Another day, another reminder that Anthony Davis is a work of art and Kenneth Faried is on a mission as the USA cruised past the Dominican Republic to move to 4-0 at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, writes Emmet Ryan.
There’s an exhibit here in Bilbao in the Guggenheim call The Matter of Time. It’s a series of large wooden shapes, twice the size of any normal man. Part of the structure is a series of panels each slightly bent. The manner with which Serra manages to make an abnornmal mix of contortions seem natural. It’s like a series of walls working as one to see every possible incursion in a single moment. That’s what it’s like to see Anthony Davis move in to block. Victor Liz worked his way in for a lay-up and the early favourite for tournament MVP swatted him down with as much grace as fury. It was the first of four for Davis in the opening 20 minutes as he established his defensive might early. The USA’s first unit as a whole however looked a step off in the first half. Instead they ceded the early plaudits to their back-ups, led by DeMarcus Cousins, and their well-drilled opponents.
The Dominican Republic opted to rest Francisco Garcia for this outing. Having picked up a knock on Tuesday night, the priority for Dominicana was having him healthy for Thursday’s crucial game with Turkey. That didn’t prevent them bringing the fight to the USA in the first frame. Aided in part by some below-par shooting from the USA and the hard work of their own Eloy Vargas on the boards, Dominican only trailed 25-22 after 10 minutes.
Kenneth Faried and the first string reminded Boogie and company of the natural order mid-way through the second frame. A long alley-oop pass from Harden was finished off by Faried and the Denver Nugget drove inside for lay-up on the next possession. Having looked a bit off his usual pace in the first quarter, Faried was back to his predatory self as he cut in from the baseline for another dunk to push the USA into a 13 point lead. Spirited as the Dominicans were, this game was always of secondary concern to the larger matter ahead on Thursday. Davis found his offensive feet in the second too, adding 6 points to his 5 boards and 4 blocks in the half.
Undetered by the step up in offence from the USA, Dominicana kept pressing and Jack Martinez tried a highlight reel moment of his own with an attempted no-look pass to Edgar Sosa. It didn’t pay off but Sosa cut the deficit to 7 as the Dominican Republic looked to, at the very least, give the USA a game. By the half however the gap had stretched once more as USA led 56-41.
The second half began in a casual manner without a stoppage for the opening 4.07 of the third. Davis added another block to his tally as the USA kept Domincana in check without feeling the need to step on the gas. Faried reminded us of his energy with a short range jumper and DeMar DeRozan drew a roar from the crowd with a dunk in what was a pleasant but forgettable 10 minutes of basketball. With a quarter to play, the USA led 81-52.
With the Dominican Republic taking it easy through the final frame, the USA was able to play to its strengths and give the largely neutral crowd a few dunks to cheer. DeRozan, Boogie, Klay Thompson, and Mason Plumlee all got in on the act and the century was exceeded for the third time in four games. 4-0, first place in the group secure, and a comfortable W.
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