For a fleeting moment, Team USA’s Olympic journey teetered on the brink of a colossal upset on Thursday in Paris. A 95-91 victory over Serbia in the men's basketball semifinals might have propelled the Americans to the gold medal game, but the road to victory was anything but smooth.
A Comeback for the Ages
At one point, Serbia led by 17 points, threatening to derail Team USA's championship aspirations. Yet, the Americans, showcasing their resilience, clawed their way back into the game. Steph Curry, a maestro on the court, spearheaded the rally with a dazzling 36-point performance, reminding everyone of his enduring brilliance. Meanwhile, Joel Embiid contributed significantly, scoring 19 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting, proving to be a vital piece in the comeback puzzle.
Adding further dimension to the effort, LeBron James delivered a triple-double, demonstrating his all-encompassing influence on the game. These individual heroics were essential in counterbalancing the collective struggles Team USA faced.
Flawed but Determined
The outcome, however, couldn’t mask the unease surrounding Team USA's overall performance. "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,'" remarked one seasoned observer. These vulnerabilities were starkly evident for large stretches of the game.
For periods, the Americans appeared disheveled and disjointed, attributes unbecoming of a typically dominant squad. "Team USA was still, for large stretches of the game, discombobulated, poorly functioning, and, yes, overmatched," noted another analyst. Such assessments paint a picture of a team still in search of its highest gear.
Jokic's Masterclass
Much of the credit for the closely contested match goes to Nikola Jokic, Serbia's talismanic center. With three MVP Awards in the last four years, Jokic has cemented himself as one of the NBA's premier talents. On Thursday, he played with the distinctive poise and skill that have led some to suggest he might be "one of the all-time, all-time greats."
"That's the magic of Jokic," an assessment lauded, reflecting on the Serbian's impact on the game. Despite his team's defeat, Jokic's masterful performance underscored his extraordinary prowess and ability to elevate those around him. "I'm not sure we've accounted for that properly — what he's done, and with whom he's done it," another commentator mused, paying homage to the Serbian star's excellence.
Indeed, the close shave against Serbia should prompt a reevaluation of Jokic's standing among the pantheon of basketball legends. "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," one analyst concluded, encapsulating the sentiment held by many observers after the game.
A Date with Destiny
With the challenging semifinal now behind them, Team USA must quickly regroup and address the palpable flaws that were on display. Saturday's gold medal game against France looms large, and the Americans will need to bring a more cohesive and polished performance to clinch their long-sought Olympic gold.
As the tournament’s denouement approaches, one thing is clear: while Team USA’s journey has been fraught with difficulty, their determination to overcome these obstacles remains undeterred. Whether this resolve will be enough to secure the ultimate prize remains to be seen, but the thrilling encounter with Serbia has set the stage for a potentially enthralling conclusion to the Olympic basketball saga.