Olympic Basketball 2012: US men rout France 98-71

Kevin Durant of United States celebrates with Tyson Chandler and Kobe Bryant after a play against France during their Men's Basketball Game on Day 2 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Basketball Arena on July 29, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

U.S. men rout France 98-71 in London Olympic Basketball opening game.

Kevin Durant, who scored 22 points as well as LeBron James, added eight assists & a most welcome win by U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team with rough-and-ragged 98-71 over France on Sunday. To get Second medal, the Americans expected a tough test from a French team featuring San Antonio guard Tony Parker & five other NBA players. According to Durant,” We knew this game wasn’t going to be easy to us,” & “We know even if we don’t start well we can finish it toughly.”

Kevin Durant, who scored 22 points as well as LeBron James, added eight assists & a most welcome win by U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team with rough-and-ragged 98-71 over France on Sunday.

Carmelo said,” We know everybody else expects us to win by 40 points,” “For us, a win’s a win that we expect every game to be like this one.”

USA tries seeking a second straight gold medal to match as like as they won Beijing Olympic four years ago. To get Second medal, the Americans expected a tough test from a French team featuring San Antonio guard Tony Parker & five other NBA players.

The superstar squad finally put France away in the second half easily, although overcoming some major foul issues and sloppy play in first half.

According to Kobe Bryant, he said that this 2012 team could beat the 1992 Dream Team that changed international hoops forever at the Barcelona Games. This matchup is mythical, but the London Games aren’t more likely than before, U.S. team will have to play much better in upcoming games if it plans to maintain American dominance.

 “They’re going to be very, very tough to beat” & not to want concede anything, but when asked if the Americans can be beat, he took a time before responding, Parker said.

Kevin Love finished with 14 points for the Americans while first lady Michelle Obama on hand to cheer on the U.S., Durant, and Carmelo Anthony & Tyson Chandler added nine rebounds respectively. The Team U.S. will play Tuesday against Tunisia, beaten by Nigeria as score 60-56, in the tournament opener.

While, Parker playing with goggles to protect a surgically repaired his left eye, scored 10 points but France, which trailed by just one point after the first quarter.  Ali Traore led the French with 12 points in Olympic competition against the USA.

With the score as 52-36 , the U.S. leading at halftime, Durant opened the second half with a 3-pointer, Bryant dropped one from long range & after James dunked a pass from Deron Williams, the Americans led by 64-43.

After three quarters the U.S. team led to 78-51. Coach Mike Krzyzewski rested three players named as Bryant, James and Durant in the fourth quarter. When Krzyzewski realized that the game well in hand, then he gave a chance of 19-year-old Anthony Davis, who the top pick in June’s NBA draft, it is his first taste of Olympic play.

After the U.S. started the game, team missed its first six three-point attempts when Bryant, James and Durant started finding the range from beyond the arc. This trio finished the game a combined 6 for 12 from three-point range while the rest of the U.S. went 2 for 13 points.

Parker-30-year-old player nearly missed these Olympics because of underwent surgery after he was hit with broken glass during a nightclub fight in New York. Parker was not involved while the bottle-throwing fight between R&B singer Chris Brown and members of rapper Drake’s entourage.

Parker was able to break down the U.S. defense early but once the Americans forced the ball from his hands, the French had no one else to turn to game back.

Some of France’s players turned to take a cautious look at this trio Bryant, James and Durant when they filed onto the hardwood.

At halftime following a sloppy by the U.S team, foul-filled first half in which the Americans were whistled for 18 personals & complained about some calls. While Anthony and Russell Westbrook spent the final six minutes of the second quarter on the bench after picking up their third fouls.

France’s Ronny Turiaf likened the U.S. team’s ability to play whether big or small to a two-faced beast, he said it few days ago. He also said, “That team is like a Gemini,” who will play with Paul and the Clippers next season as well. “They have two faces, a nightmare-nightmare.”

But the U.S. team was its own worst enemy while first quarter was still running. Too often, the American settled for jump shots rather than driving to beside the basket. The Americans missed all six 3-pointers in the opening period when France’s Yannick Bokolo drained a 3 in the final second quarter; France was within 22-21.

Nicolas Batum, who plays for Portland, considered as the U.S. might “panic.” But James opened the second quarter with a 3, the U.S. quickly went on an 11-0 run and by midway through the third, Bryant and Co. restored order.

So, the U.S. reserves scored on dunk after dunk in the fourth, James & Bryant lounged on the bench as well. They know there will be tougher games ahead to them. The first one though was over.

“We knew this game wasn’t going to be easy to us,” Durant said. “We know even if we don’t start well we can finish it toughly.” After fourth quarter game was finished by scoring 98-71 as France is beaten by USA.