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Tuesday 19 August 2008
BEIJING - America's NBA stars showed Germany on Monday why they are gold medal favourites at the Beijing Olympics, dispatching a team led by Dirk Nowitzki 106-57.
The game was never in doubt as the NBA All Stars pressured Germany early with a stifling defence, while cruising with an attack led by 22 points and 10 rebounds from Dwight Howard and 18 from Cleveland Cavalier LeBron James.
"We're pretty excited about finishing pool play undefeated and getting onto the medal round," US coach Mike Krzyzewski said of the game.
"We are healthy, I think the team has played well and we are very excited about getting into the medal round, it is time to win a gold medal."
Balanced scoring by the US was again in evidence as Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant finished with 13 and Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade had 10 each.
The US began the game by establishing Orlando Magic centre Howard in the middle as they jumped out to a 20-5 lead that also featured some explosive dunks by NBA scoring champ James.
"I just had to get myself going running the floor and getting deep in the paint and going right into the shot and being a big presence for the team," Howard said.
Howard had eight of his points in the first quarter, while James notched 16 of his in the first 20 minutes as the US shot 55 percent from the field including 11 for 26 on three pointers.
Nowitzki, who finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, knew he was in for a long night in the first minute when he suddenly found himself surrounded by four Americans as he tried to take the ball to the hoop.
The US team has prided itself on a swarming, pressuring defence, while its high-octane offence is geared to always find uncontested shots for unmarked players.
"What we have seen is they (US) play extremely hard on the defensive end, they are very unselfish, they always find the open guy and they also shot the three point very well," said German coach Dirk Bauermann.
"When they have these three things, great defence, share the ball and shoot the ball well, they are unbeatable."
The US had won its previous four preliminary-round games by an average of 28 points, including a devastating 119-82 win over reigning world champions Spain on Saturday.
Renamed the "Redeem team," the current group of American players are seeking to make amends for a disappointing bronze medal at the Athens Games four years ago and poor showings at the 2002 and 2006 world championships.
In Wednesday's quarter-final knock out round, the US will meet Australia, while Spain faces Croatia, China goes up against Lithuania and Argentina meets Greece.
In earlier games on Monday, Greece beat hosts China 91-77, while Australia primed itself for its quarter-final against the US by annihilating powerful Lithuania 106-75.
Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut top-scored for Australia with 23 points, while Brad Newley led a three-point attack with 16 as the Boomers shot 64 percent from behind the arc.
"Everybody is talking about the USA," Australian coach Brian Goorjian said.
"We're in a tournament and now we get to play the best team in the world and have a swing at the big dog. I'm confident we are going to go out there and play ball."
Despite falling behind to Greece by 24 points, China came back to get within 10 points with three minutes left, but could not overcome the inside play of Ioannes Bourousis who netted 19 points and nine rebounds for Greece.
Floor general Vasilieios Spanoulis spearheaded the Greek attack with 19 points and four assists.
Meanwhile Spanish centre Pau Gasol scored 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the reigning world championships dispatched Angola 98-50.
In the other preliminary round match up Monday, reigning Olympic champs Argentina beat current European title holders Russia 91-79, with Houston Rocket Luis Scola scoring 12 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter for the winners.
In the early game, Croatia beat winless Iran 91-57.
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