Report Card: USA 119, Australia 86

USA

119

Final

86

Australia

STARTERS

	Chris Paul, G 3-7 FG | 1-4 3PT | 0-2 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 7 PTS Paul wasn't quite as masterful offensively in this one as he was against Argentina, but he did give the Aussie guards fits on the defensive end, coming away with a team-high five steals. With guys like LeBron and KD running the floor, that's 10 more free points.
	Kobe Bryant, G 6-14 FG | 6-10 3PT | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 20 PTS "How can you give Kobe a B- when he shot 60 percent from three?!" some of you are undoubtedly wondering. And you're right — he did explode late. But that first half was the worst I've ever seen him play, hands down. That has to factor in somewhere.
	Kevin Durant, F 5-13 FG | 4-9 3PT | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 14 PTS Durant came back down to earth after his stratospheric performance on Monday. He never really looked comfortable and wasn't able to fully engage offensively. He took way too many tough jump shots and got pushed around on defense. KD can do better.
	LeBron James, F 3-7 FG | 1-3 3PT | 4-7 FT | 14 REB | 12 AST | 11 PTS LeBron dominated the game without scoring, finishing with a Rondo-esque line of 11-14-12. It was Team USA's first ever triple-double since they started keeping assists as a stat in the 1970s, and that should really say it all. LeBron is just so, so good.
	Tyson Chandler, C 3-4 FG | 0-0 3PT | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS Chandler (again) watched much of this game from the bench — a phenomenon that I've given up trying to understand. He was solid when he was on the floor, providing some semblance of a post presence. But I doubt he'll ever see more than 10 minutes a game.

Pre-Game Primer: USA vs. Australia

North Greenwich Arena
London, England

Time: Wednesday, 5:15 p.m. EDT

TV: NBC Sports Network

And here we are. Welcome to the knockout round. It's a great place to be, but it comes with its own set of consequences and pressures. From now on, there can be no slip-ups, no plays taken off, no lapses in concentration. Even one substandard performance can derail a team's gold medal hopes — and nothing less than gold is good enough for Team USA. Thankfully, the Americans enter this brave new world of elimination basketball with what should be a relatively mild clash with Australia. To be sure, the Aussies are capable of putting together a good game. After all, they toppled Russia just two days ago on the back of a herculean effort from Patty Mills. But the United States is still, as good as Russia has been, far and away the most talented team in this tournament. If they play at even 75 percent of their capacity, they should dispatch their quarterfinal foes with ease. Then again, there's a reason why they play these games — you have to come to play every night, no matter the talent disparity. Tonight is no different.

Report Card: USA 126, Argentina 97

USA

126

Final

97

Argentina

STARTERS

	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.

Pre-Game Primer: USA vs. Argentina

Olympic Basketball Arena
London, England

Time: Monday, 5:15 p.m. EDT

TV: NBC Sports Network

If Team USA was planning on dropping a game at any point in these Olympics, this would be the last acceptable time to do so. All the games have mattered up until this point, but once the knockout round begins on Wednesday, every time they step on the court becomes a win-or-go-home proposition. So if the Americans were going to no-show for a game, they should pick this one. Then again, there's also a No. 1 seed and an (ostensibly) easier path to the gold medal game on the line here, so it's probably best to just take care of business. That being said, Argentina is an elite team, ranked third in the world, and they hung right with Team USA a couple weeks ago in Barcelona. They are playing for seeding as well, so they likely won't be laying off. Any way you slice it, this will be a tight contest, so if you were planning on exhaling after that Lithuania game, don't do it just yet.

Report Card: USA 99, Lithuania 94

USA

99

Final

94

Lithuania

STARTERS

	Chris Paul, G 3-9 FG | 1-4 3PT | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 6 AST | 7 PTS Paul's shooting woes continued in this one, but I liked that he was aggressive in looking for his shot and to set up his teammates. It felt like he was in control of the offense more than at any point thus far. Plus, his perimeter defense was stifling.
	Kobe Bryant, G 1-7 FG | 0-3 3PT | 4-5 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS It finally happened — Kobe went Hero Ball on us. With Team USA struggling offensively, Kobe attempted to take control by hoisting several tough, contested jumpers. With this many offensive talents on the court, those just aren't smart shots, even for him.
	Kevin Durant, F 5-12 FG | 4-7 3PT | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 16 PTS KD shot the ball well from deep, but he seems too passive and reliant on others to create quality looks. He isn't looking to attack toward the basket consistently, so he isn't in rhythm when he does so. I love his spot-up shooting, but I'd want more aggression.
	LeBron James, F 9-14 FG | 1-4 3PT | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 20 PTS When LeBron decides he wants to get to the rim, nobody in the world can stop him. Case in point? The last two minutes of this game. Team USA needed a savior, and James stepped in and took over. Now if he would just play that way more often...
	Tyson Chandler, C 0-0 FG | 0-0 3PT | 1-4 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 1 PTS On possession after possession in the second half, Coach K's small lineup got beat on the perimeter, allowing Lithuania to penetrate at will. The problem? No rim-protecting presence behind them. Someone please explain how Chandler is only getting 8 minutes.