In a dramatic and nail-biting semifinal clash at the Paris Olympics, Team USA narrowly defeated Serbia with a 95-91 triumph. This victory propelled the American squad into the gold medal game against France on Saturday, securing what seems like an inevitable showdown. But despite the win, the cracks in Team USA's armor were on full display, raising questions about their supposed destined path to victory.
At one point, the Americans found themselves trailing by 17 points, a deficit that spoke volumes about their disjointed play. "Team USA was still, for large stretches of the game, discombobulated, poorly functioning, and, yes, overmatched," noted one commentator, highlighting the struggle and inconsistency that have plagued the team throughout the tournament.
Despite the turbulence, individual brilliance shone through. Steph Curry poured in an impressive 36 points, demonstrating why he's considered one of the greatest shooters in the game. Joel Embiid also had a stellar performance, contributing 19 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting. Yet, it was LeBron James who truly filled the stat sheet, achieving a triple-double that underscored his all-around impact on the game.
But this game was as much about what Serbia did right as it was about what Team USA did wrong. Leading the Serbian charge was none other than Nikola Jokic, a player who has won three of the last four MVP Awards. "That's the magic of Jokic," marveled one analyst. Jokic's near-heroic effort nearly led Serbia to an upset, sparking conversations about his place among the greats of the game.
"The man could be one of the all-time, all-time greats," one pundit opined, reflecting the increasing admiration for Jokic's talents and contributions. Another commentator underscored this sentiment, saying, "I'm not sure we've accounted for that properly — what he's done, and with whom he's done it." Indeed, for a player who typically flies under the radar compared to luminaries like Curry and James, Jokic's influence in this contest cannot be overstated.
The game's roller-coaster nature was a microcosm of what has been a challenging path for Team USA. "America vs. The World can seem like the turtle and the hare, but with a different ending," an observer remarked. It's an apt analogy for how the American squad has been perceived — a powerhouse expected to breeze past competition but often finding themselves in a dogfight.
For now, Team USA can revel in their escape against Serbia and the opportunity to play for gold. However, the manner in which they secured this win — the desperation and the necessity of individual heroics — serves as a stark reminder of their vulnerabilities. "The first is that Team USA, despite the 95-91 win and its accompanying berth to Saturday's gold medal game against France, is a flawed-if-destined champion, with an emphasis on 'flawed,'" observed one analyst.
As they prepare for France, the focus will undoubtedly be on addressing these flaws and ensuring they don't find themselves in a similar predicament. But no matter the outcome, Jokic's performance has already left a lasting impression, prompting one commentator to say, "Team USA won on Thursday. But the way they had to win should have us looking at Jokic with fresh eyes, open to the possibility he may actually be one of the greatest players in the game's history."
The stage is now set for what promises to be an electrifying gold medal game. Team USA has shown they're capable of both brilliance and collapse. Whether they can harness the former while mitigating the latter will determine if they stand atop the podium or are left pondering what went wrong. Meanwhile, Jokic's legend continues to grow, casting a shadow that, for one night, nearly eclipsed the stars of Team USA.