-82 USA, :42, 4th quarter
Victor Claver his a corner three. Mirotic draws a foul on Paul George, stopping the clock and giving him three free throws. He makes two out of three. Not good enough.
Spain 69-82 USA, 1:14, 4th quarter
Kevin Durant makes a jumper. Sergio Llull gets called for an offensive foul and that might be the end of this.
And then Thompson finds George for an easy dunk. Okay THAT might be the end of this
Spain 69-78 USA, 2:16, 4th quarter
And we get one final timeout before this game’s last run. Officials are getting their last chances at using their whistles. They call an offensive foul on Sergio Rodriguez who was heading to the basket, wiping away a crucial late score for Spain and getting the ball back to the US. Huge call that, and many in the crowd are very unhappy.
Spain 69-78 USA, 2:41, 4th quarter
Mirotic scores again, a layup this time.
Spain 67-78 USA, 3:25, 4th quarter
Irivng hits a three pointer. Sergio Rodriguez makes a jumper, but now the clock’s starting to become Spain’s biggest enemy.
Spain 65-75 USA, 4:47, 4th quarter
Except Thompson is sill Thompson and he makes a three pointer that feels like it could snuff out a less motivated team’s hopes.
Instead, Nikola Mirotic, extremely quiet all game long, hits a much needed three.
Spain 62-72 USA, 6:09, 4th quarter
Navarro gets a layup to put Spain on the board for this quarter. More importantly, Spain manages to get a few stops. Navarro hits a three-pointer and they’re starting to crawl back into this...
Spain 57-72 USA, 7:33, 4th quarter
Navarro’s jumper falls short out of the timeout. On the other side, Lowry makes his. That’s been the story of the last 10 minutes or so of basketball.
Spain 57-70 USA, 7:53, 4th quarter
The US defense ramps up here, preventing Spain from getting anything off. It doesn’t help that they’ve been a bit too reliant on Gasol for their offense.
Paul George hits a layup and Spain call another timeout.
Spain 57-68 USA, 9:23, 4th quarter
Spain wins the jump ball but Rudy Fernandez misses a three. Jordan grabs the rebound. Lowry makes a jumper and the US strikes first in the final frame.
Spain 57-66 USA, end of the 3rd quarter
Durant hits a three-pointer here, giving the US some breathing room. DeAndre Jordan with a MAMMOTH DU-
Oh, never mind, they call traveling on that. I forget this isn’t the NBA sometimes. Gasol tips in a Navarro miss and…
Okay THAT DeAndre Jordan definitely counts and will mark the end of the third quarter.
Spain 56-61 USA, 2:27, 3rd quarter
The timeout seems to do good for Spain. Gasol and Rodriguez hit back-to-back threes.
Spain 50-61 USA, 3:51, 3rd quarter
And DeAndre Jordan with a thunderous dunk that causes Spain to take an immediate timeout.
Jorge P (rightfully) calls me out on my parochialism:
“But it has been a close affair at the half, which is usually the only hope you can have heading into an Olympic basketball game featuring the US squad.”
Come on... The last three USA Vs. Spain have been close affairs nearly the whole way through. I’d even argue that 2008 would have been closer if FIBA rules had applied to USA as they did to the rest of the teams... and don’t even get me talking about the officiating in the 2004 game.
Anyway, this is an older and not wiser Spain (except Rudy, who couldn’t get dumber I guess). So yeh, USA are about to run away with it.
Mind you, Spain were awful in the 1996 Worlds and it came to a knifes edge
Spain 50-59 USA, 4:14, 3rd quarter
Kyrie Irving hits a jumper. The US could use one of his breakthrough games right now.
DeAndre Jordan rebounds a Gasol miss, gets the ball to Durant who hits a layup.
Reyes manages a second chance layup.
And Irving with another layup. Maybe he is heating up here.
Spain 48-53 USA, 5:46, 3rd quarter
Gasol tips in his own missed layup. Then he assists Sergio Llull on a three-pointer that cuts the US lead in half in a blink of an eye.
Spain 43-53 USA, 6:20, 3rd quarter
Anthony with a layup and he gets fouled, that’s on Felipe Reyes. Anthony makes the free throw. And that’s a 10 point US lead.
Spain 43-50 USA, 7:08, 3rd quarter
Llull finds Gasol for a jumper. Irving hits one for the US. Gasol misses on a three, after several great defensive stands, Gasol manages to tip in a missed Rubio jumper. Spain still very much alive here.
Spain 39-48 USA, 8:47, 3rd quarter
Apparently the officials and the coaches had a little conference during halftime, hopefully there’ll be less officiating madness this half.
And as soon as I type that, they call a foul on Gasol to put DeAndre Joran to the line. Jordan makes one of two.
Email from Daniel Cavanillas
It is hard to explain how much this Spanish team means to those of us who were born in Spain during the 80s or 90s. A whole generation has grown up watching Gasol, Navarro et al dominating the international scene and beating everyone but the USA. To see this bunch of players beat the Americans on their last tournament together would be a dream come true.
Having said that, how do you rate Spain’s chances after the first half? I’m following the match from a bus heading to Stansted, so I don’t know what you make it it so far.
I personally think that the US is going to pull ahead here in the second half, relatively soon but Spain have to be happy about the spot they’re in. They could very well pull this off.
Second half begins!
Spain 39-47 USA, 9:39, 3rd quarter
US wins the jump all. Klay Thompson, who’s been the man so far this game, knocks down a jumper to start off the second half.
Okay, it’s not just me here.
FIBA officials make me want to send weekly gifts to every NBA referee. All these technical fouls. Awful
— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) August 19, 2016
Your thoughts on the game so far, or US basketball in general? Feel free to share them with us and we’ll share them with the world. Email Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com or tweet @HunterFelt and we’ll use your comments here.
First half thoughts
There were FIVE technical fouls called in the first 20 minutes of this game. This has been just a massively ugly game and a lot of it is on how the game is being called.
But it has been a close affair at the half, which is usually the only hope you can have heading into an Olympic basketball game featuring the US squad.
End of the first half
Spain 39-45 USA, end of the first half
Butler finds Thompson, who hits another three pointer and that’s the end of the first half.
Spain 39-42 USA, :47, 2nd quarter
Hey more fouls! Delay of Game on Spain. Thompson hits the free throw.
And there’s the third foul on Cousins. It puts Fernandez to the line, he makes both. Good luck to either team trying to get into any sort of rhythm today.
Spain 37-41 USA, 1:07, 2nd quarter
Fernandez with a three. Carmelo Anthony finally connects with a shot though, a three-pointer that the US kinda needed.
Llull makes a LLayup.
Spain 35-38 USA, 1:43, 2nd quarter
Hooray! More fouls!
This one’s on Cousins, who only has two somehow (okay mostly because he’s played very little, but still, this is an improvement compared to his normal rate.)
Felipe Reyes to the line, he makes both free throws.
And then Gasol gets called on a foul. This one puts Kyrie on the line, he makes both. This quarter is never going to end.
Updated
Spain 30-36 USA, 3:02, 2nd quarter
And now it’s Mirotic who gets slammed with a technical foul, and he’s reaching his limit. Okay these officials are kinda being dinks here this game and it’s starting to mess with the game itself.
Thompson hits the technical free throw and he adds a jumper.
Spain 30-33 USA, 3:42, 2nd quarter
Kevin Durant now picks up a technical foul. The US are going to have to keep their composure here. Navarro hits the free throw and it’s a one possession game! And Gasol’s back in the game.
What did I tell you about this first half?
Spain 29-33 USA, 4:08, 2nd quarter
Willy Hernangomez is cleaning up the boards here. First he converts a missed layup from Navarro into a jumper and then he gets the rebound off a missed Thompson three attempt. Victor Claver makes a layup on the other end.
Spain 25-33 USA, 5:17, 2nd quarter
Okay that Thompson three was DEFINITELY a three.
Navarro hits a sweet runner, I forgot how pretty his game could be when he’s hot.
Spain 23-30 USA, 5:45, 2nd quarter
Sergio Rodriguez makes a corner three coming out of a timeout. Spain needed that.
Spain 20-30 USA, 6:56, 2nd quarter
DeAndre Jordan with a dunk. Thompson with a three!
Never mind, they change that to a two saying his foot was over the line, but still a nice sequence for the US.
Spain 20-26 USA, 8:21, 2nd quarter
And now Paul George gets rung up for complaining about the officiating. Juan Carlos Navarro hits the technical for Spain.
Spain 19-26 USA, 8:45, 2nd quarter
Sergio Scariolo, Spain’s head coach, gets runs up for a technical after complaining to the officials. Carmelo Anthony gets to the line… and misses both free throws.
Spain 19-26 USA, 9:40, 2nd quarter
Gasol gets his first break of the game. Spain wins the jump ball and Willy Hernangomez dunks to start off the second.
Spain 17-26 USA, end of the 1st quarter
Cousins makes a layup. Felipe Reyes gets to the line, hitting one of two free throws. And Kyle Lowry hits a three pointer with only a few seconds left in the quarter. There’s only time for Spain to get off a desperation heave that’s off the mark.
Spain 16-21 USA, 1:13, 1st quarter
Kyle Lowry with a layup.
The US has been pretty good defensively this quarter, until the moment they leave Pau Gasol wide open for a three pointer that he drills.
Spain 13-19 USA, 2:22, 1st quarter
Paul George’s first impression goes a bit better than Cousins, making a layup for the US.
Spain 13-17 USA, 3:00, 1st quarter
DeMarcus Cousins is in the game now. And he immediately fouls Gasol, who goes two-for-two.
Spain 11-17 USA, 3:00, 1st quarter
Sergio Rodriguez with a layup. Thompson tries for another three, but nothing doing. Melo gets the rebound and gets fouled. There’s already been way too many free throw line trips in this game for my tastes. Melo makes one of two of his freebies.
Spain 9-16 USA, 4:32, 1st quarter
Gasol is keeping Spain afloat early on. He makes a jumper.
But so does Kevin Durant.
Spain 7-14 USA, 5:13, 1st quarter
Irving makes a jumper. Thompson gets his first Splash of the game, knocking down a a three-pointer. Quick answer here from the US.
Updated
Spain 7-9 USA, 6:06, 1st quarter
Rubio picks up his second foul.
Oh and Rudy Fernandez intercepts a bad pass by Irving and brings it to the hoop . The dunk cuts the US lead to two.
Spain 5-9 USA, 6:21, 1st quarter
Thompson fouls Ricky Rubio, this is going to be a free throw heavy game isn’t it?
Rubio misses both. Nerves maybe?
Spain 5-9 USA, 7:09, 1st quarter
Gasol scores once again, drawing a foul on Carmelo Anthony. He hits his free throw.
Klay Thompson answers immediately with a layup.
Spain 2-7 USA, 8:04, 1st quarter
Gasol with a layup to tie things up but Durant nails a long three pointer. Spain fails to score on their end. The US take advantage, Durant gets the ball and, after a few attempts, makes a layup and gets fouled.
He’s given continuation but he doesn’t make the free throw.
Spain 0-2 USA, 9:13, 1st quarter
Gasol misses a three pointer. DeAndre Jordan gets a layup on the other end, USA strikes first.
Opening tip
Spain 0-0 USA, 9:50, 1st quarter
US wins the jump ball but Ricky Rubio steals the ball away.
US starters
Kevin Durant
Carmelo Anthony
DeAndre Jordan
Klay Thompson
Kyrie irving
Spain starters
Nikola Mirotic
Rudy Fernandez
Pau Gasol
Sergio Llull
Ricky Rubio
USA basketball players continue their pregame ritual of each sprinting across the court as they are announced to shake the referees’ hands.
— Andrew Keh (@andrewkeh) August 19, 2016
🏀facts. pic.twitter.com/tyYnMjTTmY
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 19, 2016
This is secretly a compliment to Spain. It takes a great basketball program to get the opportunity to face the US this often in the Olympics.
The announcers are focusing on Kevin Durant, who really stepped up against Argentina. Does he need to take over for the US to be at his best?
Just jumped a little bit as the “Coverage Will Begin Shortly” screen suddenly shifted to Marv Albert yelling. But this means that basketball is approaching.
Well it’s clear Pau Gasol has been looking forward to this game:
Vamos EQUIPO!!!! Con todo!
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 19, 2016
Let's go TEAM!!! With everything we have! #Rio2016 #SomosEquipo pic.twitter.com/IjXeivDL2c
It should be noted that this is as wild and crazy as Gasol’s Twitter feed ever gets. For comparison, this was his tweet before the game against Argentina:
Tonight we are playing against #Argentina. We must win to move on to the quarters. Let's go team! #Rio2016 #TeamSpain
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 15, 2016
It’s really less “motivating speech” and more “dry, factual statement.”
Predictions
Can Spain possibly defeat the US? Well, I mean, sure. The US’s win over Argentina wasn’t enough to completely wipe away memories of just barely beating Serbia and France (and having a not-so-easy time with Australia before that).
Now, will you ever find me actually predicting that the US will drop a game? Not unless they go back to sending college players. I’m predicting a very close first half that’s followed by a second half that’s all USA.
But that’s me. What do you think? Feel free to send us your predictions either via email (to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or Twitter (to @HunterFelt).
And Team USA:
G Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls)
F Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors)
C DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers)
G Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
F Harrison Barnes (Dallas Mavericks)
G DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors)
G Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
G Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors)
C DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)
F Paul George (Indiana Pacers)
F Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors)
F Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks)
Spain’s roster
C Pau Gasol (Chicago Bulls)
SF Rudy Fernandez (Real Madrid)
PG Sergio Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
SG Juan Carlos Navarro (FC Barcelona)
PG Jose Calderon (New York Knicks)
PF Felipe Reyes (Real Madrid)
PF Victor Claver (Lokomotiv Kuban)
C Willy Hernangomez (Real Madrid)
SF Alex Abrines (FC Barcelona Lassa)
SG Sergio Llull (Real Madrid)
PF Nikola Mirotic (Chicago Bulls)
PG Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves)
The winner of this game will go on to face the winner of Australia vs Serbia, which is tipping off at 6pm EST. One has to assume that Australia’s going to be the clear cut victory in this game, but Serbia has done nothing but outperform expectations throughout the Games.
Preamble
When we last left the US men’s basketball team they finally were beginning to look like a worthy successor to the Dream Team and not a hastily thrown together collection of NBA stars trying to figure out how to play together. They easily took care of Argentina in the semifinals on Wednesday and now they face perhaps their biggest task so far, beating a Spanish team stacked with veterans and NBA-level talent.
Obviously, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio and Nikola Miroitc are the big names on this roster, along with Juan Carlos Navarro only spent a year in the NBA but has established himself as one of the most decorated European players. In fact, much of this lineup has had ties to NBA teams: Rudy Fernandez spent some time with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets. Sergio Rodriguez jumped between teams from 2006-2010 and is currently signed with the Philadelphia 76ers who, in certain respects, can be considered a NBA team. Willy Hernangomez has a contract with the New York Knicks etc.
You get the point, this is the least lop-sided matchup of the Olympics and we should expect players on both sides to be at their best. Some of the participants have slightly more motivation than others: Chicago Bulls teammates Butler and Mirotic have even gotten into a good-natured trash talking competition leading up to today’s game.
If you’d like to contribute to today’s blog, all you have to do is either send us an email (to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or a tweet (@HunterFelt) and we’ll use them throughout the next few hours. Our game is scheduled to start at 2:30pm EST, but we’ll be back well before then.
Hunter will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s how the US got in against Argentina earlier this week:
