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China hoops take on US
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IT would be easy for the United States team of NBA stars to overlook China in today’s opening game of the Rio Olympics after routing the Asians twice in pre-Games exhibitions.
But the Americans, who have not lost in 10 years, look at such games as a chance to grow and build, first and foremost by not taking anyone for granted in their path to a third consecutive Olympic crown.
“Every team is a threat,” US guard Kyrie Irving said. “We understand it’s going to be a fight every single day and I’m looking forward to it.”
The US ripped China 106-57 in Los Angeles and 107-57 in Oakland in warm-up games just after the squad was selected.
How well it does in its Group A match against China will tell how far the US has come.
“These games are very important,” Irving said. “Every single game is a chance for us to get better. We have to find out lineups. We have to find out just what rhythm we want as a team.”
And the Chinese squad has NBA experience in Yi Jianlian as well as experience on how to play the Americans already.
“They are physical. They play hard,” said US center DeAndre Jordan.
“We know Yi Jianlian, who was playing in the league for a while. And I really like Zhou Qi, the young kid the (Houston) Rockets are drafting. Both of the point guards are really aggressive. They will definitely be a tough opponent. We can’t take those guys lightly. We have got to come out and play USA basketball.”
Other Group A men’s games include Serbia against Venezuela and Australia, with six NBA players, against host Brazil.
The US squad has an 80-1 record under coach Mike Krzyzewski, the 69-year-old veteran from Duke University who finishes as coach after the Games.
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