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USA | 126 | Final | 97 | Argentina |  |
STARTERS
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Chris Paul, G 6-7 FG | 5-6 3PT | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 7 AST | 17 PTS Now that's the CP3 we've been waiting for. Paul controlled every facet of the game from the opening tip, and he was an absolute wizard. Passing, scoring — you name it. His on-ball defense was also crucial in keying Team USA's third quarter run. Masterful stuff. |
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Kobe Bryant, G 3-10 FG | 1-4 3PT | 4-4 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 11 PTS Kobe indulged his worst instincts in this one, clogging up the offense, repeatedly looking for his own (contested) shot, and constantly getting burned on D. He simply isn't the Kobe of yesteryear anymore, and he's not the focal point. This is no longer his team. |
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Kevin Durant, F 9-12 FG | 8-10 3PT | 2-4 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 28 PTS KD's best game of the summer. Not only did he literally light London on fire in the third quarter, but he also led the team in steals, dropped a few dimes, and just generally took over the game. Only a few too many turnovers kept him from A+ territory. Wow. |
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LeBron James, F 7-12 FG | 1-3 3PT | 3-3 FT | 3 REB | 5 AST | 18 PTS Despite struggling with some (mostly bogus) foul trouble in this one, LeBron still found a way to decide the outcome of the game. His dominating start to the third quarter undoubtedly set the tone for Team USA's big run. Durant just finished the job. |
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Tyson Chandler, C 1-2 FG | 0-0 3PT | 1-1 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 3 PTS If this team's main weakness is lack of defensive focus, Chandler covers up a lot of that by simply protecting the rim. His presence allows perimeter defenders to play more aggressively and take more chances. That approach becomes much riskier sans Tyson. |
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BENCH
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Carmelo Anthony, F 1-6 FG | 1-3 3PT | 2-2 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 5 PTS Unless you count screaming profanity every time rebounds, Melo didn't contribute much. He didn't shoot well and — as Knicks fans know — if Melo isn't scoring, he isn't doing much else. Then again, he also got punched in the jewels, so we'll give him a break. |
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Deron Williams, G 2-7 FG | 1-2 3PT | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 5 AST | 5 PTS Another poor shooting night for Deron, but most of his misses came on relatively easy two-point shots. He's still a sieve defensively, so that continues to be a problem. However, he did pass the ball well and did a nice job of feeding Durant when he got hot. |
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Russell Westbrook, G 1-8 FG | 0-3 3PT | 2-2 FT | 3 REB | 4 AST | 4 PTS An awful shooting performance from Russell. But he also did this, so that goes a long way in my book. You know what else goes a long way? His non-stop energy, especially on defense. There's a reason he's getting tons of time, even on off-nights. |
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Kevin Love, F 5-7 FG | 1-3 3PT | 2-4 FT | 9 REB | 0 AST | 13 PTS This is exactly the kind of offensive production Coach K wants from Love every night — efficient scoring and lots of rebounds. Unfortunately, he still can't guard his shadow in the post, but at least he's getting it done on one end of the floor (and the glass) now. |
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Andre Iguodala, F 6-9 FG | 1-3 3PT | 0-0 FT | 9 REB | 2 AST | 13 PTS This is probably the best Iguodala can realistically play in the role he's been given on this team. He was everywhere, wreaking havoc on Argentina at every turn. He scored efficiently, rebounded relentlessly, and defended like a maniac. Role-playing perfection. |
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James Harden, G 3-5 FG | 1-2 3PT | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 7 PTS A decent showing from Harden. Nothing out of this world, but he made the most of his scoring opportunities when he got them. He still struggles defensively and will likely see only spot minutes from here on out, but he's a nice option to have. |
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Anthony Davis, C 1-3 FG | 0-0 3PT | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS This was Davis' weakest game of the tournament thus far, but he was due for a bit of a come-down after a string of impressive performances. He was just OK in this one, not otherworldly. However, he did show off his length on one particularly impressive drive. |
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