DREAM TEAM RELOADED

Steph Curry produces yet another masterclass with multiple daggers in Paris.

“It’s everything I wanted them to be…and more.”

LeBron James. Kevin Durant. Stephen Curry. Those names alone strike fear into any opponent, but when you add another nine superstars into the fold, Team U.S.A.’s basketball roster becomes laughable. Golden State Warriors head coach and USA Olympic select Steve Kerr has been gifted a true embarrassment of riches, and his job is to stick them out on the court and watch. Easy right? With the help of three other tactical savants in Ty Lue, Eric Spoelstra and Mark Few, many argue this team could even take down the giants of ‘92 Barcelona. While we’ll never know the answer to that, equalling their achievement with a gold medal would certainly help in the never-ending debate.

In their way? The hosts, France. And by the hosts, it’s not just those on the hardwood at one time. Vincent Collet and his twelve selected representatives have the support of their whole nation at Paris ‘24, with the Bercy Arena roof ready to come off at any moment. The chorus of La Marseillaise was splendorous as usual, as they starred down what many could view as the greatest national side ever formed. Dominating most statistical categories at this Olympics, the American starting five for the final was as follows:

Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Joel Embiid.

Not quite The Monstars of Space Jam fame, but not far off.

First points of the game? LeBron flying into the paint like a fighter jet to slam dunk the ball down French throats. Historically, he’s been somewhat good at basketball. Booker and Durant prowled the elbow, draining a three apiece. France however, have a star of their own. The 7’4 alien, Victor Wembanyama, can play. With a wingspan of 8ft, it’s not rocket science to work out he’s dangerous in the paint. However, if you were unfamiliar with basketball, you’d be surprised by the aptitude from three. His seven early points would get you up to speed. At 12-11, America brought in NBA All-Stars Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and Anthony Davis. As previously stated, not really fair.

A large portion of this game would revolve around four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert. Les Bleus would certainly need him to work his magic in the low post, while also locking up whichever of Embiid or Davis matched up against him on the floor. Edwards, known as Ant-Man, has had a sensational season in Minnesota, accelerating his ascendancy to a face of the league. Tying up Timberwolves teammate Gobert, the step back facilitated an all net three. He let the Frenchman know about it as well. End of the first, 20-15 to Team U.S.A.

Jrue Holiday has been an unsung hero with his scrappy defensive work on the perimeter, but he had his work cut out with the French. America’s tick from the three point line started to lag, and Les Bleus grew in confidence. Young Bilal Coulibaly jammed home a fast break to put the hosts up 25-24, and the Bercy Arena exploded. Using a lengthy rotation, the French were fearless inside the paint, scrapping with the favoured Americans down every avenue. The quality shown on court was immense, in both technical and tactical aspects.

A clinical two man action between Booker and Curry finished with the latter daggering a three. The prior then decided to shove Nando de Colo, adding a little spice to the contest. The United States looked to build some breathing space into the game, and LeBron James would help. Down the lane, the legend made yet another difficult finish look effortlessly smooth. And-one. In the all gold sneakers, the man from Akron, Ohio was hungry to add yet another accolade onto his glistening CV. Bam Adebayo fouled Guerschon Yabusele as he urgently looked to close the gap at the perimeter, with the Frenchman going two from three at the line.

Then he posterised LeBron James. And-one.

Curry over Wemby, the bounce off the rim was kind, dropping for three. France were then caught in transition, as Evan Fournier fouled Booker who was finishing with the finger roll. And-one. The United States were opening a gap and France kept on missing threes. The game had switched into a more physical battle, with Abebayo’s foul sending Yabusele to the line again. Isaia Cordinier then bought a charge from Holiday, lifting the French crowd. As time expired, star of the show Yabusele outmuscled Davis, taking his individual scoring to fifteen. Half time, 49-41 U.S.A.

France were sitting at a measly 3/16 from three, which evidenced the eight point gap. If they wanted to recover the deficit, then their shooting from behind the arc had to improve. Cordinier sent a cute bounce pass to Wemby for his first assist, with the big man finishing at the rim. James then fed Embiid in the low post, who won a foul and dropped two from the line. Steph Curry. Three. James then fed Embiid in the low post, who won a foul and dropped two from the line. Steph Curry. Three.

It’s what they do.

Kevin Durant, the Slim Reaper, continued to kill the French with his work in the midrange. Embiid to James, another vicious dunk. Wemby tried to raise the home crowd after hitting a big three, lifting his personal total into the twenties. At only twenty himself, the leadership shown by France’s young star was admirable in the face of such adversity. Holiday’s three point attempt rattled the rim, Fournier’s did not. Six point game. The Bercy Arena crowd sensed a potential momentum shift, but Davis’ work on the offensive glass before ripping the ball from Yabusele showed that it’d take more than chants to switch the narrative. Transition break, Durant alley-oop to Edwards. Nasty. France stayed around though, with de Colo snatching a quick bucket at the end of the third thanks to Durant’s goaltending. 72-66 U.S.A.

Into the fourth and America locked in. Davis in particular was tenacious, block after block setting the standard. Durant. Three. Holiday. Three. Wemby drew contact from AD, sending himself to the line for a set of free throws, where he would split the difference. Instantly replaced by Yabusele, France needed something similar to the first half outing from the Dancing Bear. Although, they’d need the ball first. Air LeBron in motion once again. Make way. The wily veteran de Colo wouldn’t give up though, taking the task to America as his nation’s team leader. Yabusele. Wemby. The gap closing with each possession. Two minutes to go, and tension was building.

Steph Curry. Three.

A sick, sick man.

The greatest shooter to ever live had put America on his back.

As the clock expired, the final score read:

U.S.A. 98-87 France.

Gold. Again.

DREAM TEAM RELOADED

Steph Curry produces yet another masterclass with multiple daggers in Paris.

REARMED SLOT MACHINES

THE GOLDEN GIRLS