Team USA won the FIBA Americas Tournament today by mauling Argentina in the gold medal game 118-81. As the champions of the FIBA Americas Zone they have qualified for the Olympics next year. The silver medallist Argentine team also qualified and for a team that was missing the San Antonio Spurs Manu Ginobili they exceeded expectations. The only upset Team USA suffered was Argentina's (and future Houston Rocket) Luis Scola winning the Molten Tournament MVP trophy. The Puerto Ricans beat the Brazilians in a 111-107 thriller to take the bronze medal.
Team USA got off to a fast start and never looked back. They were up 35-14 after the first quarter and 59-37 at the half. Lebron James finshed with 31 points, Dwight Howard with 20, Carmelo Anthony with 16 and Tayshaun Prince contributed 13 off the bench.
Team USA went unbeaten in this tournament to take the gold medal. They served notice to the rest of the world that USA men's basketball is back. They looked like the number one ranked team in the FIBA world rankings. The scary part for the rest of the world is that we didn't have ALL of our best players on the floor either. Dwyane Wade was watching from the stands. Kevin Garnett wasn't there. Shaq...you get the drift.
I hope the unselfish team ball, torrid shooting and suffocating defense Team USA displayed in Las Vegas doesn't stay there and we see a replay next summer in Beijing.
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