US BEATS AUSTRALIA, MEETS ARGENTINA IN SEMIS
FIBA Report on Beijing Olympics

BEIJING (Olympics) - The United States didn’t hit all of their shots against Australia but they made up for it with plenty of rebounds and eventually pulled clear for 116-85 win to reach the semi-finals of the Olympics.

Kobe Bryant had 25 points to lead the USA, who grabbed 57 boards to just 28 for the Boomers.

The Americans will now meet defending Olympic champions Argentina in the semi finals after they scraped past Greece 80-78. In the other semi finals Lithuania who beat China 94-68 play Spain who ousted Croatia 72-59.

Bryant didn’t hesitate to say who he wanted to face.

“We want to play the best,” he said.

“We want to play the defending champions and you want to be able to play the guys who won it the last time.”

The Americans struggled shooting the ball in the first half but scored nine second-chance points after hauling in 13 offensive rebounds to just two for the men from Down Under.

The Australians got a huge lift from Pat Mills, their young point guard who plays college basketball in the United States at St Mary’s.

With the USA threatening to open up a big early lead, Australia coach Brian Goorjian brought Mills off the bench and he immediately hit a three-pointer to cut the Boomers’ deficit to 15-9.

He scored eight of his team-high 20 points in the first half and also had two steals before the break.

Mills got a huge compliment from USA coach Mike Krzyzewski, the legendary boss at Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse Duke University.

“I’m glad my Duke team don’t play St Mary’s,” Krzyzewski said.

“He is a great guard and he will be an NBA guard.”

With the United States not sharing the ball well in the second quarter, the Australians managed to keep the game close and only trailed 50-43 before the Americans finished the first half with a flurry.

Bryant scored in the lane and after Australia’s Mark Worthington attempted a three-pointer too soon, Deron Williams raced up the floor and drilled a three at the half-time buzzer for a 55-43 American advantage.

Krzyzewski’s men then killed the game off after the restart by reeling off the first 14 points of the second half to complete a 19-0 run for a 69-43 lead.

By the end of the third quarter, the United States led 89-61.

LeBron James had 16 points and nine rebounds. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar also led the American defensive effort with four steals.

Carmelo Anthony, who made the all-tournament team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship on the USA’s bronze-medal winning side, weighed in with 15 points and five boards.

Deron Williams and Chris Bosh had 10 points apiece while Dwyane Wade finished with eight points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Krzyzewski had only praise for the Boomers.

“Australia has been the most difficult team for us to defend,” Krzyzewski said.

“They are a force to be reckoned with. They caused us a lot of problems. We are very happy to have beaten Australia.”

The Olympics did not end as the Boomers had hoped but they did something that will have raised eyebrows back home by beating two quality European teams in Russia and Lithuania.

Youngsters like Mills, Brad Newley, David Barlow, Andrew Bogut and Joe Ingles, looks very bright.

“The guys we had on the floor tonight were 23, 19. They are all young guys,” Goorjian said.

“There is a process to be great and we have a chance to do something to get these guys to get some experience. Our future is great.

“I thought Patrick Mills, he put on a hell of a show for a young kid in an environment like that.”

When asked if he would continue to coach, Goorjian said: “I’ve enjoyed it. I want to continue to help the national team in some manner.”

Goorjian also expressed the belief that it will take a monumental effort for a team to beat the USA.

“Standing on the sideline, you are 25 down and you see they are bringing on Kobe, Carmelo etc…,” Goorjian said.

“We couldn’t do it for 40 minutes. In my mind, they are playing great together and everyone is contributing. I think they are going to be tough to beat.”

Bogut sprained his ankle in the second half and ended up playing just over 11 minutes with four points and two rebounds.