U.S. women put up a 65-point win to start preliminary play
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Reporting from Rio de Janeiro — Diana Taurasi was livid after Team USA’s Olympic debut.
“How come you didn’t tell me I needed one more?” she shouted toward USA Basketball officials after a 121-56 rout of Senegal to open preliminary play.
Then she smiled. Taurasi really wasn’t upset she didn’t hit an Olympic personal best sixth three-pointer.
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With a lethal 64.7% performance, including Taurasi’s five threes, the U.S. set team records for points and margin of victory in an Olympic game on Sunday. It was the third-biggest margin of victory for any team in an Olympic game.
Those are significant numbers considering the U.S. has won four consecutive gold medals.
“When we move the ball like that and the ball doesn’t get stuck ... it’s just a tough test for anybody, really,” Coach Geno Auriemma said.
Will anybody be able to pass that test in these Olympics? It doesn’t appear likely. Not only is the U.S. team loaded with talent, but two of its top challengers, France and Spain, have injuries to key players.
“If you like basketball, I think you’d enjoy watching good basketball,” said Taurasi, who finished with 15 points, of the route. “And if you don’t like good basketball, I don’t know — go watch rowing.”
Four-time Olympian Sue Bird took a deep breath before answering whether a 65-point blowout in Olympic play was a positive.
“I mean, how many times have I heard this question? I really don’t care, truthfully,” Bird said. “There’s something to be said about a team that can come together in two weeks and play the way we’re playing right now.
“More than anything, in regards to the score, it’s beautiful basketball. We’re sharing the ball. ... That, to me, is a great brand of basketball, and if people strive to play that way and we can elevate the play of the entire world, then what’s better than that for basketball? Nothing.”
Senegal’s Aya Traore wasn’t as enthused about the U.S. dominance.
“They’ve dominated on the world stage for so long,” Traore said. “Is it good? Is it bad? That’s what they have — a lot of talent. And I don’t know what else to say.”
There isn’t much to say after games like Sunday’s, in which the U.S. led 35-9 at the end of the first quarter. The team appears as dominant as expected. Practices are likely to be more competitive than games.
“I don’t know what’s good and bad anymore for the game,” Taurasi said. “But if you go out and play the right way and play as a team, no matter the result, I don’t know how that can be bad for a sport.”
Twitter: @ChristopherHine
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