honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 25, 2008

U.S. cites teamwork as key to close win

Photo gallery: Beijing Olympics closing ceremonies
Photo gallery: Team USA takes gold

By Andrew Bagnato
Associated Press

BEIJING — After cruising for two weeks at the Olympics, the U.S. men's basketball team was challenged for 40 minutes.

And it was worth every last one.

The U.S.' riveting 118-107 victory against Spain in yesterday's gold medal game showed how good the Americans could be under pressure, and it capped a three-year mission to put the U.S. back atop the basketball world.

"This team has come a long way, and we had a lot of blowouts those first few games," point guard Chris Paul said. "So it was fitting that this one would be a close one. It really tested us to see what we were all about, and in the end, we showed we're the best in the world."

And hokey as it may sound, the Americans learned the value of teamwork.

This was the Americans' 13th gold medal, but none of the others were anything like it. There had been bouncebacks before — after Munich, after Seoul. But no U.S. men's basketball team ever worked harder for the ultimate Olympic prize.

It was more than a bit symbolic when they locked arms and stepped atop the medal platform before accepting the U.S.' first gold medal since 2000 in the sport it invented.

"It wasn't so much individual stuff and individual talent," said Spain's Pau Gasol, who scored 21 points. "It was more teamwork, probably well-directed by their coaching staff."

Dwyane Wade scored 27 points to lead the Americans and Kobe Bryant added 20.

Afterward, the entire U.S. team appeared at the postgame conference, many of the players draped in American flags.

"If it wasn't for the determination and the willpower that we have in each other, we wouldn't have pulled through and gotten this win," said LeBron James, who emerged as the leader of this team. Much respect to Spain, but the U.S. is back on top again."

The U.S. had hammered Spain by 37 points in pool play. But Spain didn't go so quietly with a medal on the line.

"What you saw today was a team," Bryant said. "Everybody wants to talk about NBA players being selfish, being arrogant, being individuals. Well, what you saw today was a team bonding together, facing adversity and coming out of here with a big win."