Chris Paul already was looking forward to his team’s day off on Sunday following a 119-82 win over Spain the previous night.
“I think I am going to see the Great Wall,” the New Orleans Hornets star said. “There’s lots to do in China.”
The team earned the rest by drubbing the defending world champions in nearly every aspect. It was the squad’s fourth consecutive convincing win in Group B play as the U.S. (4-0) is undefeated following victories against China (101-70), Angola (97-76), Greece (92-69) and Spain.
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“Every game we play we try to make a statement,” U.S. forward Carmelo Anthony, a former Towson Catholic star, said. “Just to let the world know that this time around, we’re here to play.”
But Anthony and his teammates must regain their intensity quickly when they face Germany (1-3) this morning at 8 in front of a worldwide television audience on USA Network.
The Germans’ only victory was a 95-66 win over Angola, but the team is led by NBA stars Chris Kaman and Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks, averages 17.8 points per game, third-best in the tournament. Kaman, a Los Angeles Clipper, averages 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, sixth-most in the field.
Germany also is the top defensive team in the tournament, yielding a stingy 70.5 points per game and is second-best in defensive rebounding by averaging 26.5 boards per game.
But defense also powers the Americans.
The U.S. leads the tournament in field goal percentage defense (.383), three-point field goal percentage defense (.279), rebounding defense (38 per game), blocked shots (4.75) and steals (13.75).
Anthony is a versatile forward who has been a key to the team’s success.
He is averaging 9.8 points per game and is second on the squad with 4.5 rebounds per game. He also leads the team with seven three-point field goals.
“We are enjoying playing defense,” the Baltimore native said. “We know that we have the best scorers in the world on our team. We can put the ball in the basket at will. But if we don’t stop nobody, we ain’t going to beat nobody.”
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