The U.S. men’s basketball team has sought motivation from any source. They won’t have a hard time finding any to play Argentina today. Not if half the players care to remember what happened in Athens.
According to a source who was at the staging area awaiting the medal ceremony following the finale, the Argentines celebration “exceeded the bounds of exuberance and sportsmanship.” The source, a member of the team, said it’s “extremely doubtful” that players on that team such as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade have forgotten the scene. He said it was so bad that if the USA had behaved that way, the IOC would have banned them.
There’s also the matter of too many players from this team having won a bronze before. They know it’s not well-received.
“I don’t think we will be lacking in motivation,” the source said.
As for the game plan, the source said he thinks the Argentines will try to drive and kick back out, trying to draw fouls and stick threes — especially with Manu Ginobli. It helps the United States that one of Argentina’s top players, Andres Nocioni, hurt his knee in the quarterfinals vs. Greece and is not healthy.
Another key, the source said, is withstanding the mental tricks. He said Argentina will try to bait the United States into silly fouls or exchanges.
