Final thoughts
Well, Venezuela put up a good fight early on but ultimately they were no match against the US’s superior talent. And, hey, it wasn’t a 50 point loss. And wouldn’t you know it, it was in fact Paul George’s breakout game as he scored a team-high 20 points off this bench (plus he picked up four rebounds and an assist along the way). It was a good warm-um game for Coach K as he could see his team handle something approximating adversity without any serious threat of actually dropping the game.
And that will wrap up today’s men’s basketball liveblogging. Thanks to everybody who followed along with us today, particularly those who contributed. Ciao!
USA wins!
USA 113-69 Venezuela, FINAL
David Cubillan ends the game by hitting two free throws to make the final deficit a tad more respectable for Venezuela and that will do it. The US have started off pool play by going 2-0.
Updated
USA 113-67 Venezuela, :28, 4th quarter
Anthony Perez makes a three-pointer. And hey look it’s Harrison Barnes, the Human Victory Cigar, who gets fouled and gets to the line where he hits two free throws. Good for him.
USA 109-62 Venezuela, 1:16, 4th quarter
They really should have just stopped this game after George’s dunk. That was basically the end of this.
DeRozan would probably disagree because he increases his point total by going to the rim to increase the US lead. Then George gets fouled, giving him a chance to add to his points total. He makes both.
USA 105-62 Venezuela, 2:46, 4th quarter
Echenique makes one of two free throws. Lowry hits a layup and… WOW
Paul George puts an exclamation mark on the game with a mammoth dunk. Wowzers.
USA 101-61 Venezuela, 3:53, 4th quarter
Vargas with a jumper, which Paul George promptly answers. Echenique gets on the line, makes one of two free throws.
And Jimmy Butler with a layup and the US hit the 100 point mark and then break it, as the fouled Butler hits his “and one.”
USA 96-58 Venezuela, 4:55, 4th quarter
DeRozan hits a layup.
David Cubillan with a three-pointer, at this point Venezuela is just looking to make sure that the US doesn’t hit that 50 point mark.
If the US manages to pull it off it will be because of George’s late game burst here. He hits another three pointer here.
USA 91-55 Venezuela, 5:53, 4th quarter
Echenique with a dunk. Cousins gets to the line to make two free throws. Marv Albert and the announcers are officially in “only sorta paying attention” mode and I can’t blame them.
USA 89-53 Venezuela, 6:28, 4th quarter
Gregory Vargas hits a jumper to make sure that Venezuela isn’t completely shut out this quarter. Then, hey, it’s Paul George, who contributes two free throws and another three-pointer. Good night for him after all.
USA 84-51 Venezuela, 7:53, 4th quarter
Butler gets fouled on a made jumper, which gives him a free throw that he hits to finish up an old-fashioned three point play. DeAndre Jordan knocks down a layup and, a short time later, a dunk and it’s all the US to start out the fourth quarter.
USA 77-51 Venezuela, 9:27, 4th quarter
Jimmy Butler starts off the scoring in the fourth quarter with a layup.
USA 75-51 Venezuela, end of the 3rd quarter
And that’s all of the scoring for the third. Onto the fourth!
USA 75-51 Venezuela, :33, 3rd quarter
Vargas with a layup. DeRozan makes two fee throws.
Hey now, Paul Georg with a three. Maybe a 20 point court quarter will help make my prediction look better? Hey this game’s almost out of hand, I’ve gotta come up with something to root for now that garbage time approaches.
John Cox, who else, with a layup for Venezuela.
USA 70-47 Venezuela, 1:46, 3rd quarter
Green makes a layup for the US. Cox with another jumper. He’s scored 17 for Venezeula, highly impressive.
Hey there’s Paul George doing something good, he hits a layup. Not exactly his breakout game, but he’s not being shutout at least.
USA 68-47 Venezuela, 2:33, 3rd quarter
And now Echenique gets on the line to hit two free throws. The action has slowed to a crawl somewhat here.
Oh that will liven things up, Kevin Durant makes an impressive three.
And then John Cox hits one from even deeper.
USA 63-40 Venezuela, 4:15, 3rd quarter
Jordan is back on the line, where he makes one of two free throws (his best case scenario, really). Green fouls Echenique, nothing crotch-related this time around, who makes both of his free throws.
And Gregry Vargas fouls Kyle Lowry while attempting to block him, he hits both of his shots.
USA 60-38 Venezuela, 5:14, 3rd quarter
And Venezuela finally go on the closest thing they’ve had to a sustained run this half. Echenique makes a layup, Cox finds David Cubillan for a three pointer. The crowd gets a little more lively.
USA 60-33 Venezuela, 5:54, 3rd quarter
John Cox knocks down free throws but there’s no hope in stopping the US’s groove right now. Anthony hits a jumper, Jordan makes a gasp-inducing dunk.
USA 56-31 Venezuela, 7:03, 3rd quarter
Miguel Ruiz knocks down a layup, but Durant answers it on the other end of the court. The US can basically run out the clock at this point, even with 1 1/2 quarters still left in the game.
Echenique dunks to at lead chip away at that US lead.
USA 54-27 Venezuela, 8:28, 3rd quarter
Cousins fouls John Cox during a shot attempt, the ball goes in but it’s rule to have come after the foul. That’s the fourth on Cousins, by the way but it works our for the US as Cox only makes one of two free throws.
USA 54-26 Venezuela, 8:50, 3rd quarter
Make that 12 points for ‘Melo as he makes an easy layup. And Cousins hits yet another one and it’s not looking like Venezuela is able to offer much resistance here.
Updated
2nd half begins!
USA 50-26 Venezuela, 9:42, 3rd quarter
DeMarcus Cousins makes a layup to start the scoring for the second half.
Oh, hey, Carmelo Anthony, who has scored 10 points in the first half, has passed Michael Jordan on the all-time Olympic scoring list. That’s never a bad thing.
@HunterFelt It must be great for Kyrie Irving to catch passes from Draymond Green instead of elbows..........
— The Mighty Mojo (@Bear_Necessity) August 8, 2016
I wonder if Irving has to force himself not to instinctively guard his crotch every time he shares the court with Green.
Halftime thoughts
Well, this was the halftime score we were all expecting, but I’m not sure we expected it to happen this way. Venezuela actually outplayed the US for much of the first half but, as was almost inevitable, the second the US players started to realize they had to step things up, Venezuela couldn’t keep up.
I don’t expect things to change that much in the second half, but I didn’t expect Venezuela to play things that close to begin with, so what do I know?
Halftime!
USA 48-26 Venezuela, end of the first half
Kevin Durant goes for a somewhat unwise kill-shot, which is picked off by Gregory Vargas who finally puts an end to the US run by making a jumper.
However, the US end the first half with a Kyrie Irving three pointer. There’s a bit of talk about whether or not there was a foul before the final buzzer, but the officials determine that there wasn’t and the first half is officially over.
USA 45-24 Venezuela, 1:06, 2nd quarter
Jimmy Butler gets fouled, gets on the line and gets the US two more points.
USA 43-24 Venezuela, 2:01, 2nd quarter
Carmelo Anthony adds a three-pointer. DeAndre Jordan with a rattling dunk and I think it’s fair to say that the US has now officially taken back control of this game after the early hiccups.
USA 38-24 Venezuela, 3:08, 2nd quarter
Miguel Marriaga is called for a hard foul on Durant. Durant hits two free throws, DeAndre Jordan contributes a dunk and just like that the US has a 14 point lead.
So that 15+ point lead prediction was *close* to correct, right?
USA 34-24 Venezuela, 3:32, 2nd quarter
John Cox stops the US’s Anthony-driven run by rebounding and putting back in his own missed jumper.
However, DeAndre Jordan gets to the line and makes one of two free throws (which is pretty good for him) to increase the US’s lead.
USA 33-22 Venezuela, 3:59, 2nd quarter
After a brief montage of clips of teammates praising Anthony, the most accomplished Olympian amongst them, he gets fouled and goes to the line where he makes both free throws.
USA 31-22 Venezuela, 4:59, 2nd quarter
Camelo Antony with a steal and a three-pointer and Venezuela takes a second timeout. The US are starting to play like, well, the US and Venezuela’s window for pulling off an upset might soon be shut.
Updated
USA 28-22 Venezuela, 4:59, 2nd quarter
Out of the timeout, Venezuela takes a three-pointer that goes nowhere. The US aren’t successful on their end either. Not the wisest shot selection by either squad this game.
And Venezuela can’t even get a shot off the next time around, the buzzer hits and that’s a shot clock violation. Then Anthony Perez fouls Kevin Durant behind the three point line, which is never really a good idea. Durant makes two of three.
If I'm not mistaken, DJ just played a Portuguese version of "Watch me (Whip/Nae Nae)" during the break. #Rio2016
— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) August 8, 2016
USA 26-22 Venezuela, 5:56, 2nd quarter
Kyrie Irving breaks away and makes a layup. After each team gets a fruitless possession, including a really inexplicable three-pointer from Thompson, Venezuela calls its first timeout of the game.
USA 24-22 Venezuela, 7:34, 2nd quarter
Butler gets to the line, knocks down two free throws. The US just can’t get much separation though, as Echenique posts up a layup for Venezuela, right over Boogie Cousins.
USA 22-20 Venezuela, 8:02, 2nd quarter
Anthony gets that right back almost immediately, Durant finds him for an easy layup and the US have the lead again. It’s not looking likely that they’re going to have that 15+ point lead in the next few minutes. Maybe I should stop trying to predict things.
USA 20-20 Venezuela, 9:07, 2nd quarter
Anthony Perez snatches a ball away from Carmelo Anthony and lays it on the over side and we’re tied once more here.
Updated
USA 20-18 Venezuela, 9:33, 2nd quarter
Cox lets the ball fly for the first shot attempt of the 2nd quarter and it’s no go. On the other end, Butler draws a foul and sinks his two free throws.
The US came in to this game as 50 point favorites. While this game could, and probably will, turn really, really quickly the US have to take this Venezuela team seriously.
USA 18-18 Venezuela, end of the 1st quarter
Guillent makes two free throws, but Jimmy Butler hits a three pointer to get the US the lead right back… but Butler puts Gregory Vargas on the line in the quarter’s last few seconds. He makes both and this one is all tied up after the first quarter.
USA 15-14 Venezuela, :47, 1st quarter
Paul George picks up his second foul, maybe this actually won’t be his statement game after all. Nestor Colmenares makes one of two free throws, Venezuela has a razor-slim lead.
But DeRozan drives to the basket to get the lead right back.
USA 13-13 Venezuela, 1:29, 1st quarter
Foul on Paul George and the US are over the limit. Heissler Guillent gets to the line and makes two free throws and we’re tied up here in the closing minutes of the first quarter. It looks like this could be an actual game, who’d a thunk it?
USA 13-11 Venezuela, 1:40, 1st quarter
Kyle Lowry starts to drive to the hoop, mostly trying to get contact for a foul call Which he does. He makes one of two free throws.
USA 12-11 Venezuela, 2:32, 1st quarter
…Which, of course, doesn’t last long. DeMar DeRozan comes in for a dunk and the US are back on top.
USA 10-11 Venezuela, 2:57, 1st quarter
Echenique sneaks in a layup under pressure and look at that, Venezuela has a lead.
USA 10-9 Venezuela, 3:38, 1st quarter
Kyrie Irving with a jumper… but Durant fouls Cox who gets to the line and hits both of his free throws.
USA 8-7 Venezuela, 4:00, 1st quarter
John Cox with a three pointer, and Venezuela is only a point down. Cox has the best player on the court so far.
USA 8-4 Venezuela, 5:03, 1st quarter
Venezuela is doing a good job at slowing things down, preventing the US from going on runs, but they can’t score themselves.
Paul George gets to the line, hits one of two.
Updated
USA 7-4 Venezuela, 5:37, 1st quarter
Cox makes a nice move to the basket, doesn’t get the ball in, but draws a foul on Klay Thompson. The refs are calling this thing very close.
USA 7-4 Venezuela, 6:58, 1st quarter
Irving attempts a three that’s off-line. Venezuela gets the ball back, but can’t score. They’re taking their time with the ball.
And Kevin Durant hits a three-pointer, he’s all of the US offense to start things out.
USA 4-4 Venezuela, 7:39, 1st quarter
John Cox makes the first basket for Venezeula. Then Gregory Echenique dunks and it’s tied up here early. Meanwhile, Cousins has already picked up two quick fouls.
USA 4-0 Venezuela, 9:03, 1st quarter
Durant makes a jumper and gets fouled, but he misses the free throw. Then Carmelo Anthony finds Durant for a dunk and it’s a 4 point lead for the US.
Opening tip
USA 0-0 Venezuela, 10:00, 1st quarter
Hey we’re starting. US gets the tip, but Carmelo misses his shot.
Email from Geoff Lusk:
Dear Hunter,
The US Basketball team has no Olympic spirit. Staying on their cloistered yacht, bringing the NBA’s biggest stars to the Games. It’s like if Chris Froome entered a grade school bike race and beat his chest and trash talked when he beat the 8 year olds.
Indignantly yours, Geoff
These have been common criticisms about the US team since the first Dream Team. It’s understandable that they can come off as something like schoolyard bullies at times. I wouldn’t attack them for a the yacht thing though, that’s on Rio for screwing up the housing situation to the point where this became their best option.
Email from a very hyped Albert C:
103-63 is a DEFEAT???
103-63 is a DEFEAT???That was a BLOWOUT!!! Ask the Spanish ladies if they got the number and name of the FREIGHT train that just RAN over them???When your team loses by FORTY POINTS, that proves just one thing, you had NO business on the court
With the team that just beat you. Spain wasted its players time and efforts, Spain wasted the officials time, they STOLE the audiences money, they wasted the USA’s time, and they cheated the t.v. viewers as well. And let me remind you that Team USA left Candace Parker at home. And as a USA Basketball fan, that was a BIG mistake. But imagine, we left at home a BETTER player than ANY OTHER National has at HOME or at Rio.And let me also remind you that the USA U17 boys team beat Turkey by exactly 40 points in the Final in Zaragoza Spain for the FIBA U17 World Title. That was our FOURTH CONSECUTIVE FIBA U17 World Title. Mr. Moreno
Yes, okay, it was a lopsided victory, but I think it’s incredibly unfair to attack other countries for not being as good as the US squad. This squad in particular could be the best collection of women’s basketball players ever assembled (and it’s only competition would be previous US teams).
Predictions
Normally here I would include predictions about which team will win. That ends up being kind of useless during these preliminary rounds when the chances of the US losing are somewhere in the 0.5% range.
Instead, with these games, the trick is figuring out exactly when the game becomes out of reach for the other country. I’m gonna say that the US has a comfortable 15+ point lead around midway through the second quarter. Am I not giving Venezuela enough credit? Too much credit? You can give us your predictions by tweeting them to @HunterFelt or emailing them to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com.
Venezuela Men’s Basketball Roster
C Gregory Echenique
G/F Dwight Lewis
C Miguel Marriaga
PG Gregory Vargas
SG John Cox
PG David Cubillan
G/F Jose Vargas
PF Miguel Ruiz
F/C Windi Graterol
PG Heissler Guillent
F Anthony Perez
PF Nestor Colmenares
Head coach: Nestor Garcia
USA Men’s Basketball Roster
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 (Golden State Warriors)
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)
Head coach: Mike Krzyzewski
@HunterFelt will tonight be Paul George's come out party?
— GPBRY (@GPBRY) August 8, 2016
You know what? Why not. In these early games, it’s always fun to try to figure out which player is going to go crazy and certainly George, whose career was derailed by a horrific injury when practicing with the men’s national team several years ago, deserves to have his moment in the sun.
Let’s predict that Paul George goes for at least 30 points today.
Preamble
When we last caught up with the US men’s basketball team up they were completely annihilating China on route to a 119-62 win. Chances are, today’s game against Venezuela will end up playing out the same way.
Venezuela, meanwhile, lost to Serbia 86-62 in their first game and now they have to face the buzzsaw that is Team USA. While Venezuela doesn’t have any NBA players on its roster Some of the Venezuelan players could be familiar to college basketball fans. Center Gregory Echenique played for both Rutgers and Creighton, David Cubillan played for Marquette, Anthony Perez played for Ole Miss.
Earlier today, the US women’s team defeated Spain 103-63. DJ Gallo had the full report, if you’re interested.
As always, we at the Guardian welcome your feedback. If you want to join the discussion, simply send an email (to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or tweet (to @HunterFelt) and we’ll use your responses throughout this liveblog.
USA vs. Venezuela is set to tip off around 6pm EST, but you’ll hear from me much, much sooner than that.
Hunter will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s how the US women’s team got on earlier today:
Another game, another rout for the US women’s basketball team. This time though, it wasn’t record setting.
Diana Taurasi scored 13 points and Elena Delle Donne added 12 to help the Americans beat Spain 103-63 on Monday in women’s group play.
The victory was the 43rd consecutive for the US in the Olympics. The contest was a rematch of the 2014 world championship gold medal game that the Americans won by 13. While this win didn’t come in the same record fashion the US opened the Olympics with when they beat Senegal by 65 points, the Americans coasted after the first few minutes.
Spain led 8-6 before the US closed the quarter on a 23-6 burst. Once again first-time Olympian Delle Donne was in the middle of it. She had seven points, including a three-pointer from the wing that made it 27-11 during the game-changing spurt. The Spaniards couldn’t get within single digits the rest of the way. The US women were nowhere as crisp as they were in the opening rout of Senegal, and Spain had a lot to do with that.
